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Shadow Spell

Book Two of The Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy
Written by: Nora Roberts
Narrated by: Alan Smyth
Length: 11 hrs and 20 mins
5 out of 5 stars (14 ratings)
Price: CDN$ 37.58
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Publisher's Summary

From number-one New York Times best-selling author Nora Roberts comes a trilogy about the land we’re drawn to, the family we learn to cherish, and the people we long to love.…

With the legends and lore of Ireland running through his blood, falconer Connor O’Dwyer is proud to call County Mayo home. It’s where his sister, Branna, lives and works, where his cousin, Iona, has found true love, and where his childhood friends form a circle that can’t be broken.…

A circle that is about to be stretched out of shape - by a long-awaited kiss.

Meara Quinn is Branna’s best friend, a sister in all but blood. Her and Connor’s paths cross almost daily, as Connor takes tourists on hawk walks and Meara guides them on horseback across the lush countryside. She has the eyes of a gypsy and the body of a goddess…things Connor has always taken for granted - until his brush with death propels them into a quick, hot tangle.

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©2014 Nora Roberts (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

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Audible.ca reviews
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Sort by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Of Mother's, Dream-walks, and Demons

If you've read the Guardians trilogy, this will be familiar to you. Shadow Spell by Nora Roberts follows the second pair of destiny-bound heterosexual lovers as they navigate family, love, and time off. The story is engaging and fun; a good follow up from the first in the Dark Witch series.

While I found both story and characters fun, switching to a new narrator for the second book was jarring. The characters came off slightly different and made me focus more on the change than on the book. Alan Smyth unfortunately cannot pull off an American accent, even if the Irish accent was good and dominant to the story. However, this book was enjoyable. If you're a Nora Roberts fan, and you like her fantasy/romance, you will likely enjoy this.

Sort by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • jenny
  • 2014-03-27

Book is a good read but the narrator is HORRIBLE

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

No. After only listening to the first chapter I decided to just read the book. The guy reading this book is the worst narrator that I've ever heard! He sounds Spanish instead of Irish and takes long pauses between each sentence. HORRIBLE! I thought perhaps something had gone wrong with my download but then I read everyone's reviews and found that it is indeed how this audio book sounds. Shame on whoever let this one through the screening process.

What did you like best about this story?

Nora Roberts

How could the performance have been better?

A new narrator is a must! I loved the narrator for the 1st book in this series, Dark Witch. Why couldn't she have read this one as well? This guy....pauses...way...too....often.

Did Shadow Spell inspire you to do anything?

The narrator inspired me to read this book myself.

32 of 32 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Margaret-Ann
  • 2014-03-25

Narration is terrible

What did you love best about Shadow Spell?

The story itself is good, and I wish that I had just purchased the book and read it to myself. The narrator stops so frequently that it is distracting and annoying.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Shadow Spell?

Not very far into the story, but I may have to purchase the Kindle version to get through it.

How could the performance have been better?

Please. Stop. Pausing. So. Often. It. Is. Painful. To. Listen. To.

Any additional comments?

I would like to see them do something similar to what was done with Whiskey Beach (new narrator). I looked forward to this book coming out and now feel really disappointed.

60 of 61 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Eleanore
  • 2014-03-27

So disappointed by the narration

What did you like best about Shadow Spell? What did you like least?

I was disappointed with the narrator choice for the first book in this trilogy, but her accent and pace were so much better than Alan Smyth's performance! I was at least able to listen to her for the whole of the first book versus shutting off this second book and switching to a nonfiction book on my commute to/from work.

What did you like best about this story?

I wish I could say I finished this story, but I have to return this audio version and buy the Kindle one.

What didn’t you like about Alan Smyth’s performance?

I have never returned an audiobook on Audible but I can hardly stand the pauses, changes in the narrator's accent and complete lack of flow in this version. This is really not a good fit for this trilogy and his performance is so bad it's distracting. I would much rather prefer my favorite narrator, Susan Ericksen, or Patricia Daniels or Fiacre Douglas. The latter two narrators performed the Jewels trilogy and the Born In trilogy, respectively and they are fantastic!

What would have made this romance irresistible?

Better narrator.

Any additional comments?

Please re-record this book with a new narrator like you did with Whiskey Beach! However, even the first narrator for Whiskey Beach is better than Alan Smyth performing Shadow Spell.

24 of 24 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • JulieAnn
  • 2014-03-26

What is up with this narrator?

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The narrator! He is awful. I have gotten used to Nora Roberts books having better narrators. This one doesn’t even know how to make it sound like he’s not reading the book let alone have an Irish accent. I can’t listen to any more. I going to get the kindle book and finish reading it there!

What did you like best about this story?

Haven't finished it yet. I'm going to read it on my Kindle.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Alan Smyth?

Susan Ericksen. She knows how to put life into characters and how to do an Irish accent.

35 of 36 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Amazon Customer
  • 2014-03-27

Terrible Narrator

Would you try another book from Nora Roberts and/or Alan Smyth?

From Nora Roberts, yes. Alan Smyth, no.

What other book might you compare Shadow Spell to and why?

Compare it to the first of the trilogy, Dark Witch, and there was a better narrator. Not perfect, as she made the Irish women sound like old ladies, but the American voices were better. And she could actually perform the book instead of reading it, and her accent was at least believable.

What didn’t you like about Alan Smyth’s performance?

Irish accent is off, the inflections are wrong, the colloquialisms not emphasized properly. I don't like his voices for the characters. He pauses too much in the narration, and doesn't "perform" the book so much as read it.

Did Shadow Spell inspire you to do anything?

Yes. Check the narrator before I order the last of the trilogy. I may just buy the paperback.

Any additional comments?

So far the story is good, but I don't think I can stand to listen to the whole thing. I will buy the paperback and read it so the narration doesn't ruin it for me.

14 of 14 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Kathryn Helman
  • 2014-03-27

Stilted narration

What did you like best about Shadow Spell? What did you like least?

I can hardly listen to this title, although I am a devoted Nora Roberts fan, the narration is so awful.

11 of 11 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Kristina
  • 2014-03-25

horrible narration.

Any additional comments?

great story and was excited to get this new release but only on Chapter 7 and I can not stand the narration.

22 of 23 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Amazon Customer
  • 2014-03-26

terrible horrible no good narration

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I bought the kindle book and returned the audio. It was terrible. The narrator lisped, paused very awkwardly and just generally didn't put any emotion into his voice. I also couldn't tell who was talking because the voices all blended together.

20 of 21 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Tina
  • 2014-04-03

Horrible narration

Would you listen to Shadow Spell again? Why?

I agree with every one else. The narration is the most terrible I have ever heard. this needs to be re done and as soon as possible. I am not even half way thru and I think I am going to have to have a refund. I can not listen to this.

What didn’t you like about Alan Smyth’s performance?

This is awful!!!!

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Sandra
  • 2014-03-27

I LOVE Nora Roberts Books

What didn’t you like about Alan Smyth’s performance?

He has made this book sad.... The accents are totally off ....he has made the girls sound whiney and bad and It just doesn't work..... I am sad... I have waited and waited for this book to come out and now wish I would have just read it instead of listening to it ....then I wouldn't be so DISAPPOINTED...... ;(

15 of 16 people found this review helpful