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A review by nitzanschwarz
Wolfsong by TJ Klune
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
4.75
April 22 Re-Read
A 96% | Excellent
Just as good as the first time
Plot – 18/20
If I had to explain the plot of this novel, I guess I’d describe it as a “coming of age” story, heavily intertwined with one of my favorite tropes – found family. We are taken along for the ride as Oxnard "Ox" Matheson grows from a 12 years old child to a twenty-six years old man. I think Ox’s journey is wonderfully shown through his relationship to the word “man”. He father, shitty as he was, had told him men don’t cry. He had told him many other things that take Ox years to shake off, but it’s the progression of his relationship with being a “man” that’s the most significant. Because Ox believes his father. Later, he feels like it’s okay not to be a “man”. Finally, he understands that crying doesn’t mean he isn’t one.
Ox finds himself—his self-confidence—in the pages of this book. He’s never going to see what others see in him—he’s not anything—but he’s not gonna let it stop him, either. From protecting those he loves. His pack. His mate. His family.
I gotta warn you though. This world is not gentle. TJ Klune carefully constructs a world that is savage from the first page. It’s not pretty, it’s not pleasant—it’s heart-wrenching and gut-punching and the good guys don’t always win, and even when they do they suffer losses.
There is so much loss in this book.
Involuntary loss and voluntary loss and voluntary loss that feels involuntary, for some.
And all of it cuts to the bone.
But it doesn’t make this book any less beautiful.
That being said, I would like more… depth?... to the villains. One of them had a reason—kinda—except his anger felt very misplaced;like, hunters killed your family. I’d expect you to go eradicate them, first and foremost, instead of targeting your former Alpha, with hunting the hunters being almost a side effect of attacking the Bennets and becoming an Alpha. Why was it even necessary for him to be Alpha? And we didn’t have enough of an explanation into Omegas to understand them, and Osmond is a complete mystery. Is it the elitism?... Maybe if we had less Albus Dumbledores (see the next section) I would understand them better lol.
And...well, I get why Ox had to become a wolf. But. But. I would've liked him to stay human, or human adjacent. I loved the dynamic of the human alpha with the wolfs and his pack and everyone else and I just hope that can be maintained through his transformation.
Characters –18/20
Since this is a pack novel, there are a ton of characters. But I’m gonna keep this section limited to the most important ones.
First, Ox. The main character. He is a wholesome and precious cinnamon roll who didn’t deserve any of what he was dished out. Not from his father, not from the villains, and definitely not from his Mate. I absolutely love him. The first time and the second time. My heart squeezed every time his father's words echoed in his low self-esteem. But every time he voiced these thoughts, there was someone there to tell him he was wrong. And I love them all dearly for that. I love Ox with a passion, but I do have one qualm with him –he was so, so angry with Joe—justifiably, in my opinion—for so long. Told him clear as day – that they should’ve fought it together. And then. And then. He does the exact same thing! Love, this ain’t it.
Everyone else in the book is very distinctive; from gruff Gordo, knowing Mark, insightful Elizabeth, cheeky Carter, clueless Kelly, clever Jessie, Gordo’s clowns—I mean, Rico, Chris, and Tanner. I really enjoyed all of them.
But.
This book is filled with Albus Dumbledores. You know what I’m talking about—people who hide things from Ox for “his own good”. People who don’t include him in decisions. People who keep things hidden for him—because he doesn’t need to know, because not yet, because it’s too personal or hurts too much. Some of the things they hid I totally got. And others… not so much. But I guess these mistakes make them human. Even if they’re werewolves.
Relationships –20/20
Klune writes the most complex relationships, I swear.
None of these relationships are perfect. But they’re all exactly what they need to be. And they’re always dynamic, changing, shifting. From lovers to friends, from friends to family, from family to pack—and lovers. They’re never static—and never taken for granted. I think it’s quite beautiful.
It’s going to be funny to say, but maybe my least favorite relationship is Joe and Ox. These two never got a chance to just be, not the way Ox got to be with everyone else. And they hurt each other deeply—never intentionally, they could never—but intent and result are two different things. And I thought it was fair—so fair—for Ox to be mad. For Ox to need time to forgive. And I thought that it was beautiful that once he did, it was. Forgiven, I mean. Even as I say it was my least favorite relationship, it did make me soft. These two made me soft. When they were together and unburdened. When they were together despite the burden. I am curious to see how they look from other people’s eyes, in the sequels. To see how they act around each other. Because I get the feeling they might move around each other, like their bodies are always adjusting to where the other is, their movement, their shifts.
I adored all the other relationships to pieces, though. They were easy, flowing. They embraced each other. Their banter would make you laugh—even as everything else breaks you down, breaks them down. I have to say, though… I kind of want a short story from the point of view of some unsuspecting bystander witnessing some Pack Moments and being all like ???????? because all the forehead touching and neck bearing and sliding along each other is probably so confusing to anyone who isn't In The Know. And I think it’ll be hilarious.
writing –20/20
I have a new appreciation for Klune's writing style re-reading this after reading The Extraordinaries. In The Extraordinaries the main character has ADHD and so from page one the writing is flowing, and lengthy, with one thought blending into another. It feels very much written from the POV of a hyperactive kid who has trouble focusing.
Wolfsong, though? The complete opposite. Ox is not the talkative type. He tends to be careful with words, to hold his tongue. He’s slower—not slow. It’s like… everything is weighted with Oxanard. And so, the writing in Wolfsong is much more… measured, I guess? It’s intentionally stilted in places—short sentences, short paragraphs. Straightforward. Until it isn’t—because there is pack and there are people who are not only willing to listen but want to.
But still, even then. The writing is different from the Extraodinaries. It feels like Ox.
I think this is something very important in an author—to be able to match the writing to the character telling the story (even in the third person). I’m excited to read Ravensong to see if Klune manages to pull off even more unique voices!
Reading Experience –20/20
*sigh*
Klune really does take you on an emotional journey. Forgive me for bringing another book into the mix again, but in The Extraordinaries the balance is 70% laugh out loud and 30% rip your heart out. For Wolfsong, though? Klune set out to tear your heart out of your chest, rip it to pieces, then put it back in your chest to see if it can still work again, like this, all… messed up. Because Wolfsong is 85% pain, 15% laughter, and 100% “I will die for Oxnard Matheson”. But yes, this book will hurt. You won’t realize how much it will hurt until the 40% mark, but afterward, you won’t stop hurting. And it’s gonna be worth every second of it.
Final Score: 96
A 96% | Excellent
Just as good as the first time
Plot – 18/20
If I had to explain the plot of this novel, I guess I’d describe it as a “coming of age” story, heavily intertwined with one of my favorite tropes – found family. We are taken along for the ride as Oxnard "Ox" Matheson grows from a 12 years old child to a twenty-six years old man. I think Ox’s journey is wonderfully shown through his relationship to the word “man”. He father, shitty as he was, had told him men don’t cry. He had told him many other things that take Ox years to shake off, but it’s the progression of his relationship with being a “man” that’s the most significant. Because Ox believes his father. Later, he feels like it’s okay not to be a “man”. Finally, he understands that crying doesn’t mean he isn’t one.
Ox finds himself—his self-confidence—in the pages of this book. He’s never going to see what others see in him—he’s not anything—but he’s not gonna let it stop him, either. From protecting those he loves. His pack. His mate. His family.
I gotta warn you though. This world is not gentle. TJ Klune carefully constructs a world that is savage from the first page. It’s not pretty, it’s not pleasant—it’s heart-wrenching and gut-punching and the good guys don’t always win, and even when they do they suffer losses.
There is so much loss in this book.
Involuntary loss and voluntary loss and voluntary loss that feels involuntary, for some.
And all of it cuts to the bone.
But it doesn’t make this book any less beautiful.
That being said, I would like more… depth?... to the villains. One of them had a reason—kinda—except his anger felt very misplaced;
And...
Characters –18/20
Since this is a pack novel, there are a ton of characters. But I’m gonna keep this section limited to the most important ones.
First, Ox. The main character. He is a wholesome and precious cinnamon roll who didn’t deserve any of what he was dished out. Not from his father, not from the villains, and definitely not from his Mate. I absolutely love him. The first time and the second time. My heart squeezed every time his father's words echoed in his low self-esteem. But every time he voiced these thoughts, there was someone there to tell him he was wrong. And I love them all dearly for that. I love Ox with a passion, but I do have one qualm with him –
Everyone else in the book is very distinctive; from gruff Gordo, knowing Mark, insightful Elizabeth, cheeky Carter, clueless Kelly, clever Jessie, Gordo’s clowns—I mean, Rico, Chris, and Tanner. I really enjoyed all of them.
But.
This book is filled with Albus Dumbledores. You know what I’m talking about—people who hide things from Ox for “his own good”. People who don’t include him in decisions. People who keep things hidden for him—because he doesn’t need to know, because not yet, because it’s too personal or hurts too much. Some of the things they hid I totally got. And others… not so much. But I guess these mistakes make them human. Even if they’re werewolves.
Relationships –20/20
Klune writes the most complex relationships, I swear.
None of these relationships are perfect. But they’re all exactly what they need to be. And they’re always dynamic, changing, shifting. From lovers to friends, from friends to family, from family to pack—and lovers. They’re never static—and never taken for granted. I think it’s quite beautiful.
It’s going to be funny to say, but maybe my least favorite relationship is Joe and Ox. These two never got a chance to just be, not the way Ox got to be with everyone else. And they hurt each other deeply—never intentionally, they could never—but intent and result are two different things. And I thought it was fair—so fair—for Ox to be mad. For Ox to need time to forgive. And I thought that it was beautiful that once he did, it was. Forgiven, I mean. Even as I say it was my least favorite relationship, it did make me soft. These two made me soft. When they were together and unburdened. When they were together despite the burden. I am curious to see how they look from other people’s eyes, in the sequels. To see how they act around each other. Because I get the feeling they might move around each other, like their bodies are always adjusting to where the other is, their movement, their shifts.
I adored all the other relationships to pieces, though. They were easy, flowing. They embraced each other. Their banter would make you laugh—even as everything else breaks you down, breaks them down. I have to say, though… I kind of want a short story from the point of view of some unsuspecting bystander witnessing some Pack Moments and being all like ???????? because all the forehead touching and neck bearing and sliding along each other is probably so confusing to anyone who isn't In The Know. And I think it’ll be hilarious.
writing –20/20
I have a new appreciation for Klune's writing style re-reading this after reading The Extraordinaries. In The Extraordinaries the main character has ADHD and so from page one the writing is flowing, and lengthy, with one thought blending into another. It feels very much written from the POV of a hyperactive kid who has trouble focusing.
Wolfsong, though? The complete opposite. Ox is not the talkative type. He tends to be careful with words, to hold his tongue. He’s slower—not slow. It’s like… everything is weighted with Oxanard. And so, the writing in Wolfsong is much more… measured, I guess? It’s intentionally stilted in places—short sentences, short paragraphs. Straightforward. Until it isn’t—because there is pack and there are people who are not only willing to listen but want to.
But still, even then. The writing is different from the Extraodinaries. It feels like Ox.
I think this is something very important in an author—to be able to match the writing to the character telling the story (even in the third person). I’m excited to read Ravensong to see if Klune manages to pull off even more unique voices!
Reading Experience –20/20
*sigh*
Klune really does take you on an emotional journey. Forgive me for bringing another book into the mix again, but in The Extraordinaries the balance is 70% laugh out loud and 30% rip your heart out. For Wolfsong, though? Klune set out to tear your heart out of your chest, rip it to pieces, then put it back in your chest to see if it can still work again, like this, all… messed up. Because Wolfsong is 85% pain, 15% laughter, and 100% “I will die for Oxnard Matheson”. But yes, this book will hurt. You won’t realize how much it will hurt until the 40% mark, but afterward, you won’t stop hurting. And it’s gonna be worth every second of it.
Final Score: 96
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Death
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Child abuse