Unhallowed (Buddy Read) — July 24th

[Meags]

This is one badass mother of a library! What I wouldn’t give to visit a place like this. Just sayin’.

[* A Reader Obsessed *]

Glad you stuck with it Meep! The consensus it seems that Sebastian is a bit lacking.

And the library is definitely something else!

[Meags]

I like Sebastian well enough, but I do think he has some character development in his future. When I know it’s a series though I’m not too bothered by it, knowing that he’ll have more time to grow as a character. I do agree with Meep’s insight about the inconsistency of his character being so in on the arcane like it’s a big secret one minute, yet assuming all libraries have curses and such the next. That kind of thing was a bit strange!

I made it to 85% and now bedtime.

[Meep]

Finished and needing coffee now lol

The library and librarians are awesome. Oh to wander the Labrinyth.....with a good torch and handy guide/protector!

Was reading recently about the book bound in the skin of William Burke. Euw, but it's been done.

Sebastian comes through but the deep romance didn't convince me. I just found him weakly drawn. More respect for Bonnie.

I'm not sure I'll continue on despite the chance it means more Noct. While it's a great adventure the pacing felt a bit off to me and the story predictable.
I guessed Ves and Nocts nature, where the hiding place was and who the villian was early on.

But thanks for letting me gate-crash your buddy read, it's been great seeing your thoughts. Hope you have/are enjoying

[Meags]

I just finished! Sleep be damned this night! Lol

I too guessed the villain early on, but how you guessed the other two things is beyond me! Impressive.

I loved the second half, so having said that, I guess I agree that the pacing was a bit off? Only because it took me three days to read the first 50% and 4 hours to read the second 50%! Then again, I like when stories have a slow build to the action and excitement! I was ultimately very happy with this one and I’m super keen for the next!

How were those End Notes!! Fascinating stuff! Makes me want to do some deep diving on the internet for more of that history.

[Meep]

lol the hiding place because there seemed no other reason to mention the structure, so as I read it I thought something hidden there. Ves's nature - pure Lovecraft Shub-Niggurath, the only thing I really know of Lovecraft is tentacles!

[Meags]

I literally have no idea what all this lovecraft talk is so it’s no surprise I didn’t see things coming if it’s basic knowledge.

[Anne Boleyn's Ghost]

Okay, I'm making glacial progress here. I only made it to 69%/Chapter 22. I must admit that I didn't guess Ves' nature (I was thinking more traditional werewolf type creature) but I should have known Hawk would not do something traditional.

Meep, FWIW, I feel like the second Widdershins book was unique in that it much more of that sci fi/horror fiction vibe than the other books, which do feature 'creatures' but are more rooted in magic and familiar mythology-with-a-twist. As a superfan, I would say give the next book in the series a shot, and feel free to blame me if you dislike it 😜

Otherwise, I totally agree with all of your thoughts so far. The second half is picking up , but the romance and Sebastian's character are somewhat lacking for me. I am determined to finish tonight!

[Meags]

Good luck, Anne! You’re almost there. Once I hit the 60% mark it flew by.

Is the second book the one out in the woods, with the caves and the other type things?? I fricken LOVED that book! Easily one of my top three of the series. Funny that.

[Anne Boleyn's Ghost]

YES! When they go to West Virginia. It is in my top 3 as well, largely because I loved the relationship development. But it was also as funny as it was creepy. Probably my fave part was when they were talking about the monsters' interest in collecting and studying the brains of learned men, and how they didn't know if they would care about the brains of learned women, and - I'm paraphrasing - Christine was all, "They damn well ought to be!" and Whyborne responded, "Lovely. Perhaps we shall have adjoining jars." 😂

[Meags]

Yes! I loved all those things about it too! For me it had a great romantic arc and was probably also the most enthralling of the creepy mysteries. Loved it! Christine is everything! I miss her so much!

[Anne Boleyn's Ghost]

Me too. I really hope that we get cameos from the original crew in this series. I would also be interested in reading about their (grown) twins someday.

[* A Reader Obsessed *]

@ Meep - I’ve never read Lovecraft but interesting about the tentacles. I’m glad you stuck it out. We’ll let you know about Noct and how he fares should you choose not to continue :)

We better get plenty of cameos! That’s what makes a good spinoff right?? All I know was that the 2nd book was truly horror. This world is not kind nor fluffy.

Admittedly, I really liked Noct and hope for happiness for him with a certain somebody who will kick another somebody to the curb.

[Meep]

Thanks R, I would like to know how Noct fares, but think I'll wait for reviews before deciding whether to continue.

The 'Black Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young' is straight from Lovecraft. That's curious I was thinking the Widdershin fans were mostly readers of L, kept feeling I was missing a lot by not having read any.

Funny Meags, that one put me off.
The horror aspect and the fact it was aliens. I can handle a little creepy but the messing with bodies and ...nooooooo thanks. Until then I was onboard.
Do the others in the series have the horror? I've not ruled out continuing it...and now I have Ann to blame ;)
Christine was the best.

[Meags]

Not to deter you even more but I wouldn’t call book two the most gruesome of the series, but I guess it depends on what creeps a person out??

I’ve never heard of Lovecraft before your references here, Meep, but maybe I need to check his stuff out if the themes are similar. Although if he’s famously a horror writer I’m not sure how I’d go with it, as I don’t generally like being scared! To me, this stuff is just PNR in a historical setting— I don’t really find Hawk’s stuff overly disturbing at all.

[Meep]

Yeah it's hard to judge, I read a lot of thrillers so it depends with gruesome. I'd rather avoid Frankenstein bent aliens though.

Not sure if it's something I'll ever read tbh, think I'd rather read about his worlds than delve in.

[Meags]

It definitely depends with the type of gruesome, right!? I can easily stomach some and not others. I’m also someone who handles it quite well on page but gets really scared/high anxiety when watching on tv — case in point, I’m currently trying to wrap up the final seasons of Criminal Minds and that’s kept me in a state of constant high anxiety for weeks, whereas this book and its “spookiness” didn’t bother me a bean.

All this talk of the original series makes me want to do a re-read! But boy what an undertaking that would be! Maybe one day, soonish.

[Meep]

Your enthusiasm has got me very tempted to buy the next set of three books. Didn't realise there were so many in the series.

Definitely with you there, I can read creepy stories but wouldn't choose to watch them, would never watch horror. Usually if I know it all ends well I'm ok but there's always that thing that squicks you. Used to like Criminal Minds but there's some really disturbing ones.

[Anne Boleyn's Ghost]

Oof. I totally forgot to follow up with my thoughts! That said, they aren't really different from all of yours. I agree that the pacing was off and that the second half made up for the issues with the first. I liked Ves more than Sebastian, but Sebastian definitely improved as a character.

Overall, I enjoyed it, and I'm frankly thrilled to be back in Widdershins. Still, I couldn't help but compare to the original series at times. Like during the final battle, I was all, "When are Whyborne and crew coming to save the day?!" And then I felt super nostalgic for W&G. I may need to re-read those books, lol.

[Meep]

I'm continuing the series. W&G are far stronger more involved stories.

Be curious what you make of The Magic Box the characters are different but a very similar set-up and vibe - I'd be suprised if he's not read W&G.

[Meags]

Oh hell yes, I am CRAVING a Whyborne and Griffin re-read too, Anne!! And, Meep, your progress has me reminiscing so fondly! Glad you decided to give them another go and that some of the stories are working much better for you!

I’ll be sure to look into that recommended book, too, thanks!

[Meep]

Prefer W&G but the set-up is VERY similar; museum, arcane books, magic and cults. Only read the first one.

[Anne Boleyn's Ghost]

Thanks for the suggestion, Meep! I added it to my TBR. Also, if I recall correctly, I "only" liked Widdershins when I first read it and I didn't immediately continue with the series. Some time passed and I decided to give it another shot, but I wanted to re-read the first book to jog my memory. That was when I fell in love. I noticed and appreciated so much more about the story and the characters. From there, I really embraced the series.

Meags, I've already re-read many of the books, but I would be down to re-read again, lol. Desert island keepers for sure!! Plus in these uncertain times it's something of a comfort. I've been on a cozy mystery book kick lately and I don't see that ending. I've always loved TV and movie mysteries and my reading is finally coordinating.

[Meep]

Hope you like it, don't like the characters as much as W&G but it's got a very similar setting.

I've nearly finished book 5 now, really liking them. I was worried they'd be too heavy on the Lovecraft but not had the same feeling of missing links that I had with the first few books.

Feel free to rec some cosys lol I've been re-reading some too.