A review by kapbanana
Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

4.0

I enjoyed Once There Were Wolves more than I expected. It was interesting the ways that McConaghy wove all the pieces of the story together. There's a murder mystery, a love story, a strong message about preserving/connecting with the wilderness and addressing climate change, and a harrowing tale of past tragedy. Inti Flynn was an interesting character. I was fascinated with her mirror-touch synesthesia and thought that added a really interested layer to her character and the story. It helped root the story in the body and explore all that that meant.

The story became a bit overly dramatic in the very end.

The whole pregnancy & birth in the middle of the woods made me roll my eyes. I was heartbroken by the death of Duncan's dog. That was more graphic than I expected.

But still, McConaghy does an excellent job of exploring dark and terrible things while not going into traumatic details. Her writing feels well balanced and the story, well paced. Overall, a thought-provoking and compelling read!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death and Domestic abuse

Minor: Child abuse