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danidamico's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Once There Were Wolves es una novela hermosa. Últimamente estoy muy interesada en libros que tengan que ver con animales, un aspecto que en este caso no solo aparece, sino que lo hace de una manera tremenda y conmovedora. La novela cuenta la historia de Inti y Aggie, dos hermanas gemelas que pasaron gran parte de su infancia y adolescencia siendo criadas en un bosque junto a su padre. Ambas sienten una gran conexión con el mundo natural, pero Inti especialmente, dedicándose a estudiar el comportamiento de los lobos. El libro comienza cuando la protagonista viaja a Escocia junto a un equipo de especialistas para llevar a cabo su proyecto de devolver la población de lobos a las Highlands de Escocia, cientos de años después de haber sido masacrados por los humanos. A lo largo del relato vamos presenciando las tensiones que se generan con los locales de la región, sobre todo cuando comienzan a aparecer animales asesinados, y también a su vez descubrimos los profundos traumas del pasado de las hermanas.
"I pressed my cheek to one of the tender, elegant trunks. Wind whispered through it's naked branches and against my eyelids, my lips. A kiss. I could almost feel its heartbeat beneath and around and above me, the oldest language of all".
La escritura de Charlotte McConaghy es bella, evocativa y accesible. Utiliza los recursos justos y necesarios para describir el paisaje escocés y su atmósfera sin perder la tensión ni el ritmo del relato. Me encantó el modo en el que retrata el vínculo que Inti mantiene con la naturaleza y los animales, captura muy bien la complejidad de las emociones. De hecho, es una novela con personajes complejos que habitan zonas de grises y no siempre logran ser "buenas personas", sea lo que sea eso. Fue una lectura muy compulsiva, cada vez que terminaba un capítulo quería saber qué ocurriría en el siguiente.
Ahora, podría haber sido una lectura de 5 estrellas para mí, pero hay un par de cositas que no me terminaron de convencer. Primero y principal, todo el tema de la sinestesia que experimenta Inti me pareció algo innecesario. La protagonista tiene un tipo de sinestesia que le permite sentir lo que ve, es decir, cuando ve que golpean a una persona puede sentir el golpe en su propio cuerpo. A simple vista resulta un recurso interesante, pero sinceramente creo que está historia podría haber sido literalmente la misma sin este detalle. No termino de entender qué le aporta al libro más que un dato curioso que puede atraer a un potencial lector. Para decirlo de manera vulgar: me pareció al pedo. Esa es mi razón principal para no darle 5 estrellas. Otra razón, aunque en menor medida, es que yo no soy muy fan de los plot twists entonces algunas cosas que suceden al final me parecieron un poco rebuscadas, hubiera preferido más simpleza. Sin embargo, más allá de estos detalles, disfrute muchísimo de esta novela casi perfecta, que tiene las dosis justas de oscuridad, belleza y emoción. Definitivamente quiero leer la otra novela de la autora.
"I dream again, but this time not of monsters. I dream of wolves. Of running with them into the shadow of the mountain".
Graphic: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
alexisgarcia's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
carolinefran's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Misogyny, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Dementia, Stalking, Abortion, Death of parent, and Alcohol
maccamac's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault, Grief, and Pregnancy
jjreads331's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Self harm, Sexual content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
noveltay's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
That being said, the rest of this book was phenomenal. I read Migrations by this author first, and both live up to the “hype”. I like how she uses flashbacks in her stories to keep a mystery.
I caught on to the twist early on, but it has nothing to do with the writing. I think the writing actually had me second guessing my thoughts on multiple occasions.
If you are planning on reading this, check content warnings prior!
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
manonh90's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
jes_imagine's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy
lindsayerin's review
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
archaicrobin's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was beautifully written and powerful. I loved this one, even when I had to put it down because it can be a lot.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail