Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy

4 reviews

unsuccessfulbookclub's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Um. Not sure how to review this since it is way outside my usual preferred genres, so I can’t really comment on the plot twists or mystery aspect because everything is a surprise to me always. However, the setting of the story, the prose and the characters were all extremely compelling. This book is darkly atmospheric and has a focus on rewilding and conservation that I enjoyed. I liked how I couldn’t trust anyone in this book and that every character was morally gray, like most people in real life. I was very interested in finding out not only what happened to the humans in this book but also the wolves the MC is working to reintroduce to Scotland.

McConaghy is efficient with her words, building tension and unease through two concurrent narratives and a flashback. This is a short book but not a super fast read. There is trauma galore here, please check the CW (in the comments) - beyond the deaths, there are graphic domestic abuse and r a p e on page.

👍🏻Recommended? Again, mysteries are not my usual genre so I’m not sure how strong that aspect of the story was but the prose and conservation and feminist topics in this book make it worth checking out if you are in the mood for something dark.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, Blood, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Drug use, Stalking, and Alcohol

alimoo511's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

This is such a deep book. None of these characters are likable and the only man I love in this book is a wolf and he is dead so. 

I highly recommend this book though it has an amazing balance of talk between conservationism and women's struggles. 

Inti is such a complex character and her deep love of nature and Wolves is so relatable, but is so beautifully contrasted with the love she has for her sister and her resentment towards society and men. 

Because of her character she is forced to be so empathetic and yet she wants to be anything but. She wishes she could do all these things, but for better or for worse she can't. Her heart belonging to the forest in connection to her neurodivergency is also SO GOOD. 

Honestly Read this now if you haven't it is remarkable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence

chloerote's review

dark emotional informative mysterious sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Violence

aeeklund's review

dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Violence