Waiting for the Flood

Spires, Book 2

By: Alexis Hall

Narrated by: Will Watt

Twelve years ago, Edwin Tully came to Oxford and fell in love with a boy named Marius. He was brilliant, an artist. It was going to be forever. Ten years later, it ended. Now Edwin lives alone in the house they used to share. He tends to damaged books and faded memories, trying to build a future from the fragments of the past.

Then the weather turns, and the river spills into Edwin’s quiet world, bringing with it Adam Dacre from the Environment Agency. An unlikely knight, this stranger with roughened hands and worn wellingtons offers Edwin the hope of something he thought he would never have again. As the two men grow closer in their struggle against the rising waters, Edwin learns he can’t protect himself from everything—and sometimes he doesn't need to try. Because love doesn’t only leave scars; oftentimes, it heals them too.

This lyrical, moving LGBTQIA+ romance contains never-before-seen content and exclusive bonus material—including a NEW novella, Chasing the Light, following Marius as he rediscovers love and the complicated joy of being truly alive.

©2024 Alexis Hall (P)2024 Dreamscape Media

Critic reviews

"Watt’s knack for capturing characters’ uniqueness shines brightly, most notably in his portrayal of Edwin. Watt’s expressive delivery transports listeners to these slices of Edwin and Marius’s lives." - Audiofile Magazine (Earphones Award Winner)

Alexis Hall and Will Watt are the best together.

Such a good book. Sad I finished it but will definitely listen again while waiting for the new For Real book to come out June 11th. Alexis Hall shall only be narrated by Will Watt for forever in my opinion. Will Watt gives a terrific spin to the books and honestly makes listening to them so much easier than other narrators. You’ve done it again Alexis Hall and Will Watt cannot wait for another.

Beautiful

When I got this book, I was really hoping to get some thing different and to my surprise I did. It was really refreshing to get both sides of the story being the adult that I am. I really enjoy this type of love stories where you can see aspects of reality without the overwhelming and unhealthy expectation of what romance should be. Great book.

Love Mature M/M

This is worth the listen. The narrator and story are both so good. Marius, for me, was difficult at times to like, but I did adore he didn’t change too much because of love. It made him enduring. Edwin and Adam are the sweetest couple. This is a good one by Alexis Hall.

Good Soup

Alexis Hall has such a way with writing ppl, I still don't really like Marius but the story will stay with me a while and Edwin will stay with me even longer. Adam has so easily become my new highest standard of person and I really love how Edwin thinks.

Pretty formulaic

Hall’s gay novels are becoming cookie cutter replays of earlier works. This one stretches the limits of hus paradeigm

Edwin wasn't the main character

All the reviews and synopsis talk about Edwin. However he wasn't the main character. I wish Hall would have spent more time on Marious. He was flawed but lovable. I didn't really understand the entire first half of the book.

Marius is an Ahole

A note on the audiobook performance: it flows much better at 1.15 speed.

Hall is an excellent writer. Without fail, she sucks me into the story, weaves prose that soothes and stimulates, and SOME of her characters make me want to put them in my pocket and keep them.

Some of her characters are petulant, whingey, narcissistic brats.

Fortunately three other characters save this story. They have to be so amazing, however, that it feels almost implausible that three such perfect humans (to say nothing of attractive) could exisst in a 1,000 mile radius of each other.

The result is a story in two parts which makes me feel highly conflicted. I have to point out that the absolute irritation I feel towardd Marius has everything to do with my personal refusal to deal with people who are so narcissistic and petulant that they more closely resemble a two-year-old in a tantrum than a grown adult. But that type of character does not equate to poor writing or a bad narrative.

And so I am conflicted. I will probably listen to the first half of this book several more timez, but I will probably skip the second...

Second Chances

The stories are beautifully written and the narrator - Will Watt - gives the words their proper weight & depth. Alexis Hall has a gift for creating beautifully complex characters who are deeply flawed but also so wonderfully relatable.

Name a better duo!!!!!

WILL WATT READING ALEXIS HALL AGAIN IS BRILLIANT! THE NEW NOVELLA DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!! I AM ONLY SAD THAT I FINISHED IT!!! I NEED TO INSTANTLY RE-LISTEN!!!!

Amazing dual storyline

One of Alexis’s best that I’ve read. Interesting perspective with the 2 character dual story lines.