Narrated by Greg Tremblay
When I read the blurb and a couple of reviews for Woods of the Raven, I had the impression it would be atmospheric and perhaps a little scary, or at least eerie. In truth, while it is beautifully descriptive and at times evocative, it ends up being a fairly typical romance with a magical-fantasy setting. On the one hand there are fae trying to take over the world, and on the other is a contemporary antagonists-to-lovers romance.
Xan is from a long line of magical folk who have been blessed by a god, and Xan himself has been blessed by one individually, so while he’s a witch, he’s not just a witch, if you know what I mean. He’s special, which is very important to the story. Lorne McBain is the new chief-of-police and he seems to have it out for Xan, always stopping him on flimsy excuses and reprimanding him for things like jaywalking in their one-traffic-light town. Lorne seems to be able to smile at other people, but not Xan. Things change when the body of a murdered girl is dumped near Xan’s land, and Lorne comes to ask questions. It’s obvious Lorne feels surprisingly at ease in Xan’s house (which we will learn has a mind of its own) and Xan starts to warm up to the man.
When Lorne and Xan are attacked by magical creatures, Lorne tries hard to make excuses for what he’s seen, but when it happens a second time, he admits there could be something else going on. When Xan explains to Lorne that magic, as well as fae creatures, are real, Lorne accepts it (too easily, in my opinion). After that, he and Lorne start a relationship while Xan tries to figure out who is trying to cross into the human world via the gate on his land.
The worldbuilding and folklore in this novel are well done. Grounded in myth most of us will recognize, Calmes puts her own spin on things, making it feel fresh and original. While they may not know about the fae, the people of Xan’s small town seem to accept that some forms of witchcraft are real, and many rely on him for home remedies and protection spells. The fantasy aspects are the strongest parts of the story and I would have enjoyed reading about them in more depth.
The relationship and Lorne’s acceptance of the supernatural both happen quickly, and the interesting descriptions of magic give way to rather mundane descriptions of Xan getting pissed because his house, excuse me, cottage (you’ll understand if you read it)seems to like Lorne better. My other quibble is that every seemingly insurmountable obstacle becomes not so insurmountable after all. In my Dungeons and Dragons group, we would call Xan a “min-max,” or overpowered character, who always seems to have the answer. And the one time he doesn’t, there is an eleventh hour save that’s a classic example of deus ex machina.
I bought Woods of the Raven on sale based almost solely on the fact that Greg Tremblay narrates it. I can honestly say the performance more than met my expectations. Greg is a skilled voice actor, and expresses the characters and their emotions with ease. Lorne and Xan have very different personalities; Lorne is very practical-sounding and a bit gruff while Xan is more laid-back and has a lighter tone, and Greg’s voice for each is perfect. Greg has solid female voices, which for this story includes teen girls and Xan’s formidable bestie.
While listening to Woods of the Raven, I had the odd sensation of reading two books spliced into one. Except for the already noted caveats I did like both storylines, but the change in tone between the romantic storyline and the fantasy plot keeps me from giving this a higher grade. The excellent narration elevates the experience, so I can recommend this book as an enjoyable listen if expectations are adjusted.
Carrie
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