Reviewed by Annika
TITLE: Stormhaven 
SERIES: Whyborne & Griffin #3
AUTHOR: Jordan L. Hawk
NARRATOR: Julian G. Simmons
PUBLISHER: Widdershins Press
RELEASE DATE: March 5, 2014
LENGTH: 7 hours, 33 minutes
BLURB:
Mysterious happenings are nothing new to reclusive scholar Percival Endicott Whyborne, but finding one of his colleagues screaming for help in the street is rather unusual. Allan Tambling claims he can’t remember any of the last hour—but someone murdered his uncle, and Allan is covered in blood.
Whyborne’s lover, dashing ex-Pinkerton detective Griffin Flaherty, agrees to prove Allan’s innocence. But when Allan is deemed insane and locked away in the Stormhaven Lunatic Asylum, Griffin finds himself reliving the horrifying memories of his own ordeal inside a madhouse.
Along with their friend Christine, the two men become drawn deeper and deeper into a dark web of conspiracy, magic, and murder. Their only clue: a missing artifact depicting an unknown god. Who stole the artifact, and why can’t Allan remember what happened? And what is the truth behind the terrible experiments conducted on Stormhaven’s forbidden fourth floor?
It will take all of Whyborne’s sorcery and Griffin’s derring-do to stop the murderers and save Allan. But first, they must survive an even greater challenge: a visit from Griffin’s family.
REVIEW:
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.
RATING: 
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