3rd Apr
I am so glad I picked up The Night Realm by Annette Marie. Narrated by Melissa Moran & Tim Paige, I loved everything from the sizzling chemistry to the world and magic. From superb world-building to well-drawn characters, this was unputdownable.
The Night Realm
by Annette Marie
Series: Spell Weaver #1
Narrator: Melissa Moran, Tim Paige
Length: 10 hours and 8 minutes
Genres: Fantasy
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating: 
Heat Level: 
Narration: 5 cups Speed: 1.45x
Clio isn’t a thief. She isn’t a spy, a soldier, or a diplomat. Aside from her rare ability to mimic spells, her only notable talent is gardening. But with a war threatening her homeland, and her half-brother—the nymph prince—pleading for her help, she agrees to attempt the stealing deadly magic from the best spell weavers in the three realms. Their stronghold is located deep in the Underworld, which is exactly the sort of place an Overworld nymph like her should never go. Getting in won’t be that hard. Getting out alive is the impossible part.
Lyre is a master of two spell weaving and seduction. As an incubus, he can enthrall any woman he desires. As a master weaver, he can create any spell imaginable—but not the spells of death and destruction that his ruthless family specializes in. A master weaver who can’t—or won’t—contribute to the family legacy is a liability that won’t be tolerated for much longer. And when a nosy Overworld nymph starts probing into his secrets and draws the attention of his sadistic brothers, his odds of survival take a nosedive. Because some magic was never meant to be woven. And while Lyre’s most dangerous creation could be powerful enough to save Clio’s homeland, it’s terrible enough to destroy far more. And neither Clio’s mimic ability nor Lyre’s spell weaving will save them from its power.
I’ve listened to books by Annette Marie before, but all of those were co-authored. The Night Realm was incredibly well done, from the magical system to the world-building. At the time that I listened, I did not know this was some sort of spin off featuring a character from the Steel & Stone series. I did not feel like I missed anything, as this is book one in the Spell Weaver series, but I am curious to listen to them.
Clio is a nymph of the Overworld and has spent much of her time on Earth, but when her homeland is in danger and her brother, the prince, asks her for help, she agrees to go to the Underworld and attempt to steal magic spells. Clio has the rare gift of mimic. She can recreate a spell, even ones created by the best spell weavers. She and two guards enter the Underworld pretending to want to buy spells/gadgets.
The tale that unfolds was riveting from sibling rivalry to the profitable business run by the Underworld. Lyre is an incubus capable of spell weaving and seduction. He isn’t exactly a fan of the family business and hides some of his abilities to prevent his family’s company from creating deadly spells.
Lyre and Clio were so interesting together. He suspected she was up to something (she is) and their chemistry was off the charts. The plot was tight, action-packed with twists and turns that kept me listening into the wee hours. It was the type of listen that had me immediately telling friends of the fantasy genre, or even Nora Robert’s fantasy series Chronicles of the One, to pre-order the audiobook.
I loved the world-building and how the realms and magic work. It felt fresh and kept me engaged. We didn’t get slogged down with info dumps as the author seamlessly wove details into the story.
These characters, even secondary ones, were well drawn and dimensional. The villains were diabolical, as were the betrayals both Clio and Lyre faced. The tale ends after a climatic showdown that left me breathless. Marie left us in a safe place, but their story is far from over and the danger is just beginning.
Melissa Moran and Tim Paige did a wonderful job of giving voice to Lyre and Cleo as we changed perspectives. The narration only enhanced my enjoyment of the story as they captured the characters’ emotions and the tone of the story. I highly recommend listening, but you can also read it in kindleunlimited.
*kindleunlimited
About Annette Marie
Annette Marie is the author of YA urban fantasy series Steel & Stone, its prequel trilogy Spell Weaver, and romantic fantasy trilogy Red Winter. Her first love is fantasy, but fast-paced urban fantasy, bold heroines, and tantalizing forbidden romances are her guilty pleasures. She proudly admits she has a thing for dragons, and her editor has politely inquired as to whether she intends to include them in every single book.
About Melissa Moran
Melissa Moran is an accomplished radio personality who has won both a CMA (Country Music Association) and ACM (Academy of Country Music) award in broadcasting. In addition to commercial voice-over work, theater and on-camera roles, and improvisational comedy, Melissa has narrated over seventy audiobooks in many different genres. Originally from Massachusetts, Melissa traded in her winter coat for flip flops and now resides in sunny Florida.
About Tim Paige
Tim Paige is an audiobook narrator with a passion for rom coms, superheroes, and telling stories that provide an escape from the world (or a new lens with which to view it). A former full-time touring musician, Tim has played on some of the biggest stages in the world. He is the voice of “The More You Know” on NBC, and has provided voice-over for many national commercials, promos, trailers, and video games. When he’s not narrating audiobooks or voicing fun projects, you’ll most often find him playing pretend with his two sons, shouting at the television during Syracuse Orange basketball and football games, or cooking up tasty vegan treats.
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat.
