Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy

470 reviews

amybartoli29's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Dementia, and Pregnancy

Minor: Infertility, Vomit, and Abortion

katwalke7's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Overall, I enjoyed this novel. It was interesting to learn about the main character's efforts to reintroduce wolves in the Scottish highlands. The disappearance of one of the locals who was against the wolves was a great plot device and created a lot of tension in the book. But some parts of the story were confusing. I found it difficult to tell the past from the present in this book since the main character's inner dialogue seemed to flip back and forth so frequently and without warning.

For me, the reveal that the twin sister killed Stuart and attacked Duncan due to the trauma inflicted by her ex-husband was flawed. I often felt that Aggy wasn't even real or maybe her character just lacked depth, so I couldn't fully grasp the idea that she would be able to afflict violence like that onto someone, especially in her state of depression. Idk maybe I'm overthinking it.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Rape, and Violence

sarahhtotiss's review

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Pregnancy

paigemushaw's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape and Murder

bewhitedragon's review

dark mysterious sad

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Once There Were Wolves is a fascinating look into both the world of wolves and how we humans aren't that far off from becoming monsters ourselves. The rewilding science and the wolves interested me more than I thought it would, and sometimes was the main thing driving me to continue because Inti as a character was infuriating at times. Later, you find out why she is the way she is, but there were still moments where I wanted to strangle her for her sheer ignorance and stupidity.

But overall, it was still a great story. It speaks of how we are damaging our natural environment and how impirtant it is for predators like wolves to exist for the land to recover, but also how brutal and savage humankind can be themselves.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Domestic abuse, and Rape

Moderate: Sexual assault, Murder, and Pregnancy

Minor: Suicide and Abortion

dannisnot's review

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

I love the way Charlotte writes the world/environment building and the information about the re-introducing wolves into the environment. 

If I had an idea of the triggers and content warning I may not have picked it up though. 

Rape is used as a building/climax point for the book, and the situation revolving around is is especially heinous. I could have done without that part of the book, but that is a personal qualm.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death and Rape

bookhoardernic's review

challenging emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault

hopecunningham's review against another edition

1.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Domestic abuse, and Rape

alison5050's review

adventurous dark emotional inspiring medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

amy_rr's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Although it felt a little on the nose at times, this book did a great job of exploring concepts of wild v tame, fear v love, trust, power and the abuse of it, and empathy. It tackled a lot. And a I couldn't stop reading it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Emotional abuse, and Rape

Moderate: Dementia