Malum

By: Stacy Bender

Narrated by: Theo Holland

Length: 6 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's Summary

A dark, forgotten demon is freed to stride the city streets once more, taking lives as it burns through one body after another. 

Josephine Chattoway, recently sold into marriage by an absent father, is escorted by her bohemian Aunt Sylvia to meet her erstwhile suitor. Along the way, she discovers the visions which have made her doubt her sanity for so long are real. They are also the key to unlocking powerful ancient protectors which will stand between a demon and countless innocent victims.

With a plucky batch of gargoyles and a not-quite mad scientist, Josephine and Sylvia must fight for a city that doesn't even realize its plight, knowing that if the demon finds Josephine, hell will reign on Earth.

©2018 Stacy Bender (P)2020 Stacy Bender

Great audio book

I very much enjoyed this audio book. A very different take and very interesting. Narrator did a good job bringing it to life.

Demons Dragons Gargoyles

It is enchanting interesting quite a picture. This is an adventure in fantasy. You will love it.

I love a good fantasy book.

This book was very captivating. There were times that I felt like I had missed something or was trying to figure out how we had gotten to the current situation but that may have been distraction on my part. I really enjoyed the book and will probably listen again to see if I can figure out what I thought was missing.

Difficult Listen

There are several reviews already posted with the reasons this is not a very good book, so I'm not going to beat a dead horse. Story is just too jumbled and there is no clear story line or path for the main character.

“I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.”

Jumbled characters need clarity.

Stacy Bender brings the reader into an interesting world of Elizabethan mentality. There is magic hidden in this world and more than most people know. Join Josephine Chattoway in expanding your knowledge about how this world really works. You will find demons, gargoyles, science and magic abound behind every corner.

While the setting is intriguing the characters feel flat and jumbled. Strangely enough the gargoyles are the clearest characters in the book.

Imaginative

I received this book for free. I am voluntarily posting this review and all opinions expressed herein are my own.

This is an imaginative story with gargoyles, psychics and a bit of mystery all set in the Victorian era. And that's not all, there's lots of action as well. Somehow it all works, making it a very enjoyable, fast-paced read.

The narrator, Theo Holland, did an excellent job. He does various voices for all of characters and creatures - making it very easy to differentiate them. His narration made the story even more engaging.

A Great Listen

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request, and have voluntarily left this review. Josephine finds herself in her aunts company as she travels to me her betrothed, a man her father basically sold her too. To Josephine's shock, she realizes that her aunt and herself have a similar ability and things just start getting strange, once the gargoyles show up. A highly entertaining demon hunting tale with quirky characters and an interesting plot. It was a great listen that ended too quickly.

Very Interesting Concept

Josephine can see visions. And gargoyles are alive. And they talk to her. Malum is the story of a young woman who awakens the gargoyles who are charged with protecting the world from demons. The concepts explored in Stacy Bender's novel are very interesting and the descriptions of the gargoyles and the world they inhabit are rich and inviting.

I received this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Kind of disjointed

The story was intriguing to be sure, very Victorian with an almost steampunk flare. The language I would put as PG13 and there are brief references to homosexuality but nothing crude. I felt the storyline a bit long winded yet disjointed and the narrator did decently with differentiations between characters but it took some getting used to.

Overall an enjoyable read but it’s not something I’d come running back to.


—I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Just Couldn’t Get Into It

I gave the story a chance, wanting to like it, but it never captured my interest. It would be unfair to say the story is bad, it just didn’t grab me and compel me to continue.

The narration is definitely good, with some distinct character voices, but at times a bit sterile during the narrative sections. Overall, while there is room for improvement, Theo Holland has some talent.

Fabulous book

Brilliant storyline enjoyed this audio book very much
Love every minute for the storyline
Must buy