HEARTSONG by T. J. Klune is the third book in the Green Creek series. I discovered this series last year, as Tor opted to rerelease the series with new covers. The first two books in the series, WOLFSONG and RAVENSONG, are among my favorite books of last year. Now that I read the third book, I know the series will be among my favorite series of all time.

With every book, Mr. Klune manages to rip out my heart and crush it, and I keep returning for more. His ability to put into words the longing, the loneliness, and the fears of his characters is breathtaking. He makes you understand what it means to be overwhelmed with emotion because he overwhelms you with emotion. It doesn't matter if you are reading Ox's, Gordo's, or Robbie's story, you are right there with them, feeling the brutality of their grief, the magnitude of their anger, or the bottomless depths of their loneliness. The experience is unforgettable.

Robbie was never my favorite character in the first two books. He was too eager to please, too ingratiating. Now that I've read HEARTSONG, I understand why he is that way, and it breaks my heart. His past is tragic. Instead of letting it make him bitter, he retains an innate optimism about others that is quite sweet.

One of the best things about HEARTSONG is that I was not expecting any of it. The beginning threw me for a loop because I didn't understand where it fits with the previous stories. Once I understood what was happening, Mr. Klune had me. I was 100 percent vested in Robbie's story, for all its pain and longing.

HEARTSONG is one of those rare novels I could not stop reading until I finished it. I grumbled at my husband when he came home and started telling me about his day because I wanted to keep reading. I went to bed early so I could read without interruptions. The few times I set the book aside to be an adult, I could not stop thinking about it. I wanted nothing more than to go back to Robbie and to feel his pain and confusion.

What makes the Green Creek series outstanding is not just because the stories break your heart. They do that repeatedly, and you don't even mind because the experience of reading the books is so beautiful. For all the painful emotions of anger, loss, betrayal, and loneliness within the pages, however, there is also this profound sense of love and family. That unconditional love and acceptance that is the pack is overwhelming and wonderful. You want nothing more than to find your own Bennett pack to feel such intense belonging and contentment. It truly is a remarkable reading experience.

HEARTSONG rereleases on 30 January 2024, and I urge you to read the series. Few stories capture what it means to love and be a family so purely, so beautifully. Each book is an emotional roller coaster with the highest of highs and lowest of lows, but it is worth the tears and heartbreak. It is rare to say that a book or even a series is life-altering, but I believe the Green Creek series, including HEARTSONG, is life-changing. ( )

This was a bit confusing at first, since the time frame at which we start wasn't clear. But it was good to read regardless. We have again good characters, overly evil bad guy, and lots of emotions. ( )

words, more words, eloquent words....... please pass me the tissues because I bawled my eyes out. This is such a beautiful emotional series that hits all the right spots. Pack, love, trust, hope...it's all in there wrapped up in a beautiful bow. ( )

I love the story, I love the characters and I love Green Creek.
Each of the books in this series is precious.
And now I have to wait for book 4 and I don't want to wait. ( )

Packpackpack

I very much enjoyed this penultimate Green Creek novel, except for the parts I didn't, and that may be me in my current mental state. But stories are collaborative, and so if you are also feeling emo and anxious for whatever reason, I'll tell you to stick with this one, it picks up speed. And stick with it through some dorky actions. All the emotional punches are there as we've come to expect. The last book promises to be a doozy. ( )