Audiobook Review – The Witches of Lychford (Witches of Lychford, Book 1) by Paul Cornell, Narrated by Marissa Calin (3.5/5 stars)
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Length: 3 hours and 24 minutes
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Release Date: September 08, 2015
ASIN: B010GJAGJY
Stand Alone or Series: 1st book in the Witches of Luchford series
Source: Borrowed Audiobook from Library
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
“The villagers in the sleepy hamlet of Lychford are divided. A supermarket wants to build a major branch on their border. Some welcome the employment opportunities while some object to the modernization of the local environment.
Judith Mawson (local crank) knows the truth – that Lychford lies on the boundary between two worlds and that the destruction of the border will open wide the gateways to malevolent beings beyond imagination. But if she is to have her voice heard, she’s going to need the assistance of some unlikely allies….”
Series Info/Source: This is the first book in the Witches of Lychford series. There are five novella-length books in this series. I borrowed this on audiobook from the library.
Thoughts: This was okay. It was about three women in a small town who end up standing against a subtle devil who is trying to bring a big box store to the small town community. The mystery/magic was very, very subtle and learning about these three women was okay but then felt a bit thin. I didn’t mind it and may continue with the series because it did peak my interest. However, it felt more like a sketch of a story than a complete story.
The story focuses on three rather stereotypical women. The featured protagonist in this story is Judith, a typical small town grumpy old woman. However, in this case she is also a protector of the town and a witch.
The reason the town needs to be protected was a bit ambiguous and why this town in particular was targeted was also a bit thin. The magic used was not explained very well either. However, I am a sucker for these types of small town, magical realism stories so I enjoyed it.
My Summary (3.5/5): Overall this was a bit of a shaky start to this series but had enough elements that I like that I may continue with the series. I have been looking for some shorter novella length audiobooks to read and this series definitely fills that need. I like the blend of small town atmosphere and magic. I do think the characters have potential but they felt a bit thin in this novella. We will see.
