“But it was one scent I chased after more than all the others. It was grass. And lake water. And sunshine.”
Kirt Graves nailed it. Kirt Graves embodies these characters and performs the text beautifully, bringing all the emotion, action, and uncertainty out so well. This series is such a pleasure to read and listen to, and I highly recommend you grab them if you haven’t already. That being said, definitely want to read these in order.
Heartsong begins with Robbie living in Caswell, Maine as Michelle Hughes, the Alpha of all’s, trusted second. Confused? So was I. Heartsong, like Ravensong, has more non-linear storytelling, picking up several years after the events of Ravensong and having the reader discover everything that happened since at the same time Robbie does.
“Memories are all well and good. They help to shape us, to make us who we are. We learn from past experiences, and they can also bring us joy in the quiet moments of reflection. But they aren’t everything.”
Of course there are reasons for Robbie to be where he is, why he doesn’t know who the Bennett pack are, and you’ll get to the answers eventually, alongside Robbie.
“What makes a man?” Her face was covered in shadow. Her hand never left my hair. “If all he knows is stripped away, what is it that remains?”
“I don’t know.”
“I didn’t either until we found you again. I think I know the answer now. Would you like to hear it?”
“Yes.” Almost more than anything.
She said, “What remains is a broken heart shattered like so much glass. Pieces are missing, and the ones that are left don’t fit like they used to. But still it beats, because no matter what is taken away, no matter what is lost, it needs to continue. To survive. You are a survivor, Robbie. And not even magic can take that away from you.”
It takes a pretty deft hand to be able to tell a story from the POV of a person who has no idea what’s happening without losing the audience, but Klune does it.
Heartsong’s definitely not like either Wolfsong or Ravensong, bringing a new layer and depth to the Green Creek saga and while we do get an ending for Robbie and Kelly, the very ending of Heartsong sets up the final book in the series, Brothersong, for what should end up being a pretty epic final battle against a seemingly unstoppable foe. Is it 2020 yet?