Great 3rd Installment

I don't know how many books are in this series, but I hope they keep coming. This is a wonderful 3rd installment in the Whyborne & Griffin romance/adventures. This is a turning point in their relationship, as well as Whyborne's increasing paranormal abilities. The story continues to bring the tenderness and love of their relationship by introducing more of Griffin's backstory and a visit from his parents. Of course chaos of the paranormal kind ensues. I loved it. Definitely worth a credit, but you really have to read this series in order.

2 people found this helpful

Pros and Cons

Okay, I've listened to this series into the double digits and will keep going. The story is fantastic, the cast is most excellent for the size of the series. The narrator is improving and learning as they go and it's wonderful. Overall I recommend this series and don't think my complaints would've stopped me from buying it. Hell it's probably the third time I'm listening. That said, I do a LOT of listening and relistening. The main character deeply indulges in a form of self-pity that is only barely reasonable and requires a lot of reassurance by others that never meant anything even mildly blameworthy. Angst makes total sense, but it feels very shallow here, very scripted. Note that this does lessen and the story really good is too fantastic to pass up. Keep going. It only gets better.

1 person found this helpful

Love This Series

Any additional comments?

So good! I really enjoy the supernatural aspect of each book and Mr. Simmons naration is excellent. He brings Whyborne to life for me and love the friendship and camaraderie of the three leads. I can't wait for the next installment!

1 person found this helpful

Pleasant enough, character focused

I am really liking the way these stories progress, each one building on what the others lacked. The first book, I felt like I did not know the characters but enjoyed the setting. The second book built onto the characters well but the story felt weaker. This one was a pleasant marriage of the two, however it did lean more on the characters. I am really liking Griffin, I was extremely hesitant about wanting to but that was the biased narrator doing its job well. In addition, and depending on how u look at it could be determined as a spoiler, I am liking the gentle nudge of the main character towards “the dark side”. More and more often I am noticing the use of aggressive language when he interacts with others. Not subtle but naturally inserted. Final point on the matter, the writing suites the story and characters very well and I am genuinely interested in the relationships being formed as each book goes on. My only gripe is that things seem like they are moving to quickly for the characters to properly deal with their own and others actions.

I love this series!

Whyborne and Griffins new adventure hits a bit too close to home, in more ways than one. First they find one of Whyborne’s colleagues screaming in the middle of the street. His uncle had just been murdered and he himself could not remember anything from the last hour, and to make matters worse he was covered in blood… The general consensus seems to be that Allan had a mental breakdown and then killed his uncle and so he’s confined to an asylum. Griffin is asked by Allan’s brother to help prove his innocence and get him out of that horrid place. Still plagued by his own time in an asylum Griffin will do anything to keep other innocent people from experiencing the hell he went through. However things aren’t as they first seem, and the secrets kept in the asylum makes their task even more dangerous. As if all that wasn’t enough, Griffin’s family arrives to town for a visit… Hawk has created an interesting and I would say unique, world in this series, and you never know what creature will make an appearance and what horrors will be unleashed. I also really like that it’s all being revealed little by little and layer by layer, it keeps the mystique going and makes you want to learn more. Much more. As for Whyborne and Griffin, well they are mostly standing strong. There are a few moments, conflicts and uncertainty brought on by Griffin’s parents and the future, but it was all as it should be. Not overdone, or unnecessary or for the sake of drama. It was right. It brought them together and made them grow stronger. We also learned more about Griffin and his past in the madhouse and the experiences he suffered through, all the horrors. And as we do, admire him so much more for the person he’s become, and his strength. I enjoyed the “special effects” when the dweller was talking. It really added to the feel of them and what was going on and added to the magical and mystic atmosphere of the story. And before you worry, it wasn’t bells and whistles, or anything over the top, but nor was it a regular human voice. It was slightly altered and was just right. Part from that I really enjoy Julian G. Simmons’ accents. If they are accurate or not I can’t say, but I enjoyed them all the same. I’m also partial to his voice, it’s very pleasant to listen to him for hours on end. A copy of this book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review for Love Bytes.

Great Episode, Simmons is Perfect

Wow - that was really intense. She really pushed the boundaries with all the details of the insane asylums from that period in our history. The thought of what they did to people back then is just horrible - poor Griffin! How do you recover from something like that? Anyway, clearly five stars - this is such a marvelous series, so beautifully written and absolutely flawlessly narrated and produced by Julian G. Simmons.

Keep getting better narrator!

For the audiobook only! I have to say Jordan Hawk is just getting better, and so is the narrator. Originally some of the words spoken and written were a bit boxy and didn't quite gel with me. I do take some ownership of that as part of it was undoubtably me getting used to a new author. However in this third book Jordan Hawk takes us deeper into who Griffin is, where he comes from and what torments him on more than a cursory level. We get to meet people who are close to him, and explore his fears more in depth. I thought this was fantastic. We also dig a bit deeper into Whyborne, his family and some inkling of what may be coming for him. Along with that we had Christine also involved, this time she felt even more part of the group. I no longer really think of them as a duo, but a trio. They each have something they bring to the party. Jordan expanded their own ability as well. The sex scenes were never bad, but they are feeling smoother in this. The plot is a bit tighter and we are getting connections between stories. It is a good start for world building. The last part is that the narrator has gotten more comfortable themselves with reading it. The sex scenes were ok, a little off. However, the biggest issue was accents. It seems like they have laid off of them and that has made all the difference. Overall a great book, it is coming together and I am looking forward to Necropolis.

Wildly Entertaining! Love the Main Characters

Great story and amazing sex. Ms Hawks sizzling sex scenes caused my paint to get uncomfortably tight several times! Wish she had a better narrator who had both different character voicing as well as a better grasp on phasing for the time period.

Keeps Getting Better

There have been noticeable improvements in the story, narration, and quality of the audio sin e the first in this series, Widdershins. I'm very pleased that I chose to stick with it, despite the rough start with the audio quality in the first book. I've only grown to love the characters more and more and I truly enjoy the enthusiasm Julian G. Simmons brings to the story.

Eye-opening

Where does Stormhaven rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Stormhaven is a book that is most eye-opening if you have already read the preceding books. The emotional, somewhat turbulent, ever-colorful life that our heroes live is never more engaging and surprising.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The plot kept me guessing, and I'm usually pretty good at predicting where a story is going. I like that. This one had many twists and turns that were hard to see coming.

Did Julian G. Simmons do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Well, Julian, I'm sure, is a wonderful person, however, he will never be my favorite narrator. That said, the story is easy to follow with each character having some distinctive quality to the way they are voiced.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

An eventful romp by the sea with the Whyborne family.

Any additional comments?

The ending ended up being a surprise for sure. Glad to have gotten all the way to the end.