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_forestofpages's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was very nearly a new favorite of mine. This was all the nostalgic teen wolf feelings.
I felt instantly protective and connected to Ox, and in love with how TJ Klune wrote him and his journey from an abused and bullied boy to a confident man with a pack he'd do anything for. He's a precious character that I will love always.
Why am I rating this lower? Mostly, because of the repetitions, the pacing which was a mess past the 300 page mark and the writing which started so well but I think deteriorated toward the end of act 2. It felt like a lot of that section was padded and just went on for too long, for me. I do love the ending, but it was still a lot of conversations being repeated and parts that definitely could have been cut and nothing about the story or character development would have changed. Also, the choice to make the age gap six years and have one of them be eleven when they meet is something I will never like or understand. He could have been a year older or maybe two, why six??
(Side note: I am picky about sex scenes because if it's too detailed I can't take it seriously and I usually just laugh. The one really explicit scene in this book was WAY too detailed and IMO went on too long. It was like fifteen pages ffs)
Overall, I am excited for the rest of the series, despite my issues with the length and bloat of book 1.
I felt instantly protective and connected to Ox, and in love with how TJ Klune wrote him and his journey from an abused and bullied boy to a confident man with a pack he'd do anything for. He's a precious character that I will love always.
Why am I rating this lower? Mostly, because of the repetitions, the pacing which was a mess past the 300 page mark and the writing which started so well but I think deteriorated toward the end of act 2. It felt like a lot of that section was padded and just went on for too long, for me. I do love the ending, but it was still a lot of conversations being repeated and parts that definitely could have been cut and nothing about the story or character development would have changed. Also, the choice to make the age gap six years and have one of them be eleven when they meet is something I will never like or understand. He could have been a year older or maybe two, why six??
(Side note: I am picky about sex scenes because if it's too detailed I can't take it seriously and I usually just laugh. The one really explicit scene in this book was WAY too detailed and IMO went on too long. It was like fifteen pages ffs)
Overall, I am excited for the rest of the series, despite my issues with the length and bloat of book 1.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Death, Blood, and Death of parent
madscientistcat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Gore and Torture
Minor: Rape
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Racism, and Abandonment
Content warnings are only for what I read. Stopped reading because of age gap concerns regarding the main romance.mj_james_writes's review against another edition
Continued use of the "r" word, including the narrator calling himself that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
amyalwaysbooked's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I feel like this is a huge "your mileage may vary" sort of book. For some, like myself, it's a story that is easy to lose yourself in. The Bennett pack welcomes you into their found family and doesn't let go. But I can see how the story and its writing wouldn't vibe with other readers. I say vibe because this book is very much a vibe. It's, much like Ox, "candy canes and pinecones and epic and awesome". But all of that comes with a narration that is very steam-of-consciousness. Ox tells the story as if he were sitting down with a stranger and telling them everything about himself and Joe and the whole Bennett pack as he remembers it. There's repetition and clunky sentences, especially in terms of back-and-forth dialogue. It isn't refined. It's personal. I can see how this could be annoying for some readers and charming for others. Honestly, at times it felt tedious, which is why I went with four stars instead of five. Overall though, I found the narrative choices compelling.
Another hangup I imagine readers might have with this book is the age gap between Joe and Ox. Joe is 10 and Ox is 16 when they first meet and while there is an obviously special connection between them from the start nothing romantic or sexual occurs between the two of them until much later. Klune does a good job of clearly showing Ox interested in other people for romantic/sexual relationships while Joe is still a kid. Granted, Joe is still a teenager when they go on their first date but the plot interrupts everything and nothing substantial happens between them until Joe is firmly an adult. Plus all of this is handwaved under the fated mates trope. Personally, I think that Klune established the relationship over the course of the novel well enough that I was invested in them. However, I can see how it would be a sticking point for other readers.
Above the romance though, the found family is really the heart of the story. Ox and his mother were abused and abandoned by Ox's father, leaving them a bit broken and a bit empty. The arrival of the Bennett back signals a new beginning for them and they are enveloped into a brand new family that only grows over the course of the novel. I found every member of the pack to be endearing in their own way, and look forward to seeing more of them in the books that follow.
Another hangup I imagine readers might have with this book is the age gap between Joe and Ox. Joe is 10 and Ox is 16 when they first meet and while there is an obviously special connection between them from the start nothing romantic or sexual occurs between the two of them until much later. Klune does a good job of clearly showing Ox interested in other people for romantic/sexual relationships while Joe is still a kid. Granted, Joe is still a teenager when they go on their first date but the plot interrupts everything and nothing substantial happens between them until Joe is firmly an adult. Plus all of this is handwaved under the fated mates trope. Personally, I think that Klune established the relationship over the course of the novel well enough that I was invested in them. However, I can see how it would be a sticking point for other readers.
Above the romance though, the found family is really the heart of the story. Ox and his mother were abused and abandoned by Ox's father, leaving them a bit broken and a bit empty. The arrival of the Bennett back signals a new beginning for them and they are enveloped into a brand new family that only grows over the course of the novel. I found every member of the pack to be endearing in their own way, and look forward to seeing more of them in the books that follow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Ableism
k80mae's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
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? Yes
3.25
I find myself struggling to write any kind of nuanced review for this book. On the one hand, I absolutely devoured it in just a little over a day. I read the first 300 pages in one sitting. I found the characters and their voices to be absolutely compelling, even if their arcs felt circuitous and repetitious at times. Ox especially had an absolutely wonderful narrative voice and made it so easy to be immersed in his story when normally, I find the first person POV absolutely grating. Every single one of his platonic relationships were compelling and interesting and I wish had been fleshed out even more than they were. The interpersonal dynamics here were fascinating and so much fun to read.
On the other hand, I don't know if I was really sold on the romance here. Next to Ox and the rest of the cast of characters, Joe did not feel nearly as fleshed out or strong of a character. Throughout the book, he was the only character whose voice I felt did not land for me. Considering he is the main romantic interest and driving force behind Ox's actions, it made it difficult to invest myself in the romance. What I find myself most distracted by, however, is that I was completely unable to look at the world-building and plot and not think that the author had to have been inspired by fandom for a very specific television show popular in the 2010s. Nearly every world-building element felt like a detail I had already seen before, to the point where I wouldn't be surprised to have found this on AO3. I don't want to outright say that this is a negative quality because I do think that it absolutely worked for this story, but it made for a very distracting read even as I sped through it.
Overall, I'm not sure if I will personally continue with the series, but this is absolutely the kind of book that has a very particular audience who I hope is able to find it.
On the other hand, I don't know if I was really sold on the romance here. Next to Ox and the rest of the cast of characters, Joe did not feel nearly as fleshed out or strong of a character. Throughout the book, he was the only character whose voice I felt did not land for me. Considering he is the main romantic interest and driving force behind Ox's actions, it made it difficult to invest myself in the romance. What I find myself most distracted by, however, is that I was completely unable to look at the world-building and plot and not think that the author had to have been inspired by fandom for a very specific television show popular in the 2010s. Nearly every world-building element felt like a detail I had already seen before, to the point where I wouldn't be surprised to have found this on AO3. I don't want to outright say that this is a negative quality because I do think that it absolutely worked for this story, but it made for a very distracting read even as I sped through it.
Overall, I'm not sure if I will personally continue with the series, but this is absolutely the kind of book that has a very particular audience who I hope is able to find it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Gore, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Sexual assault
Minor: Alcoholism and Bullying
Sexual assault is threatened, but the description in that threat is repeatedly vivid so the SA tag is necessary. The adult/minor relationship is a bit of a grey area, but when Ox and Joe enter a romantic relationship, Joe is still only 17.joshoonet's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
- MY HEART
- TJ Klune you have done it again
- The next volume only comes out in August (at least in the edition that fits the one i have now) and i am in pain
- I only read Cerulean Sea and Whispering Door before this, and... this is darker. And SMUTTIER. Also people say fuck. I like it!
- Klune is one of my favourite authors because he always includes healthy, but realistic! communication, especially between men. It's just so damn refreshing.
- Also a bunch of queer characters! Incredible! I have yet to find a trans character though, maybe in his next book?
- His book have been the only one to make me genuinely emotional in a long time
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Torture, and Murder
Minor: Ableism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Rape, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Ableism, Domestic Abuse, Alcohol:rachratesreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book caught me by surprise (especially my rating of it). I typically don’t like romance books with a lot of angst, which this was. HOWEVER, this wasn’t just a romance book. Wolfsong is a coming-of-age story, a story of first loves, grief, loss, and the ridiculous things we do when we’re in love. It’s not a spoiler per say, because this information is literally on the back of the book, but Joe leaves. Joe separates himself from Ox for three years and readers get to see how the characters are effected by this decision. What I loved about this was the immaturity of the decision. Did I want to smack Joe upside the head? Yes. Did this decision make sense considering he was a high-strong, grieving teenager? Also yes. The whole decision wasn’t black and white, and we also get to see how they work through this separation once they were finally reunited. I can’t really say any more about that without spoiling other things. I just love the was TJ Klune writes these layered characters who feel such raw emotions. They’re so real, it’s beautiful. (Add him to the list of authors I really admire).
Another amazing part of Wolfsong is the werewolves and the world building surrounding them. Whenever I read shifter romance, I feel subjected to the borderline A/B/O dynamics (iykyk) with all the goddamn sniffing. If I never read another book about “smelling like [character’s] mate,” it’ll be too soon. When it’s brought up, the sniffing is only really done in relation to identifying their mate, and that’s it. And that’s not what happens here. I’ll be frank, I really love “realistic” supernatural elements. I don’t care that their powers make them Super Strong, I want to know how it’s a hindrance. I want to know the embarrassing parts, because that’s what makes non-human characters relatable. They have hyper smell? I better read about some embarrassing scents. And that’s what TJ does in this book. There are so many awkward werewolf moments and I love it. I also love how we weren’t just told the characters were mates, but we were actually shown how they get to that point.
Honestly? I want to read all of the others and I want to do it now. Tor, I love you, and I’m glad these are getting traditionally published, but if you don’t release them all at the same time, I’m going to lose it.
CW: ableism, death of a parent, violence, blood, torture, sexual content, with mentions of SA and cannibalism
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content, Torture, and Blood
Minor: Sexual assault, Cannibalism, and Abandonment
mooka's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
devoured, quickly
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Domestic abuse and Homophobia
adancewithbooks's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Thank you to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway.
After reading Under the Whispering Door I knew I wanted to read more by Klune. I had heard about this earlier series by him so when I saw that Pan MacMillan was rereleasing it with a new cover on Netgalley I had to request the book.
Wolfsong is much more than just a werewolf story. It is a story of coming of age. Of becoming who you are. There such a depth and feeling in the story of Ox that it pulled so hard at my heart strings even if I had to get used to Ox as a character at first. But he grows so much as a character.
At the start I had to get used to the writing. It is a bit different than what I am used to. Short sentences, sometimes just words when it is in the head of the wolves. Many times going back to memories. Starting scenes with this is how it went for instance. It is a different style for sure. But it worked to help create the emotional tension. To get into Ox's head and grow along with him.
But what I loved more than anything were the relationships between the characters. How Ox connected with Gordo, Joe and the Bennett's. How the garage guys adapted him into the family. How his relationship with his mother grew throughout all that happened. How they were always there for each other.
After reading Under the Whispering Door I knew I wanted to read more by Klune. I had heard about this earlier series by him so when I saw that Pan MacMillan was rereleasing it with a new cover on Netgalley I had to request the book.
Wolfsong is much more than just a werewolf story. It is a story of coming of age. Of becoming who you are. There such a depth and feeling in the story of Ox that it pulled so hard at my heart strings even if I had to get used to Ox as a character at first. But he grows so much as a character.
At the start I had to get used to the writing. It is a bit different than what I am used to. Short sentences, sometimes just words when it is in the head of the wolves. Many times going back to memories. Starting scenes with this is how it went for instance. It is a different style for sure. But it worked to help create the emotional tension. To get into Ox's head and grow along with him.
But what I loved more than anything were the relationships between the characters. How Ox connected with Gordo, Joe and the Bennett's. How the garage guys adapted him into the family. How his relationship with his mother grew throughout all that happened. How they were always there for each other.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Torture
PTSD | Trauma