About the Book
(Via Pan MacMillan SA)
Ox Matheson was twelve when his father taught him a lesson: Ox wasn’t worth anything and people would never understand him. Then he left.
Ox was sixteen when the energetic Bennett family moved in next door, harbouring a secret that would change him forever. For the family are shapeshifters, who can transform into wolves at will. Drawn to their magic, loyalty and enduring friendships, Ox feels a gulf between this extraordinary new world and the quiet life he’s known. He also finds an ally in Joe, the youngest Bennett boy. Joe is charming and handsome, but haunted by scars he cannot heal.
Ox was twenty-three when murder came to town, and tore a hole in his heart. Violence flared, tragedy split the pack and Joe left town, leaving Ox behind. Three years later, the boy is back. Except now he’s a man – and Ox can no longer ignore the song that howls between them.
My thoughts
Having seen rave reviews of T.J. Klune’s “The House of the Cerulean Sea” and “Under the Whispering Door”, I grabbed this opportunity to get my hands on “Wolfsong”.
Originally published in 2016, Pan MacMillan recently released this edition of “Wolfsong”, the first of the Green Creek saga again.
Set in the lush green forests of Oregon, it was very easy to get pulled into this wonderful world of mystery and magic. This wonderful world of Wolfsong.
“It was warm like a summer day. It was candy canes and pinecones, it was epic and awesome, it was dirt and leaves and rain, it was grass and lake water and sunshine.
And
“Somewhere, a bird sang a song that ached.”
Just beautiful, don’t you think? “Wolfsong” is a deeply intense and emotional journey. Sometimes I felt as if I can’t breathe, because the passion ran so deep, and the author just knows how to convey that specific mood and enchantment.
“A shattered heart can be heavier than a broken limb.”
There is a quoteworthy line on almost every page. It is a story about destiny, about family, about home. It is also about trauma, angst, loss, and grief … And an epic love that is meant to be.
“He knew something was different about you. That you were wonderful, and kind, and amazing, but that there was something else. Not something more because what you were was already enough.”
And then some moments of clever humour as well:
“you’re some creepy-ass Twilight fan fiction?” I shrugged. “I don’t know what most of that means.” “I do,” Rico said. “And I’ll admit that’s not something I’m very proud of right now.”
I guess I can go quoting the book for days, and that may become a bit irritating if you haven’t read the book yet. A feature of the book is the “mind talk” which reminded me quite a bit of early Stephen King.
- Excellent world building
- Found family
- Riveting writing
- “You smell like candy canes and pinecones and epic and awesome.”
- Beautifully complex charachters
- Did I mention “werewolves”??
Be sure to check out the trigger warnings.
RRR (Roelia Reads Rating) 4/5
Genre: Fantasy, LGBT
Series or standalone: Series (book one of three)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 568
About the Author: https://www.tjklunebooks.com/
Thank you to Pan MacMillan SA for the opportunity to read this book.
@roelia_reads Yay! Bookmail! Thanks @Pan Macmillan @Pan Macmillan SA! T.J. Klune’s #Wolfsong #wolfsongbook #tjklune #tjklunebooks #roeliareads #bookifyza #booktok #southafricantiktok #southafricanbooktok ♬ Hungry Like the Wolf (US Remix) [2009 Remaster] – Duran Duran
BONUS:
I came across this playlist on Spotify “Werewolf playlist cuz they’re hard to find” by Panicking pagan – and this is the perfect accompaniment to this book!