Reviews with content warning for Blood - Täällä oli susia

I wanted to like this book, I did until the second half. I liked the plot lines, but the story turned unbelievable and I was so frustrated with Inti by the end. The whole climax to the story was crazy: while very pregnant and in the winter she 1) drags Duncan's into her car and to a hospital 2) rides a horse into a mountain and magically finds the wolf she thinks attacked people 3)kills it and drags the wolf onto the horse 4)goes into labor 5)loses the horse 6) gives birth in the snow without her water breaking 7) keeps trying to walk home while steadily bleeding 8)falls asleep out there without somehow dying 9)a wolf pack cuddles her to keep her warm during the night. Like what?!?!

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tiphtap's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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mainereading's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I am in awe. This book was incredible, and it had a powerful message. It explores the relationship between humans and animals. But also the connection between humans and nature. It was a beautiful story but also very difficult to read at times. I feel like anyone who reads this would take something away from it. Also, I couldn’t help but think of the song Colors of the Wind by Judy Kuhn while reading this, which made it much more memorable.

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hangrim's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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malonesilence's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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lonelyghost173's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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moonbasket's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

The prose is lyrical and visceral. I enjoyed most of the book, but was turned off completely by the end and specifically the turn at the end.

As a twin, having Aggie be the secret killer instead of wolf number 10 really threw me for a loop. Having her then also commit suicide leaving for the wilderness and having Inti be complety fine with it was entirely out of the realm of believability.

I wish the book had focused more on family and relationships and less on the small town drama and traumatic backstory that felt, at times, over the top, and down-right voyeuristic. I do not want to discount the very real trauma that real life people have been through that may be similar, but the extent of the trauma felt beyond the edge of the bell curve to the point of voyeurism.

All told, I would not recommend the book. The ending spoiled the whole story for me. The only redeeming quality is the prose and inclusion of conservationism and rewilding.

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