Lamp Black, Wolf Grey

A Novel

By: Paula Brackston

Narrated by: Marisa Calin

Length: 10 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

Artist Laura Matthews finds her new home in the Welsh mountains to be a place so charged with tales and legends that she is able to reach through the gossamer-fine veil that separates her own world from that of myth and fable. She and her husband, Dan, have given up their city life and moved to Blaencwm, an ancient longhouse high in the hills. Here, she hopes that the wild beauty will inspire her to produce her best art and will give her the baby they have longed for. But this high valley is also home to others, such as Rhys, the charismatic loner who pursues Laura with fervor. And Anwen, the wise old woman from the neighboring farm who seems to know so much but talks in riddles. And then there is Merlin. Lamp Black, Wolf Grey tells both Laura's story and Merlin's. For once he too walked these hills, with his faithful grey wolf at his heel. It was here he fell in love with Megan, nursemaid to the children of the hated local noble, Lord Geraint. Merlin was young at the start of his renowned career as a magician, but when he refused to help Lord Geraint, it was Megan who may pay the price. From New York Times best-selling author Paula Brackston, Lamp Black, Wolf Grey is an enchanting tale of love and magic featuring her signature blend of gorgeous writing, an intriguing historical backdrop, and a relatable heroine that listeners are sure to fall in love with.

©2013 Paula Brackston (P)2015 Macmillan Audio

Just plain silly

Infidelity "romance," shallow plot, ridiculous ending. No. Just plain NO. Can't think of a single positive thing to say.

Classic Paula Brackston

This book has everything fans of Paula Brackston expect from one of her novels, including a brilliantly described natural landscape that at times becomes a character itself. Very similar to "The Silver Witch," "Lamp Black, Wolf Grey" explores themes of creativity and independence, and the heroine's artistic endeavors (in this case, painting) bring her closer to the supernatural realm—a great metaphor for the unconscious and creative part of the psyche. This book is a little too similar to "Silver Witch," though, and I think that book told the story better. Still, a good read, and suspenseful.

Entertaining enough but.....

Not the best of this author's books. Seems as if the pressure to release another title forced this book before its time or maybe the author just got bored with the story midway through.

Mediocre

What would have made Lamp Black, Wolf Grey better?

The whole plot line wasn't very interesting to me. It was designed for a specific person. I simply couldn't relate to the character and found her dull.

Would you ever listen to anything by Paula Brackston again?

No

How could the performance have been better?

The narrator captured the tone of the book, which was methodical and uninspired.

Terrible Plot

The book starts out incredibly slowly. Then it is just another book that panders sex as romance with some light bondage. It was not romantic. I only got halfway through before I just couldn't take any more of this drivel.

Another intriguing story from Brackston

I have enjoyed every story, of which I’ve consumed thus far, Brackston has produced. Her attention to history and detail make the stories and characters come to life in a way with which most authors seem to struggle. She makes me feel as though I’m on the hills with Laura , in the studio with Tilda, walking the shoreline of the crannog with Seren, and living through the centuries with Elizabeth.
I appreciate that she uses the same narrator for her books. Marisa Calin seems to understand the characters so well that she can add just the right inflection so you know who’s speaking without overacting as most narrators seem to do.
Overall, Brackston has reignited my love of writing, my interest in pottery, and has all but convinced me I need to move to Wales!

Not the best of Paula Braxton

I’ve been burning through Paula Braxton’s books this past year. This was not my favorite. The extramarital relationship just degraded the whole story for me. I had a hard time liking the main character, which is unusual for Paula’s stories.

great book!

it was so good I wished for more. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a great love story and a great tale.

Pretty good but not her best

It felt like the author was leaning heavily on storytelling constructs she has already used , specifically in the silver witch book. ... Two stories interwoven between distant times with parallel heroines ... The artist running away to the wilderness to create and finding a connection to characters there ...

This was my least favorite of her books, although I always enjoy her writing and storytelling ... There was a lot of telling instead of showing ... Especially the epilogue was just over the top with the narrator overly painting for us Laura's psychological profile ....

That was an issue that ran throughout the book - heavy handed peering into the psyche of the characters ... There were also some leaps of logic (like how she decided that Reese must have pushed angus because of a missing blanket...) that just felt awkwardly forced

Not as much magic as I would have liked, even the way Merlin lets Meghan die and and somehow his magic can't help her - seemed incongruent to his powers we heard about with him saving the horse ...

Felt like maybe she rushed this book because of contractual or popular demand , and it really needed more flushing out
In general I always

Nothing short of perfection

I am in love with all things Paula Brackston! I first heard of her thru an interview on Psychic Teachers podcast, and I have been obsessed ever since.