Everwylde

AudioBook Review: Stars: Overall: 4 Narration: 3 Story: 4 My first introduction to this series and world, Grant managed to present a story reminiscent of King Arthur with plenty of magical elements, destined love and plenty of dangers to overcome in this book. Raven is a witch-hunter, raised to seek out the danger from witches, and determined to exact her revenge against those who took everything, including her family, from her. As a character, Raven was strong willed and fierce, and her impulsivity is both something that fuels her in battle while keeping her closed off and afraid when she’s not focused on her hunt. And she’s frequently distracted from the hunt by Carac, a seasoned warrior who tends to step in and derail her hunt, all in the service of protecting her from her more impulsive and perhaps not well thought out choices. He’s also intrigued by her and the juxtapositions that make her retreat from relationships and emotions unless they are connected to her quest. There’s a bit of insta-love here, and their coming together has a sort of convenience in the presentation, but the two play off beautifully together, Carac manages to encourage the missing pieces of Raven’s personality, providing a safe space for her to grow and accept hose things she fears most. While not reading the first book didn’t impede my enjoyment of the story as Grant provided bits of backstory that aided in understanding the context in which Raven and Carac exist, as well as providing intrigue and interest in the first book. Clever dialogue, a growth in a relationship that felt more fated than forced as the story progresses, and the mix of adventure, romance and the increasing threats from the witches and the unknown, the story is engaging and feels very ‘Grant” in the build to climax and opportunity for more. Narration for this story is provided by Louisa Jane Underwood, and while her performance managed to capture the characters with clear enunciation and tone, it was occasionally difficult to distinguish male and female, or different characters until the ‘who is speaking’ became clear. White she managed to present the story without unusual pauses, or gaps that would foreshadow or confuse, there were points where moments ran together far more closely than I would have hoped for. For a first introduction to this narrator, I have to say the performance was good, just not as amazing as I was hoping for. I received a AudioBook copy of the title from Tantor Audio for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.