Dark Witch

The Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy, Book 1

From #1 New York Times bestselling 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...

Book One of The Cousins O’Dwyer Trilogy

Dark Witch

With indifferent parents, Iona Sheehan grew up craving devotion and acceptance. From her maternal grandmother, she learned where to find both: a land of lush forests, dazzling lakes, and centuries-old legends.

Ireland. County Mayo, to be exact. Where her ancestors’ blood and magic have flowed through generations - and where her destiny awaits.

Iona arrives in Ireland with nothing but her Nan’s directions, an unfailingly optimistic attitude, and an innate talent with horses. Not far from the luxurious castle where she is spending a week, she finds her cousins, Branna and Connor O’Dwyer. And since family is family, they invite her into their home and their lives. When Iona lands a job at the local stables, she meets the owner, Boyle McGrath. Cowboy, pirate, wild tribal horsemen, he’s three of her biggest fantasy weaknesses all in one big, bold package.

Iona realizes that here she can make a home for herself - and live her life as she wants, even if that means falling head over heels for Boyle. But nothing is as it seems. An ancient evil has wound its way around Iona’s family tree and must be defeated. Family and friends will fight with each other and for each other to keep the promise of hope - and love - alive...

Don’t miss the other books in the Cousins O’Dwyer Trilogy:

Shadow Spell

Blood Magick

©2013 Nora Roberts (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Turn the volume down!

Would you listen to Dark Witch again? Why?

I am only half way through the audio book. I love the story but I have had to stop several times to rest my ear drums. The narrator keeps yelling in a high pitch voice through most of the book so far.It's like listening to a high pitched drama queen narrate a good book.

Might be a better book to curl up on the couch and read instead.

What didn’t you like about Katherine Kellgren’s performance?

Stop yelling!

Narrator is just awful...

What made the experience of listening to Dark Witch the most enjoyable?

The accents were wonderful.

Would you be willing to try another book from Nora Roberts? Why or why not?

Absolutely - she is my favorite author of romance novels.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Katherine Kellgren?

MacLeod Andrews did a wonderful job with the Inn Boonsboro trilogy - I would happily listen to anything he narrates in the future. Ms Kellgren was entirely overdramatic in this performance. The opening chapters were very "breathy", which was annoying. I found that speeding up the narration mostly eliminated that. However, although she does use voice inflection, her main problem is volume. When the scenes got dramatic, she shouted them. They need to back her away from the microphone or tone down the entire performance in post-production. This book made me wonder if the director was asleep, or if there was a malfuntion with the soundboard. I only made it through Chapter 9 - I just can't listen to the rest and will read the book from start to finish, with my own voice as narrator.

Gotta love/hate Nora Roberts

Would you listen to Dark Witch again? Why?

Maybe in a couple of years. The plot is already much too familiar - have I read/listened to this before?

What was most disappointing about Nora Roberts’s story?

Have I read/listened to this before? There is somethng about a good Nora Roberts book, but I didn't really find it here. I really like her style, and I really like her paranormal books. This one was cheating a little by using the familiar formula - but I guess that's the same as writing about all the members of a family or sci-fi all set on the same world so I'll accept it. It's a good thing she doesn't get into more descriptive sex - that's a weakness for her-one she avoided here by the G rating I'd give it.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Some of the narration was so good I was really sucked in. I loved the running off at the mouth main character - I talk too much when I'm nervous so it was fun and well done. Great accents and very easy (90% of the time) to tell the characters apart. Then she just got way too loud in the important or dramatic scenes. Tone down the drama and I'll give her 5 stars.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

not one particular moment - but Nora made Iona's lack of family background subtle and poignent (wish i could spell)

Any additional comments?

Solid enjoyable read that was more that the sum of it's very weak parts. I'm not sure why, but I did enjoy it.

Over the top

Would you listen to Dark Witch again? Why?

Not sure I would - the delivery was a bit over the top for me. Sometimes bordering on hysterical.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The setting was very interesting.

Would you be willing to try another one of Katherine Kellgren’s performances?

Probably.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not necessarily.

narrator

You could have the best book ever, but when you get a narrator like this one, the whole book is bad. Love the book but if the same narrator is reading the next book and the next I will NOT be getting them.The narrator makes the book. Try Susan Erickson. Love your books.