Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: Deosil

SERIES: Whyborne & Griffin #11

AUTHOR: Jordan L. Hawk

NARRATOR: Julian G. Simmons

PUBLISHER: Widdershins Press

LENGTH: 7 hours, 58 minutes

RELEASE DATE: February 4, 2020

BLURB:

Whyborne, Griffin, and their friends have faced down cultists, monsters, and sorcerers. But their greatest challenge is now upon them.

On the return voyage from Balefire Manor, Whyborne receives the worst news possible: Widdershins has fallen before the onslaught of the Fideles and their servants. There’s still time to stop the return of the Masters, but that window grows shorter by the hour.

Together with Christine and Iskander, Whyborne and Griffin must reach Widdershins to face the ultimate test and decide the fate of the world, once and for all.

REVIEW:

The wait for this audiobook hasn’t been easy. Knowing it was out there in print form, just a click away. But it wouldn’t have been the same reading this book instead of listening to Julian G. Simmons’ portrayal of all the characters we’ve all come to love. Whyborne & Griffin is easily the best series by Jordan L. Hawk, it has everything. And now it has come to an end. And what and end it was!

The book pick up shortly after Balefire ended and the gang is returning home. They are plotting and planning of how to take on the masters – only to have it all crumbling down when they learn that Widdershins has fallen. From then on, and I think we’re only about five minutes in; it’s full on and non-stop action and a race against time. This book is so intense and has so much happening that it will have your head spinning for days. The big fight with the masters was long and arduous and there were losses. Some expected and others not. Some more painful than others. But this world is a strange and magical place. It’s wonderful and scary and filled with people that never give up on their friends and family. And together they can create miracles.

There is some incredible world building in this series. It’s unique and it’s detailed. It’s not always easy to understand how it all ties together. To be frank, I was completely and utterly lost at times. But that’s also what makes it so great, what makes it feel all that more real. In a slightly terrifying way. It shows the level of thought, the details Hawk has crafted of this world. I’m in awe of it. Plain and simple.

Julian G. Simmons is as much a part of this series as Whyborne, Griffin, Christine, Iskander and the rest of the gang. His narration is always spot on capturing the heat of the moment, the terror, sadness and joy. I love the voices he had for the various creatures. The non-human sounding voices he created for them really added to the sense of place and bringing the creatures to life.

It’s clear Simmons lives in the word when he narrates. You hear the sorrow in his voice during some of the more hearbreaking scenes. He makes you feel that sorrow. He also makes you feel the love they all share, the strength of it. How much part of them it is. As always he made the book a joy to listen to. I’m only sad that we have to say goodbye.

This series and these characters will always have a special place in my heart. We’ve been through so much together, good and bad and magical. I can only thank Jordan L. Hawk and Julian G. Simmons for the privilege to be a part of it and hope we’ll meet again someday in the future.

RATING:

BUY LINKS: 

Audible

Amazon