The Witch and His Crow

The Witch Trials, Book 1

By: Ben Alderson

Narrated by: John York

Rule them. Win. Become Grand High.

My name is Hector Briar, and I live for revenge. It's been eighteen years since Witch Hunters murdered my parents, and still, the night haunts me. A part of me died that night when six-year-old me was forced to listen to their brutal murder. Since then, I've gone from prey to predator. I spend my nights stalking Oxford's streets for those who'd see me slaughtered for being what I am. A witch. And more than that, the son of the last Grand High.

I've spent the last years hidden in the shadows, not only from Witch Hunters but also from my own kind. But one fateful night lands me directly in the hands of the people I've been evading my entire life—the Coven. Whereas the Witch Hunters want to destroy me, the Coven wants me for a darker fate. For my blood. It's the key to starting the Witch Trials, a contest to find the next Grand High, a contest where witches battle to the death—or madness.

Thrown into the middle of the very contest my mother died trying to prevent, I must make allies with my enemies if I wish to survive the first night. Not so bad when my ally so happens to be an attractive blue-eyed, six-foot-something, tattooed from neck to navel, bloodthirsty rival: Arwyn Morgan.

I soon discover that not is all as it seems. Dark forces are lingering in the shadows, and the truth is a hard pill to swallow. The Witch Hunters seek a Champion of their own. Enemies and allies lose all meaning when a wolf invades the flock.

Surviving the Witch Trials quickly becomes the least of my worries when ancient forces reveal their true natures. Something dark stirs within me, waiting for its inevitable freedom. I'm the key to keeping it locked away—or freeing it.

The Witch and His Crow is the first book in an MM paranormal romance series of witchcraft and bloodthirsty enemies, perfect for fans of The Serpent and the Wings of Night and Her Soul to Take.

©2024 Ben Alderson (P)2025 Podium Audio

Great Listen!

Really cool story, loved the world building and as always John York gave an amazing performance

Book 2 please……..🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 like NOW

The story telling and world building in this book but exceptionally great. I felt like I was there, in the story with the MCs. The narration was next level because York’s voice was so perfect especially for Hector. I’m so impatient for book 2. I’m praying it’s not another year before I get to continue this story.

Amazing!

I absolutely LOVED this book! Everything was 10/10. Narrator was amazing! I need to hop into book 2 right now

Great start to a new series!

4.5

This is the fantastic first installment of what is about to be an epic series. You can feel it while reading. I loved the magic system, the horror of it… I can’t wait to find out what comes next. And what comes next for our couple!

The Witch and his Crow

Alderson’s pitch, the Hunger Games with witches, tells you the shape but undersells the control: the trials give the book a clean engine, and he uses the death-game structure to throw Hector and his rival Arwyn into forced alliance, so the rivals-to-lovers turn tracks with the plot rather than fighting it. The pacing is relentless in a good sense, and the magic stays deliberately legible so the emotional stakes never get buried in worldbuilding. What pushes it to five is the ending, which detonates the central relationship in a way that recontextualizes everything before it and makes the second book feel necessary rather than optional. A series opener that is also a genuine trap: it shuts one door and leaves you needing the next.