ctara2123's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Violence, Gun violence, Grief, Animal death, Death, Murder, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, and Vomit
Minor: Child abuse and Rape
ashley_mrose530's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
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
Okay so I absolutely love this book. I think it's beautifully written even if at first the writing felt childish - very similar to the Aristotle and Dante books. But that got better as the characters got older so I was able to get over it. I loved the characters, all of them, and how they interacted. I loved the story line and I loved Ox and Joe together eventually. Ox's story was so amazing and I loved watching him grow from the boy who idolizes his terrible father to the man who was able to lead the pack and care about them all so much. It was truly beautiful to see. The author did such a good job portraying grief and heartache throughout the whole book and I was so close to crying at work because of it. It was all really well done.
The only thing that made me a little uncomfortable was the age difference. When the wolf family was first introduced I found myself hoping that the love interest was Carter because it was mentioned that he was around Ox's age but it became clear that it was actually Joe really quickly and he was only 6 years old compared to Ox's 11 and that was incredibly icky to think about. I know the romance and attraction between them didn't start until Joe was 17 but Ox was still 22 at that time and that's still not really okay honestly. I think the author tried to save it a little bit by having Ox refuse to make it physical until Joe was at least 18 but it still didn't really sit well with me. He could have easily made him already 18. It wouldn't have made it completely okay, but it would have been a little better.
That being said, I still loved their relationship once they were older. I've always been a fan of friends to lovers and this one was done really well. I loved that Joe let Ox have his anger and sit with it even though he was dying to talk to Ox about everything and once they did finally talk, I felt like the communication was done well and they didn't jump right into anything which was nice to see.
Now I also have to talk about the elephant in the room. This is basically another version of Twilight except with werewolves and a mlm relationship. But I loved Twilight and I loved this one just as much honestly. I also thought it was really funny when the author even referenced it in the book. That was probably my favorite thing ever when I got to that part. It was so funny.
The only thing that made me a little uncomfortable was the age difference. When the wolf family was first introduced I found myself hoping that the love interest was Carter because it was mentioned that he was around Ox's age but it became clear that it was actually Joe really quickly and he was only 6 years old compared to Ox's 11 and that was incredibly icky to think about. I know the romance and attraction between them didn't start until Joe was 17 but Ox was still 22 at that time and that's still not really okay honestly. I think the author tried to save it a little bit by having Ox refuse to make it physical until Joe was at least 18 but it still didn't really sit well with me. He could have easily made him already 18. It wouldn't have made it completely okay, but it would have been a little better.
That being said, I still loved their relationship once they were older. I've always been a fan of friends to lovers and this one was done really well. I loved that Joe let Ox have his anger and sit with it even though he was dying to talk to Ox about everything and once they did finally talk, I felt like the communication was done well and they didn't jump right into anything which was nice to see.
Now I also have to talk about the elephant in the room. This is basically another version of Twilight except with werewolves and a mlm relationship. But I loved Twilight and I loved this one just as much honestly. I also thought it was really funny when the author even referenced it in the book. That was probably my favorite thing ever when I got to that part. It was so funny.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Grief, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, and Emotional abuse
ginniereads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual content, Violence, Abandonment, Blood, and Car accident
mandi_lea's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Child abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Torture
quinnyquinnquinn'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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, Murder, and Sexual content
Moderate: Kidnapping and Child abuse
Minor: Blood and Domestic abuse
elkboy23's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Abandonment, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Mental illness, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Rape, Grief, and Domestic abuse
viivacious's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a very sweet book. I was not expecting that, so I was pleasantly surprised. The characters in the pack were all lovable. I was nervous about the age difference in the romance but it was very well handled. And so very cute and funny. I liked seeing the characters at different ages and how they grew, though I wish that the lighearteness of their younger days could have made a comeback toward the end. I liked the way repetition was used in the writing, the way grammar broke down when in wolf form, the humor, and that Ox was able to find better father figures and a whole family.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, and Death of parent
Minor: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
ts_anne13's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
tense
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Murder, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Death, Grief, and Torture
ravenk28's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
5.0
This book has me searching for words to describe how amazing it was. I was consumed by this book from the very beginning. From the way Ox was introduced to the way he worked through his hardships. I fell in love with every single character and felt every emotion portrayed by the TJ Klune, he truly is a wonderful story teller.
I felt such a personal connection to Ox, to his struggles and his way of protecting his pack. Him and Joe were so meant to be in every way possible
This was an all round phenomenal book.
I felt such a personal connection to Ox, to his struggles and his way of protecting his pack. Him and Joe were so meant to be in every way possible
This was an all round phenomenal book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death of parent, and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Torture, and Child abuse
Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, and Gore
pagewanderer_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Wolfsong is the first book in the Green Creek Series.
Oxnard Matheson is just a boy from a small town who thinks himself worthless because his father told him so when he left when Ox was only 12. "Dumb as an ox." He creates a home with his mom and his father's old coworkers at an auto shop and is content but doesn't feel complete. Then the Bennetts come to town. Rather, they come back after being gone for years. Beautiful and mysterious, just at the end of the lane.
On his 16th birthday, 10 year old Joe Bennett finds Ox walking home and is instantly curious about him. He introduces Ox to his family and they receive him happily right away. But they have a major secret: they’re shapeshifters. And it’s an emotional rollercoaster from there. From laughter on one page to gut-wrenching sobs the next, TJ Klune is a poetic storyteller.
The first half of the book is playful and fun because they’re kids. Ox finds a family in the Bennetts. When Ox is 23 and Joe, 17, tragedy strikes, people die, and choices are made. They’re forced to be adults. The second half is darker; raw and full of emotion. But surprisingly still a lot of action. The divide is clear and impactful and it was amazing to watch the characters grow as themselves and with each other. Even with Ox as the narrator, you can feel what the others feel and watch them evolve throughout the novel because they are so well developed.
Though there is a psychotic killer they are hunting for, the romance that blossomed between Joe and Ox is in the undercurrents throughout the entire book. Though the age gap is a hard pill to swallow (for me personally, since they met when Joe was so young), when you look at the “wolfiness” and development of feelings, it’s hard not to root for them. They go through it. So you do.
I will also say though that there is a lot of repetition when it comes to Joe and Ox’s feelings/conversations which seemed unnecessary because their emotions are already so evident. On the other hand, I couldn’t get enough of their possessiveness. I don’t know what that says about me, but it was hot especially because Ox started out this innocent, naive boy and Joe the sweetest cinnamon roll. The spice is on page, fantastic, but only a couple of drawn out scenes though it didn’t feel lacking.
Green Creek is full of magic and love and family and this story engulfs you in one giant bittersweet hug. I definitely recommend it, but to a mature audience. And I feel like there should be trigger warnings for rape (even though it doesn’t happen on page and only mentioned) and violence. Though there is not a cliffhanger, there are still some questions left unanswered about things that were introduced— like witches!— and I can’t wait to read more about it in the next book(s) in the series.
Thank you to the author, the publishers and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Abandonment, and Murder
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Domestic abuse