Cover Image: Ravensong

Ravensong

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Member Reviews

Ravensong is a stunning, intense addition to the Green Creek series, and once again, I find myself at a loss for words to adequately express the experience of reading one of these books. Klune's unique singsong voice and lyrical style are hypnotic, calling to something within me like a siren - drawing me into this deceptively simple feeling yet complex story and world. His books are raw, gutsy, and oh-so-emotional - an experience that will drain you while leaving you ravenous for more.

Klune has spun another magical tale in this fantasy world of shifters, witches, packs, Alphas, Omegas, and yes, humans. While a lot of backstory is woven into this book through some early flashbacks, do yourself a favor and read Wolfsong before venturing into Ravensong. There's so much world building, story, and character relationship development to be found there. Both books are truly an experience that I promise are unlike anything you've ever read before.

Ravensong defies genres (as did Wolfsong), refusing to be boxed in. It's so full and more and bigger than life and yet so real. It can be labelled fantasy, paranormal, m/m, second-chance romance, but more than anything else . . . I'd call it epic. It's dark and edgy with plotlines growing, creeping, clinging, and intertwining, driving characters and readers to a state of urgent frenzy. Like an out of control train on a collision course, the emotional complications and consequences of family threaten to implode the Bennett pack, taking Gordo and others down with them . . . even as outside forces threaten their homes, lives, and very existence. Broken bonds and promises fester making it difficult for old wounds to heal leaving Gordo and Mark in limbo - unable to stand together and in danger of loosing everything if they don't.

Ravensong is Gordo and Mark's story . . . and so much more. I wouldn't call it a romance as much as a love story with all the heartbreak and pain that can accompany fickle fate and love-gone-wrong. It's not pretty, sweet, or kind. But there is needed comic relief through some awesome support characters. Be warned - Once you enter this world, you'll lose yourself in the story, setting, and characters, burning through pages until the climax and conclusion explode on the final pages bringing resolution to characters and readers with a blockbuster ending . . . and the perfect setup for book 3! Bring it on! An absolutely, without-a-doubt Must Read!

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A beautiful continuation of the Green Creek series! I cannot begin to describe the feelings that any book by TJ Klune gives me, and I am so happy to have the opportunity to continue to be amazed by his work with Ravensong!

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Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Unfortunately, this was not for me. I was unable to get into the story and did not finish it. I encourage others to give it a try for themselves!

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The Green Creek quartet continues with this second entry from the POV of Gordo, the Bennett pack's witch and the man left behind by the family and mate he loves more than anything (even if he's a bitter and angy man, which, fair).

Ravensong had a much more adult vibe than Wolfsong, and not just because Gordo is much older than Ox was at any point in Wolfsong, but man the guy has been THROUGH it. It's masculine anger and it's grief in so many more ways than only death (although death is ever present). It's needy love and the denial of the things we want because everything hurts too bad until we can't run from it anymore.

We also got a lot of good backstory-- Gordo as a child, Gordo who had magic sewn into his skin too young to consent, Gordo working at and taking over the shop, meeting Mark, getting to know the pack, etc. The villains could have been a little too real and also? Bambi was great?? Love Bambi and Team Human in general, and it was good, I think, for the second book to draw away from Ox and make him a lesser character in this book as his story very fully happened already, though of course he's present and very important.

I'll definitely be buying this guy when I can, and the rest of the series! Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the eARC borrow in exchange for this honest review.

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Wasn't a fan of this—found it difficult to get into without having read the previous book and the writing style simply wasn't for me.

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From the publisher:
The beloved fantasy romance sensation by New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune, about love, loyalty, betrayal, and joy. The Bennett family has a secret: They're not just a family, they're a pack. Ravensong is Gordo Livingstone's story.

Gordo Livingstone never forgot the lessons carved into his skin. Hardened by the betrayal of a pack who left him behind, he sought solace in the garage in his tiny mountain town, vowing never again to involve himself in the affairs of wolves. It should have been enough. And it was, until the wolves came back, and with them, Mark Bennett. In the end, they faced the beast together as a pack… and won.

Now, a year later, Gordo has found himself once again the witch of the Bennett pack. Green Creek has settled after the death of Richard Collins, and Gordo constantly struggles to ignore Mark and the song that howls between them. But time is running out. Something is coming. And this time, it’s crawling from within. Some bonds, no matter how strong, were made to be broken.

The Green Creek Series is for adult readers.
Now available from Tor Books.

My thoughts:

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. It's a good followup to the first book in the series, Wolfsong. As the synopsis states, this is Gordo Livingstone's story. Some of it is his view of some of the events from Wolfsong. Most of it is about what happened after Wolfsong.

I liked getting to know Gordo and seeing things from his point of view. He is a magic user rather than a werewolf. And he is a tether - he helps hold the wolves together so they don't lose themselves to the wolf within. I liked that Gordo grows and changes as the book goes on.

Green Creek is described again though maybe not as thoroughly as in the first book. Most of the action takes place in and around Green creek. The world building extends to the werewolves and how magic works in their world. There is a lot more about the Omega wolves in this book too.

The book was slow to take off. It repeated some of the events from the first book, but from Gordo's point of view. Things picked up when new events began to happen.

I still had the same nitpicky little things that bothered me about this book that bothered me about Wolfsong. So much happens to these characters, I guess I had too much empathy for them at some point and found it hard to read and a little depressing. Once again I almost DNF'd the book, but I stuck with it and was glad I did so in the end. Also the sex scene was a little too graphic for me. I am more of a fade to black kind of reader. I can understand why the author chose to include the scene, it just wasn't for me.

Overall, Ravensong is worth a read, especially if you've read Wolfsong and wondered what happened next. If you enjoy werewolf stories with some romance, then this might be a good book for you.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This didn't affect my opinion.

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Read RAVENSONG by TJ Klune if you love small towns, trauma narratives, dual timelines, wolves, witches, overcoming childhood abuse, found family, tattoos, vendettas, being sad, losing yourself, young love, old love, dirt and leaves and rain, epic battles, and ridiculous friend groups.

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I would like to thank NetGalley and Tor Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

this is my favourite series from tj klune and i am looking forward to rereading these books for years to come!

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It was so good to get back to Green Creek!! I was extremely excited to read this book because Gordo was one of my favorite characters from book one. I love that we get a book about his character and learn more about what happened with Mark.

I think I might love Mark and Gordo more than Ox and Joe! I know, I know. Maybe it’s because it’s a second chance at love or because they are similar in age. Either way, I think that Klune has done a fantastic job with both relationships, thus far.

We start with the wolves leaving their pack in the first book. We get to see what they were up to when Joe decided to take off for revenge. I loved seeing that side and how those relationships progressed. Gordo’s story then kind of jumps back and forth between the past and present. I loved getting to see his past and what happened but it’s also very sad. I would expect nothing less from a Klune book.

I think the thing that held me back from giving this five stars was the pacing. Don’t get me wrong, I have a newborn and that’s killing my reading vibe. With that being said, this did take a while to suck me in. It’s a bit of a chunky book and it was a slow start. Once, we get going though, it was hard to stop. I think that Klune has done a great job having a sub-plot with an overarching main plot. There’s a lot of things in play and we are making our way to the big bad wolf. ha- ha.

The characters in this book are where this book stands out. Characters are Klune’s sweet spot and like all his other books they are amazing here. I love them all and I was tense because I just didn’t want anything to happen to any of them. That’s saying a lot because there is a huge pack and that provides many side characters. We have such a variety of personalities that really help the intense and dark aspects of the plot. I have to give a special shout-out to Elizabeth. I don’t know if it’s because I relate to her as a mom but she’s got such moving moments, pretty much anytime she shows up on the page.

Overall, I loved this book! There are some little things here and there but I loved getting to know Gordo better. He and Mark are just *chefs kiss.* I am really interested in where things go from here and can’t wait to jump into book three! Also, a side note- the change in covers has been epic! They are stunning.

Many thanks to Tor and Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

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when i finished wolfsong, i actually wasn’t sure if i wanted to complete the series. even though i did enjoy the first book, the rest of the series really was daunting since i haven’t read this long of a series in years. i usually love standalones and before reading ravensong, wolfsong felt like it could’ve ended there (very untrue in hindsight)

ravensong felt like it had a more cohesive plotline than wolfsong, and i was able to enjoy the story more thoroughly. i will say knowing the characters already so well helped get the book going but i really enjoyed gordo’s perspective a lot, and i was honestly able to see almost all of the characters in a new light from this book and appreciate them more. the parts of wolfsong i didn’t enjoy were pleasantly absent in this book, and i enjoyed the ending and where the story seems to be going!

all the relationships in the series so far are fun, well-rounded, and both very sweet and heartbreaking. sometimes the pack stuff gets a little cheesy but it’s more in fun than unbearable

thanks to netgalley for the copy :)

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PackWitchBrotherFriendLoveMate

Ravensong is the next episode in the journey of the Green Creek wolf pack. The series should be read in order. Each couple gets a HFN/HEA in their book, but they need to defeat the Big Baddie to all get their final HEA.

Gordo was witch to the Bennett Pack. And then they left him behind. But then they came back, and they needed him. He didn’t want to need them. Especially Mark Bennett, brother of the Alpha. But they need to work together for the good of the pack.

Gordo was hurt and abandoned by many people over his life. Someone is trying to destroy the wolves. He needs to rise above the hurt so he can save his family and pack.

This is a continuation of a beautiful story of found family that, while not perfect, is still deeply connected.

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I can't wait for book 3. I love this series.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.

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I enjoyed this book and I could not put it down. I really enjoyed the characters and the writing was really well done. It made you want to keep reading.

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Ravensong is the second book in TJ Klune's Green Creek series and I enjoyed it just as much as I enjoyed the first book. I enjoyed the shift in POV from the wolves in the first book to Gordo, the Bennett's witch, in this book.

Gordo not only takes us back through some of the events in the first book so that we see how things unfold from his perspective, but then much of the story focuses on his relationship with Mark Bennett. In many ways this book is a second chance romance story for Gordo and Mark, and we are shown flashbacks from their past to see what tore them apart in the first place. Gordo's pain is palpable throughout, and he was a character I grew to love even more than I did in the first book because we get to see him in such a vulnerable light.

Gordo and Mark's story is a moving one, but then there's also plenty of tension and suspense as there are still threats to their community lurking about. The found family vibes are still there of course, which is one of the main things I love about TJ Klune's novels.

Filled with stellar writing and unforgettable characters, I definitely recommend the Green Creek series to fantasy fans and to anyone who loves a good found family story.

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After reading the first novel in this series, Wolfsong, there’s no way I could be prevented from continuing with this series. I just wasn’t sure how I felt about the focus being on characters other than Joe and Ox. Once again, all I needed to do was trust Klune. Gordo and Mark are very different from Joe and Ox, but I loved them just as much.

Part of Gordo’s story is revealed in Wolfsong, but it wasn’t until this novel that I realized just how alone and abandoned he felt as a young teen when the pack departed Green Creek and left him behind. It explains so much about his personality and the walls he’s built around himself. He felt like he was never enough, and he still carries guilt over the deplorable actions of his father. If anyone ever needed a pack, it’s Gordo.

Gordo’s history with Mark is all kinds of messy and filled with misunderstandings and incorrect assumptions – yet it’s clear to everyone they’re meant to be together. Except Gordo. I loved the way Elizabeth (awesome wolfmom) calls him on it. She sees right through him and everyone else.

Odds are stacked far too high against the Bennett pack, and enemies come from unexpected places. I needed to be doing a thousand other things – instead, I curled up on the couch with this novel because I couldn’t go on with my day until I knew what happened to these characters. Saying I was invested in them is an understatement.

In between the action-packed scenes, heartfelt moments, and shocking surprises is the humor among this group of humans and werewolves who would sacrifice themselves for anyone in their pack. If they’re looking for new members, I’m applying.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Really loved/connected with Gordo and I loooved to have something from his perspective. Beautiful! Heartbreaking but worth all the tears.

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I loved Wolfsong and was so excited to continue this series! In this book, we get more of Gordo and Mark’s story. I liked that the book does not just pick up where book one left off, but gave us more backstory from Gordo’s perspective, going back over events that were alluded to in Wolfsong. I think that made me even more invested in the characters. The romance was angsty, but I was here for it. I loved seeing things from Gordo’s point of view, and just wanted everything for them. While Ox and Joe are there, this doesn’t have any of their romance in it. I thought the main conflict was gripping and had me on the edge of my seat. I think I gasped and groaned more reading this book than I have for any other book in a long time.

I guess the only thing I would have wished for is like, can the Bennett have a breather and enjoy some peace and quiet for a minute? But no, not for another two books I think. Loved it so much!

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Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this Advanced Readers Copy of Ravensong by TJ Klune! This was another really strong concept driven novel from the Author.

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More werewolf drama has come to Green Creek, and the Bennet Pack is going to have to face it while divided. Ravensong is Gordo's story, from his childhood with his powerful father to falling in love to choosing to follow his Alpha on a wild goose chase for revenge. Gordo struggles with his past, his hopes for the future, and just how badly his attempts to retreat from the world have harmed him. With old enemies returning to Green Creek, however, he doesn't have long to lick his wounds, and must step into the role he has embraced and fought for so long - witch of the Bennet Pack. The drama is high in this one - grand speeches, burning love unrequited, whole lives destined to come together and split apart. The Green Creek series is addictive and nourishing at the same time, full of gay love and suffering in equal measures, throwing into relief the dichotomy between joy and pain. This is the gay werewolf drama of your dreams, and you should check it out.

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Imgur link is the Instagram graphic scheduled for August 24th
Blog Post goes live August 15th
Youtube Review should be live August 17th or 22nd
Amazon Review pending Amazon system approval

**TL;DR**: I was scared TJ Klune couldn't pull it off after destroying me with Wolfsong but here we are. Gordo is the most grumpy, precious witch in the world. I loved it.

Wolfsong wrecked me earlier this year. I had no idea what I was getting in for with that story and I honestly was both dreading and highly anticipating Ravensong. I put it off and put it off, but wanted to read it so bad. I knew it would make me emotional and high strung but the payoff would be worth it. But I was scared of it. I was totally right, and it was worth it.

Ravensong follows Gordo and Mark. Gordo is the Bennett Pack's Witch and Mark is one of the Beta wolves in the pack. They have a long history, one filled with love and heartbreak and betrayal. We see why Gordo is so delightfully grumpy, why he struggles with the wolves, and how his family have shaped him. We see him acknowledge and forgive, and break out of the cage that was made for him by those people and those betrayals. AND I LOVED SO MUCH OF IT.

I don't think I can calmly talk about how much this book hurt me and then helped heal me. But the dynamic between Gordo and his amazing friends and pack is just a beautiful representation to me of what found family can be and do for someone. The romance is good, don't get me wrong, but the found family in this? That's the beating heart of it for me and really truly recommend this if you read Wolfsong and enjoyed it. Keep going and read about my grumpy King. It'll make you happy (and sad but then happy again, I promise).

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