Candle and Crow by Kevin Hearne, narrated by Luke Daniels

 

Today Sophia Rose shares her thoughts on Kevin Hearne's Candle and Crow
Enjoy!

Candle and Crow by Kevin Hearne, narrated by Luke Daniels

#3 Ink and Sigil

Urban Fantasy

Publisher:  Random House Audio

Published: 10.1.24

Time:  11 hours 4 minutes

Rating: 4 stars

Narration Rating: 4.5 stars

Format: Audio

Source:  Penguin Random House Audio

Sellers:  Amazon

ADD TO: GoodReads

 

GoodReads Blurb:

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Iron Druid Chronicles comes the final book in the Ink & Sigil series, as an ink-slinging wizard pursues the answer to a very personal mystery: Who cast a pair of curses on his head?

Al MacBharrais has a most unusual job: He’s a practitioner of ink-and-sigil magic, tasked with keeping order among the gods and monsters that dwell hidden in the human world. But there’s one supernatural mystery he’s never been able to solve: Years ago, someone cast twin curses on him that killed off his apprentices and drove away loved ones who heard him speak, leaving him bereft and isolated.

But he’s not quite alone: As Al works to solve this mystery, his friends draw him into their own eccentric dramas. Buck Foi the hobgoblin has been pondering his own legacy—and has a plan for a daring shenanigan that will make him the most celebrated hobgoblin of all. Nadia, goth queen and battle seer, is creating her own cult around a god who loves whisky and cheese.

And the Morrigan, a former Irish death goddess, has decided she wants not only to live as an ordinary woman but also to face the most perilous challenge of the mortal world: online dating.

Meanwhile, Al crosses paths with old friends and new—including some beloved Druids and their very good dogs—in his globe-trotting quest to solve the mystery of his curses. But he’s pulled in so many different directions by his colleagues, a suspicious detective, and the whims of destructive gods that Al begins to wonder: Will he ever find time to write his own happy ending?

 

Sophia Rose's Review:

The Ink and Sigil trilogy has reached the final book and the mystery of Al’s curses, who Gladys is, and how the Morrigan will do in the human world are all about to be revealed.  Kevin Hearne’s boisterous and engaging tale was narrated by the talented Luke Daniels and I settled in with great anticipation to hear how it all ended.

 

Candle and Crow is the third and final book in the Ink and Sigil urban fantasy trilogy.  It is not a place to jump in on the story.

 

After their adventures in Australia and some strong, helpful hints Al now knows more about his curses and is finally in a place that he knows he has to do something about them.  Naturally, there is much going on to distract him, the blue men of the sea have started sinking ships, Nadia and Buck are organizing worship of their made up god, the Morrigan needs dating assistance, and another Sigil Agent needs a partner to track down who’s killing werewolves.  Meanwhile, Al’s got the police’s attention and the determined detective is trying to pin theft and more on him.  His hunt for answers takes him to many interesting and sometimes dangerous supernatural beings, but the story gets there when several plot threads tie together for an exciting series of finishes and a satisfying denouement for Al and all involved.

 

Like many last books in series, there is a revisit with several familiar faces along the way, some side adventures to help wrap up loose threads and a series plot that get a good finish.  I enjoyed a great deal about this one even several of the side trails, but I admit to being irritated by Buck and even the Liernog (spelling?) god bit as distracting rather than appealing.  Fun jaunt helping Owen and the werewolves of Sacramento, update with the other two Druids, and the Morrigan’s dates were a crack up to me.  But, my heart was for Al to see him well-settled for his future.  Al’s average older guy appearance and his honorable personality were at the heart of this series and I enjoyed him as the central figure.

 

Luke Daniels has some serious talent to voice this motley crew of characters, their accents, and the unique vocabulary throughout the story.  I admit some of the Glaswegian was difficult to distinguish at times particularly Nadia. He caught the tone and pace of the book just right.

 

All and all, a smashing finish not only of this Ink and Sigil trilogy, but a good wrap up for the Iron Druid Chronicles world.  Definitely recommend it all to urban fantasy fans with a colorful sense of humor and a love of dogs.

 

Author Bio:

Kevin is the NYT bestselling author of the Iron Druid Chronicles, as well as The Seven Kennings, an epic fantasy trilogy, and the Tales of Pell, a humorous fantasy series co-authored with Delilah S. Dawson. INK & SIGIL, a new urban fantasy series set in the Iron Druid universe, will be out in 2020.

Website:  https://kevinhearne.com/

Sophia’s Bio:

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, piano-playing, and gardening. Road trips and campouts, museums and monuments, restaurants and theaters are her jam. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.

As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing. Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators. Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance. Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/sophia.rose.7587

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiarose1816

GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13418187.Sophia_Rose