🐺 Well I may have just found my new favorite book. I absolutely loved every single moment of this book. This was such a difficult, beautiful, heartbreaking, and hopeful story all in one.

🪵 This book was everything that I wanted. I honestly didn’t know what I was getting myself into but oh my goodness I loved this… a lot more than I was expecting to. I may have stayed up way too late last night finishing this book lol.

🐾 This is one of the most atmospheric books I’ve read in awhile - we follow Inti who wants to protect these wolves on the Scottish Highlands, while the farmers are opposed to it. Wolves are my favorite animals so of course I got attached to them.

🐺 Holy Crap - this was so good! I definitely wasn’t expecting it to take the route it took. I definitely will advise looking at the trigger warnings because this book was so tough at times to get through.

🪵 I really loved Inti’s character and loved how well developed she was. She has mirror touch synesthesia, which basically means she can feel what others are experiencing. For example, she can feel when someone else cuts themself. This story does talk about the present and the past - I was super engaged to both timelines!!

🐾 This story talks so much on climate change and men’s interference with the earth. This book had me all over the place - emotional, intrigued, fascinated, inspired.

🐺 Once There Were Wolves has made it to my favorites. I can’t stop thinking about it and I was hooked from the very beginning to the end! I just loved this book so much. I’m seriously obsessed and want to reread it already. If you’re okay with the TWs then please check it out. It’s such a beautifully written story.

𝗧𝗪: 𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗲, 𝗱𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗲, 𝗣𝗧𝗦𝗗, 𝘀𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲, 𝗮𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗹/𝗱𝗿𝘂𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗲, 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝗿𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴.

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I'm not sure what I was expecting when I started this audiobook, but the story that unfolded wasn't it. That's not to say this isn't a great book. The book description is messed up at Goodreads and I had forgotten what the Netgalley summary was. So I went into thinking this was going to be about the reintroduction of wolves into Scotland - a sort of creative nonfiction type story.

Yes, there are wolves being introduced into Scotland, but that really is just the catalyst of the story. The plot is much more about the bond between twin sisters Inti and Aggie. Because I wasn't expecting that kind of story the twist and turns took me completely by surprise and I was never quite sure what was going to happen next.

I'm not sure how I feel about the ending. The sisters make a lot of mistakes and, yes, they have suffered their own traumas but I'm not sure the ending felt realistic.

I wanted to like Initi. She is mistrustful of people, particularly men. So I don't if it is because she is so closed off or if it is just her personality (she's has a bit of a habit of always thinking she is right and doesn't listen to anyone that has a contrary opinion), but I didn't find her to be very likable. Aggie is sort of a shadow character as she deals with the trauma that has driven the sisters to Scotland in the first place. The relationship between the sisters seemed a little too co-dependent.

I did like the townspeople. They were interesting and I think did care - Initi was just too dismissive of them.

The story held my attention - at first, it was because I was trying to figure out what was going on. But once I settled into the rhythm of the story I mostly just wanted to know if the wolves were successfully reintroduced.

I would have liked for the story to have been more focused on the reintroduction efforts as that was what I was expecting. Once There Were Wolves was listed as general fiction so I definitely wasn't expecting a domestic thriller. Yet, it turned out to be a very good thriller.

Saskia Maarleveled is a wonderful narrator. She really brought the characters and story to life.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Thursday, August 5 - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2021/08/2-audiobooks-to-kick-off-august.html

Hot on the heels of her popular book Migrations, Charlotte Mconaghy gets back to nature in this eco thriller about incorporating Wolves back into Scotland. However, it's not a popular opinion to do so as the locals are not on board.

The audiobook narrator, Saskia Maarleveld, did a wonderful job weaving in the accents of our Australian protagonist and the Scotish locals.

The writing is fantastic, but the storyline itself just didn't hold my interest to make this a page-turning 5-star read.

I'm grateful to MacMillan Audio for an advanced listener copy via the NetGalley app. This is my honest review.

There Were Wolves is unlike anything I have read before, though I am admittedly new to eco-fiction. This book is well-suited to those who enjoy crime novels, thrillers and intense domestic dramas, with or without a side of wolves.
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Inti has recently moved to Scotland with a team of biologists endeavoring to reintroduce wolves to the local wilderness. Her sister, Aggie, travels with her.; Aggie is mute, speaking only in her own mostly invented sign language, the result of some unnamed trauma that is explained in flashbacks while Inti, in present day, develops a relationship with a local cop. The local townspeople, especially farmers, are stridently opposed to Inti and her wolves; as tensions reach their peak, one of the most outspoken townspeople is found dead, leaving the reader to wonder if he was felled by wolf attack or foul play.
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I loved the way McConaghy juxtaposed scientific elements with the traumatic events at the core of the story. The wolves, one of nature's most brilliant predators, complimented the developing murder (?) mystery nicely; the two plotlines played well with each other and fostered a setting that was both quietly spooky and totally realistic. Please note that the plot features sexual assault and domestic violence prominently.

Once There Were Wolves has some of the most propulsive lyrical writing that it was hard to ignore and hard to put down.

It is a struggle of survival, of sisterhood, and of trust/belonging. Of who we are as people and how we connect to the land around us. Are we contributing to the planet or are we talking away?

It’s so hard to explain this book to someone. Inti’s specialty is wolves. She and a team are out in the Scottish Highlands trying to “re-wild” the area by introducing wolves which have not been there for hundreds of years. What could be a seen as a huge help to the environment is met with skepticism as locals push back against the dangers of these predators.

Inti is passionate and stubborn, and a bit of a loner. She doesn’t always go about things in the right away. She’s faulty and reckless but I couldn’t look away from her. We get views into the past and present and you definitely want to pay attention to the details...especially when it comes to Inti’s specific sensory condition.

Everything in this book is complicated. Relationships are never what they seem and people can surprise us in good and ugly ways. I really enjoyed the analysis of a few particular relationships. Sometimes the things that are the most dangerous are the things we haven’t been fearing...we are fearing the wolf when it’s been a different predator all along.

This book is a mess of triggers from rape to domestic violence and murder but nothing is explicit and mostly implied. Quite a bit of strong language as well.

This book made me think and I will be thinking about it for days to come. Audio was top notch and made the book come more alive for me...and probably enhanced my overall experience.

4.5 Stars.

Haunting and beautiful, Once There Were Wolves took me into the wilds of the Scottish Highlands for a deeply moving suspenseful tale.

Inti Flynn, a wildlife biologist, brings her twin sister with her to Scotland as the team she is leading are set to release wolves back into the wild. Inti protects her sister who has been through a trauma with the same fierceness she protects her wolves. This protection of the wolves is tested as the local population is not as keen as Inti to reintroduce the wolves, and even though her growing desire for the sheriff pulls her in, she can't quite let herself be unguarded, especially as an "empath" or one with "mirror syndrome", one whose brain signals the feelings of what the eyes are seeing in another. The process of reintroduction of the wolves, a bit romanticized for a while, encounters some setbacks as does the hope of reintroducing Inti's sister Aggie back into the world outside her head, though some of the wild does seem to tame her mind.

I have not read Charlotte McConaghy before, and I feel like I am missing out. This was a gorgeous listen. There was a listlessness as I read and I felt I couldn't let it go. I really appreciated the deeper realms of thought I was taken to while contemplating the harm we as humans do to one another, to other creatures, all while villainizing other creatures. I also enjoyed the gray narratives that reject the notion of a single right or wrong way in so much of our thinking; meaning that there are likely not the false dichotomies with which we are so often originally presented. There are ways of growing that include each other that create new avenues.

After living in Alaska for a number of years and having family in Montana, the wolf debate is not one that is new to me. I found this novel to take a very romanticized view of wolves, and though mostly accurate, I have known of wolves to behave outside of what this novel describes. I am hugely respectful of wolves and believe them to be vital and gorgeous natives to the landscapes from which they come, but they have a ferocity that is only really touched on, and honestly, a bit held back. This is, however, not a textbook, and gladly so. Fascinatingly, on the subject of ferocity, that of the human nature is highlighted. This may be the point.

I very much enjoyed listening to this audio. The narrator did a smashing job of an Australian accent within a Scottish environment, though as an American, I doubt I have the credentials to comment on this!

I would definitely recommend this book. 4.5 stars. Thank you so much, NetGalley and Flatiron Books for this Audio ARC.

Once There Were Wolves (Hardcover)
by Charlotte McConaghy
I was really surprised by this rewilding story, I did not expect the scientific research and information given in this dynamically intercut story. The reintroduction of apex predictors to Scotland, like other instances of this through out the world is controversial. The authors scientifically oriented arguments for the reintroduction is very sensible and well researched. The added aspect of abuse, neglect, and other very tragic family relationships is very difficult and should start some conversations about spousal abuse other violent relationship interactions. The book does well on introducing this topic, and has some resolution for the characters, but not something other then people need to help, pay attention and help women and children to be saved from abuse.

Inti leads a team of biologists to reintroduce wolves to the remote Highlands of Scotland. Her strong connection and protective role over the wolves leads her to daring and dangerous ends. This book leaves the reader questioning the wild in all creatures...not just the wolves.

Happy #PubDay to #OnceThereWereWolves 🎉 Part mystery, part conversation on sustainability, Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy is a gripping and eerie story about the wild that lives in all of us.

Thank you to @macmillanaudio & @netgalley for this advanced copy. It is well worth a listen! If you want to know some content warnings for this read, I've listed them at the bottom of my review.

Centering around young scientist Inti, Once There Were Wolves takes readers into the dangers of the remote Scottish Highlands. Inti heads to Scotland, along with her twin sister Aggie, to reintroduce gray wolves back into the local area in an effort to revive the land and the natural order of things. She also hopes to banish the awful secrets she and Aggie previously had to live with. But after a local farmer is found dead and the wolves are quickly blamed, Inti must find out if the man was killed by wild wolves or a wildness of a different kind. As Inti investigates, the clues keep leading her to the door of the man she is falling for…

Y'all this book was crazy, but so good! This was a super fast listen for me and so engaging. I struggled to pinpoint what genre this book was and yet rather than being confusing, this actually made it more interesting. The genre ambiguity kept me guessing about what would happen next because I didn’t know if it would flow like a thriller or get me in the feels like literary fiction.

If you like stories that have mystery, global impact, a passion for animals, and a deep love of family all seen through a somewhat eerie lens then I think you’ll love this one! I will say this read got dark at times, so be sure to check out my content warnings below if you're unsure. Do you think you'll check this one out?

CW: Physical & mental abuse, traumatic birth, death of humans & animals.

My thanks to Macmillan Audio for a review copy of the unabridged audiobook edition of ‘Once There Were Wolves’ by Charlotte McConaghy. The audiobook was narrated by Saskia Maarleveld and had a running time of 10 hours, 30 minutes. Note: this is the USA edition, the novel won’t be available in the U.K. until January 2022.

I adore wolves and have followed their reintroduction to areas in the USA. The idea of reintroducing them to the Scottish Highlands and other parts of Europe has been considered over the years, though to date their only presence in the U.K. is in captivity.

In this powerful novel biologist Inti Flynn arrives in Scotland with her twin sister, Aggie, to lead a team that have been tasked with reintroducing fourteen gray wolves into the remote Highlands. In addition to bringing renewal to the landscape, Inti hopes that her sister will find healing from the terrible events that drove the sisters from Alaska.

There is a great deal of resistance from the local community about the wolves. I don’t want to reveal too much about the plot though there is also a mystery linked to the death of a local farmer.

Charlotte McConaghy goes into great detail about the reintroduction of the wolves and it’s clear that she has done a great deal of research into this area of conservation as well as about wolves.

In addition, she plays her cards close in relation to what happened in Alaska. We know Aggie is deeply traumatised and no longer speaks. She is a shadowy presence, keeping apart from everyone except Inti. Interestingly, Inti is an empath with mirror-touch synesthesia, a rare condition that I have never encountered before listening to this audiobook.

I will warn that there are some scenes that can be triggering in terms of domestic abuse, violence, and animal deaths. Wolves are apex predators and also evoke strong feelings, both positive and negative.

With respect to the narration: I have enjoyed many audiobooks narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. She is an award winning voice actor with hundreds of audiobooks to her credit. She has a good range and a very clear voice that brings this novel and its characters vividly alive.

The only slight problem I had was that not having access to the digital edition meant that I couldn’t easily check back on plot points. However, I do hope to revisit this novel when it becomes available in the U.K. in January.

Overall, I found this an amazing novel that moved me deeply, not only because of the wolves but also for its exploration of the dynamics between its human characters. The setting of the Scottish Highlands was spectacular and I felt that Charlotte McConaghy really captured its wildness as well as the culture clash between the scientists and locals resentful and fearful of these changes.

A definite winner for me!

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Read/listen
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the early listen. I almost did not listen to this story and so glad that I did. What an amazing listen! The narrator did an amazing job telling the story. Every character brought life to this story and loved every one of them. Loved the mystery and the back story of the sisters. Really enjoyed reading about the mountains of Scotland. Traveling through the wilderness along with Inti, her crew and her wolves. There is sadness, happiness, joy and surprise.
Highly recommend!!

"By nightfall...we've found no body...I want to ask how long we will keep doing this...But I don't. Somehow I must pretend to myself that I know nothing more than the rest of these locals; I must bury that body much deeper within myself than I buried it in the ground."

Where do I begin to summarize this beautifully crafted novel, Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy, that is at times a murder mystery thriller, a family drama, a realistic commentary on our failing eco-system and an example of a masterful writer.

Inti Flynn is an empathetic biologist who is bringing 14 grey wolves to the Scottish Highlands where wolves have been extinct for centuries. She has her twin sister Aggie with her who is suffering from PTSD from an abusive husband. She also has a farming village of enemies who fear the wolves will kill their livestock. When one of the farmers goes missing everyone is a suspect from Inti to her lover the sheriff to the wolves.

While all this intense drama is happening we learn of the twins and their family drama that has led them to this remote village. Then there are the wolves who are numbered not named because it hurts too much when something goes wrong and Inti has to say their name. The backdrop of the highlands is artistically perfect. Their darkness, their beauty, their silence broken by a howling wolf searching for her mate is an immersive reading experience.

I had the immense pleasure of also listening to the audiobook emotionally performed by #saskiamaarleveld (who magnificently did the Rose Code too). She brought Inti to life for me on another level that increased my attachment to her.

The author's previous novel Migrations has never left my heart and now this new one is forever with me.

I received a free copy of this book and audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own

Once There Were Wolves, narrated flawlessly by Saskia Maarleveld, proves a compelling journey into the wild — examining man’s impact on nature, the effects of trauma, and survival. Charlotte McConaghy’s writing vividly portrays the Scottish land and forests while detailing the lifestyle of wolves. Inti Flynn is reintroducing wolves into the Scottish highlands, but meets opposition from the farmers. As Inti struggles and fights for the wolves, she antagonizes some locals and becomes involved with Duncan, the village cop, while trying to cope with her sister Aggie’s mental decline. When a wolf is suspected of killing a man, Inti is willing to do anything to save the wolves, transforming the novel into a mystery.

There are two narratives running through the novel, a present and a past, which reveals the intense bond between Inti and her twin sister Aggie, and Inti and her parents, but the past carries something which has rendered Aggie unable to talk. McConaghy slowly reveals the past which informs the present, creating tension throughout the novel. Once There Were Wolves focuses on environmentalism, trauma, relationships, abuse, and what it means to be wild.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy; opinions are my own.

This book is seriously AMAZING for people who enjoy reading thrillers, contemporaries, or environmentally focused books. It scratched all of those itches for me, plus benefitted from a fantastic narrator whose skills at accents blew me away. The voicework was just phenomenal. But most importantly, I love to learn things from the books that I read and this novel taught me so much about ecology and conservation, not to mention the wolf hunting crisis in Scotland. As a warning though, there is immense talk of gore, abuse, and rape in this book that could definitely be triggering. For me, it just read so powerfully and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

*Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review*

Another win by the author of last year's Migrations! This new environmental suspense mystery is so atmospheric and compelling! Set in the Scottish Highlands (which right away made my heart sing), this story is about Inti Flynn, a young biologist tasked with reintroducing 14 wolves in the hopes of rewilding the dying landscape. Naturally the locals are less than enthusiastic and when a farmer turns up dead Inti goes to great lengths to defend her wolves and try to prove someone else is the killer.

Apart from the great environmental stewardship and climate change commentary woven throughout this story, it is also a book about the bonds of sisterhood and domestic trauma. Inti's twin sister Aggie is secretly staying with her after suffering domestic abuse from her husband that leaves her mute and very much dependent on Inti for her basic needs. The sisters share a special connection that ultimately leads to more tragedy.

There was so much going on in this relatively short story I didn't want it to end! Amazing on audio with the voice talents of Saskia Maarleveld, this book will have you on the edge of your seat to the final page! Highly recommended especially for fans of multilayered mystery stories with depth. Much thanks to NetGalley, and Macmillan audio for my complimentary audio review copies.

This book has been all over the must read lists out there. It is a well written story that started off very strong, but seem to have a bit of a drop off for me as the story progressed.

Inti and Aggie move to Scotland to introduce grey wolves into the highlands. This will help with the ecosystem in the area. As you can imagine the people of the town are not happy about this new venture, but Inti insists she can do this safely.

An incident occurs when a farmer goes missing, and he was very vocal about not wanting these wolves here. Of course Inti, is questioned about her whereabouts and of course about her wolves. She goes to great lengths to save prove her wolves were not involved.

Told with lots of care and with segments of her history of her previous post in Alaska, McConaghy lays out a complex story. While it instantly grabbed me, it did lose much of its luster for me. However, I know this will be a book that people will absolutely love.

Thank you NetGalley and Flatiron Books/Macmillan Audio for an Advanced Reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy was a beautifully written book set in the wild Scottish Highlands where many sheep farmers existed. Charlotte McConaghy’s talents shone through once again. She was able to combine a good murder mystery with the good intentions and influences of a small group of biologists. The group of biologists were trying to balance and improve the ecosystem by reintroducing 14 gray wolves back into the remote Highlands. Unfortunately, they were met with great opposition from the over abundance of skeptical and fearful sheep farmers. The biologists believed that this was the solution to restoring order to the world’s ecosystem and they were determined to see it through despite the opposition.

Twin sisters, Inti Flynn and Aggie Flynn were born in Australia. Inti arrived in the Scottish Highlands as the leader of the group of biologists she headed. She was accompanied by her twin sister, Aggie, who for undisclosed reasons was broken. Aggie could no longer find her voice or venture from the safety of the cabin she shared with Inti. She was totally reliant on her twin sister for all her basic necessities. Something terrible made Inti and Aggie have to leave Alaska so abruptly and jump into this new endeavor. Inti was determined and committed to reintegrate gray wolves into the wild to save the ecosystem. Her secret hope was to also save her twin sister as well who was presently mute and very traumatized. Inti’s focus was steadfast until a farmer disappeared and was suspected to have become prey to the wolves she was responsible for. Inti knew in her heart that a wolf would not attack in the circumstances the farmers believed had happened. Although, Inti disliked this farmer that disappeared, she was determined to prove that her wolves had no part in his death.

Once There Were Wolves was beautifully written and as memorable as Migrations. The characters in Once There Were Wolves were strong and complex and stayed with me long after I finished this book. I listened to the audiobook that was narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. Her performance was stellar. She easily transitioned from one character to the next and kept my attention throughout. Charlotte McConaghy was able to combine the elements of mystery, rape, romance, sisterly devotion, physical and emotional abuse of women, family drama, survival and hope in her newest book, Once There Were Wolves. She also was able to recapture the recurring theme of climate change and the damage humans had caused our planet. It was both heartbreaking and hopeful. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy and I highly recommend it. Once There Were Wolves will be published on August 3, 2021.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this audiobook through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book is layered with stories of brutality- of men, wolves, and the overall challenges of life and death. It is both fascinating (especially when there are opportunities to learn about wolves) and harrowing (when dealing with domestic abuse). In a way, it's also a story about learning your limits and how to overcome the ghosts of the past that continuously sneek up on you later on in life. A challenging yet beautifully written book.

Set in the Scottish Highlands, Once We Were Wolves describes the life of Inti Flynn as she reintroduces the wolves into the Highlands against the wishes of the local residents.

I found this to be a dark, foreboding tale, full of past mysteries that are slowly revealed. Inti has brought along her twin sister, who has suffered a traumatic event. Inti also has a special gift (or curse) called mirror touch synesthesia, which causes her to feel other’s pain.

Inti quickly becomes romantically involved with Duncan, the local sheriff. Theirs is a complicated relationship, as they both have a past full of painful secrets.

Bringing the wolves was important to the area to restore the dying landscape and help with the over population of deer in the area. However, the locals are fearful of the wolves killing their sheep and cattle and they are not very friendly to Inti when she arrives with the wolves.

I was fascinated by the process of releasing the wolves into the wild and learning about their nature. I also loved how Inti was so intuitive to their needs.

This is a complicated and at times violent story, so sensitive readers may not want to read this.
I listened on audio, with Saskia Maarleveld narrating. She did a wonderful job. I intend to visit this story again in book form. It’s definitely one worth re-reading.

Many thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan audio for allowing me to listen to an early audio release and give my honest review.

Let me just start with wow! I was kind of apprehensive about this book because of all the trigger warnings such as domestic violence and in a few parts, there are some gruesome parts and animal death too. However, I think this book is amazing! It has a lot of love, healing, and mystery added to it as well!
Inti Flynn is part of a group that is bringing the wolves back, they want to help with the climate and are basically reintroducing wolves in Scotland. However, as livestock and farming are the majority of the breadwinning there they are met with a lot of agitation and hostility towards the wolves. The farmers are ready to go to bat about not wanting the wolves around because they are concerned about their livestock.
So while we have all that going on there are flashbacks between Inti and her sister and their past basically. There are stories about their mother, father and basically growing up with each other. While each other always had the other one to lean on a bad domestic violence situation between her sister and her sister's husband left both the sisters with scars and drastic issues. While another issue going on is that Inti has a condition or gift where she literally feels any pain or anything that she sees, so if someone gets punched she feels it as well. That in itself is an interesting part of the story!
Well, when Inti is going home one night from her boyfriends/friends with benefits type of person she discovers a man who is abdomen is sliced open and unable to think of her wolves doing this because if the wolves were at fault then they would all be put down and her mission would have failed. So, she protects her wolves by burying the body and this starts the whole investigation of a missing man.
Unable to accept that her wolves may be at fault she protects them with all her power and strength. But things still happen and some wolves are killed and in order to save her wolves from the blame she sets out on a mission to find out who actually killed the man and she finds out what her real priorities are.
This book once I started it was hard to put down! I loved the flashbacks that explained soo much and I loved the ending! It was a spectacular ending!
I listened to the audiobook and it was amazing the narrator had literally the perfect voice for this story! Thank you for the opportunity!