Bright Dead Things

Hailey Turner is one of my favorite authors, from her Metahuman books to the Soulbound series to the Infernal War Saga. Her world-building and character development are generally intricate and complex. That wasn't as evident here, with many characters just being mostly a name, without much backstory. and the pacing of the story was uneven. It took a long time to get from Point A to Point B sometimes, and the story seemed to drag on without much forward progress. Other times, like at the end, a lot happens and many new characters are introduced very quickly and briefly, so that it left my head spinning a little. Then the book ends. Not really any big cliff-hanger, although there are are still some open questions and unresolved conflict. You could stop with the happy-for-now ending -- Aisling is home, Bran and Cillian are together -- and not carry on with the story. In fact, the story and characters just weren't as compelling to me as, say, Patrick and Jono in the Soulbound series. I'm not sure if I will continue the series, although I would sure like to see some antagonists get payback (Damarus and Ainmire, looking at you). I was fortunate enough to receive (free) review copies of both the ebook and audiobook. The audio narration by Gary Furlong is fantastic. He really captures the characters' emotions and the suspenseful and dramatic moments. At the same time, I like having the ebook at hand, so I can see how names and such are spelled, and so I can go back and read the sections that moved too fast for me, in order to gain better understanding of what happened. Overall, an ok start to a new series, but not really up to the level of the author's other works for me. i received free review copies of the ebook and audiobook, and this is my honest, voluntary opinion.

Audiobook - a favourite narrator who improves every book. Story - a very positive start, with dangerous situations in the forest which Bran's mother and stepfather didn't survive. Bran had run from the small town after thinking his childhood friend and love didn't want him, and after seven years he returns to become the witch protector and take custody of his sister. Cillian follows Bran into the elf world to find his kidnapped sister Aisling, and they are captured by an elf group who collar Bran and imprison Cillian. Bran is forced to do the elf's bidding to make sure that Cillian received care - but it didn't feel as desperate as it seemed to be meant. There were some plot twists which were expected (neither MC seems to have much understanding of what they are or meant to be doing, while the reader does). I felt that I missed depth for both, although as this is a duology that may still happen. I know what I wish for their worlds.

* Thank you Gay Romance Reviews and the author for the audiobook and my honest review * Although this story felt predictable in it's direction, I really liked the descriptions of the magical world. Bran and Cillian are friends turned estranged turned friends/lovers. The battling world of the Faes and Witches has both men caught in the crossfire. They spend the story finding out secrets, whether dormant or hidden, about themselves and those around them that could easily break up the relationship they were desperate to keep. Gary Furlong has such a great voice. He invokes emotion very well. His accents were nice too.