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A review by anonymous_blobfish
Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
3.75/5 ⭐️
TW: domestic violence, family violence, sexual assault, animal death
This story started slow but inevitably hooked me. We follow Inti and, indirectly, her twin sister Aggie who have moved to Scotland where Inti is working to reintroduce wolves to the wild highlands. Both have suffered immensely up until this point and carry with them heavy baggage that is slowly unpacked as the story progresses.
We meet many interesting characters in the highlands and deal with their mixed emotional responses to the wolf reintroduction. Along the way, a murder mystery unfolds as well as a delicate power struggle between scared locals and a passionate Inti who is determined to convert them to her brand of wilderness rehabilitation.
I was captivated by this book, sometimes uncomfortably so. I don’t think I particularly liked any of the characters, main or secondary (the latter of which were a bit underdeveloped truth be told) and the story felt a bit formulaic at times (in the “ooooh a mystery, bet you can’t guess, wait you guessed, just kidding - you didn’t, or did you” kinda way). I did however enjoy the depth of emotion painted into these characters which simply flowed off the page. I would love to see this have a movie adaption so that there is room for certain characters to be given more flesh and feeling to them.
I definitely think it’s important to note the TWs in this story as they were quite confronting at times (which may have also dulled the shine for me a little) however it’s still well worth a read.
TW: domestic violence, family violence, sexual assault, animal death
This story started slow but inevitably hooked me. We follow Inti and, indirectly, her twin sister Aggie who have moved to Scotland where Inti is working to reintroduce wolves to the wild highlands. Both have suffered immensely up until this point and carry with them heavy baggage that is slowly unpacked as the story progresses.
We meet many interesting characters in the highlands and deal with their mixed emotional responses to the wolf reintroduction. Along the way, a murder mystery unfolds as well as a delicate power struggle between scared locals and a passionate Inti who is determined to convert them to her brand of wilderness rehabilitation.
I was captivated by this book, sometimes uncomfortably so. I don’t think I particularly liked any of the characters, main or secondary (the latter of which were a bit underdeveloped truth be told) and the story felt a bit formulaic at times (in the “ooooh a mystery, bet you can’t guess, wait you guessed, just kidding - you didn’t, or did you” kinda way). I did however enjoy the depth of emotion painted into these characters which simply flowed off the page. I would love to see this have a movie adaption so that there is room for certain characters to be given more flesh and feeling to them.
I definitely think it’s important to note the TWs in this story as they were quite confronting at times (which may have also dulled the shine for me a little) however it’s still well worth a read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism