Woods of the Raven
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Woods of the Raven
Narrated by:
Greg Tremblay
Buy Now for $20.39
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Narrated by:
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Greg Tremblay
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Written by:
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Mary Calmes
Something wicked this way comes…and it might be too late to stop it.
Xander Corey lives simply, sustainably, on the outskirts of Osprey, a small, quaint town in Upstate New York. He’s a librarian when the town’s budget can afford him, a good friend, kind neighbor, and also, a witch. And while that’s of no concern to anyone around him, there are others, non-humans, who have a vested interest in Xander’s family land. Xander knows something dark and dangerous is brewing. He’s just not quite sure what.
And that’s not the only mystery he’s dealing with. The new chief of police is, by turns, giving him heart palpitations and homicidal thoughts. Xander can’t decide if the gorgeous yet infuriating Lorne MacBain is on his side, or trying to drive him insane. Added to that, the man doesn’t believe in magic, and since that’s who Xander is, their future looks anything but bright.
But Lorne is not the unimaginative, stick-in-the-mud Xander thinks he is. And a rock to anchor him as his life is turning upside down is just the thing Xander needs. Now if only the two of them can stay alive….
©2023 Mary Calmes (P)2023 Mary CalmesYou may also enjoy...
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Perfection!!!
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Woods of the Raven
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If you’re looking for a book where the hero doesn’t win every single fight, this is not the book for you. This book, in every aspect where there is conflict and there is a “bad guy” versus the Raven/Xander/witch, the Raven wins every single time; either by himself or with the help of someone else, but regardless, each fight he wins easily and quickly.
I have to say that when it came to the ancestor and the big showdown, I was a bit disappointed not because he was getting beaten, or that the bad guy manifested; it was the story as to why he’s able to manifest, how he’s able to come across. I was so very disappointed, no, I was disgusted. Of course, I understand the need to run away together was stronger in older times where the mixing of races romantically was even more frowned upon and discouraged than it is in some places today. However, I do not understand the desire to give up everything, including an important duty your family through the generations has been tasked with, Just for your own personal selfishness. I get that the author was putting forth a reason for things to move forward and for things to manifest, but in doing so, any empathy that I had for the lady that threw herself off the bridge and the guy that was killed was overshadowed by the selfishness of Xander‘s ancestor and her lack of accountability. It almost felt like a cop out by the author to put this situation as the reason so many hundreds of years later, when at any point after she died, she could have manifested to any of the subsequent ancestors and told them the story so it almost felt like this entire book was a waste because this all could have been avoided. This one ancestor finally decides to own up to her sh*t, almost too late.
The above is why there’s a four star rating. It was teetering closer to three star, but I really liked the narration so I gave it as a four star.
I enjoyed this book; until the end.
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The narrator is one of my favorites, and he doesn't disappoint. Lots of emotion and never a problem separating characters.
Get this one. It's definitely worth a credit or $.
Great story by the incomparable Mary Calmes!
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What began as an enjoyable paranormal mystery quickly became one of the richest, most imaginative fantasy worlds I’ve visited in years. Mary Calmes has created something that feels both ancient and completely original. She draws on Welsh mythology without simply retelling it, weaving it into a living world that grows more fascinating with every chapter.
Xander Corey’s family land is one of the greatest settings I’ve encountered. It isn’t merely a magical backdrop; as the story unfolds, it becomes one of the most memorable “characters” in the series. Every path, every room, and every quiet moment seems to hold a history just beneath the surface, giving the impression that this world existed long before the story began and will continue long after it ends. The mythology unfolds naturally, rewarding careful readers without drowning them in exposition.
The characters are equally memorable. Relationships are built on loyalty, humor, kindness, and quiet competence rather than manufactured drama. Even secondary characters arrive feeling like people who have full lives beyond the page. One chapter in the second book has simply a group of people gathered together, and it became one of my favorite chapters I’ve ever read—not because it advances the plot, but because every interaction feels authentic. You come away wishing you could spend another afternoon in that room.
The worldbuilding is exceptional. There are moments when you realize you’ve been shown something extraordinary almost in passing. The author trusts the reader to notice these details rather than stopping to explain every mystery, and that trust is rewarded. The deeper I ventured into the series, the more I found myself thinking about its mythology long after I had stopped listening.
As someone who enjoys thinking through the logic of fantasy worlds, I kept discovering that the deeper I thought about this one, the more internally consistent it became. That’s rare. The magic feels purposeful, the mythology feels lived in, and every new revelation enriches what came before instead of contradicting it.
If you enjoy fantasy rooted in folklore, believable found family, wonderfully realized magical settings, mysteries that unfold at just the right pace, and characters you genuinely want to spend time with, I can’t recommend this series highly enough.
Mary Calmes has created a world I was genuinely reluctant to leave at the end of each listening session—and that’s about the highest compliment I can give.
I couldn’t stop listening!
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