Best book about shifters I have ever read. This book is stunning. The writing, the characters, everything about this story worked for me and I was all in.

Thanks to NetGalley for the copy. I didn't realize this was a re-release of an older book by Klune...

I give this book 3.5 stars--it's not absolutely amazing but it's pretty fun. I honestly had no idea this was about werewolves, so it was a really nice surprise. I just like picking out stuff with wolves...and Klune is a proven good author...so it works.

So, Ox is a really well-written protagonist and he's not a typical one, he's very...non-detailed oriented, and more people-oriented. This works because the story is more about the people, the pack, and the community, rather than environmental details.

The age gap bothered me, and how it feels like we still didn't get enough of the romance developing. I actually can't really tell if this is primarily a romance or found-family book because it had both, but I feel like most of the focus was on found-family. Which was my favorite part anyway.

Joe was kinda eh and I thought he was ironically similar to Edward (Twilight) in that he kept making decisions for his love interest which pisses everyone off, including the reader. Ox and the found-family carried the book for me.

I feel bad not rating it higher but I didn't understand Joe's terrible reasoning for disappearing for THREE YEARS? And he was so mad at Ox when he got back which was so weird! Bro! You're the one who vanished, not Ox! It was one of those stupid character decisions that drags the story down because I don't understand why everyone was okay with Joe being a jerkwad half the time, ha. I think it would've helped if we had Joe's POV or at least more scenes of Joe & Ox hanging out.

Still, this was a fun werewolf/found-family book. It's cool to see how far Klune has gone since his early works, I'm glad he's still working on the found-family angle in his books because that's his greatest strength.

TJ is a phenomenal writer. His ability to get you attached to fictional characters, and become fully immersed in the fictional world is incredible. I love the character journeys for everyone. This is an endearing and magical story. There’s heartache, destined to be romantic partnerships, love - so much love, growth, loss, found family, secrets, healing, a story that spans times. The chemistry between Ox and Joe is enough to reel you in, but truly - all of the familiar and friendship relationships will keep you hooked. The camaraderie in the friend group is like no other. The story will keep you on a rollercoaster of emotions. It’s so beautiful.

I love this author’s writing so much. It draws me in and paints an amazing world that is so beautifully descriptive.
This is the story of Ox a kid who’s Dad called him stupid and that he’d have a life of “shit”. Then he meets a broken little boy named Joe. And his whole world changes. If I had to I would classify this as an MM paranormal romance. But it is so so much more.

I am a huge fan of T.J. Klune, he’s such an amazing storyteller and despite not loving this as much as his other reads it’s still a beautifully written book. Quick read filled with connection and love, which is central tenet of his books. Loved Ox such a complex character and love that he was tethered to both Joe and Gordo. Didn’t love the age difference between Joe and Ox especially developing a romantic relationship, this relationship was however filled with love rather than toxicity. I found the whole book a bit slower than the other books I’ve read and it took me a bit longer to get into. Loved all the characters, all written well and I want to know more about some of the peripheral characters from the human pack. Hope Gordo and Mark find their way back to each other. The 3 year separation between characters especially between ox and Joe/Gordo a bit unnecessary and the time length glossed over a little. Enjoyed this book and thanks to @tor I have raven song approved to read next.
3.5 stars

When I was younger, I felt a strong connection to books exploring the realms of mythology and fantasy. The idea of a hidden world existing just beyond the limits of our imagination intrigued me, and I found solace in the escapism that these stories offered. As a young reader, The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Harry Potter offered me that sense of wonder and adventure that I craved. I didn’t think I would find a book that could capture that same feeling as an adult, but TJ Klune’s ‘Wolfsong’ ignited a similar spark inside me. Set in a small rural town called Green Creek, Wolfsong tells the story of Ox, a young boy who discovers love and connection with an unexpected group of people, the Bennett Family. Unbeknownst to Ox, the Bennett family holds secrets beyond imagination.

Wolfsong is a captivating and heartfelt tale that delves into the intricacies of family, love, and the power of self-discovery. Through the eyes of Oxnard Matheson, or ‘Ox’ for short, readers are pulled into a world where mystery and enchantment blend seamlessly, bringing forth a mesmerizing and unforgettable story. From the start, Wolfsong immerses readers into Ox’s life, a young boy whose path crosses with the enigmatic Bennett family, igniting a rollercoaster of emotions and unearthing long-held secrets. As Ox navigates the complexities of adolescence and attempts to find his place in the world, he becomes undeniably drawn to the captivating allure of the Bennett family, but most importantly, their youngest son, Joe. Little does Ox know that the Bennett family is not your average next-door neighbor. They possess a profound and transformative secret – a secret intricately tied to the calling of the full moon. As the story unfolds, Ox finds himself entangled in a web of lies, betrayal, and murder as deeper secrets of the Bennett family come to light.

I went into this book as blind as a bat, knowing almost nothing about the plot or the characters. I figured since it was written by TJ Klune and I loved his previous works like “The House in the Cerulean Sea,” I would give Wolfsong a chance and that it would be well worth it. And boy, was I right. From the beginning, Klune captivated me with his unique writing style and vivid descriptions, as simple as they may be. Klune has a way of immersing readers into the story, allowing them to feel as if they are living alongside the characters and experiencing their emotions firsthand. Every step you take alongside Ox and the Bennett Family is like you’re there in the heart of their world, feeling every emotion they feel at the time: love, grief, anger, and joy as if it were your own. The way Klune explores the themes of found family and connection is truly remarkable. He effortlessly weaves together the supernatural elements of werewolves with the raw emotions and complexities of human relationships, creating a story that’s both thrilling and heartwarming. The only quip I had with this book was the insurmountable amount of angst Ox goes through when Joe leaves and then unexpectedly returns. The emotional rollercoaster he experiences in several chapters became overwhelming and repetitive, so much so that I almost skimmed to skip. Other than that, I loved this book and can’t wait to read the rest of the Green Creek Series.

It's candy canes and pinecones. And epic and awesome. And it's everything you would expect from a TJ Klune book, except with a lot more angst and smut. Wolfsong is technically a back list title of Klunes, but Tor is re-releasing the series. If you haven't read the series before, like me, this is the time.

Clocking in at nearly six hundred pages, don't let the size of the book intimidate you - I read the book in two days. I could not put it down. I was enthralled. Told from the point of view of Ox, beginning when he is twelve years old, the book's timeline spans a little over a decade.

At first it was hard to get into the book, but the minute Ox meets ten year old Joe on the dirt road outside his house on the day he turns sixteen, I was hooked. What follows is the slowest of slow-burns, and the most satisfying fantasy story about werewolves I've read.

As you would expect from a Klune book by now, the book is full of found family and unconditional love. The book has the squishy feelings his other books have, and you will be laughing and smiling and your heart will be bursting. Except, where this one differs is there are several events that will just rip out your heart and stomp on it. But they don't hurt too bad, because this is Klune, so he'll just add more found family and unconditional love to temper the blow.

This book made me laugh, it made me cry, it made my heart swell. If you're a fan of Klune, you should definitely pick this up. If you've never read Klune before, you could also read it, but I suggest you also read all the rest of his books as well. Klune is a favorite author of mine, and he's never let me down. I hope you will enjoy him too.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor books for the ARC. I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

When I was approved for this ARC I did a happy dance. This is another fantastic read by TJ Klune. If you love a bit of werewolf then Wolfsong is the read for you!
This has to be one of my favourites reads of 2023.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this captivating book

Ox was told by his father very early on that he would never amount to anything. That's what Ox remembers most about his father, right before he left him and his mother for good. Ox never thought he would ever have a real family until he met Joe's family and he became part of "their pack."

When Ox was twenty-three, he was faced with a terrible tragedy that took a big piece of his heart. Joe leaves for three whole years, which brings up ill feelings about his father and his abandonment issues. Ox doesn't know if he can ever forgive Joe for the pain that he's caused.

When Joe finally returns, he is no longer the boy that Ox remembers in his head. He is a man, and Ox realizes that he has never stopped loving Joe even in his absence. They are bonded in a way that Ox could never have imagined.

This is a story about friendship, love, found family, resilience and loyalty. It will take you on an emotional roller coaster, so be prepared! I have loved every one of TJ Klune's books. The writing is superb and the story is beautiful and profound. It is much more steamy than any of his other books, and I was not prepared for that--WOW! This is the first book in a series, so I suggest starting here before picking up the others. This book was one of my picks for pride month.

Special thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

"I couldn't find the words to say what I wanted. Sometimes, when your heart gets so full, it takes away your voice and all you can do is hold on for dear life."

This quote is the best way to sum up how I feel about Wolfsong. I have been in love with TJ Klune's writing since I read The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door. Both of those books brought me to tears multiple times, both from sadness and from joy. I should have expected nothing less from Wolfsong.

Klune has a way of writing that attaches you to his characters from the beginning of the book. They never describe themselves as amazing human beings. They always think of themselves as average. It is those around them who recognize their greatness and work so hard to show how amazing the main character truly is. I think it resonates with how so many of us feel - how we hope that in someone else's eyes we are seen as extraordinary, even if we can't see it ourselves.

Wolfsong drew me in from the very first chapter when Ox's dad leaves and tells him he isn't very smart and will be getting shit for his entire life. We see Ox grow into this amazing person who is actually very intelligent with amazing natural instinct and cares so deeply for his family and pack. But he still cannot get rid of the niggling feeling that he is dumb and deserves to get shit from everyone. It makes him so incredibly lovable from the start.

The remaining characters are just as easily loved. I could spend hours describing each person in the Bennett family and why they are amazing. Or why Gordo, Chris, Tanner, and Rico are probably some of my favorite characters for their love, openness, and easy acceptance of others, but also the ability to make you laugh by giving Ox shit.

In addition to the amazing characters, the setting of the series is forever ingrained in my mind. The town of Green Creek, the house at the end of the lane, the old house, the shop, and the diner have such clear pictures to me that I'm sure will flow through the remainder of the series.

The storyline itself is equally amazing as the characters and setting. First - the casual inclusion LGBTQ+ characters is a specialty of TJ Klune. I love that his stories always include LGBTQ+ characters, but it isn't a huge deal. There aren't dramatic coming out stories or people being violent because a character is LQBTQ+. It is a normal part of the story and everyone accepts it - as it should be. Nope, the violence occurs just because there are good and bad life forces - it has nothing to do with someone's sexuality which is so very refereshing!

Second - the story has a natural flow. This book is longer than a "typical" novel - 528 pages. But Klune does a wonderful job of building the world and keeping the storyline moving throughout. There was never a point in time where I was bored or uninterested in what was happening. There was so much emotion built into the story - I honestly felt myself getting angry, happy, amused, and sad. (oh gosh.. am I a wolf and part of the pack?!?!) There were moments I laughed out loud and moments I had to put the book down because I was crying. I am so invested in these characters and the stories in the rest of the Green Creek series!

I would easily give this book 10 stars if I could, but 5 will have to do!

4.5/5

If I had a nickel for every time this year that I thought I was getting into a rich creature fantasy about found family but ended up getting that + a hefty amount of some of the most eyebrow raising smut I’ve ever read in my life I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice. (I can’t say I hated it tho?)

Maybe I should start really pouring through reviews to vet books instead of just looking at a synopsis and being like “woah that sounds awesome!”

I’d just finished my ARC of In the Lives of Puppets without having read anything else by TJ Klune and was honestly just looking for other stuff by an author I’d discovered I really liked. In retrospect, maybe the main character being ace made it a lot more mellow than Klune’s other stuff. Is this how most of his stuff is???? Idk, but if I start reading Cerulean Sea and get some down and dirty fucking I guess I’ll have my answer. Someone tell me what I’m getting myself into here.

In all seriousness, I really did like this book. It was incredibly engaging. Engaging enough that I read a 500 page book in less than 2 days. I BLEW through this. I was immediately won over by the characters. I feel like queer love written by queer authors is always satisfying, but Klune really does have some kind of magic. The writing style is like a cup of tea, I could slip into it and stay forever.

My biggest complaint would be that some of the messages get VERY repetitive. The main character has a line he probably repeats every other page. But honestly, I can’t even bring myself to really mind. If you’re reading this for the smut, power to you. Seeing as I was taken by surprise, I thought that the entire epilogue was unnecessary. Still, that’s nobody’s fault but my own. I surprised myself with how invested I got in this. Without spoiling, I’ll say I think it took me even longer to forgive Joe than it took Ox. To the extent that some events felt rushed at points just for the sake of plot advancement.

Still, thoroughly enjoyable. Happy Pride to all the gay werewolves out there.

"You smell like candy canes and pinecones and epic and awesome."

My first introduction to TJ Klune was The House in the Cerulean Sea and I was blown away by the writing and he can make you giggle uncontrollably in one minute and bawl your eyes out the next. So I am slowly working my way through his backlist. I was thrilled when I received a NetGalley copy of Wolfsong due to the reprinting this year.

Wolfsong is utter emotional damage. The things Ox and Joe and the Bennetts have been through is just awful but this book is filled with so much love and so much heart. The concept of found family is so well done and enhanced with with werewolf pack bonds. It is told in the POV of Ox, who so perfectly embodies the gentle giant, a man of few words, who sees the world so simply that others mistake him for simple. That is the furthest thing from the truth. The writing is so perfectly reflective of Ox and who he is is. It's just so - Ox. You will now what I mean once you've read it. His growth in this book from a 12 year old boy to 26 year old man is amazing as a well as for Joe from 10 to 20 years old.

I do have this categorized as a romance because the romance is definitely a major plot theme however the focus is really on the families and pack bonds, protecting those you love and trusting those you consider family. I have to address the negative reviews for the sole reason of the romance between Joe & Ox. Yes they meet when Joe is 10 and Ox is 16. <spoiler> And yes, Joe claims Ox as his future mate at just 10. And yes, Ox feels a special connection with Joe (and the Bennetts), however he never once thinks of Joe that way until Joe is a few months away from being 18 and clearly very much no longer a boy. And Ox, when he realizes his attraction to Joe, is extremely uncomfortable with it at first. Once it is in the open and acknowledged that Joe choses him as his mate, Ox makes it clear that nothing romantic (sexual) will happen until after Joe is 18. And nothing does. Except for a very chaste kiss before Joe leaves Ox. All sexual acts occur after Joe returns home at 20 years old. At no point in this story is Ox lusting after a small child or grooming Joe. It would have been "better", as in making less people upset, for Ox to have feelings for Joe a few months AFTER he turned 18 rather than before. But it is what it is and I personally feel it was handled well and not predatory at all.</spoiler>

I am immediately jumping into the next books.

T.J. Klune does it AGAIN. I'm so mad I hopped on the TJK train this late.

It's been a while since I've picked up a book that I could not stop thinking about between reads. I DREAMED about this book. This is what Twighlight was trying to be. These are the werewolves we deserved. This is the coming of age story we needed. And I'm LIVING for gay werewolves!

The writing style is unlike anything I've read before. Something about the prose is almost poetic, almost slam. I don't know that anyone else could have pulled it off.

My only gripe with the book was a bit of an ick. I love a good friends to lovers trope, but when the POV character, Ox, and the love interest, Joe, start out as (friends) 10 and 16 respectively, it feels a little uncomfortable. And when Ox has his "oh" moment with Joe, Joe is still only 17... I wonder if I needed them closer in age, or the same years apart but starting older? I'm not sure. I'll have to sit on that.

All and all, I already cannot stop talking about this book. It's a fantastic read, especially for fantasy and werewolf lovers.

Every time I pick up a TJ Klune book I have to prepare to have my heart ripped open (in the best way that only a book can do) and Wolfsong was no exception.
Wolfsong takes place over ten years (give or take) and follows Ox and the relationship he forms with the Bennett family when they move into the house down the road in Green Creek. He has an instant connection with the youngest Bennett boy, Joe, and their relationship develops and evolves into one of mates in their werewolf shifter pack. Together they take on a big bad from Joe's past and Ox's present. The relationships that Ox develops not only with the Bennett's, but others in Green Creek who learn the secrets of their pack, are a focal point in the story as Ox learns that family can be what you make it and to have confidence in himself and his role in the pack.
This book is gorgeously written and the way Klune weaves the information readers need to understand the pack dynamic and magic system doesn't overwhelm the characters and the journey they take through love, loss, and healing.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait to dive into Ravensong for the continuation of the Green Creek pack's story.

DNF. Honestly, the summaries I read on GoodReads scared me away from it. I'll try and come back at some point.

I’m sorry, but I just wasn’t able to finish this. I don’t know if it’s me just going in with the wrong expectations, or if it’s the book just not living up to what I hoped from it. I love TJ Klune. I loved the 2 books that I read from him. There were a few things about this that I just could not move past however. The age gap (5 years) between the love interests wouldn’t usually bother me too much, but knowing they met at 10 and 17 and basically twilight style imprinted on each other just rubs me the wrong way. And then at 17 and 23 they were starting a relationship and the 23 year old even mentions how the other isn’t 18 yet. He’s a minor. And yet he still talked about getting a boner for him. That is when I stopped. The writing also just wasn’t on par with his other novels. I refuse to believe that the man who wrote The Heart in the Cerulean Sea is the same man who wrote “and then once he agrees to be mine I’ll mount him and then bite him”.

I just love TJ Klune. Every book has such unique groups and relationships. The underlying theme always seems to come back to the family you choose. I was a little scared by the length of this one. If you are, don’t be. Once you get into this world, it will just carry you along with it. That is what has been missing in so many of the books I’ve read lately. Immersion. I became immersed in the world and read most of it waiting out thunderstorms in a hotel room all the way across the country from my home. There is something about doing that in a strange place. I think it helps with the experience. Darkening skies. Rumbling thunder. Lightning. Pattering rain.

I absolutely felt everything for Ox. My students are so often damaged by the words and actions of those meant to love them. I always hope they can find a family that will allow them to believe in themselves again.

TJ Klune takes you up and down but you always feel the heart.

TJ Klune is by far one of my most favorite authors, so when I was approved for this ARC I was ecstatic! To me, this book is very different from Klune’s other recent releases (Under the Whispering Door, House in the Cerulean Sea, and In the Lives of Puppets). LGBTQIA+ representation is in Wolfsong, just like in Klune’s other books, but this one definitely had more spice than the others. I loved the story. Loved the characters. Loved it all. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

I am a fan of everything I have read by TJ Klune was extremely excited to get approved for this galley. Our main character Ox is a teenager who doesn't really fit in. His father left and the kids at school bully him but things begin to change when the Bennett family moves to town. Ox becomes fast friends with the youngest Bennett, Joe, and the story becomes one of found family. The Bennett's have a secret, they are shapeshifters and are quite influential amongst the wolves. As a result, they are major targets. The characters are so heartwarming and the writing style is brilliant.

Spoilers ahead! I have the most mixed feelings ever on this book because I liked it so much more retrospectively than I did while reading it? I actually did like most of the characters, but it didn't feel that way during the book because some of my favorites were absent for half of the book. I hated Joe, so the romance felt weaker sometimes in that regard, but I still shipped Ox and Joe and wanted them to get together.
My favorite characters were Carter and Elizabeth because I like chaos and nice people respectively, but I didn't dislike most of the others. In terms of plot, I compared the time in which Joe, Carter, and Gordo were gone to looking at a desert and just feeling bad. Their absence felt tangible in a bad way, and I thought it was crazy that side characters and main characters getting their own book later would be gone for three years. I despised this one scene, but the rest of the book besides that and the so-called desert without the others was fun for me. I actually felt like this book had too MUCH plot at some times for the overall setting and vibe if that makes any sense.
While I was texting my friend about this book and binging it (I read it in a day), I felt worse about it than I did later on. At first, I was going to give it 2.5 stars or something, but then I realized I totally want to read the rest of the series and that counts for something. I'd recommend this for people that want a werewolf book with high stakes and some romance, but not people thinking it'll just be romance or fun. That's only the first half.