Once There Were Wolves

Inti Flynn is the protagonist. She is a woman in her early to mid-thirties, judging by the novel’s timeline. McConaghy does not provide many physical details about the character, except that she looks identical to her sister. The story is told from Inti’s point of view, and the reader gets to know her thoughts, feelings, and motives intimately. A barrier to this knowledge is that at times Inti is not aware of her feelings, especially when it comes to relationships. In these moments, the narrative maintains an element of suspense as Inti moves closer to revelations about her needs and desires.

Inti had a complex upbringing, moving between Australia and British Columbia. She is close with her twin sister Aggie, and their special bond forms the basis of most of the novel’s events. Inti experiences mirror-touch synesthesia, a condition that makes her feel the emotions and sensations of those around her. The condition is a double-edged sword because it allows her to feel compassion for others but also exposes her to violence and pain. The latter effect is crucial for the plot because it forced her to experience her sister’s rape, preventing her intervention and creating her own lasting trauma.