I had a really hard time getting into this one. It just wasn’t for me. I’m not sure why I just couldnt get into it.

"There is cruelty to survive, to fight against. But there is gentleness more than anything, our roots deep and entangled. That is what we hold inside, what we take with us. The way we look after each other."⁣
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- Charlotte McConaghy, Once There Were Wolves⁣
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This book was beautiful, brutal, raw, poetic, visceral, and overall a total MOOD (picture overcast, gray day in the woods, with wolves nearby). Set in the Scottish Highlands, it tells the story of Inti Flynn, a biologist who arrives to reintroduce fourteen gray wolves into the remote Highlands to restore the natural habitat. Told from Inti's POV, the reader quickly discovers that the title carries a double meaning. "Once There Were Wolves" refers not just to the Scottish Highlands, but also to the history shared by Inti and her twin sister Aggie, who have both experienced trauma. It is as much a story of conservation as it is a story of sisterhood, love, betrayal, and violence. This book causes one to question the wildness inside each and every one of us.⁣
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"'They’re more dangerous than we are.'⁣
'Are they?' I ask. 'They are wilder, certainly.'⁣
'Isn’t it the same?'⁣
'I don’t think so. I think it’s civilization makes us violent. We infect each other.'"⁣
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Once There Were Wolves was a breathtaking read! Now I'm eager to get to one of the author's other novels, Migrations. Thank you to @Macmillan.audio for my complimentary audio copy in exchange for an honest review. Narrator Saskia Maarlevelddid a wonderful job, making this audiobook an immersive experience. I highly recommend it.⁣
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*Please note, there are some dark themes and scenes, so be sure to check out CW/TW before reading.*

I stayed up way past my bedtime listening to the beautiful audiobook version of Once There Were Wolves. I also slipped away for a few solo drives in my car after my husband got home from work so that I could have a bit of alone time and listen to this book. I thoroughly enjoyed this hauntingly beautiful and atmospheric story. The characters were complex and will stay with me for quite a while.

The book centers around Inti Flynn and her twin sister Aggie. Alternating between past and present, we learn their stories and of their deep connection as sisters. In the present day, Inti is a biologist. She and her sister are in the Scottish Highlands because Inti is working on a rewilding project. The projects focus is to reintroduce wolves into the Highlands in an effort to control the deer population and allow for new forest growth.

There are so many things that I loved about this story.
1- I learned a ton of super interesting information about wolves. And it didn’t come across as boring encyclopedic text, it was woven into the storyline in a way that made you fall in love with the wolves as much as Inti loved them.
2- Inti has a very interesting neurological condition called Mirror-Touch Synesthesia. Her brain re-creates the sensory experiences of others. If she sees something that someone else is experiencing, she feels it. She feels the pain and/or pleasure of others (including animals). I have never heard of this before and found it to be fascinating. It made for some fantastic description in the story.
3- This book is loaded with mystery. Why does Inti’s sister Aggie not speak? Someone shows up dead. Who killed them? And why?
4- I loved the secondary characters that lived in the Scottish Highlands.
4- The ending of this book was very well done and I felt satisfied with how everything was answered and tied up.

Trigger Warnings:
As much as I loved this book I will say that it will not be for everyone. It is a beautiful dark and sometimes heavy story that deals with trauma, abuse and rape.


Thank you NetGalley, Flatiron Books and Macmillan audio for this audio ARC of Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy in exchange for an honest review.

This audiobook was narrated by Saskia Maarleveld and I can’t imagine any other voice bringing this story to life. It was perfect!

I requested this one on a whim after seeing a 5 star review immediately followed by a BOTM choice announcement. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t quite for me.

However, I think it was extremely well done and enjoyed how incredibly atmospheric it was! I appreciated the complex characters and they were so well developed.

It was intriguing, emotional and suspenseful. I wanted to love it so much but
I was just never quite invested as I don’t think environmental novels are for me. I do recommend that everyone checks this out as I’ve been seeing nothing but 5 star reviews and it is a breathtaking homage to nature!

This took me a few chapters to get hooked but once I was, the rest was history. This was soooo good. It was a dark book that I couldn’t guess what was going to happen next. It kept me hooked. I especially loved how it was told flipping between present and past. The author had away of making me feel every emotion they were expressing.

(From ebook version review: "Takes the shape of your average NYT-bestselling mystery/thriller in a general ways, but proves McConaghy's prowess in how it mitigates the typical pratfalls of those lesser-brained, puzzlebox works. Crafts immense power from its memorable heroine and gorgeous, sparse language.")

The audiobook has a narrator perfectly suited for the material, the rare literary fiction that thrives in audiobook format (in my opinion).

I had download problems with this book so could only listen to the first 50%, but even only being able to read half, I can say without reservation that this is my favourite book of the year. The spare, precise, clear, gorgeous writing voice and the utterly unique premise sets it apart from the field and I can't wait to get my hands on a paper copy so that I can luxuriate in the writer's beautiful, powerful words and lose myself in this story of the true meaning of family, whether it's humans or wolves. Ultimately, it's about love, because isn't that the whole point? What a wonderful read, and one I'll be foisting on people for a long time to come.

Charlotte McConaghy is queen of cli-fi books! Migrations was meh for me but I liked this one more I think. It had the whodunnit aspect of a thriller but much more character development and world building. I couldn't entirely relate to the setting or the main character, but that wasn't a huge deal. The mystery that drove the plot was enough to keep me listening, even though I thought the audiobook format wasn't the best for me. i liked the narrator but just found my mind wandering.

This was a great read albeit a slower story. After reading this author’s previous book, it feels like that style is her trademark. The language used was so descriptive that it really feels as though the reader has stepped into the scene. Prose was well thought out and utilized throughout. The story was an emotional ride and the wolves (and their loss) were keenly felt. The reflection on nature and it’s importance was well done.

Having not read the previous book that had been raved over, I picked this one up based on author popularity.
It seems to have not been the right time for me to read/listen to the book, as I was not mesmerized by the characters or location. Having been mentioned that it was set in Scotland, I was hoping for more of this in the book. If I had not been told of the location, I would have assumed it was any wildlife area/ not known about the "history" of having wolves relocated. This might be the right book for those who are interested in relocation projects from the relationship side of those working in the program vs the scientific side. For me it just was an okay book that didn't leave me wanting to stay in the world with the characters.

Initially I wasn’t sure where this book was going. It started off heavy in environmental fiction but as the plot progressed, it evolved into an intriguing murder mystery. There were sobering topics highlighted in the plot including domestic violence and animal cruelty. The blend of ecosystem and animal welfare were balanced nicely within the plot driven narrative. I listened to the audiobook in one day as it was an enticing and gripping story. I was very curious as to how it would end. I should also mention that mixed within the plot was the element of family loyalty and the need to protect those who are most important to us.- both animal and human alike. The audio performance wasn’t the best I’ve heard but was solid.
Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for an advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was immediately engaged by the beginning sentences of the book, only to be disappointed by the story and pace a chapter later. Unfortunately, I couldn’t quite get into the book to remain adequately attentive, but I also think this was in part due to the narrator’s reading speed, Although I read quickly when independently reading, I found her quick pace harder to follow and this coupled with the story itself impacted my engagement and interest in the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this story. It wasn't a favorite for me, but I enjoyed it more than I expected to. The synopsis didn't appeal to me initially. It just seemed kind of dry, but the book was surprisingly good.

This novel introduces us to Inti, our protagonist, and her twin sister Aggie. Inti moved to Northern Scotland on a mission to reintroduce wolves into the wild. What stems from there is part family drama, part conservation story, with a splash of a mystery thrown in.

A local man, who is vehemently opposed to the wolves turns up missing. What is initially seen as an act of the wolves turns into so much more. I also learned a lot about "mirror touch synesthesia", which is a real neurological condition where the brain will simulate the physical feelings of another, a condition that Inti suffers from. This is a fascinating story about the lengths a woman would go to in order to protect the ones she loves.

Now, for the audio. Saskia Maarleveld was a fabulous narrator. Inti was Australian, but some of the other characters were Scottish and she was able to flawlessly switch back and forth between accents. It was a fun listen and I will be seeking out more with her as a narrator.

Overall, 3.75 stars.

This was such an interesting book, but I think I would have enjoyed it more by reading it physically. The narrator of the audiobook was great... but something about the story style I think would have been better (at least for me) in a reading experience not a listening experience. The beginning was soo compelling and I loved the main character's "condition" or whatever you want to call it. The environmental overarching tones were great. Some things in the end somewhat lost me and I honestly did not care about the romance aspect. Overall, I recommend the story and think I may reread physically to see how it effects my rating/enjoyment.

This book was an interesting read but I do not recommend it as an audiobook. This book will be better enjoyed as a physical book. The narrator was wonderful and her pacing was fantastic. However, I felt the content would be better communicated in one's own voice. There is a some technical parts of this book where there are discussions about the behavior of wolves and the process of the group trying to reintroduce wolves to the population. I feel like that information was sometimes lost in the audio version. I often felt like I missed a few things, like I wasn't getting the whole story and like I missed a tidbit and if I rewound the audiobook I would catch it again. Were I reading it I feel like I would have kept that info in my mind more.

I read and listened to this book and I loved it. I love the narrator and I love the way that Charlotte McConaghy writes. She transports you to wherever she is writing about and you are immersed in that location. I loved (and hated) all of the characters and I could not stop reading or listening@

Charlotte McConaghy's first novel, Migrations, has been on my radar for a while, but I have not had a chance to pick it up. Because of Once There Were Wolves, I will definitely be moving it up on my TBR, as well as anything else McConaghy writes. Once There Were Wolves is a beautiful, haunting novel about nature, animals, people, and the connections between all of them.

The way McConaghy writes about nature and our connection to it reminded me a lot of Peter Heller, but with a heavy emphasis on conservation. Both writers write about nature in such a way that it feels like you are there, and that is what makes their writing so beautiful. The added mystery and conflict with the townspeople keep the minutes ticking away effortlessly.

This book goes to another level with the narration by Saskia Maarleveld. She reads with this intimacy that fits perfectly with the subject matter and gives the listener an experience that can't be matched.

I plan on recommending this for my local book club for next year because there is a lot that can be talked about.

Trigger warnings for domestic abuse, rape, death of a dog, animal deaths.

I absolutely LOVE this book, and I appreciate the opportunity to review the Audio version before it was released. The performer did a deep dive into this role, and played the different parts/accents beautifully. Well done!

"All creatures know love, Dad used to say. All creatures."

I have a vivid memory of walking through the wooded trail of my college campus late one night. I had just finished my final class for the evening and was making my way across the campus to the parking garage where I had parked early that same morning. It had been a long day, and I was exhausted. Instead of taking the usual paved path that was the quickest means to traversing the campus, I decided to take the back way, a winding gravel trail clouded by a canopy of mature trees. The moon shone just bright enough to illuminate the path before me, peaking through the leaves above. I walked this trail, taking in the quiet and reflecting on my day. Just before the end of the path, I spotted the shadowed form of what appeared to be a dog. As I cautiously moved forward, I realized that the creature ahead was a coyote. The animal and I locked eyes for a moment. I didn't dare to make any sudden moves. We just stood there, taking each other in. After that brief moment of recognition, the coyote moved off of the path and went about its way into the brush.

As I listened to Charlotte McConaghy's latest novel Once There Were Wolves, I was reminded of that long-forgotten memory from many years ago. There is a power in our recognition of and existence with nature, the magic of sorts that McConaghy captures in her work. Our experience, the love, and loss that we each face during our lifetime are uniquely intertwined within the larger world we inhabit. It is from that interplay between man and nature that McConaghy begins to form her story.

The novel centers on the story of Inti, a biologist whose team has just introduced a pack of wolves into the Scottish Highlands. She hopes that in bringing the animals to the area that they haven't inhabited for hundreds of years, the pack will grow and become a beacon of hope for the survival of the species. Her arrival is not without its detractors. The local farmers and sheepherders are up in arms about the introduction of potential predators into the area. Despite her best efforts to reassure them with evidence from similar successful programs in Yellowstone National Park, Inti fears the farmers will take to killing the animals.

The wolves aren't the only thing that brought Inti to the area. She has traveled with her sister Aggie, a woman who has known her own share of trauma. McConaghy hints at an event that occurred in the last place the sisters lived that drove them to move away, an ordeal that will slowly be revealed as the story progresses. Aggie is withdrawn, a shadow of her former self. Just as Inti intends to rehabilitate the population of wolves, so must she rebuild the relationship with her sister. As the two rescue missions ensue, Inti will be challenged to overcome both the political and personal ramifications of her undertaking.

To reveal too much about the novel's plot points would rob you of the narrative wizardry that McConaghy achieves. Suffice it to say, Once There Were Wolves is the kind of read that is best experienced with as little preconception as possible. I chose to listen to the audio version of the book and was instantly drawn in by the combination of Saskia Maarleveld's gentle narration and McConaghy's captivating plot. The vastness of the landscapes and sheer scope of monitoring a pack of wolves is juxtaposed with the more internalized conflicts that the characters face. McConaghy writes with a quiet sureness that gives even the simplest moments a sense of gravity and enchantment. Once There Were Wolves asks us to reflect upon our own relationship to the natural world, and more importantly, to the relationships that we foster within it.

*trigger warnings for abuse and death (human and animal) and mental health issues*

Inti Flynn arrives in Scotland with a team of biologists working to reintroduce wild wolves into the Highlands. She and her sister Aggie have escaped Alaska, and Inti is hoping to heal her sister. The locals are not happy to have Inti and her team there, worried about the wolves eating their livestock, but despite this, Inti develops a connection with the town sheriff. When a local farmer is found dead, Inti knows the blame will fall on her wolves, but she just can't believe they could have committed the act. Covering up for them, Inti decides to investigate who might actually have killed the man.

This story was a lot different than I expected it to be. The most interesting part of the story to me was Inti's mirror touch synesthesia. That would make like very difficult to navigate. There was a lot going on in this book, yet it felt like a slog to get through it at times. I like a lot of stories with dual timelines, but in this case, I didn't like the jumps back to Inti's and Aggie's childhoods; it just detracted from the main story line in my opinion. Overall this book was just OK.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.