Audiobook review: Gray Court by Hailey Edwards
Picking up shortly after the explosive conclusion of the previous book, Gray Court finds Rue, Asa, Clay, and Colby enjoying a little downtime before Rue has to report back to the Black Hat Agency. Rue is fearful she’s turning dark and that it could taint Colby’s pure white magic since she’s been tapping into the grimoire’s magic. Unfortunately, her fears come true when Colby inadvertently gets a boost of power from the grimoire (newly named the Hunk) and hurts a demon child. In addition, Asa’s mom is missing, presumed kidnapped by Staveros, again.
There is a lot that happens over the course of Gray Court. I love how much changes and how the overall storylines progress by leaps and bounds. Asa’s father, Staveros, has been trying to claim Rue and steal her from Asa. Rue must make some tough decisions that come a great cost. The author ties this plot into Rue’s desire to end the Director’s reign at Black Hat in a surprising and exciting way. The story is nearly non-stop from the opening until the final scene, keeping me engrossed the entire time. The stakes are so high for Rue and Asa, and I seriously cannot wait to find out what will happen next.
Rue continues to evolve both emotionally and in her powers. She’s struggling with the loss of her human found family, as she needs to stay away to keep them safe. She worries for Aiden, who was in fascination with one of Rue’s human friends. She works to balance her mission to end the Director with the dark power she may need to accomplish her goals. The fact that she worries so much about her soul and the impact to Colby shows us how much she’s changed.
Narration: The story is shared via first person POV of Rue. Ms. Richardson uses a strong, confident feminine voice for Rue/the narrator, which suits the character and storytelling. The narrator alters dialogue, giving characters a unique voice, suited to the age, gender, species, etc. Some voices are immediately identifiable, like that for Clay, whose voice is deeper, slower, and large, just like him. I also enjoy Colby, whose young voice sounds a bit cartoonish, which is perfect for the mythological friend. The narrator successfully portrays emotions and has created unique identities for the main characters.
In the end, I really enjoyed Gray Court, and I look forward to seeing the outcome of Rue’s machinations in future titles.
My Ratings
Story: B+
Narration: B+
Jen
About the Book:
After wiping out an entire black witch coven on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain, Rue can no longer afford to have a laissez-faire attitude toward the Maudit Grimoire. Its black magic is infecting her, and it’s leaking into her familiar bond with Colby, poisoning the loinnir with its thirst for violence.
A trip to the fae realm ought to be just the ticket, but any hope for a quick fix dies when a message arrives from High Priestess Naeema. Her daughter has gone missing, and she expects Rue to find her. As much as Rue wants to help Naeema, can she afford to put off disposing of the cunning book yet again?
Author: Hailey Edwards
Narrator: Stephanie Richardson
Series: Black Hat Bureau #7
Genre: Urban Fantasy, mystery, romantic elements
Audiobook Release Date: August 22, 2023
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Length: 7 hrs; 14 mins
Source: Tantor Audio
Audio Speed: 1.4x
Purchase info:
Audible/Amazon (affilate link)
Reviews in the Series:
Black Hat, White Witch by Hailey Edwards (Black Hat Bureau #1) – Audiobook Review
Black Arts, White Craft by Hailey Edwards (Black Hat Bureau #2) – Audiobook Review
Black Truth, White Lies by Hailey Edwards (Black Hat Bureau #3) – Audiobook Review
Black Wings, Gray Skies by Hailey Edwards (Black Hat Bureau #4) – Audiobook Review
Gray Witch by Hailey Edwards (Black Hat Bureau #5) – Audiobook Review
Gray Tidings by Hailey Edwards (Black Hat Bureau #6) – Audiobook Review