Audiobook review: A Farewell to Charms by Molly Harper
Picking up after the conclusion of the previous story, A Farewell to Charms opens with Mystic Bayou League head, Alex Lancaster, getting stuck in the Devil’s Armpit. Eva Boudreaux, boat mechanic extraordinaire, happens by and helps him back to town. Alex finds himself drawn to Eva, and in a poor attempt to get to know her a little more, he uses League resources to look into her past, discovering Eva isn’t who she claims to be. Luckily the pair’s attraction and interest overcomes their awkwardness.
A Farewell to Charms is the final story in Ms. Harper’s delightful Mystic Bayou series. I was a bit shocked at the news and not quite ready to see it go. Overall, I enjoyed the story. Alex and Eva’s courtship is a bit awkward and filled with a few bumps, just like Alex. We already knew a lot about him from previous books; however, I enjoyed finding more out about Eva. The story was a bit predictable but still fun. Ms. Harper has such a great sense of humor and infuses the dialogue with witty banter.
With that said, I have a couple issues. First, in the previous book, the author introduced a bad guy and made it seem like he’d be around for a future story, and he isn’t even mentioned in this one. With this being the series finale, it feels like unfinished business. Additionally, there is a character introduced in this one that goes away partway through the story, never to return – listeners never finding out who he is. In retrospect, he was basically a contrived red herring, which is annoying.
Narration: As with previous books in the series, the story is shared in a dual narrative, with Amanda Ronconi (AR) reading the parts told from Eva’s POV and Jonathan Davis (JD) the parts shared from Alex’s POV. Overall, both do a good job, and at this point, I find that I enjoy both equally. JD continues to expand his range for his male voices, giving each a unique and identifiable sound. AR’s voice for Eva is only slightly different than most other female characters, but the range of difference isn’t tremendous. While I still feel the two narrators have narrative styles and voices that are a bit on the opposite ends of the spectrum, it works.
In the end, I have really enjoyed the Mystic Bayou series and look forward to seeing what comes next from Ms. Harper.
My Ratings
Story: B/B-
Narration: B+
Jen
About the Book:
Eva Boudreaux keeps the truth about her life before arriving in Mystic Bayou a carefully guarded secret, flying under the radar as a talented boat mechanic. In the swampy little town filled with powerful supernatural beings, Eva never expected to strike up a charged flirtation with one of the Bayou’s human residents.
Alex Lancaster is far too polished for Eva’s taste – not to mention the danger that comes with his high-ranking position in the League, which could expose her secrets. Trouble is, she can’t resist his disarming sense of humor or the chemistry that crackles to life whenever he’s near. Will Alex be able to handle a woman like her? Or will her difficult past keep them apart?
Either way, they’ll need to join forces to solve one final mystery in Mystic Bayou. The fate of the town – and their hearts – depends upon it.
Author: Molly Harper
Narrator: Amanda Ronconi
Series: Mystic Bayou #6
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Audiobook Release Date: January 13, 2022
Publisher: Audible
Length: 7 hrs and 26 mins
Source: Purchased
Audio Speed: 1.3x
Purchase info:
Amazon/Audible (affilate link)
Reviews in the Series:
How to Date Your Dragon by Molly Harper (Mystic Bayou #1) – Audiobook Review
Love and Other Wild Things by Molly Harper (Mystic Bayou #2) – Audiobook Review
Even Tree Nymphs Get the Blues by Molly Harper (Mystic Bayou #2.5) – Audiobook Review
Selkies Are a Girl’s Best Friend by Molly Harper (Mystic Bayou #3) – Audiobook Review
Always Be My Banshee by Molly Harper (Mystic Bayou #4) – Audiobook Review
One Fine Fae by Molly Harper (Mystic Bayou #4.5) – Audiobook Review
Shifters in the Night by Molly Harper (Mystic Bayou #5) – Audiobook Review