Dark Witch

The Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy, Book 1

By: Nora Roberts

Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren

Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

No Sample took a chance WELL Worth the credit

What did you love best about Dark Witch?

I took a chance on this book there was no sample available by have enjoyed Nora Roberts book before. All I can say is that after listening to only 3 chapters I was hooked. I have never written a review before but felt the need to write one now. The books release timing is prefect with Halloween only a few days away. So take a chance and get this book . I will write more after I finish it.

Have you listened to any of Katherine Kellgren’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not. But her voices are great. I usually will not listen to books with out hearing a sample first because the narrator can make or break a good book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It hooked me from the first sentence. an intense need to hear more and find out where and what was going to happen next.

Any additional comments?

I listen to books because I'm not a strong reader have listen to over 200 books in the past year all types . So I know Nora Roberts writing style.But again the Narrator can make the story good or bad and Katherine Kellgren does an excellent job.

Enjoyed the story

Where does Dark Witch rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Good story - pretty typical of Nora - I enjoy all of her books but I had a really hard time listening - the narrator was so overly dramatic I had to stop several times to "rest" my ears - I have also purchased the e-book and will be reading. I am sure I will enjoy that more!

How could the performance have been better?

the reader was overly dramatic - I am all for emphasis on the "exciting" parts of the story but the reader was completely over the top!

magical except for narrator

Great book. I would have give 5 stars but didnt like the person reading. horrible!

Needs a different narrator.

Love the story line. As usual, because I love everything Nora Roberts writes. The narrator ruins it, her screaming is awful, the sex scenes pitifulIf. If the second book has same narrator I will NOT listen. I’ll read it my self

Nice read for those who like Nora Robert's Fantasy

Sorcha offers up an amulet, a third of her magic, combined with the protection of a particular animal to each of her three children to protect them from the evil that is Cabhan who threatens to take her power and destroy her family for his own gains. Fast forward to the present and her descendants in Ireland continue her legacy.

Iona Sheehan, is an American who comes to Ireland searching for answers and somewhere to belong leaving her beloved grandmother behind. There she meets her many times removed cousins Connor and Branna O'Dwyer, and begins seeking answers to who she is and control of what she has inherited.

Katherine Kellgren is a an excellent narrator but her performance in this book left me alternately loving to almost disliking the narration. The accents and different characterizations were as usual for this narrator excellent. Her main voice for the book seemed to me to be sometimes strident or at least overly emotive and loud, and maybe even wrong for the main character, whilst other times it was perfect. It may have been me, i normally have no issues with this narrator. Overall it did not stop me from finishing the book but did at times drop me out of the book, again it might be me and the next listen might make me wonder about my comments.

Any one who has read Nora Roberts other books in this genre will no doubt recognise some of the themes and compare the book to her Three Sisters Trilogy for example. New witch to the area is embraced by the existing coven and completes it - check. Black marked evil in large wolf form that threatens the coven - check. Male witch who is estranged from the more experienced witch in the coven but seeks to prove himself - check. Each of the 3 witches it the coven and their respective partner is to be tested one by one during the trilogy starting with the newbie to the area and to witchcraft - Check.

All that aside, I believe this book and trilogy does and will stand on its own. The books beginning spends time in the past giving the reader an understanding of the "legend/curse" and builds on that understanding via flashbacks (visions) at times throughout the book

Overall i would recommend this to all who like fantasy/supernatural/paranormal books.

I wont go into the difference between supernatural/paranormal as publishers etc genre classifications have made a joke of that

So simply enjoy it's well worth the price or credit

Predictable '3" story

Is there anything you would change about this book?

After reading Nora's books for decades, this one is predictable. The storyline is getting stale ... it doesn't matter what/who/where the story takes place.Other than getting out of the storyline rut, I can't think of anything.

Would you recommend Dark Witch to your friends? Why or why not?

Recommend to Nora fans who never tire of the same old same old.

Which character – as performed by Katherine Kellgren – was your favorite?

No favorite ... that in itself is sad.

Do you think Dark Witch needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

We already know the six that will be the 3 H/H combinations, so yes, finish them off. I won't pair them here to spoil readers who don't know where this is leading.

Any additional comments?

If I weren't such a big fan, I wouldn't even have picked this one up. I can say I will wait on library checkouts ... saves money better spent on fresh story lines from other authors.

good narration of a nice book

This book is pretty on par for Nora. If you like her books, you will likely enjoy this series. I held off on purchasing because several people said the narrator was awful. I'm frankly confused and wonder if we listened to the same version. I kept the volume the exact same throughout the story. The narrator was engaging. She did get excited but she never yelled nor did I need to turn the volume down as some reviews suggested. Other reviews said she had unique voices for every person, and I agree a little bit. It wasn't the best I have ever heard buy definitely passable and enjoyable. Other reviews called this "G rated" and I just have to laugh. Yes, it's on the lighter side of romance novels but don't let your kids listen. Still, overall good, typical story for Nora Roberts and the narrator did a good job. If you know the genre and/or author, go ahead and listen. You will enjoy the escapism for a few hours, which is the point of this genre isn't it?

LOVE

I read the series years ago. I decided I would just listen to the audibles to pass the time. I absolutely loved the narrator in this book. She put a lot of emphasis in the characters and the reading was great. Wish she would’ve had been used and ALL the books

Wonderfully Irish

Great mix of myth, magic and modern days. Solid storyline between cousins and friends. Can't wait to start the next in the trilogy!!

LOVE the story HATE the narrator's performance

I have read this trilogy before, but as with a lot of books, I like to listen to them while driving or working from home. I couldn't get past CH 2. The Narrator is overly dramatic and practically shouting at the dramatic parts. Not an enjoyable listen as I was always turning the volume way down. Very breathy which was equally annoying. I skipped to the 2nd book.