The Green Creek series by TJ Klune
Genre: Adult – Fantasy – Paranormal – LGBTQIA+
BOOKS IN SERIES:
- Wolfsong (Book #1) – Release date June 20th 2016 – 5+ stars!
- Ravensong (Book #2) – Release date July 31st 2018 – 4,5 stars
- Heartsong (Book #3) – Release date October 22nd 2019 – 5 stars
- Brothersong (Book #4) – Release date October 13th 2020 – 4 stars
WHY YOU NEED TO READ THIS SERIES:
As I mentioned in my full Wolfsong review, I was very hesitant about starting this book and series. Because the previous two books I’ve read by TJ Klune were so amazing that I just didn’t think any other books could live up to them. I was worried that the magic that hooked me in both The House in the Cerulean Sea or Under the Whispering Door would not be present in his other books. And because I heard other reviewers comment about how different those books were from Wolfsong and the Green Creek series especially.
That’s all true, because this series is definitely very different from those other, more recent T.J. Klune books. For one, it is way angstier and heartbreaking. It’s also a lot more graphic and violent. But that’s the main difference. Despite all that, I found myself loving this series just as much (if not even a bit more) than those other reads. This is such a hidden gem of a series and though I give a very short mini review per book below, I’ll list here what each book has in common, what hooked me and why I would recommend this series to all:
- Urban fantasy shifter lore with known elements and tropes but in a unique and fresh package
- Complex, multi-layered yet extremely loveable characters
- Deep connections and a found family you’ll ache to be a part of (packpackpack <3)
- Slow-burn m/m romances that are riddled with obstacles to overcome but are achingly beautiful and hopeful.
- Quirky humor that will both have you smiling softly and laughing out loud
MINI REVIEW PER BOOK:
Ox was twelve when his daddy taught him a very valuable lesson. He said that Ox wasn’t worth anything and people would never understand him. Then he left.
Ox was sixteen when he met the boy on the road, the boy who talked and talked and talked. Ox found out later the boy hadn’t spoken in almost two years before that day, and that the boy belonged to a family who had moved into the house at the end of the lane.
Ox was seventeen when he found out the boy’s secret, and it painted the world around him in colors of red and orange and violet, of Alpha and Beta and Omega.
Ox was twenty-three when murder came to town and tore a hole in his head and heart. The boy chased after the monster with revenge in his bloodred eyes, leaving Ox behind to pick up the pieces.
It’s been three years since that fateful day—and the boy is back. Except now he’s a man, and Ox can no longer ignore the song that howls between them.
My Thoughts:
Well, Wolfsong is the first book in the Green Creek series and as such, it is wholly responsible for this new obsession of mine. While I ADORE the entire series, Wolfsong is my favorite of the whole bunch. Part of that is probably just because it’s the installment that started it all, but a big part is also because our main character Ox, who stole my heart. This book follows him over a period of more than 10 years. Ox is such a precious character and definitely made my list of all-time favorite main characters ever. He’s always been made to believe by his dad that he’s slow and would never amount to much, so you can see how that would traumatize a person. But Ox is not slow, he just has his own nice, honest and simple way of looking at the world, without any artifice. His POV really shines because of the fitting writing style: short paragraphs that are both beautiful and simple, lyrical and to the point. Though this writing style may not be for everyone, I personally fell deeply in love with it. And then of course there is everything I love about the series as a whole: the found family, the slow-burn romance, the humor and all the feelings.
Wolfsong is a gem of a book and I will keep loudly recommending it for the unforeseeable future.
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.
My Thoughts:
Ravensong takes place for a small part during Wolfsong and for a big part after it. It is told from the POV of Gordo, local garage owner, friend and boss and father-figure to Ox, middle-aged asshole and very pissed-off witch. You see, Gordo has his own history with the Bennett pack and things didn’t end well. I have loved Gordo since Wolfsong and enjoyed seeing things from his POV, learning what happened to him and how it shaped him to become the grumpy man with a heart of gold he is today. Yeah, that’s right, Gordo is a grumpy asshole, but you can’t help but love him. This is very much a story of forgiveness, the bonds of a pack and of course, a big second-chance romance between Gordo and werewolf Mark Bennett. Also, shoutout to Team Human, who are all wonderful and hilarious and everyone should have a team of friends like them to back them up.
All Robbie Fontaine ever wanted was a place to belong. After the death of his mother, he bounces around from pack to pack, forming temporary bonds to keep from turning feral. It’s enough—until he receives a summons from the wolf stronghold in Caswell, Maine.
Life as the trusted second to Michelle Hughes—the Alpha of all—and the cherished friend of a gentle old witch teaches Robbie what it means to be pack, to have a home.
But when a mission from Michelle sends Robbie into the field, he finds himself questioning where he belongs and everything he’s been told. Whispers of traitorous wolves and wild magic abound—but who are the traitors and who the betrayed?
More than anything, Robbie hungers for answers, because one of those alleged traitors is Kelly Bennett—the wolf who may be his mate.
The truth has a way of coming out. And when it does, everything will shatter.
My Thoughts:
Heartsong continues the well-beloved story from the POV of Robbie Fontaine. Robbie joined the pack in Wolfsong and he’s always been this loveable goof, but also a little bit of an enigma – we were never quite 100% sure if we could trust him. And let me tell you, this story will bring even more confusion. The start of it is actually very disorienting as we’re not quite sure where we are, when we are or if this is even really Robbie we’re following. Bear with it, because the confusion is intentional and quite honestly GENIUS STORYWRITING. This book packs gut punch after gut punch when everything starts sliding into place, and your emotions will go on a roller-coaster ride. As much as I loved Ox and Gordo’s POV, I think Robbie’s hit a special place in my heart. Once again, this is a beautiful story of forgiveness, acceptance and belonging and the romance was sweet and heartwrenching. Also, this installment has ace rep and it was so thoughtfully written!
In the ruins of Caswell, Maine, Carter Bennett learned the truth of what had been right in front of him the entire time. And then it—he—was gone.
Desperate for answers, Carter takes to the road, leaving family and the safety of his pack behind, all in the name of a man he only knows as a feral wolf. But therein lies the danger: wolves are pack animals, and the longer Carter is on his own, the more his mind slips toward the endless void of Omega insanity.
But he pushes on, following the trail left by Gavin.
Gavin, the son of Robert Livingstone. The half-brother of Gordo Livingstone.
What Carter finds will change the course of the wolves forever. Because Gavin’s history with the Bennett pack goes back further than anyone knows, a secret kept hidden by Carter’s father, Thomas Bennett.
And with this knowledge comes a price: the sins of the fathers now rest upon the shoulders of their sons.
My Thoughts:
The final installment in this awesome and underrated little series is Brothersong. It is told from the POV of eldest Bennett brother Carter and is the culmination of the overarching storyline of the entire series. The big bad is here and the pack faces their toughest challenge yet. But one of them is missing as Carter chases after the wolf he only just learned is his mate. Though I have to be honest and say this was probably my least favorite in the entire series, it was still a solid and great read. I think it was for me just an issue of not connecting with Carter as much as I did with Ox, Gordo or Robbie. But beside that little thing, the story once more delivered on every single aspect I love so much about this series: the romance, the found family, the humor and the emotions. I know now already that this will be a series I’ll re-read on a regular basis. It’ll be a comfort read for me and I will also probably not be shutting up about it any time soon!
Overall rating of the series:
Tell Me:
Have you read the Green Creek series?
If yes, what did you think about them?
If not, do you think it’s something you’d like?
I really want to read this series, but I’m a little hesitant since it has the whole urban fantasy shifter thing. I’m not sure how I would do with that at this point, but I think I will give it a try since I loved your review.
Hmmm it’s a tricky one but I do believe you’ll still love this series, even if you’re not into the urban fantasy shifter thing BECAUSE the shifter aspect feels pretty unique to me (not your standard shifter romance) and it also doesn’t really feel like the main aspect of the book – it’s more about the characters and their development and also their connections to each other. I’d suggest trying Wolfsong, the first book, and it’ll give you a pretty good idea of the entire series so you can decide whether or not you want to continue. I hope you’ll love it though – curious to hear your thoughts! 🙂
Good to know!
I haven’t read this series, but I love finding those hidden gems!
Hidden gems are always so amazing to find! Hope you’ll love this one too if you decide to try it 🙂
That series is fantastic!!
It’s indeed absolutely amazing <3
Great mini reviews! I’ve had this series on my radar for a while, ever since finishing Cerulean Sea and immediately wanting to jump into Klune’s backlist 😂 I’ve heard so many positive things about it too. Guess I have to bump this up my TBR!
Thanks! I’d highly recommend this series if you loved Cerulean Sea, it may have surpassed it as as my number one TJ Klune book/series (so far) to me!
I’ve seen many people enjoy this series and I swear someday I will get around to it!
I hope you’ll love it as much as I did when you do! 🙂
This sounds so good! After loving both The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door, I really want to go back and read everything Klune has written so this is going on my TBR for sure. 🙂
Oh I totally understand! I’m going on a journey through TJ Klune’s backlist too and this series was first and such an amazing start that I’m even more curious about his other works. Hope you’ll end up enjoying this series as well!