A bit of a mess, but good narration.

Hmm I don't know... This book was just too much but also not enough at the same time. And I kind of want to say: "What a bloody mess"

I love this series, and each and every book up to this one has been a great and wonderful read. So after finishing this one I'm a bit disappointed. I would say this was by far my least favourite instalment in this series to date. It felt lacking on so many levels. I missed the wonderful atmospheric feel that Fox created in her other books, and that creepy and haunted feeling to Dark and the people in the village was missing. It kind of felt like any old paranormal book, and that's not something we've come to expect from this series. It lacked the feelings that made it unique, and nothing can portray this more than the first line the first book and this;

Once Upon a Haunted Moor:

"That sound – you feel it before you hear it, a kind of low vibration in your bones."

Preacher, Prophet, Beast:

"My name is Lee Tyack-Frayne".


A bit of a difference, isn’t it?

I also felt like that wonderful connection between Lee and Gideon was missing. In this book they felt just like any old married couple with a toddler, no muss no fuss. We are not used to that. Ok, so Tamsyn does have some rather unusual powers and ones that come into play in this book, but still it's just not enough. Lee and Gideon have been this...force of nature almost, their connection as real and tangible as anything you can see and touch. Part of a whole. But this time around it was lacking everything that made them special. I do appreciate that they had a bit of ups and downs and not always lovey-dovey, but I still didn't feel them like I used to.

These books have also been very intimate of a sort. They take place in Dark and some of the surrounding small towns and villages. The rest of the world just didn't matter, it wasn't all that important to the people here. So for all intents and purposes the rest of the world didn’t exist. Yet suddenly Brexit and Trump and the instabilities in the world are being discussed more than once. And Ok, these things are important and the impact factors in the world are high. But nothing can touch Dark or Bodmin Moor, so this was just so unnecessary. It just doesn’t have a place in this series.

Let’s move on to the plot shall we. I have to admit I am so very confused about it. There was just soo much going on. Both new and old threats, ones we’ve long thought were done with, come out to play, threatening the lives of Dark and the people we’ve come to love. Add in ominous visions by Lee, and the mysteries surrounding Tamsyn, the village of Dark might never be the same again. The plot went in a million different directions and not many of them made much sense or were easy to follow. So much so that if you didn't pay 100% attention to the story for every second you'd be confused. And if you’d ask me I probably won't be able to tell you much more than maybe just the general idea of the book, no details and not on my life will I be able to re-tell how everything was connected and what really happened. And I literally finished listening to this book not 10 minutes ago.

So would I recommend this book?

I honestly don't know. In part I think that depends a bit on where the next book starts off, how much it will build on what happened in this one. And judging by the previous books, you are probably going to need to read it for reference if nothing else. But I would say, if you are like me and often have other things on the go while listening to audiobooks, you should read this book and not listen to it. Not that the audio is bad, Tim Gilbert is still a great narrator for this series. There's just so much going on that I think you'll benefit from reading instead of listening. Where you can just take a second and think about everything that happens, or go back to re-read a section before moving on. Hopefully you won't be as confused as I'm feeling right now – feeling like you need to go back to the beginning just to find out what was really going on.

A copy of this book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review for Love Bytes Reviews.

3 people found this helpful

Whirlwind

Deciding what to keep and what to share with others must be a form of insanity. This one was intense and so much so that even I feel like the axis of my world has changed or perhaps that is just living in 2020.

1 person found this helpful

Excellent Series

I just had to say, Ms. Fox that I really love the way you write. I was hesitant to listen to this series because of the "creep" factor, or so I thought it but what I found was intriguing. All the characters so wonderfully flawed and each beautiful in their own way. Since listening to the Tyeck & Frayne novels I have gone on to purchase most everything you've got on Audible and most thoroughly enjoyed every single one of them. Since reading and listening to your books I've studied Cornwall maps, looked up the different areas, places and monuments you write about. If I have the chance to travel Cornwall is where I'll go. So much magic!
Thank you Tim Gilbert for your fabulous narration you literally brought these characters to life. Ms. Fox I've gone on to purchase books 8, 9, 10 (2) of the Tyeck & Frayne books from Kindle but really hope that you and Mr. Gilbert choose to finish up this wonderful series with Audible. I look forward to listening to more from you.

This series is becoming tiresome

Jump from reality to not reality or vice versa abruptly. Also between characters. Please cut to the chase!

Kinda Breaks my Heart Not Enjoying This...

God I wanted to like this book. But there was decisions made by the author that bugged me. The story was a cluster of unnecessarily fantastical beats that provided little to the overall purpose of what this book was.

By rapping the books up this way, it somewhat stripped the others of their grounded nature. In every book, there was a irl reason for the crimes or actions. Yes, moments of magic here and there but those were experienced through the primary character. Therefore there was a chance of there being an unreliable narrator, which kept it with in the primary couple’s bond.

I guess it is spoilery but there was a part in the middle that I felt was without a purpose:

This book does a time travel . An event happens and it ends up with some casualties; however none of those casualties were in anyway connected to the main characters. No one that had any consequences towards character growth was effected. My big gripe is that it could easily have been taken out and the story would progress with the big event being stopped, the story moving forward from there, and the final words would have even more weight and mystery behind them.

I completely understand it’s purpose and the beast must have a face but still, I left nothing but a bad taste for a finally that should have been a book focused on understandings and acceptance.

I personally feel like the previous book was a better ending point. It felt far more satisfying in a narrative standpoint than this. In addition the writing quality drooped a bit. All those vivid world building sentences are gone. It felt like the author wanted to get down as quickly as possible what they were thinking, but then forgot later to revisit and add a little more flavor.

Overall, bland is the way I would describe this book. Compared to where this started, I have a hard time seeing the authors joy for writing for these characters. Everything was muted and forced. It’s did not feel like the author was trying to get it over with, more that they had so much they wanted to say that it became sterile. I have really enjoyed this book series and will revisit it later. I just think I will stop at the previous book.

The title tells all but there is so much more

As in every book this series you are taken on not one story but many and near the end it is woven into the most perfect story of love, acceptance, murder and mystery death of an enemy.
This story is mainly around an up coming LGB Parade and a group who wants to cause trouble and kill as many as possible. Second you find a secret about Zeke Gideon brother the Minster who in time accept Lee and Gideon with the help of his elderly mother and then meets his love of his life a young lady of the church and get into trouble and starts thinking of leaving the church due to the way raised by his father. And finally you will continue living Elizabeth as she grows both in health and her many abilities which slowly start some trouble and in some saves person who she is around.
Yes, my review is very vague but to write a true review you give away so many surprises that I feel it would ruin the story.
So I hope you take a moment and get this book and if you do not have the series grab it. There looks there is three more books in this series not set up as audibles and I hope real soon be!

Excellent!

This whole series has been a wonderful, thrilling read! Just enough of the mystery, paranormal, romance, and love, so much love, to keep me on the edge of my seat!!!!
Definitely recommend this book, the entire series!!

Great story

one of the best series I have ever heard . I would highh recommend it.

Long story...

Love this series!!! started to listen once I subscribed to Audible escape. best decision made ! Could not stop listening! The Narrator did an excellent job too. Would definitely read rest of the author’s books and also the narrator.
Can’t say why I gave story one less star without revealing the twist so... listen to it.

Viva la Resistance!

Super Baby saves the day and other mythic adventures of Lee & Gideon in their little slice of Cornwall. This tale is weird, but it’s the good sort of weird. Is it fever dream or are the witches warping the fabric of spacetime?

Another oddity is that we get POV scenes from several different characters in this installment. Usually we just get Gideon’s, but here we get his & Lee’s & several other characters’ POVs as well. It mostly works. Interesting magical way to tie up the loose ends/achieve justice. I liked it. This one might be ok for a new reader because most relevant backstory comes with a brief reminder and it’s good.

Steam: med-low. more hurried bouts of M/M explicit affection when these busy parents of a precocious toddler can squeeze it in.

Narration: I think the varied voices were handled well. Audio quality seemed solid.