A Vision in Velvet

A Witchcraft Mystery, Book 6

By: Juliet Blackwell

Narrated by: Xe Sands

Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

As soon as Lily opens her recently purchased trunk of old clothes, she feels strange vibrations emanating from a mysterious velvet cloak. When she tries it on, Lily sees awful visions from the past. And when the antiques dealer who sold her the cape is killed, Lily suspects a supernatural force might be behind his death. Then Lily's familiar, Oscar the potbellied pig, disappears. Lily will do anything to get him back - including battling the spirit of a powerful witch reaching out from the past. But even with the aid of her grandmother, unmasking a killer and saving Oscar might be more than one well-intentioned sorceress can handle.

©2014 Julie Goodson-Lawes (P)2014 Tantor Media

Kept Me on My Toes!

I've been listening to this series on audio since the first book. I love watching how Lily has progressed with her witchy skills and her relationships and friendships as well. When Lily first arrived in the city she was slow to call on anyone to help her, and in A Vision in Velvet we can see how she's come full circle - especially with her familiar, Oscar, missing. She calls on everyone to help and she will move heaven and earth to bring Oscar back!!

The mystery itself was really interested as it involved the Salem witch trials and the history surrounded witches was fascinating. This was a good mystery that kept me on my toes, and I didn't quite have it all solved before Lily.

Xe Sands is outstanding as the voice of Lily and all the characters in Lily's life. However my favourite voice she narrates is Oscar!!! I will never imagine anyone else as the voice of Oscar. Another outstanding narration and I can't wait for the next book.

Just plain fun

In this book Lily's "familiar" Oscar is at the center of the plot. He is a potbellied pig and so much more. The books can be read on their own but I highly suggest they be read in order. Ms. Blackwell's books are so much fun that I am already on the second book of her house haunting series.

Excellent narration/great story

Exactly what I expected. Kept me interested. Thank you for providing us with this in an audio format. I like the author

i love the narrators tones

as always a great listen.... oscar my baby........ this story line just builds and keeps going its worth the money and time..... more please

Great Series, Very Enjoyable Read

Would you listen to A Vision in Velvet again? Why?

Yes, I liked all of the characters

Which character – as performed by Xe Sands – was your favorite?

Oscar

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but I commute 3 hours/day, so I limit my listening to that time.

Everything's great except...

I love the books and the performances. Blackell is no Agatha Christie.
Lily, her main character, is certainly no Agatha Raisin 😕.
Sands' is an awesome performer- she makes Oscar (the main character's familiar) almost a real creature (if a Garglin could be a housepet 😜). She gets 4.5 🌠🌠🌠🌠🌟, only because the repeated, "I...", with a not exactly annoying trailing off into nowhere... Yes, it can start to grate the nerves.
All the books are enjoyable, with the ever present familiar group of quirky, but supportive group of friends, co-workers, and adopted extended families.
Not a brain twister, but fun.

Missing potbelly pig.

This series is like a song that you like really well the first couple of times you hear it, but it gets old fast the more you hear. Don't get me wrong I like this series, but maybe it should have ended a book back or so. I probably will continue to read as long as I put some time in between listening to the books in this series and I get it on sale. Overall I would give this book a 3.5 rating. I'm not a huge fan of the narrator, she is just too slow and I ended up listening to this on fast speed.

Plot turns were weak

I like the characters and the setting and it's still a fun to listen but the plot turns were stupid and the resolution of the mystery was weak.

Too much of the same...

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Yes, introduce more revelations about the characters. I felt there was no 'growth' or further connection with the characters beyond the last book. Character development.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I felt it was abrupt. The characters spend LOTS of time in utter confusion (and for me it became a hindrance to the reader) and I was left with many unanswered questions.

What three words best describe Xe Sands’s performance?

Similar to previous in the series.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Probably not unless it came on TV.

Any additional comments?

I was kinda bummed. I think the setting and world that the author created was promising but this book was a bit of a let down.

Great story but...

This was another great story in the series and the performance was good but the writing/editing wasn’t nearly as good as the others. There were things that were repeated (but not for effect) and just a general messiness to it.