Druid Vices and a Vodka is book six in The Guild Codex: Spellbound series by Annette Marie and narrated by Cris Dukeheart.

Another action-packed, high-stakes adventure, this is the most intense installment in the series yet. Druids, demons, summoners, and witches await in this fast-paced, character-driven urban fantasy.

The stakes couldn't be higher, and there is so much on the line for everyone! Fortunately, Tori has grown immensely over the course of the series. Though she’s still as vulnerable and delightfully stubborn as ever, her emotional strength and fierce dedication to her friends make her incredible to root for—even if her physical strength is still catching up!

Tori is desperate to help Ezra, who is bound to a demon with time rapidly running out. When she’s also called on to assist Zak—aka the Ghost—a chain reaction of events unfolds, dragging her friend Kai into the fallout. Who will survive? Will friendships withstand the trial, and can love still bloom? What follows ripped my heart out, made me scream, and kept me on the edge of my seat. Tori is kickass and loyal to a fault, making her struggles painful to watch—but gads, is she clever.

Audio: Cris Dukeheart is truly the voice of this series and these characters. She does a stellar job of capturing every emotional nuance and setting the perfect tone for each moment. I’m thoroughly enjoying these audiobooks and highly recommend them!

Rated: 4.5 Stars

Undertow by Willa Blackwood—narrated by Sarah Sampino—is book two in The Carolina Files. Although each entry presents an individual mystery for the Whitlow family, I highly recommend listening/reading in publication order due to the series overall arc surrounding the stone beneath Whitlow Manor.

Though she never wanted the role, Tula Whitlow has become the de facto leader of the Whitlow sisters. This installment treats readers to a dark, suspenseful mystery involving missing and murdered teens, demonic symbols, ancient rituals, secrets, and demonic possession.

Although Tula takes center stage, we get a deeper look at her sisters and aunt this time around. We follow Tula as she tries to figure out what’s happening in town and save the kids, all while her mother urges her from afar to deal with the stone under Whitlow Manor. Tula clearly feels unprepared, but with the danger mounting, she has to step up. That said, Tula and some of the other characters did frustrate me at times by getting into situations where the danger was obvious and easily avoidable.

There is a slow-burn romance with a sexy vampire named Victor, though it remains a secondary subplot with minimal progression in this book. Personally, I would have loved to see more of Victor in the story!

While I don’t love any of the sisters, they are tolerable enough, though Aunt Ruby and our sexy vampire Victor are definitely my favorite characters. Something about this installment felt a bit off for me, and I couldn’t fully connect with it—perhaps because the story veered away from cozy mystery territory into much darker vibes.

Audio: Sarah Sampino does a fantastic job with the narration, perfectly capturing Tula, the secondary characters, and the overall tone of the story. Her character voices are enjoyable and bring a wonderful Southern charm to the performance. Honestly, I don’t think I would have finished this novel if I hadn’t listened to the audiobook, so I highly recommend going the audio route!

Rated: 3 Stars Audio Narration: 4 Stars

A Curious Beginning is the first installment in Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series, narrated by Angèle Masters. I actually added this one to my TBR after spotting a glowing review over at Books of My Heart. Historical fiction isn’t usually my go-to genre, but they made it sound so intriguing that I had to give it a shot—and I’m so glad I did, because it completely blew me away!

The character development in A Curious Beginning, is top-tier. Veronica Speedwell is a breath of fresh air: independent, fearless, and wonderfully feisty. Her deductive reasoning and natural curiosity make her incredibly fun to follow, but it’s her sharp-witted banter with Stoker that really steals the show. Stoker himself is a beautifully complex, troubled character who willingly steps into danger to assist Veronica after a German baron kicks off the mystery. With an entertaining cast of villains, constables, and adversaries, the tension never lets up.

The setting shifts beautifully from the bustling streets of 1887 London to the scenic countryside, including a fascinating stint with a traveling caravan. As we follow Veronica and Stoker, two compelling mysteries begin to intertwine—the immediate threat to Veronica’s life and the question of who murdered the German. I adored both plotlines and thoroughly enjoyed tagging along on their quest for the truth. Thanks to the wonderfully paced plot, the character development feels incredibly intimate and natural.

While the story firmly belongs to Veronica, Stoker is an essential co-star. He’s quite intimidating at first, and despite Veronica pointing out his toned physique, I initially couldn’t see him as a viable love interest. However, as his layers began to peel back and I witnessed him in action, I completely fell for him right alongside her.

Audio: Between the rich descriptions and the vibrant characters, Raybourn does a fantastic job of immersing the reader in the Victorian era. Angèle Masters’ narration makes it even better. I completely fell in love with her performance—the wonderful array of Victorian accents she brings to the table is just perfect for this audiobook.

If you love independent heroines, sharp-witted banter, and immersive historical backdrops, you need to pick this up! I stepped outside my usual comfort zone for this one, and I am so glad I did. The plot kept me on my toes, the character growth felt wonderfully natural, and the narration was the icing on the cake. A fantastic start to the series!

Rated: 4 Stars