Reviewed by Dan
TITLE: Fallow
SERIES: Whyborne & Griffin #8
AUTHOR: Jordan L. Hawk
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 197 Pages
RELEASE DATE: August 5, 2016
BLURB:
When Griffin’s past collides with his present, will it cost the lives of everyone he loves?
Between the threat of a world-ending invasion from the Outside and unwelcome revelations about his own nature, Percival Endicott Whyborne is under a great deal of strain. His husband, Griffin Flaherty, wants to help—but how can he, when Whyborne won’t tell him what’s wrong?
When a man from Griffin’s past murders a sorcerer, the situation grows even more dire. Once a simple farmer from Griffin’s hometown of Fallow, the assassin now bears a terrifying magical corruption, one whose nature even Whyborne can’t explain.
To keep Griffin’s estranged mother safe, they must travel to a dying town in Kansas. But as drought withers the crops of Fallow, a sinister cult sinks its roots deep into the arid soil. And if the cult’s foul harvest isn’t stopped in time, Fallow will be only the first city to fall.
Fallow is the eighth book in the Whyborne & Griffin series, where magic, mystery, and m/m romance collide with Victorian era America.
REVIEW:
You may have noticed that I love the Whyborne & Griffin series. I eagerly await each new book, and moan that they take too long. She has other series? Too bad…wait in line! Just kidding. I love her other series as well.
I’m not sure whether to tell you this book could be read as a standalone or not. I guess it could be, but you really wouldn’t understand the backstory of almost anyone in the book. My recommendation is to read them in order. They are all fantastic, so it shouldn’t be too onerous.
In this latest installment in the series, Whyborne & Griffin are off to Fallow, Kansas, where Griffin grew up and where his adopted mother still lives. Of course it wouldn’t be a Whyborne & Griffin story if Christine wasn’t also along for the ride, along with her husband Iskander.
The four will journey to the drought ridden Midwest, in search of a mysterious magical corruption that they discovered on two men from that town who tried to kill Griffin in Widdershins. For some reason the men babbled something about “what you did” to Griffin when they attacked him. He has no clue what that is all about.
What will they find when they get to the small Kansas town? It wouldn’t be a Whyborne & Griffin story if there wasn’t a liberal amount of evil ready to pounce on them. It does, and there are adventures galore.
I loved this one, just like I’ve loved the entire series. I highly recommend this installment, as well as the entire series. I’ve read and reviewed all of them…I’m selfish that way! I never thought I would love a historical gay romance series so much…but did I mention the magic, the non-humans, the evil, and the adventures? Now I’m going to be sitting here tapping my foot until 2017 and the release of the next book in the series….Draakenwood…
THE COVER:
In closing, I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you that I have one major complaint about the new book, and it is nothing to do with the story. I don’t like the cover. I don’t like it AT ALL! I love the old covers, and have come to picture those two men in my head when reading these stories. I ignored the new cover, with its anemic looking little characters and used the old pics in my head again. Not sure why the change, but I’m sure I’m not the only one that is miffed. Am I being petty? I don’t think so. I think trying to change the look of the characters eight books into a series is a mistake. Especially when they have been watered down and are nowhere near as good looking as the originals, nor do they even match the descriptions of the characters! Luckily my rating is based on the story!
RATING: 
BUY LINKS:
I was afraid I was the only one who hated the new cover, especially Griffin. Nope don’t like ’em at all.