I went into this book with zero expectations. My interest
was initially piqued when a booktuber I follow on Instagram posted a gorgeous
picture of the book, cover flipped open, revealing the pages within. After a
brief glance at the wordings, I immediately chucked it into my TBR list.
Fast forward a few months later, the eBook was already
downloaded into my phone. Yet, I still hadn’t opened it. It wasn’t until my
interest in boy’s love webtoons festered and grew that I remembered the
existence of this title, waiting to be cracked open.
I still remember scrolling to the first page on my eBook
reader, promising myself that I, at the very least, would read a few pages. I
spent the remainder of the night hooked onto the story.
Within three days, I had finished reading the book.
The
Story
The story is told from the perspective of Oxnard, who grows
up in a family devoid of paternal love. His encounter with the Bennett family
one day turns his life around, and opens his world to the hidden community of
werewolves, witches and magic.
First off, the plot isn’t complex; it is easy to
understand. The author’s way of telling the story is straight-forward. However,
there is something compelling about the way he spins his tales that it feels
almost spellbinding. The lines from the book seems lyrical, like chanting along
a sing-song tale from the protagonist’s point of view. This is one of the
captivating aspects of the book.
Elizabeth
said, hush, ChildSonCub, hush. There is nothing to fear.
Thomas
said, Ox, Ox, Ox. I am your Alpha and you are a part of what makes us whole.
Carter
said, don’t be sad, FriendPackBrother, because we won’t leave you.
Kelly
said, I won’t let anything happen to you. I will be by your side.
Mark
said, there is no reason to be alone anymore. You will never be alone.
And
Joe. Joe sang the loudest of all.
He
said, you belong to me.
Excerpt, Wolfsong
by TJ Klune
As I sail along the story with Ox, it feels like I’m
experiencing all kinds of emotion in one sitting. TJ Klune explores the major
themes of family, love and sacrifice through his characters. Despite the gaping
emotional hole left by his father, Ox experiences what family means as he
assimilates into the Bennett family.
The thematic importance of family and love is often
highlighted throughout the story. The author demonstrates that through the
relationships between the main character with his mother, his friends, with the
Bennett household, and even with his non-existent father. The last part is
interestingly crucial, as Ox’s ability to love people beyond family has always
been his strongest points. His father left him when he was a kid, and yet, that
never diminished his ability to love and be loved.
I
said, “My daddy told me I was gonna get shit. Before he left. Did you know
that?”
He
whined low in his throat.
“He
told me that. He said I was just a dumb ol’ Ox who was gonna get shit all my
life. But he was wrong.”
The
wolves in the forest howled.
“He
was wrong,” I said. “Because Joe found me. And brought me to you. You gave me
purpose. You gave me a home. A pack. A family.”
The
wolf’s eyes were wet and bright.
“You
are my father,” I said, though my voice broke. “In everything but blood.”
Excerpt, Wolfsong
by TJ Klune
The portrayal of Thomas Bennett as a father figure to Ox, is
fundamental towards the climax of the entire plot. TJ Klune depicts the lack of
father love in Ox’s childhood years, but the appearance of Thomas fills the
chasm created by Ox’s father. As Ox gets accepted as a member into the Bennett
household, he gets to know true fatherly love, and grows to admire and respect
Thomas. So, when Thomas dies, we experience, as Ox does, the shock, despair and
sorrow as a result of the aftermath.
*minor
spoilers ahead*
Sacrifice is another major theme that makes Wolfsong
a wholesome read. It is underscored by way of several major characters. Ox’s
mother sacrificing herself for her son’s survival; Thomas surrendering his life
for his pack and family; Joe chooses a lonely path of revenge for the sake of
his loved ones. However, it is Ox’s sacrifice which leaves a profound impact on
me. Ox has been depicted as being unintelligent, dumb and an outcast. His
experiences with loss and love mature his character and despite being the only
human among a pack of werewolves, he demonstrates the ultimate act of
self-sacrifice in the face of danger. He
teaches me that the ultimate form of love is sacrifice. In spite of the
multiple adversaries, he faces all of them alone, by having courage and
remembering his loved ones. He chooses to sacrifice himself for the safety and
survival of his pack, his family, even if it means death for him. For that, Ox has
won my heart.
My
Thoughts
Right from the beginning I have been enamoured by how TJ
Klune tells Ox’s story. I can tell that the author loved writing the story,
regardless of the perspective chosen. I enjoyed the story of how two boys grew
up, loved each other, and sacrificed in their own way for the other person. I
also appreciate how fleshed out the other characters are, minor or important
they may be, because each and every one of them influenced Ox one way or the
other, and Ox, in his own special way, impacted the others and strengthened the
bond shared between them. We occasionally read books where the main character
saves themselves. We rarely read stories where male characters openly bawl over
deaths of loved ones. We sometimes get books with female characters who are
emotionally strong and badass. Yet, we hardly have one encompassing all of the
above. Wolfsong is a gem, and one I wish would go on forever.
Luckily,
the author has blessed us with three more books, sequels to Wolfsong,
making this a tetralogy. I never saw myself as a fan of werewolf fantasy, nor
have I foreseen myself loving queer and gay novels. Perhaps Wolfsong is
an exception, or it could be the gateway to a wider array of reading choices
for me in the future. Meanwhile, I’m off to read Ravensong, the next
sequel to Wolfsong. Can’t wait!
Rating: 9.5/10
If you have read the story, tell me what you think, in the comments section down below. Let’s discuss!
(*Disclaimer: All views expressed on this site are my own.)
Rating System:
1- I would not recommend it.
2-I disliked it. Someone else might like it.
3- I managed to finish it, but…
4 - Something feels missing.
5- It was alright.
6- It was pretty okay. It could have been a 7, though.
7- It was good!
8- Great! I recommend it.
9 - Awesome! Highly Recommended!
10 - Absolutely Perfect! You must read this
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