Balefire

Whyborne & Griffin, Book 10

By: Jordan L. Hawk

Narrated by: Julian G. Simmons

Whyborne’s Endicott relatives have returned to collect on the promise he made to help them take back their ancestral manor from an evil cult. In exchange, they’ll give him the key to deciphering the Wisborg Codex, which Whyborne needs to learn how to stop the masters.

To that end, Whyborne, his husband Griffin, and their friends Iskander and Christine travel to a small island off the coast of Cornwall. But when they arrive at Balefire Manor, Whyborne must not only face the evil within the ancient mansion, but the painful truth about his own destiny.

©2018 Jordan L. Hawk (P)2019 Jordan L. Hawk

It's no secret I love the world Jordan L. Hawk has

It's no secret I love the world Jordan L. Hawk has built around her Whyborne & Griffin characters. Lovecraftian in inspiration and nature, but very much her own. If there's one complaint (and it's a good complaint to have, in my humble opinion), it's that I always want more of the ever-growing supporting cast than the author can reasonably fit in a single book of the series, especially when the series is narrated by the two main characters. So a spin-off novella featuring two of the most under-utilized supporting players in the series was an easy sell for me, especially when I saw the narrator was the delightful Miss Maggie Parkhurst, working alongside Persephone Whyborne, the series' main character's long-estranged sister.

Hawk didn't disappoint me: Maggie's voice is true and clear, and different enough from Percival Whyborne and Griffin Flaherty's voices to stand out while sharing many of the men's insecurities. (Seriously, it's not a Hawk book if someone isn't feeling unworthy of being loved or regretting not making the first move. It's part of what I love about her books.) The action sequences are as thrilling as ever, and we get more details on the nature of the Ketoi race that Persephone comes from. And seriously, again: who can resist a fight sequence featuring the Fighting Librarians of the Nathaniel R. Ladysmith Museum?

loved every second of it

really sad this series is coming to a close. I do love christine so much.

Great read

Once again, Hawk takes us on an adventure with a brilliant cast of characters and an engaging plot. This time we got to see more of the infamous Endicott family and their inner workings. Can't wait to get my hands on the final book of the series!

Julian Simmons is a Treasure

I had read all of the Wyborn é Griffin novels years ago, but I've been hoping to find time for the audio books. I finally made time and I'm so glad I did. Spectacular acting and vocal chops by Mr. Simmons has made this a joy. And ... I've never read book 11 because I didn't want the ride to end. But I will now listen to the finale.

Didn't want this adventure to end!

Sometimes you have to have luck on your side. I started listening to this series a couple of months ago and basically binged every audiobook in about a week. And after finishing Draakenwood I resigned myself to a long wait for Balefire. I mean it’s been almost two years since the last book was published, and there was no real news of when the next one was going to be produced, let alone being published. Believe me, I looked. Then one day in the end of June I saw that not only had Balefire a date, it had been released! To say that I had a grin on my face that day and had a happy warm feeling in the days to come was an understatement.

The, extended, gang is travelling outside Widdershins once more. This time it’s to a small island off the coast of Cornwall where Whyborne promised his help in aiding the Endicotts taking back Balefire from evil. Once there they are in for a number of surprises and dangers– if you’ve read the previous nine books you know what I mean. We learn more about the Endicott side of the family, their secrets and role in all of this. But we also learn more about what’s destiny has in store for Whyborne and his part when the Masters arises. Nothing is clear mind you, because the word Jordan L. Hawk has created is full of twists and turns interwoven with mythology and fantastical creatures and dangers at every turn. It’s all connected in some way and not easily understandable. But that’s also what makes these books so much fun, an adventure that I for sure can’t get enough of.

You can feel it in the air, in the people. In their interactions and conversations. Everything is coated in this mixed feeling of dread and anticipation. The big bad is coming and that final epic battle is not far off the horizon. It’s not here yet, but preparations are made and alliances formed. Alliances that in the beginning were unthinkable when this all started. They aren’t always comfortable, but hey you can’t expect to unquestioningly trust the people that more than once tried to kill you and your friends. But it makes for an all the better read for us.

Julian G. Simmons might just be synonymous with this series, and these people. He is all of them, he knows them and the feel of this series. He’s a part of it. So for some the wait for Balefire has been long, but it’s a wait that was worth it, because listening to this series wouldn’t have been the same without him. Just like he’s done before he brought it all to life, made you feel like you were fighting beside Whyborne and Griffin, Christine and Iskander, fighting the creatures hell bent on destroying them all. It was so poignant you could feel the cold of the ocean and the rush before each battle. It was amazing from start to finish.

Balefire is the same but different from the previous books. It’s the same people, and have the same feel to it. Yet at the same time, this time you truly felt that it was part of something much larger and infinitely more dangerous. Whereas previously we’d been dealing with the big bad here and now and then have gone on to celebrate a job well done once defeated. This time there’s no celebration, it’s more of a checkpoint to be crossed off in order to face and defeat the Masters in the coming battle.

I can’t wait to see what Hawk has in store for us with Deosil, but I know one thing; it’s going to be epic!

A copy of this book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review for Love Bytes.

Fantastic as always

Jordan and Julian killed it like they always do! One of my favorite series of all time.

Least fav book of the series

This was my least favorite of the series so far hopefully the last book will be better. Hardly any romance or erotica