Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Berkley (2009), Edition: Reprint, 336 pages
Description
Fiction. Literature. Mystery. Lily Ivory hopes for a normal life when she opens Aunt Cora's Closet. With her magical knack for vintage fashion-she can sense vibrations of the past from clothing and jewelry-her store becomes a big hit. But when a client is murdered and children start disappearing from the Bay Area, Lily may be the only one who can unravel the crime. She tries to keep her identity a secret while investigating, but it's not easy-especially under the spells of sexy "mythbuster" Max Carmichael and powerful witch Aidan Rhodes. Will Lily's witchy ways be forced out of the closet?
User reviews
LibraryThing member Lauren2013
Secondhand Spirits
2 Stars
A vintage clothing store on the streets of San Francisco run by a witch who becomes involved in the investigation of a missing girl - sounds like a recipe for perfection? Unfortunately not!
Despite the intriguing premise, the plot of Secondhand Spirits is boring and
The secondary characters from Bronwyn the Wiccan business partner to Max the mythbusting reporter to Aidan the mysterious sorcerer all have tremendous potential, but are ultimately one dimensional and underdeveloped.
The hints at a romance brewing between Lily and Max are also tedious as the couple has zero chemistry and his negative attitude toward her abilities is off-putting. There doesn’t seem to be any future for them.
In terms of the audiobook, I’ve heard that Xe Sands is a wonderful narrator. Personally, I could not tell from this book as her narration is monotonous and entirely too relaxed for a mystery. I’m sure she has some better performances out there.
Although this particular book is disappointing, I haven’t given up on the paranormal mystery genre as there are some fantastic series out there. Blackwell’s just isn’t one of them.
2 Stars
A vintage clothing store on the streets of San Francisco run by a witch who becomes involved in the investigation of a missing girl - sounds like a recipe for perfection? Unfortunately not!
Despite the intriguing premise, the plot of Secondhand Spirits is boring and
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completely lacking in tension and suspense. Furthermore, the heroine, Lily Ivory, is as dull as dishwater. There are no details on the precise origin, nature or extent of her powers and her abilities consistently fail her even though she is a supposedly exceptional witch.The secondary characters from Bronwyn the Wiccan business partner to Max the mythbusting reporter to Aidan the mysterious sorcerer all have tremendous potential, but are ultimately one dimensional and underdeveloped.
The hints at a romance brewing between Lily and Max are also tedious as the couple has zero chemistry and his negative attitude toward her abilities is off-putting. There doesn’t seem to be any future for them.
In terms of the audiobook, I’ve heard that Xe Sands is a wonderful narrator. Personally, I could not tell from this book as her narration is monotonous and entirely too relaxed for a mystery. I’m sure she has some better performances out there.
Although this particular book is disappointing, I haven’t given up on the paranormal mystery genre as there are some fantastic series out there. Blackwell’s just isn’t one of them.
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LibraryThing member nizmart
This book was fun to read as I am a bay girl and I knew the locations mentioned and I knew all the Spanish written so it definitely hit home, but more than that I was intrigued by the idea of vintage clothing and magic complete with brewery. Overall it was an enjoyable read.
LibraryThing member thehistorychic
Read/Listened for Fun (Audible/Paperback)
Tracking Books Read Review (Short)
Overall Rating: 4.00
Story Rating: 4.00
Character Rating: 4.00
Audio Rating: 4.50 (not part of the overall rating)
First Thought when Finished: Secondhand Spirits made me want to hop in a plane and visit San Francisco!
Overall
Audio Thoughts:
Narrated By Xe Sands / Length: 8 hrs and 15 mins
I love Xe! She hasn't let me down yet and this was no exception. I will admit that I am listening to two Juliet Blackwell series at the same time and both are narrated by Xe. I haven't gotten confused once about which book I am listening too because Xe does little things to make the characters sound different. She is one of the narrators I can count on to make a good book stand out through narration.
Final Thoughts: This is now on my cozy mystery list!
Tracking Books Read Review (Short)
Overall Rating: 4.00
Story Rating: 4.00
Character Rating: 4.00
Audio Rating: 4.50 (not part of the overall rating)
First Thought when Finished: Secondhand Spirits made me want to hop in a plane and visit San Francisco!
Overall
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Thoughts:I have had this book for a very long time and can't believe I just got around to it! Secondhand Spirits was a bit of a darker cozy mystery but still had all the elements I love: good case, interesting characters, and the paranormal element was just part of how she figured out the case. I liked Lily from the get-go and feel like I will like her more as the series progresses. Overall this was just a fun listen that helped me get through laying tile! Gotta love books that will distract while doing that!Audio Thoughts:
Narrated By Xe Sands / Length: 8 hrs and 15 mins
I love Xe! She hasn't let me down yet and this was no exception. I will admit that I am listening to two Juliet Blackwell series at the same time and both are narrated by Xe. I haven't gotten confused once about which book I am listening too because Xe does little things to make the characters sound different. She is one of the narrators I can count on to make a good book stand out through narration.
Final Thoughts: This is now on my cozy mystery list!
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LibraryThing member dukefan86
I enjoyed the storyline and characters, and found the book easy to read at a pretty good clip--nice summer read! One discrepancy I wondered about, though, is that the book mentions that Lily has the reputation for being a powerful witch, but she certainly needed a lot of assistance in this story!
LibraryThing member bgknighton
A very enjoyable cozy. Lily has finally found a home. let's hope she hasn't taken on too many debts solving this first mystery.
LibraryThing member les121
Secondhand Spirits is a cute, quick read. I recommend it if you enjoy slice-of-life type stories, cozy mysteries, or paranormal chick-lit. However, the story and its characters didn’t really hook me, and the writing is a bit awkward at times. Thankfully, the plot picks up during the second half
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of the book, and it has a strong ending. Ultimately, I was left feeling like I might pick up the next book in the series, but I suspect that the paranormal cozy mystery genre just isn’t for me. Show Less
LibraryThing member CozyLover
A light, fun read, especially for one who loves a good paranormal mystery, which I definitely do. Liked the characters, the plot was so-so but can tell the series has potential.
LibraryThing member susiesharp
I really enjoyed this paranormal cozy mystery. Lily is a witch who owns a secondhand store and hopes she can just live a normal life without using witchcraft, but things don’t quite work out for her. While buying a collection of clothes from an elderly lady a child goes missing and Lily feels
There is also a mythbuster, a male witch, a ghostly spirit and a goblin that turns into a pig familiar who are all interesting characters in their own right with the pig being my favorite! San Francisco and the area of the Haight were kind of a character too, you really get a feel of the bay area and I felt like a tourist discovering it all.
This was the best of two genre’s I enjoy, paranormal and cozy mysteries, it was a great first book in the series and will definitely be a series I continue reading, however I so enjoyed the narration by, Xe Sands that I want to wait till I can listen to the rest on audio so I hope Tantor Audio will get them all recorded soon!
If you enjoy a good cozy with magical elements I highly recommend this series!
The audio production of this was great Xe Sands does such a wonderful job and she is well on her way to becoming a favorite narrator!
4 Stars
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like Mrs. Potts’ life is in danger and her premonition is right on the money and the next day she is found dead. Lily tries to find out what happened to the little girl and Mrs. Potts.There is also a mythbuster, a male witch, a ghostly spirit and a goblin that turns into a pig familiar who are all interesting characters in their own right with the pig being my favorite! San Francisco and the area of the Haight were kind of a character too, you really get a feel of the bay area and I felt like a tourist discovering it all.
This was the best of two genre’s I enjoy, paranormal and cozy mysteries, it was a great first book in the series and will definitely be a series I continue reading, however I so enjoyed the narration by, Xe Sands that I want to wait till I can listen to the rest on audio so I hope Tantor Audio will get them all recorded soon!
If you enjoy a good cozy with magical elements I highly recommend this series!
The audio production of this was great Xe Sands does such a wonderful job and she is well on her way to becoming a favorite narrator!
4 Stars
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LibraryThing member Kat_Hooper
3.5
This is a very pleasant cozy paranormal mystery with a fun premise (the vintage clothes shop) and great characters. Xe Sands does a wonderful job with the narration of the audio version.
This is a very pleasant cozy paranormal mystery with a fun premise (the vintage clothes shop) and great characters. Xe Sands does a wonderful job with the narration of the audio version.
LibraryThing member Kellswitch
I really enjoyed this book, it was a wonderful introduction to the character and the world she inhabits. Most of the characters, at least the ones who will probably be reoccurring, felt multidimensional and realistic and I really enjoyed the main character of Lily Ivory and want to find out more
The mystery itself was very well done and it made absolutely perfect sense for Lily to be involved in this one so nothing about it felt forced, a problem I often have with cozy mysteries.
I also really enjoyed how magic was used in this world and how the author managed to be respectful of magic and Wicca without feeling trite or cliched.
I'm really looking forward to this series continuing.
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about her.The mystery itself was very well done and it made absolutely perfect sense for Lily to be involved in this one so nothing about it felt forced, a problem I often have with cozy mysteries.
I also really enjoyed how magic was used in this world and how the author managed to be respectful of magic and Wicca without feeling trite or cliched.
I'm really looking forward to this series continuing.
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LibraryThing member dbhutch
Meet Lily Ivory - a witch - who doesn't want you to know it - but can't help herself, and end up putting herself in the process of trying to help people. Lily is a natural witch, its been passed down in her family for generations. Very powerful, she hid for years, before settling in San Francsico
A wonderful mystery, bound together with witchcraft making for a very good storyline, a great plot, and great twists. - Dan
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to try her hand at selling vintage womens clothing in a boutique. She does well, but on a trip out to collect some clothing from an elderly woman - she runs into an evil spirt - a demon - that steals and drowns children, and suddlenly the old woman she got the clothes from is murdered as well. With new friends, some by choice, and some forced upon her, can Lily save the missing girl, and get to the bottom of who killed the woman who she got all the dresses from?A wonderful mystery, bound together with witchcraft making for a very good storyline, a great plot, and great twists. - Dan
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LibraryThing member Squeex
Lily is a natural witch and was ridden out on a rail of her home in Texas. She wanders the world and finally settles in San Francisco, opening her vintage shop, Aunt Cora's Closet.
I liked how the mystery found her, it didn't feel forced. Lily honestly felt compelled to find out who the killer was
I enjoyed watching Lily find out the nature of friendship and how good it felt. She'd never fit in before, so this was new territory for her. I liked how naturally she used her magic abilities to find vintage clothing and find the right fit for her customers.
My favorite secondary character had to be Oscar, shape-shifting sort of goblin, Lily's familiar. He is so nifty!
I hope the readers get to meet Lily's grandmother, Graciela, somehow. There's some past info that meanders through the story about Lily's family that was intriguing.
This was darker than I expected it to be, so it's not a 'cozy' in that sense. It's a paranormal amateur sleuth, if a label is required.
I really liked this book and so very glad it's the beginning of a series. Juliet Blackwell is a pseudonym for Hailey Lind who wrote the Annie Kincaid, reformed art forger cozy series that I loved and miss. Yippee that the fourth in that series, ARSENIC AND OLD PAINT, will be out this year in September per the two blog sites.
Five magical sparkly diamonds.....
I liked how the mystery found her, it didn't feel forced. Lily honestly felt compelled to find out who the killer was
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and who was taking the children. Yes, magic was involved and she used hers to help.I enjoyed watching Lily find out the nature of friendship and how good it felt. She'd never fit in before, so this was new territory for her. I liked how naturally she used her magic abilities to find vintage clothing and find the right fit for her customers.
My favorite secondary character had to be Oscar, shape-shifting sort of goblin, Lily's familiar. He is so nifty!
I hope the readers get to meet Lily's grandmother, Graciela, somehow. There's some past info that meanders through the story about Lily's family that was intriguing.
This was darker than I expected it to be, so it's not a 'cozy' in that sense. It's a paranormal amateur sleuth, if a label is required.
I really liked this book and so very glad it's the beginning of a series. Juliet Blackwell is a pseudonym for Hailey Lind who wrote the Annie Kincaid, reformed art forger cozy series that I loved and miss. Yippee that the fourth in that series, ARSENIC AND OLD PAINT, will be out this year in September per the two blog sites.
Five magical sparkly diamonds.....
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LibraryThing member taramatchi
This is the first "Cozy Mystery" that I have tried. It was a nice little read with a fun plot line and protagonist. We follow Lily, a naturally born witch, as she strives to open her business and make her life among mortals. It does not take long for her to get to the choice she would have had to
This is a good book to read on the beach or by the fire. A light little mystery that took me a while to figure out.
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make at some point... Tell or not to tell people that she knows that she is a witch. La Llorona, a demon, makes this choice pretty easy. This is a good book to read on the beach or by the fire. A light little mystery that took me a while to figure out.
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LibraryThing member Kace
this was a thoroughly enjoyable light read. It was an impulse buy and I didn't really have any expectations, mainly "filler" while I await my books to get here.It was pretty good. A bit redundant in areas, and maybe a little "light" but I expected that. It's definitely worth a look see...a bit on
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par with "Real Vampires have curves" and that ilk, but for witches, and a lot more finesse. Not that I don't find the others series fun...it's just a bit much at times. Show Less
LibraryThing member MisfitRhi
Witchcraft + Vintage Clothes = A Ghostly Good Mystery
Opening a vintage clothing shop—Aunt Cora's Closet—in San Francisco was supposed to be a way to be settled and make a new life for Lily Ivory. The shop has drawn a good clientele and even gets featured in the paper when she gets drawn into a
Backing Lily up in her quest are unlikely allies from Aiden Rhodes, a male witch of considerable power, and Max Carmichael, a handsome debunker of the paranormal, to Bronwyn, who sells herbs from Lily's shop, and her coven.
Can't give too much away without spoiling the mystery but this was a very satisfying book. Lily is an unusual character and very little of her history is revealed. For a reader looking for a character they can get to know through-out a series Lily makes a great one to follow. What hints we're given certainly made me hungry to find out what lead her to where she is and why she has some of the attitudes she has. Though a little frustrating at first her lack of friends and people she lets close changes through the story and those she begins to let in are for the most part pretty interesting.
There is also the contrast of a more magical (paranormally gifted) witchcraft system and Wicca I think many readers will be drawn to this book and series. I was looking for non-Wiccan witchcraft myself but I think both were treated very well by the author. The mystery itself was a little predictable but not to the point it wasn't entertaining. I had never heard of the evil spirit the plot focuses on by the name given here but she is a very familiar one in many cultures and makes for a really creepy villain.
On the whole Secondhand Spirits didn't cast a love spell over me but I liked it a lot. This is definitely the first book of a series with potential to entertain mystery readers and paranormal fans alike. A terrific read for a rainy October afternoon! Don't forget to check out the second Witchcraft Mystery book, Cast-off Coven, due out summer 2010.
Opening a vintage clothing shop—Aunt Cora's Closet—in San Francisco was supposed to be a way to be settled and make a new life for Lily Ivory. The shop has drawn a good clientele and even gets featured in the paper when she gets drawn into a
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tangled mystery. A little girl has been kidnapped and a woman that Lily was trying to protect winds up dead leading the police to suspect she may be involved. She has to not only prove her own innocence but rescue the little girl from a heinous evil even if it means risking her own life in the process.Backing Lily up in her quest are unlikely allies from Aiden Rhodes, a male witch of considerable power, and Max Carmichael, a handsome debunker of the paranormal, to Bronwyn, who sells herbs from Lily's shop, and her coven.
Can't give too much away without spoiling the mystery but this was a very satisfying book. Lily is an unusual character and very little of her history is revealed. For a reader looking for a character they can get to know through-out a series Lily makes a great one to follow. What hints we're given certainly made me hungry to find out what lead her to where she is and why she has some of the attitudes she has. Though a little frustrating at first her lack of friends and people she lets close changes through the story and those she begins to let in are for the most part pretty interesting.
There is also the contrast of a more magical (paranormally gifted) witchcraft system and Wicca I think many readers will be drawn to this book and series. I was looking for non-Wiccan witchcraft myself but I think both were treated very well by the author. The mystery itself was a little predictable but not to the point it wasn't entertaining. I had never heard of the evil spirit the plot focuses on by the name given here but she is a very familiar one in many cultures and makes for a really creepy villain.
On the whole Secondhand Spirits didn't cast a love spell over me but I liked it a lot. This is definitely the first book of a series with potential to entertain mystery readers and paranormal fans alike. A terrific read for a rainy October afternoon! Don't forget to check out the second Witchcraft Mystery book, Cast-off Coven, due out summer 2010.
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LibraryThing member Marlyn
This is the first book in a new series by Juliet Blackwell (aka Hailey Lind, author of The Art Lover's mystery series).
Lily Ivory has always felt like an outsider because of her "special talents". But she finally gives in to her desire to settle down and belong when she opens a vintage clothing
Invited to look at a large collection owned by an elderly woman, Lily is thrilled, until she senses deep sorrow emanating from some of the clothes. When she hears the shriek of La Llorona, and a neighbourhood child disappears, she realizes she must do something to return the child to her family, and that will put both her and her friends into extreme danger.
This book is very different from any supernatural mystery that I've read. Blackwell draws on real myths and legends, and her research into the mystical is obviously extensive. Reading this book in bed at night I was a little spooked, not my usual reaction to a paranormal mystery.
Lily is really a sympathetic character: her fears of being different and ostracized are universal. I look forward to learning more about her as the series progresses, though I'll have to wait nearly a year for the next in the series, A Cast-off Coven.
Lily Ivory has always felt like an outsider because of her "special talents". But she finally gives in to her desire to settle down and belong when she opens a vintage clothing
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store in San Francisco, thinking that her eccentricities won't seem quite so weird in the Haight-Ashbury area.Invited to look at a large collection owned by an elderly woman, Lily is thrilled, until she senses deep sorrow emanating from some of the clothes. When she hears the shriek of La Llorona, and a neighbourhood child disappears, she realizes she must do something to return the child to her family, and that will put both her and her friends into extreme danger.
This book is very different from any supernatural mystery that I've read. Blackwell draws on real myths and legends, and her research into the mystical is obviously extensive. Reading this book in bed at night I was a little spooked, not my usual reaction to a paranormal mystery.
Lily is really a sympathetic character: her fears of being different and ostracized are universal. I look forward to learning more about her as the series progresses, though I'll have to wait nearly a year for the next in the series, A Cast-off Coven.
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LibraryThing member kayceel
Charming and light, this was a fun supernatural mystery. I'd "cast" is as a cozy supernatural mystery, in fact. Lily is a 31-year-old witch who has relocated in San Francisco, determined to finally put down roots. She's opened a vintage clothing store and has tentatively begun making friends when a
Blackwell is clearly setting up a long series, as she's introducing intriguing characters (Lily, of course, but also Max, a "mythbuster" of sorts, Aidan, a handsome and powerful male witch, and a watchful police detective who just might be a believer) and hinting at a very troubled history of her own, including a very possibly evil daddy.
Lily is very charming, as are the two good-looking males, and the supporting characters are very appealing. The witchcraft is treated very matter-of-fact, and Blackwell has a nice way of adding humor. I look forward to more in this series...
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little girl is snatched from a neighborhood surrounding a home she's bought vintage clothing from. Soon, Lily is embroiled in a mystery involving La Llorona, a male witch, a gargoyle familiar, a very handsome skeptic, and a murder investigation.Blackwell is clearly setting up a long series, as she's introducing intriguing characters (Lily, of course, but also Max, a "mythbuster" of sorts, Aidan, a handsome and powerful male witch, and a watchful police detective who just might be a believer) and hinting at a very troubled history of her own, including a very possibly evil daddy.
Lily is very charming, as are the two good-looking males, and the supporting characters are very appealing. The witchcraft is treated very matter-of-fact, and Blackwell has a nice way of adding humor. I look forward to more in this series...
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LibraryThing member jjmachshev
"Secondhand Spirits" is (hopefully) the start of a good mystery series by new-to-me author Juliet Blackwell. This story is a mixture of lore, witchcraft, mystery, and G-rated romance with a touch of history and personal growth thrown in.
Lily is a powerful witch but has always been a loner. She's
While the story does have a light feel, this is not a frothy, comedic mystery at all. I enjoyed the story of Lily and her evolving life as much as the mystery. As she goes from a woman trying to hide her nature to a woman not hiding...but not broadcasting either. A very interesting look at the life of a woman who's always felt (and been) DIFFERENT.
The mystery was well laid out and there were plenty of suspects and clues. I didn't figure out the 'bad guy' til the end when the author 'exposed' them. Looking back, I can see the clues but they weren't 'easy'. I want to read more about Lily and her hunky guys and the author indicates the next book is titled "A Cast-Off Coven" and will be published in June 2010.
Lily is a powerful witch but has always been a loner. She's
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spent the last several years running from her past, but recently decided to settle down and chose San Francisco for its eccentric aura and people. She uses her 'gifts' sparingly and enjoys finding just the right vintage outfit for her customers at her new vintage clothing store. Not long after opening, one of her recent clothing donors is murdered and a neighborhood child disappears. Unable to ignore the situation, Lily discovers there's quite a history of disappearing children...and the death of her donor may have something to do with it. She's need all her skills to cope with her investigation while under suspicion by the local cops. Seems SHE was the last person (other than the murderer, of course) to see the old woman alive. Lily also has to deal with two new men in her life...and one demon familiar masquerading as a pig! One of her new attractions is a diehard skeptic and the other's a powerful male witch that she can't quite bring herself to trust. What's a witch to do?While the story does have a light feel, this is not a frothy, comedic mystery at all. I enjoyed the story of Lily and her evolving life as much as the mystery. As she goes from a woman trying to hide her nature to a woman not hiding...but not broadcasting either. A very interesting look at the life of a woman who's always felt (and been) DIFFERENT.
The mystery was well laid out and there were plenty of suspects and clues. I didn't figure out the 'bad guy' til the end when the author 'exposed' them. Looking back, I can see the clues but they weren't 'easy'. I want to read more about Lily and her hunky guys and the author indicates the next book is titled "A Cast-Off Coven" and will be published in June 2010.
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LibraryThing member Auntie-Nanuuq
★ ★ ★ 1/2
I had this on order from outside Libraries and it never came. Then I read a review here and from that I surmised that the book to be more violent and less paranormal than I might desire. But then two other events occurred, I came across the 2nd book in the series and I read it, then
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I was ordering Mysteries for the Library and I came upon this title, so I ordered it.....so of course when it arrived I read it.I liked it: Ivory has run away from Texas & her grandmother Graciela in the middle of her "training", as she is unable to control her "powers" and has become known as a dangerous freak/witch. She has now opened a vintage clothing store in San Francisco and is called upon to to outfit a wedding... She has also met an elderly woman who has a house of vintage clothing, including 2 bridal dresses.....
While visiting the elder woman, the little girl who was just in the kitchen grabbing a cookie disappears and a cry through the neighborhood goes up in fear of La Llorana. Ivory then becomes involved in helping to save the little girl, safe keep the elderly woman, and banish La Llorona.
I stayed up all night, till the Witching Hour to finish reading this..... I just had to know what happened! The story is pretty fluid and interesting. There are a few side stories about the police, store staff, neighbors, an powerful male witch, and an investigative reporter that fit in pretty well.
What I didn't like was that for the life of me...and I did go back & peruse the book, I could not figure out one of the characters at the end of the book, or where that person came into the story, because I couldn't find that person mentioned anyplace else in the entire book. Some of the descriptive parts you know I skipped over, but they didn't have too much importance (for me) in regards to the overall plot.
I have the 3rd in the series on order for our collection.
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LibraryThing member TeresaKander
Read this a few years ago, but when I found the entire series in audiobooks from my library, I decided to start over from the beginning. Lily is such a fun character, and I love the idea of her having a vintage clothes store, where she can match clothes to people based on the vibrations. Her
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"familiar," Oscar, is great fun as well. The mystery is well told, and while the clues were there all along, they weren't always easy to pick out, which for me is a good thing. Show Less
LibraryThing member London_StJ
My response to Juliet Blackwell's Secondhand Spritis varied chapter by chapter, and was overall far more positive towards the end than it was in the beginning. Early in the novel the writing is a bit wooden, and seems focused more on explaining contemporary religious practice - with a BIG dollop of
However, as the novel progressed the story itself took center stage over the lectures, and the narrative became far more interesting. Certain elements of the mystery itself actually took me by surprise, which I appreciated. I think the bumps and bruises I found along the way may smooth out as the series progresses, and I may very well seek out the next installment.
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the fantastic - than on developing characters or plot. Blackwell claims that she received this information from extensive interviews with active practitioners, and perhaps it may be interesting to some who are not as familiar, but I found her to be a bit contradictory; early in the novel the main character scoffs at anyone who isn't a "natural" witch, favoring a supernatural representation, and therefore passing judgment on the very people who apparently supplied the information. However, as the novel progressed the story itself took center stage over the lectures, and the narrative became far more interesting. Certain elements of the mystery itself actually took me by surprise, which I appreciated. I think the bumps and bruises I found along the way may smooth out as the series progresses, and I may very well seek out the next installment.
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LibraryThing member murderbydeath
6 years ago I moved to the other side of the world from my home state of Florida to a place you'll all recognise as Australia, but I like to affectionately refer to as Opposite Land. This realisation struck me when I was explaining the move to my friend's then 6-year-old boy by telling him all
The other thing that's opposite is, of course the whole driving thing. Other side of the road and other side of the car. (Just today, after 6 freaking years, I went to get in the car on the wrong damn side....) I took 6 months before attempting to drive here and then only at night - the logic being that there'd be fewer people on the roads if I accidentally, say, started driving down the wrong side of the street. I adapted fairly quickly though and was soon tooling around in my own car.
What, you may be asking yourself, for freak's sake does this have to do with the Witchcraft Series?? Well, it turns out that no matter how cool a driver you were in your homeland, the combination of other-side-of-road-and-car + the insanity that is driving in Melbourne (NOT NOT NOT the best drivers in the world, just... NOT) makes for a very stressed out driver prone to outbursts of road rage.
To keep others safe from my wild gesticulations and skin searing profanities, I started listening to audiobooks while driving to and from work (plus, morning radio = blech). And thus we finally reach the point of this review: Xe Sands narration of the Witchcraft Mystery Series.
I've read, reviewed and I own all the books in this series, but I had heard somewhere in one of my groups that the narration for these books was particularly well done and since I'm always looking for something to listen to (my drives are not short ones) I decided to give the first book in the series a try. Which led me to immediately purchasing every book in the series on audio. At full price.
Xe Sands is brilliant. Absolutely freaking brilliant at narration. I've heard some really well narrated books previously, but she's ruined them all for me. Everyone else now sounds like Clint Eastwood in drag. By this I do not mean to infer that narrators everywhere have OD'd on testosterone supplements, but so many of them now sound to me as though they are mimicking his style of talking. I don't know how to explain it beyond that. Choppy, overly grave, um... yeah, let's go with choppy.
Xe narrates these books just the way you'd imagine real people talking. She's not reading a book to you, she's living the story as she speaks it. Lily could be sitting next to me in the car telling me all about her latest adventures and it would sound exactly the same way (plus, she could totally use her magic to fix the damn traffic!).
Male voices are done without the male characters sounding like they'd just been kicked and she's really adept at making one male character sound different from the next. In fact her overall range of voice characterisations is quite broad.
I'm gonna stop gushing now - it's almost time to get back in the car and drive home, but if you're looking for great audiobooks and cozy/paranormal mysteries are to your liking, I can not recommend these strongly or emphatically enough.
Happy trails!
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about the cool ways AU was different: opposite side of the world, water ran through the drain in the opposite direction, "on" was "off" on the light switches, locks locked by turning them the opposite direction, etc. etc. To which his reply was a question: "Do they wear their shoes on the opposite feet?" Hand to god, he said that, and I snorted my iced tea up my nose.The other thing that's opposite is, of course the whole driving thing. Other side of the road and other side of the car. (Just today, after 6 freaking years, I went to get in the car on the wrong damn side....) I took 6 months before attempting to drive here and then only at night - the logic being that there'd be fewer people on the roads if I accidentally, say, started driving down the wrong side of the street. I adapted fairly quickly though and was soon tooling around in my own car.
What, you may be asking yourself, for freak's sake does this have to do with the Witchcraft Series?? Well, it turns out that no matter how cool a driver you were in your homeland, the combination of other-side-of-road-and-car + the insanity that is driving in Melbourne (NOT NOT NOT the best drivers in the world, just... NOT) makes for a very stressed out driver prone to outbursts of road rage.
To keep others safe from my wild gesticulations and skin searing profanities, I started listening to audiobooks while driving to and from work (plus, morning radio = blech). And thus we finally reach the point of this review: Xe Sands narration of the Witchcraft Mystery Series.
I've read, reviewed and I own all the books in this series, but I had heard somewhere in one of my groups that the narration for these books was particularly well done and since I'm always looking for something to listen to (my drives are not short ones) I decided to give the first book in the series a try. Which led me to immediately purchasing every book in the series on audio. At full price.
Xe Sands is brilliant. Absolutely freaking brilliant at narration. I've heard some really well narrated books previously, but she's ruined them all for me. Everyone else now sounds like Clint Eastwood in drag. By this I do not mean to infer that narrators everywhere have OD'd on testosterone supplements, but so many of them now sound to me as though they are mimicking his style of talking. I don't know how to explain it beyond that. Choppy, overly grave, um... yeah, let's go with choppy.
Xe narrates these books just the way you'd imagine real people talking. She's not reading a book to you, she's living the story as she speaks it. Lily could be sitting next to me in the car telling me all about her latest adventures and it would sound exactly the same way (plus, she could totally use her magic to fix the damn traffic!).
Male voices are done without the male characters sounding like they'd just been kicked and she's really adept at making one male character sound different from the next. In fact her overall range of voice characterisations is quite broad.
I'm gonna stop gushing now - it's almost time to get back in the car and drive home, but if you're looking for great audiobooks and cozy/paranormal mysteries are to your liking, I can not recommend these strongly or emphatically enough.
Happy trails!
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LibraryThing member whybehave2002
I was feeling like trying a new series out when I came across this fun read. It's cozy, therefore light, and fun is tied into the mystery of finding out who the bad guy, or girl, is. A nice change-up from our real-world scenarios lately.
LibraryThing member tldegray
As a Wiccan I'm always both tempted by and leery of books about witches. That being said, I really like what Blackwell did in this book, how she made her main character, witch Lily Ivory, into a fictional witch with magical powers but also honored the tradition of Wicca without stereotyping Wiccans
I'm always intrigued by a plot having to do with La Llorona/A Woman in White. It's such a sad myth and Blackwell respected by sadness while not shying away from the harm that was done to innocent bystanders. She also very well wove the thread of family through this book, tying it to La Llorona, the sad old woman, the missing child, and Lily's own family issues.
The secondary characters in this book were more than just cardboard cutouts, and I also appreciate that from an author. Each of them had their own personality and I'm looking forward to seeing them again in the other books in this series.
And, last but not at all least, I love Lily's vintage clothing store. I could read the descriptions of her different outfits all day long. Luckily Blackwell knows books better than I and keeps those descriptions, however wonderful, to a minimum. All and all a thoroughly enjoyable book with a solid mystery.
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as either fluffy bunnies or evil wannabes. I'm always intrigued by a plot having to do with La Llorona/A Woman in White. It's such a sad myth and Blackwell respected by sadness while not shying away from the harm that was done to innocent bystanders. She also very well wove the thread of family through this book, tying it to La Llorona, the sad old woman, the missing child, and Lily's own family issues.
The secondary characters in this book were more than just cardboard cutouts, and I also appreciate that from an author. Each of them had their own personality and I'm looking forward to seeing them again in the other books in this series.
And, last but not at all least, I love Lily's vintage clothing store. I could read the descriptions of her different outfits all day long. Luckily Blackwell knows books better than I and keeps those descriptions, however wonderful, to a minimum. All and all a thoroughly enjoyable book with a solid mystery.
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LibraryThing member joannefm2
Lily Ivory is a witch who really doesn't want to embrace her "witchy" side. She wants to live among the people in San Francisco, far from her Texas upbringing (doesn't sound much like a Texan to me, whom tend to be proud they are from the Lone Star State, and probably wouldn't be caught dead by
Anyway, she's minding her own business when an attractive man enters the store and announces he has something for her. He tells her that he's a male witch named Aidan (hating the term warlock), and shows her a small creature that resembles something between a troll and a gargoyle, and he tells her that it's her new familiar. While she protests and tells him to take it back, that she doesn't want it, especially since Aidan also tells her that he knows her father - which to her is bad news of the first degree.
When it appears she's stuck with the thing who transforms himself into a pot-bellied pig, she named it Oscar. Then her part-time employee Maya takes her to see a woman who has tons of vintage clothing she's willing to part with.
Once meeting Mrs. Potts, Lily likes her, but discovers that the woman had a daughter who died young, and when Lily handles a dress it is filled with extreme grief. Later seeing Mrs. Potts' photo while she's wearing the dress, she realizes it must have been worn the day her daughter was taken from her.
But before she leaves the property, she hears an unearthly wail and a child's scream; yet only she and Mrs. Potts heard the wail, yet the three women heard the scream. When she and Maya go to investigate, they find that the little girl who was visiting with Mrs. Potts when they arrived has been taken by a child snatcher. It is the murmured words of "La llorona" that makes her understand where the child has gone. But will Lily be able to retrieve her before she is lost forever?...
This is the first book in a series, written several years ago, but I haven't had the chance to explore it until now...and it wasn't a huge loss. While I understand that in paranormal books you need to suspend belief, because they don't follow the rule 'if it doesn't happen in real life, it shouldn't happen in a book,' this one, I felt, was over the top.
First, Lily is a witch but tries to hide it from everyone, and would instead rather feel sorry for herself...repeatedly. She seems to hate the fact that she's not 'normal' but can't help using her powers. And, of course, she's extremely powerful. So why doesn't she already have a familiar? Because, you know, witches aren't 'given' familiars, they choose their own, one they can count on as their allies and will do their bidding, but apparently she didn't know this and just accepted Oscar right away. This alone seems off the wall to me, and I couldn't take the rest of the story seriously.
The story didn't seem to hold my interest; and it was extremely dark and melancholy. No humor or fun in the book, nothing to recommend it to anyone else. In fact, I have to admit that I pretty much skimmed a lot of it and then passed on to the truly unbelievable ending. I could have hurt myself I was rolling my eyes so much. Sorry, but I will pass on the rest of this series.
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someone mistaking them for a Californian, but I digress...)Anyway, she's minding her own business when an attractive man enters the store and announces he has something for her. He tells her that he's a male witch named Aidan (hating the term warlock), and shows her a small creature that resembles something between a troll and a gargoyle, and he tells her that it's her new familiar. While she protests and tells him to take it back, that she doesn't want it, especially since Aidan also tells her that he knows her father - which to her is bad news of the first degree.
When it appears she's stuck with the thing who transforms himself into a pot-bellied pig, she named it Oscar. Then her part-time employee Maya takes her to see a woman who has tons of vintage clothing she's willing to part with.
Once meeting Mrs. Potts, Lily likes her, but discovers that the woman had a daughter who died young, and when Lily handles a dress it is filled with extreme grief. Later seeing Mrs. Potts' photo while she's wearing the dress, she realizes it must have been worn the day her daughter was taken from her.
But before she leaves the property, she hears an unearthly wail and a child's scream; yet only she and Mrs. Potts heard the wail, yet the three women heard the scream. When she and Maya go to investigate, they find that the little girl who was visiting with Mrs. Potts when they arrived has been taken by a child snatcher. It is the murmured words of "La llorona" that makes her understand where the child has gone. But will Lily be able to retrieve her before she is lost forever?...
This is the first book in a series, written several years ago, but I haven't had the chance to explore it until now...and it wasn't a huge loss. While I understand that in paranormal books you need to suspend belief, because they don't follow the rule 'if it doesn't happen in real life, it shouldn't happen in a book,' this one, I felt, was over the top.
First, Lily is a witch but tries to hide it from everyone, and would instead rather feel sorry for herself...repeatedly. She seems to hate the fact that she's not 'normal' but can't help using her powers. And, of course, she's extremely powerful. So why doesn't she already have a familiar? Because, you know, witches aren't 'given' familiars, they choose their own, one they can count on as their allies and will do their bidding, but apparently she didn't know this and just accepted Oscar right away. This alone seems off the wall to me, and I couldn't take the rest of the story seriously.
The story didn't seem to hold my interest; and it was extremely dark and melancholy. No humor or fun in the book, nothing to recommend it to anyone else. In fact, I have to admit that I pretty much skimmed a lot of it and then passed on to the truly unbelievable ending. I could have hurt myself I was rolling my eyes so much. Sorry, but I will pass on the rest of this series.
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Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
July 7, 2009
Physical description
6.7 inches
ISBN
045122745X / 9780451227454
Local notes
BOOKCASE: L
SHELF: 3
SHELF: 3