Ravensong by T.J. Klune Series: Green Creek #2
Published by BOATK Books on July 31, 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Gay, LGBT, M/M Romance, Paranormal, Romance, Shifters, Supernatural, Urban, Urban Fantasy, Werewolves, Witches
Pages: 480
Format: eBook
Source: I Bought It
Goodreads
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.
This book isn’t as easy to read (or review, for that matter) as Wolfsong. Gordo Livinstone is the narrator for this one and he definitely is harder to love than Ox (yet I love him all the same!)
Gordo is a prickly character, grumpy and pretty closed off. He has good reason for it but it does make it harder to be in his headspace. Gordo also has a connection to the Bennett family, one going back years. He is (or was) the Bennett witch. The one who was supposed to help Thomas Bennett and his pack. Yet, he was left behind by the pack years ago and has never gotten over it.
Years of resentment had built up and when the Bennett’s came back to Green Creek, Gordo wanted nothing to do with them and did everything in his power to stop Ox from getting to close to them (he failed in that, of course, as Ox and Joe could never be kept apart).
Having been brought back into the fold, however unwillingly, Gordo has begrudgingly aided the Bennett pack. He has always been close to Ox but his years on the road with Joe, Carter, and Kelly have created a deep bond that he doesn’t quite know how to deal with. Having one foot in the pack again has also meant he has had to spend time with Mark Bennett, the boy he once loved so many years ago.
Gordo was imbued with magical tattoos as a boy by his father and Abel Bennett (Thomas Bennett’s father). After his father lost himself after the death of his tether (the person or thing that grounds a witch or werewolf) and was stripped of his powers and imprisoned, the Bennett’s took him in but then left Gordo behind when Thomas had to take on responsibilities as Alpha of all. Mark, Gordo’s mate, also left; breaking young Gordo’s heart in the process.
However, Gordo has a lot to deal with after the fallout from the last book. Omega wolves are frequently invading their territory, and alliances with the rest of the wolves are fracturing.
When the same pack of Hunters that previously almost decimated the Bennett pack returns to Green Creek, Gordo will have to put his resentment aside and work with the pack to save them from a repeat of history and finally confront his feelings for Mark once and for all…
my review
Gordo. Gordo. Gordo. How I love you so… Gordo is a cantankerous and grouchy man, who hides his deep feelings under a thick layer of armour. Hurt by those he loved the most, he finds it very difficult to let go of old wrongs.
I loved getting a glimpse of young Gordo in the various flashback chapters. He is still very much Gordo but a more open version of him and you cannot help but hurt with him when everything he has ever known is taken away from him, piece by bloody piece.
It was also rather lovely to actually see his relationship with Mark develop as youngsters. From Wolfsong, we knew just how deeply Mark has always loved Gordo but his so-called betrayal hurt him so deeply, Gordo has never been able to trust Mark’s feelings for him.
It’s difficult to watch their relationship implode, through outside influences sure, but also because of a lack of communication (on both their parts). Gordo can never get over the pack leaving him behind, especially Mark, and this festers for many long and arduous years.
You can see clearly how much each of them love each other, but Gordo’s walls are hard to penetrate (not like that, ya filthy mutts!) and he refuses to budge even an inch (despite many, many, many, interventions from his pack mates and best friends).
However, when Mark’s life is put in danger, Gordo is forced to put his old hurts aside. Desperate to save the life of the man he still loves so deeply, he has to face up to the fact that it may in fact be too late and that he has wasted so much precious time already.
It is always so good to be back in this world with these amazingly, beautifully, imperfect characters. As much as I adore Ox and Joe (separately and together) I think Gordo and Mark just stole my heart ever so slightly more. The push and pull with them, although endlessly frustrating, made their eventual reunion all that more sweet. I have so many feelings about them…
The other characters also play a massive part in this story. Ox and Joe of course, but plenty of time is devoted to Carter, Kelly, Robbie, Rico, Chris, Tanner, Elizabeth, and Jessie, not to mention a new female character Bambi who is awesome (don’t let her name fool you…)
to sum up
The connection and banter between the characters is what really drives the story (though the over-arching plot is also amazing). It is the characters that really make this series something special though – I just love them all so much. T.J. Klune just nails them all perfectly and their individual voices are so varied yet complimentary.
The villains are suitably villainous and you can see the plot thickening and building towards something that you just know is going to knock your socks right off. It’s just great storytelling all round.
Ravensong is a more-than-worthy successor to Wolfsong. This series just goes from strength to strength and I cannot wait to share my thoughts on Heartsong and Brothersong (Heartsong is up next so stay tuned!)
for more of my reviews, click the below link:
Leave a Reply