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A review by taliejane
Ravensong by TJ Klune
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-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
5.0
For the sequel to Wolfsong we follow Gordo's perspective, all the way from leaving with Joe for those three years to the aftermath of Richard Collins' death. All the while, we watch Gordo resist the pull to Mark, his one time mate.
I waited to continue the Green Creek series because I knew they were releasing a new audiobook version of Ravensong and I really loved Kirt Graves' narration for the first book. But I had forgotten how UNWELL THESE CHARACTERS MAKE ME OMG I AM DESTROYED ONCE AGAIN TJ KLUNE HOW DARE YOU.
Gordo is such an amazing character for a POV. At first, I really missed Ox and Joe, but pretty soon I was feeling for Gordo and all he's been through. It was amazing to see his backstory and his history with the Bennett pack. And by 'amazing', I mean HEARTBREAKING. My man has been through so much and has been betrayed so often 😩😩😩😩
This book really shined a different light on the Bennetts and werewolf politics. I love when books challenge our feelings about characters we grow to love and trust. When they add layers of complexity and complication. I was righteously angry at Thomas and Mark and the rest of them for abandoning Gordo. It really made sense how he felt throughout Wolfsong and the way he tried to protect Ox.
It also added this bittersweet longing to his relationship with Mark. He loved him deeply but also was strong enough to protect himself from people who had let him down. As the reader, I totally believed it. I felt like this was a character who has grown to rely on himself out of necessity. Instead of becoming bitter and cruel, he just held people closer to him and continued to value loyalty and family. But then when Mark returns and get infected by the Omega, he panics. That feeling was so raw and heartbreaking. It felt earned once they came back together. As of they had tried everything else. They had chosen each other in the end. Basically, TJ Klune killed me and now im dead and a ghost. A ghost is writing this review.
The plot with the hunters and omegas was also really well developed and didn't feel predictable or thrown together to facilitate the romance (sometimes I find this to be a problem with paranormal romance). All of the strong elements of Wolfsong, the prose changing for pack conversations, the character development, the family ties, and the banter, were consistent in Ravensong. An extremely strong sequel. 💗
Content Warnings
Minor: Body horror