Reviewed by Larissa
TITLE: Woods of the Raven
AUTHOR: Mary Calmes
NARRATOR: Greg Tremblay
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 7 hours and 39 minutes
RELEASE DATE: June 22, 2023
BLURB:
Something wicked this way comes…and it might be too late to stop it.
Xander Corey lives simply, sustainably, on the outskirts of Osprey, a small, quaint town in Upstate New York. He’s a librarian when the town’s budget can afford him, a good friend, kind neighbor, and also, a witch. And while that’s of no concern to anyone around him, there are others, non-humans, who have a vested interest in Xander’s family land. Xander knows something dark and dangerous is brewing. He’s just not quite sure what.
And that’s not the only mystery he’s dealing with. The new chief of police is, by turns, giving him heart palpitations and homicidal thoughts. Xander can’t decide if the gorgeous yet infuriating Lorne MacBain is on his side, or trying to drive him insane. Added to that, the man doesn’t believe in magic, and since that’s who Xander is, their future looks anything but bright.
But Lorne is not the unimaginative, stick-in-the-mud Xander thinks he is. And a rock to anchor him as his life is turning upside down is just the thing Xander needs. Now if only the two of them can stay alive….
REVIEW:
Mary Calmes deftly wields many tools from her extensive writer’s toolbox in her sharply penned paranormal/fantasy romance Woods of the Raven. This small-town, mysterious, bewitching story features the isolated fictional town of Osprey, New York, where witches like Xander Corey, magic, and mystical, dark, supernatural things live. Calmes’ world-building is astounding, digging into carefully researched Norse mythology and history circa mid-1800s. The sights, sounds, smells, and feelings are all so vividly described that Calmes’ world comes off the pages like a painting in relief.
Calmes is a talented, versatile author, and I never know quite what to expect. She seems to effortlessly turn out enthralling stories in myriad genres while still rooting them with a fulfilling MM romance between two intriguing men. Calmes’ crowning glory is her characters, and she’s hit paydirt here with the unassuming, loyal, ever-optimistic Xan and the staid, grumpy Lorne. Of course, neither man is what they seem at first blush, so despite their seemingly opposite personalities, they fit like hand in glove.
The storyline here is captivating, full of spookiness, suspense, and even, at times, violence. But despite the darkness, Calmes balances this story with delightful characters and plenty of humor, especially through Xan’s house – which is a character unto itself, as is the Corey land it sits on. Threaded through this marvelous plot is a story of life, love, power, loyalty, sacrifice, and reward.
While Calmes’ story stands well all on its own, she entrusts it to Greg Tremblay/Bourdreaux to deliver in audiobook form. Boudreaux could sell ice to an Eskimo, his mellifluous voice is so transfixing, soothing, even hypnotic. He’s technically precise and clearly prepares for his vocal performances, which shows through in subtle, thoughtful, impactful details like, for example, Lorne’s Boston accent. It’s only mentioned in passing early in the book that Lorne moved from Boston to Osprey, and a less careful narrator could have missed or skipped bringing authenticity to Lorne’s character through that Boston accent.
The best thing about Boudreaux is his full-bodied investment in the story. He knows how to embody a character and tell their story, and he does both here with aplomb. He has a natural ease and seamlessly executes the scenes, particularly those between Lorne and the house and Xan’s “pets”, which are equal parts endearing and humorous, especially Xan’s reaction to it all. I find that books narrated by Tremblay/Boudreaux become something other, different … more. It’s the same story but not, because he’s made it three-dimensional and dynamic, wholly absorbing and real.
Despite Woods of the Raven’s seven-and-a-half-hour audio time, I would have welcomed many more hours of Boudreaux regaling us with Xan and Lorne’s journey. I sincerely hope Calmes has more in store for us in this world because I’d love to revisit its rich landscape and charismatic characters and get more time with Xan and Lorne, a couple I adore. Highly recommended.
RATING: 
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