Witchmark

By: C. L. Polk

Narrated by: Samuel Roukin

A stunning, addictive fantasy debut that combines intrigue, magic, betrayal, and romance in an original world with a historical WWI tone. In an original world reminiscent of Edwardian England in the shadow of a world war, cabals of noble families use their unique magical gifts to control the fates of nations, while one young man seeks only to live a life of his own.

Moving at a brilliant pace and pulsing with deadly intrigue and unforgettable characters, Witchmark grabs listeners and doesn't let go until the thrilling conclusion.

Magic marked Miles Singer for suffering the day he was born, doomed either to be a slave to his family's interest or to be committed to a witches' asylum. He went to war to escape his destiny and came home a different man, but he couldn't leave his past behind. The war between Aeland and Laneer leaves men changed, strangers to their friends and family. Even after faking his own death and reinventing himself as a doctor at a cash-strapped veteran's hospital, Miles can't hide what he truly is.

©2018 C. L. Polk (P)2018 Recorded Books

Amazing read

This book was a wonderful suprise. It was well written and kept me engaged and guessing through out. The main characters were likeable/hateable and I'm hoping there is a sequel because it is a Great story. Cant say enough how much I liked this one.

New Favorite!

This book was very well written. Excellent performance from the reader. I can't wait for the next one!

Wonderful world building!

Great story! If you have a gay teenager, I highly recommend this book. Very wholesome love story between Miles and Tristan and reminded me of the novels I loved as a teenage girl with lots of yearning looks and electric accidental touches, but no graphic sex scenes. They are both witches from separate worlds investigating a series of murders by returning combat veterans possessed by something more purposely evil than PTSD. Mike's sister, Grace, starts the book as a political climber who will stop at nothing in her rise to power, but redeems herself fully by the end of the book. Can't wait to start the second book in the series.

Magical mystery all in one

A good yarn with magic, mystery and romance. I look really forward to reading the next books.

Magical plot, world, and LGBT romance

4.5 stars
I absolutely loved this!
Anyone looking for an adorable LGBT+ romance, historical fantasy, murder mystery, that explores upper class privilege, and the consequences of war? It's right here!
The beginning was a bit tough for me because I thought it would be more historical urban fantasy, and it did vaguely resemble England after WWI, but the places and past events were all made up, and the magically system is very unique.
I loved all the characters, Tristan reminded of Howl (from Howl's Moving Castle only more put together). The murder mystery was intriguing, and I had a ton of fun finding out were it lead, and how everything tied together. What an interesting outcome it had in the end!
Miles and Tristen where so cute, and I eagerly await the next book to see what happens to them.

Stunning magical mystery

Loved every minute of this and couldn’t predict the ending. Do yourself a favor and listen to it ASAP!

Breathtakingly new!

The characters are original & have great depth. The main character is wonderfully hopeful and determined.
A twist on the witch story. Back drop feels like 20th century England and a completely different world.

Excellent

More than a bit of a cliffhanger, but so good it's worth it. The narrator has a really pleasant voice. He doesn't provide distinct voices for each character, but somehow that isn't confusing. I did understand who was talking at all times.

Worth the slow start

I loved it! it starts slow but picks up. It is a bit dark but with dark themes, there are some descriptions of violence - but not in deep detail.

Excellent story and World building

C. L. Polk's _Witchmark_ receives four stars from me. While I enjoyed the story and the characters, I felt the setting and world building was remarkable.

Performance: Samuel Routine read this novel and I found his perforce excellent. He has a calm mood, a subtle way reading that drew me into the novel. I don't remember very many different voices, but he did have a few. For me, his reading--the cadence; his interpretation--simply drew me in. I recommend him as a reader any day.

The novel: As stated above it is the world building that really hit me as fantastic. It is set in another world but the similarities to post WW1 are really clear. I loved that part of it. The buildings, the engineering, the things of that world were spot on and really put one in the mood of Post WW1. However, it isn't just the things of that world that are so similar: it is the government, the war, the "Battle fatigue" that the shoulders are struggling with.

Themes are also strong and ones I would pay more attention to on a second reading. Themes like independence, stepping out of familial expectations; sibling rivalry; romance. These were all strong.

This has clear gay romance elements to it. I loved how he intertwined that part of the story, where it was enough to draw one in, but not too much like erotica.

Recommended: yes.