Witches of London - Lars

De: Aleksandr Voinov

Narrado por: Matthew Lloyd Davies

Some problems you can’t solve with magick - and some you can.

After a homophobic pagan group rejected him, Lars Kendall is a solitary heathen on the Northern Path, loyal to the gods of the Norse pantheon. But being on his own sucks. So when he finally meets a mixed group of other queer witches and magick users, it’s like finding family. If family involved exploring past lives and casting spells.

Rhys Turner quit a stressful job in the city after his high-strung boyfriend of six years walked out. He sold the expensive flat in central London and bought a run-down house out in the suburbs. Never mind that it needs walls knocked down, its garden landscaped, and what the hell is up with that carpet?

With his health failing, Rhys is desperate for a clean slate and a new start. He isn’t ready to fall in love with anybody, least of all the hunky builder who looks like he’s stepped out of a TV show about Vikings - tattoos, long hair, and all. But as strong and loyal as Lars is, he also has a very soft heart, which might be the hardest thing for Rhys to resist.

©2016 Aleksandr Voinov (P)2018 Aleksandr Voinov

Interesting

This is really just a cute gay love story. It’s got some nice sex scenes, the whole magic thing seemed completely unconvincing but it was unique. It’s worth reading/ listening to. The audio book reader does a phenomenal job!

I really wanted to love it :(

this had a great deal of potential. However, there was no real mystery or magic to the story. that part could best be described as maybe a Daydream of some sort.

The romance part of the story is great! but as a heathen and a gay heathen I was excited to find a story about a gay heathen. gay Pagan characters are almost always in the general Wiccan or general Pagan sense. I have never come across a story that involves a gay heathen before. so as someone who is gay and the practitioner of heathenry, someone who worships the old Germanic deities, this was actually a pretty big let down.

Magical

This is how I imagine that real magic works, how real witches do it. Not spectacular, no show, just quiet shifting of energies, in the shadow, changing that which it touches. The writing is superb as is the narration! If I could give more stars, I would!
Lars uses his magic to help heal his deathly sick new lover Rhys. So if that is too heavy for you, don't read. Personally, I find the writer handles the heavy themes wonderfully and profoundly.

Character driven romance

If you're looking for a paranormal romance, well, it is and it isn't. The pagan elements of the story are part of the setting, not a mystery or problem to be solved.

There are no alpha males, no stalker ex-boyfriend, no guns, and no ghosts. It's Rhys, learning to love even as he faces his own mortality, and Lars, loving and protecting in the way he knows best. The crisis is realistic. Lars's reaction is in character. The resolution is complete. It's a HEA, not a HFN.

The narrator is good enough that I looked to see what else he had done. There are both some particularly well done moments, and a few (just a very few) where the protagonists voices were not as distinguishable from each other. Overall, quite good.

Fantastic!!!

Loved everything about this book - the story and narration!
Lovely story weaving traditional beliefs in old gods, magic and the power of love. Lars and Rhys, indeed all the characters were very well portrayed. This could have been angsty, but it isn't.
Matthew Lloyd Davies is a joy to listen to! Great performance 😍
Highly recommend listening to this 👍

Was it sound editing. My ears or just one those things.

Enthralled with the subject matter but could not understand some of the reading. Either too fast or too fast and soft. Weird. Sorry. I liked the print version