katiemccreary's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
5.0
Read the content warnings if you’re a sensitive person!! There’s some pretty intense stuff in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Domestic abuse, Rape, Animal death, Blood, Gore, and Sexual violence
lisahowe27'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is a multilayered novel that peels back layers of questions around wildlife conservation, human relationships, the beauty of the forest and landscape, and the human condition. Wolves have a mystery to them that draws the reader in. Their strength and beauty can leave a person breathless. But this novel is more than just about them. It is an intertwining story that combines nature and human and how in our world today these two things can no longer be separated.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Blood, Death, Bullying, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Murder, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
navayiota's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
5.0
I originally saved this cause it was recommended by Leena Norms for spooky October novels, and spooky it was, although not in the way I had expected. I ended up picking it up cause it was narrated by Saskia Maarleveld, and I really enjoyed her previous work narrating Kate Quinn novels. I didn't expect it to stay with me the way it did. I am in shock. Visceral is the perfect way to describe this writing. McConaghy got me to feel every light touch and savage hit taken by the characters. She tied every aspect of the story up in a neat bow that lovingly punched me in the gut at every opportunity. I refuse to believe that a human can write like this, and yet it's so painfully obvious that a human wrote it, because what other species could describe the human experience in such a vivid way? My heart aches for these characters, who are painfully fleshed out with all their jagged edges and ugly sides. I wish more people read this book. I can't wait to read more but must stop myself from binging anything else she has written cause it just wouldn't be enough. May her fingers never tire of typing or holding a pen, may her mind never cease creating and may her soul experience every joy the world has to offer. Simply incredible.
Spoiler
I can't believe that I finally encountered a book where the pregnancy trope is treated with justice and respect. I was in awe at the mastery with which she ended the story, the way she made it all make sense. Every major or subplot is a full circle and that feels incredible to me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Suicide, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Rape, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Dementia, Confinement, and Child abuse
Minor: Drug abuse
elkcariboubiologist's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
My father used to say the world turned wrong when we started separating ourselves from the wild, when we stopped being one with the rest of nature, and sat apart. He said we might survive this mistake if we found a way to rewild ourselves. But I don’t know how to do that when our existence frightens the creatures we must reconnect with.
Oy. This beautifully written, incredibly dark book pulled me in and wouldn't let me go despite how anxious reading it made me feel. Those books that can weave nature/science into a story are definitely some of my favorite. But not many writers can do it well, particularly if they aren't biologists or naturalists themselves (and even if they are!). Given that, I was amazed to find that McConaghy is neither. Is all the science correct? No. But from the very first pages, it was easy to see that McConaghy had done her research. Not only on the ecology of wolves, but on how they make people feel. In my experience, wolves are one of the most polarizing critters that exists (probably THE most polarizing). You either love wolves or hate them, nothing in between... She captured this well for the most part (except it is not likely that some of the characters could be convinced to change their mind).
The moment was unbearable, sitting there with her fur between my fingers. I had been watching her for months, learning her, caring for her. I began to wonder if what we were doing was right. If our involvement in their lives was too much. We were trying to save them but we killed them sometimes, too. We stomped through the world and crumpled things where we walked, too human, not creature enough.
As a wildlife research biologist, at times I didn't know if I was ready to feel some of the emotions this story brought up in me. I can't tell you how many times over the past 25 years that some version of the highlighted quote above has gone through my head. I know of very few biologists who question their role in that way (though they should!)...
No such thing as trust in the wilderness. … It’s only people need that word.
My main criticism: the ending was over the top. How McConaghy chose to tie everything up, honestly didn't really feel true to the rest of the story. Without spoilers, I can't say more than that.
Edited to add: I've read some of the other reviews and need to add that I have never experienced trauma like the characters of this story so I couldn't judge how well the author treated this incredibly sensitive topic. Listening to those voices, this book could be harmful or triggering to abuse victims or to their friends and family. As others have noted, the book should definitely come with trigger warnings.
Oy. This beautifully written, incredibly dark book pulled me in and wouldn't let me go despite how anxious reading it made me feel. Those books that can weave nature/science into a story are definitely some of my favorite. But not many writers can do it well, particularly if they aren't biologists or naturalists themselves (and even if they are!). Given that, I was amazed to find that McConaghy is neither. Is all the science correct? No. But from the very first pages, it was easy to see that McConaghy had done her research. Not only on the ecology of wolves, but on how they make people feel. In my experience, wolves are one of the most polarizing critters that exists (probably THE most polarizing). You either love wolves or hate them, nothing in between... She captured this well for the most part (except it is not likely that some of the characters could be convinced to change their mind).
The moment was unbearable, sitting there with her fur between my fingers. I had been watching her for months, learning her, caring for her. I began to wonder if what we were doing was right. If our involvement in their lives was too much. We were trying to save them but we killed them sometimes, too. We stomped through the world and crumpled things where we walked, too human, not creature enough.
As a wildlife research biologist, at times I didn't know if I was ready to feel some of the emotions this story brought up in me. I can't tell you how many times over the past 25 years that some version of the highlighted quote above has gone through my head. I know of very few biologists who question their role in that way (though they should!)...
No such thing as trust in the wilderness. … It’s only people need that word.
My main criticism: the ending was over the top. How McConaghy chose to tie everything up, honestly didn't really feel true to the rest of the story. Without spoilers, I can't say more than that.
Edited to add: I've read some of the other reviews and need to add that I have never experienced trauma like the characters of this story so I couldn't judge how well the author treated this incredibly sensitive topic. Listening to those voices, this book could be harmful or triggering to abuse victims or to their friends and family. As others have noted, the book should definitely come with trigger warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, and Blood
mirandaselover's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Murder, Sexual violence, Animal death, Blood, Violence, and Domestic abuse
bootsmom3's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Death, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Torture, Abandonment, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Alcohol, Violence, Grief, Gun violence, and Blood
Minor: Abortion
cuddlewithbooks's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
There is so much to this book. It touches on so many graphic topics, I would highly suggest finding a list of trigger warnings before trying this book out.
I'm not sure what to say, I picked this up on a whim thinking I would enjoy biologists in Scotland but it was so much darker than that. Obviously I needed to know what was next but it was so graphic and sometimes felt unnecessary. Though I can see the power in looking and feeling uncomfortable.
I just didn't like it, especially in regards to the treatment of the animals in the book. If you don't like animal deaths, I really would not pick this one up.
It's for someone but it's not for me.
I'm not sure what to say, I picked this up on a whim thinking I would enjoy biologists in Scotland but it was so much darker than that. Obviously I needed to know what was next but it was so graphic and sometimes felt unnecessary. Though I can see the power in looking and feeling uncomfortable.
I just didn't like it, especially in regards to the treatment of the animals in the book. If you don't like animal deaths, I really would not pick this one up.
It's for someone but it's not for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Death, Animal death, Blood, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, and Rape
Moderate: Grief, Medical content, Child abuse, and Death of parent
j1legend's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Rape, Animal death, Violence, and Blood
rosytosey's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Blood
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
kendyle's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Blood, Death, Animal death, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault