The Laughing Listener
June 2018
Format: Kindle Ebook

Rating: A MILLION BILLION STARS

Well readers. I’m here. I made it. This book tried to break my spirit with it’s adorableness and heartbreak, but I survived. Somehow. My heart exploded a couple times and I had to use Scotch tape to piece it back together again, but I pulled through. Although quite frankly, I’m a little concerned about the state of my emotional health.



I had never heard of this novel before and knew nothing about it until my wonderful, glittery, happy blogging friend Malanie recommended it to me. To be honest, I saw that it was about werewolves and didn’t pay attention to much else. Because apparently werewolves are becoming a weakness of mine?? And if Malanie loved it, I knew I would too. Cut to me days later completely WRECKED BY THIS BOOK. I know I’m probably scaring everyone away, BUT GUYS. IT’S SO GOOD. I just???? Oh my god. Where do I even start?

Okay, first of all, Ox. He was my absolute favorite and such a pure, amazing character. He’s a simple, shy guy who doesn’t say a lot, but there’s so much more going on underneath the surface and I LOVED that. It was such a relatable quality to me. And his character arc over the course of the novel is so beautiful. We get to see this quiet, insecure kid grow into a wonderfully strong leader and Klune did a FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC job emphasizing this growth in his writing style. In the beginning when Ox is at his lowest, the sentences are short and clipped. There’s nothing too flowery about them and they cut right to the chase, much like Ox himself. But over the course of the book as Ox gains more family and friends and learns to love, the writing gets longer and more detailed. It’s such a subtle, small detail that makes an enormous impact. And when he finally realizes his feelings for Joe it’s just… Ugh. Heartachingly good.

”Sometimes, when your heart gets so full, it takes away your voice and all you can do is hold on for dear life.”

And Joe! My small ray of sunshine and love. Well, when he’s not being a revenge-ridden wolf consumed with rage. With good reason too (MY POOR BABY JOE *Sobs again*). But ahhh he’s so adorable!! Watching him befriend Ox and bring him into the Bennett family was so fun to see. And their relationship grows into something so real and raw, it made me heart hurt in the best kind of way.

”I don’t even know! I don’t even know! You gotta smell him and tell me why it’s all candy canes and pinecones and epic and awesome.”

Plus, the secondary characters are amazing too! The entire Bennett family is too precious for this world, the paternal relationship between Gordo and Ox is adorable, and Ox’s mother has a quiet kind of strength. I absolutely loved that this wasn’t just a book about romance, it was a book about family and the definitions of family. And THANK GOD for Rico and Chris because my spirit would have been completely shattered without their excellent comedic relief.

”It smells like feelings in here.”

Okay, I’m almost done gushing. I swear. But I just have to say that the writing in this book IS BEAUTIFUL. I couldn’t get enough and I think I saved like, fifteen quotes from this thing. For some odd reason it gave me a vague [a:Maggie Stiefvater|1330292|Maggie Stiefvater|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1460918410p2/1330292.jpg] vibe and reminded me a little of [b:Shiver|6068551|Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #1)|Maggie Stiefvater|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1409283154s/6068551.jpg|6244926] or [b:The Raven Boys|17675462|The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle, #1)|Maggie Stiefvater|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1477103737s/17675462.jpg|18970934]. Not because they're anything alike (I mean, I hated Shiver), but it had the same gritty, dark magic kind of mood to it. Also, that ending was maniacal-evil-genius level type of stuff and I’m pretty sure my heart stopped beating for moment. This book made me cry guys! Multiple times!! I’M A MESS.



FINAL WORD

This is the longest review ever and I don’t even care because Wolfsong is worth every word. I have been SLAYED by this book, but I love it so damn much. READ IT!!!