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A review by moonbasket
Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.25
The prose is lyrical and visceral. I enjoyed most of the book, but was turned off completely by the end and specifically the turn at the end. As a twin, having Aggie be the secret killer instead of wolf number 10 really threw me for a loop. Having her then also commit suicide leaving for the wilderness and having Inti be complety fine with it was entirely out of the realm of believability.
I wish the book had focused more on family and relationships and less on the small town drama and traumatic backstory that felt, at times, over the top, and down-right voyeuristic. I do not want to discount the very real trauma that real life people have been through that may be similar, but the extent of the trauma felt beyond the edge of the bell curve to the point of voyeurism.
All told, I would not recommend the book. The ending spoiled the whole story for me. The only redeeming quality is the prose and inclusion of conservationism and rewilding.
I wish the book had focused more on family and relationships and less on the small town drama and traumatic backstory that felt, at times, over the top, and down-right voyeuristic. I do not want to discount the very real trauma that real life people have been through that may be similar, but the extent of the trauma felt beyond the edge of the bell curve to the point of voyeurism.
All told, I would not recommend the book. The ending spoiled the whole story for me. The only redeeming quality is the prose and inclusion of conservationism and rewilding.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug use, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Medical content, Abortion, and Alcohol
Animal violence details: Fingal dies. Four wolves are killed. One is killed and then his body defaced.
Sexual violence details:
Aggie was raped by her husband and his cousin. Inti was forced to watch.The scene is shown in flashbacks and much less explicit than the blood and gore.
Domestic abuse details:
Inti and Aggie experienced some emotional abuse from their mother and physical abuse from their father. Duncan was abused by his father. Stuart abuses his wife Lainey and she ends up in the hospital. Gus, Aggie's husband is physically and emotionally abusive and controlling.