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lynxpardinus's review
Moderate: Abandonment, Ableism, and Racism
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
Graphic: Ableism
amyalwaysbooked's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Ableism
k80mae's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Gore, Ableism, Grief, Murder, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Adult/minor relationship
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
- 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
Graphic: Abandonment, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Torture, Murder, and Animal death
Minor: Ableism, Alcohol, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Rape
Ableism, Domestic Abuse, Alcohol:rachratesreads's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death of parent, Ableism, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Sexual content, and Torture
Minor: Abandonment, Sexual assault, and Cannibalism
mooka's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Homophobia and Domestic abuse
adancewithbooks's review
5.0
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.
Graphic: Death of parent, Ableism, Abandonment, and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Torture
PTSD | Traumatieflingreads's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.5
This might read differently to somebody who is more touch-adverse so keep that in mind!
Rep: bisexual MC (bisexual is used on page!), it's said somewhere that werewolves are most commonly "fluid" in their sexuality so I'm assuming they're all meant to be m-spec as well. Multiple mlm couples, as well as a side character who feels aro-ace coded! I believe he gets his own book later in the series
Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Blood, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Kidnapping, Ableism, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, and Torture
rebelbelladonna's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Ableism, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Pedophilia, Stalking, and Torture
Minor: Domestic abuse