Slouch Witch

The Lazy Girl's Guide to Magic, Book 1

By: Helen Harper

Narrated by: Tanya Eby

Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Let's get one thing straight - Ivy Wilde is not a heroine. In fact she's probably the last witch in the world you'd call if you needed a magical helping hand, regardless of her actual abilities. If it were down to Ivy, she'd spend all day every day on her sofa, where she could watch TV, munch junk food, and talk to her feline familiar to her heart's content.

However, when a bureaucratic disaster ends up with Ivy as the victim of a case of mistaken identity, she's yanked very unwillingly into Arcane Branch, the investigative department of the Hallowed Order of Magical Enlightenment. Her problems are quadrupled when a valuable object is stolen right from under the Order's noses.

It doesn't exactly help that she's been magically bound to Adeptus Exemptus Raphael Winter. He might have piercing sapphire eyes and a body a cover model would be proud of, but as far as Ivy's concerned, he's a walking advertisement for the joyless perils of too much witch work.

And if he makes her go to the gym again, she's definitely going to turn him into a frog.

©2017 Helen Harper (P)2017 Tantor

Amazing story, disappointing narration

I ended up returning this book because of the narration. I read the book and loved it so much I purchased the audio book shorty thereafter. That was a mistake. No one in their right mind would ever think "plonker" should be said with an American accent. There is an entire country of people who could have narrated this book authentically; they choose an American who couldn't. Do yourself a favor and read this one.

Best Impulse Buy in Ages

I bought this after the audio sample had me hooked, and I do not regret it one bit. Tanya Eby does such a great job bringing these characters to life, although her lack of English accent for the main character and narrator is a little offputting since the book takes place in Oxford, England and all of the characters are English (I assume she's American and didn't want to use a fake accent for the entire novel). Nevertheless, she brings a great amount of emotion to every word, and it's honestly one of the best audiobook performances I've ever heard.

The story is a solid mystery packed with world building and some decent red herrings. It's a good opener for a series, and I look forward to the next book, which I'm going to buy immediately after finishing this review.

If you enjoyed Kim Harrison's Hollows series with Rachel Morgan, definitely give this a try. I'm always looking for good urban fantasy starring lady magic users, and this was a great addition to my collection.

Awesome book!!!

I just finished this book and I really enjoyed it. The main character is funny, smart and a blast to listen to. The mystery is good and not easy to figure out and the story is light and entertaining. While I had reservations about the narrator initially because her voice sounded a little older than I expected she really made the character and after listening for a short time it was no longer an issue. She delivered the lines expertly and really seemed to get the snark and mood of the story and how it should be read.I have been looking for a book that will hold my attention and it has been hard to find a new series. This book was well written and I cannot wait until the next book comes out. If you like funny out going lead women with a touch of laziness and you have had enough of long drawn out sex scenes this is a great book for you.

Decent if you like Snark

This was not bad. I enjoyed aspects of it, but I didn’t think it was as fabulous as a lot of reviews make it. If you like Molly Harper, you may like Helen Harper. There is a sassy snark to the main character. I did enjoy the cat - although it’s a small part.

I read a lot of reviews by British listeners who complained about the American accent. I bet they were trying to appeal to the popularity of American snarky romances. Britts, if it makes you feel any better - I listened to a book about someone from New Mexico who lived in Portland Oregon - 2 places I’m from and the narrator was a British man who mispronounced locations - so I feel for you! I know in that case that once I got past the shock of the inappropriate accent, the story was pretty good and well read - so maybe it will be the same for you with this one. If you are American, you probably won’t have any problems with this narration.

Not sure I’ll follow up on this series. Maybe if a book is on sale and I want some easy listening.

Good story

Good story overall, little to complain about. My only hesitation was that I had difficulty with the narrator. Why on Earth would you have a non-British native read the part? This narrator’s attempts at British slang and her accent for other characters was difficult to listen to. But mainly why would she give the main character an American accent when clearly she isn’t? This was just miscast. It could have been better with another voice actress.

Favorite New Series

For some time, I hesitated to start this series, despite my love for other Helen Harper series (for no other reason than I just haven't been into witches lately), but I am so glad I finally did!
I was at first also just a bit put off by the narrator's voice, primarily because it was not what I've come to expect; I suppose I automatically associate Helen Harper stories with Saskia Maarleveld, whom I love. I soon came to realize my first impression was unnecessarily critical, and I think Tanya Eby did a fantastic job!

I am still a little curious as to why the main character has an American accent, though the story is set in England; the narrator is American, too, but she gives all the other characters British accents well enough. Nevertheless, I do think the voice the narrator gave the main character works quite well for her personality.

Ivy Wilde is utterly charming, with her lighthearted, easy-going nature, her careless, self-deprecating and snarky humor, and her penchant for putting forth the absolute minimum of effort. A perfect foil, the stolid and sober Winter is alternately annoyed, exasperated, and charmed by her. There are several endearing side characters, as well, perhaps the best being Ivy's Familiar, Brutus. Overall, the story is a humorous and fun adventure.

Brit character needs a Brit narrator.

Hearing an American talk about their flat and going up the lift and having a Cuppa just sounds too weird for words. if the story is going to take place in Britain with all of the British vocabulary, you really need a British narrator. This one just did not work. Thank heavens the story was good. it was jarring, however, too hear those words used with the wrong accent.

Worth It

Admittedly, I thought almost immediately that I wouldn't finish this audio book because I had a hard time getting used to Tanya's reading style, but I plugged along since this is how I pass the hours at my office job. I am SO glad I did. The story is rather simple, but incredibly enjoyable and the characters are just my cup of tea. And honestly, after finishing it, I don't think I could think of Ivy with any other voice. Really worth a listen.

Why on earth would you not use an English reader?

Why the American reader for what is obviously and English character? The dissonance was impossible to listen to. Story not good enough to keep me going for long. Am returning the book.

Slouch Witch

By Helen Harper
Narrated by Tanya Eby

This was such a fun book! I quite enjoyed reading about Ivy Wilde's adventures as an almost-investigator after being magically attached to a lead agent of The Order. Ivy's character is everything those YA books try to make their puberty protagonists. Helen Harper does it the right way. Ivy is smart with smart mouth. She is brave without being foolish and she is silly without being immature. I freaking LOVE her!!!

The story follows Ivy and Winter as they try to solve a case for The Order. The bond placed on them forces the two to work together. They are complete opposite personalities and that makes for some laugh out loud moments. To be honest, the case they are trying to solve wasn't all that exciting. Instead, it was the banter between the two of them coupled with Ivy's antics to get out of doing any hard work that make the story a page turner. My favorite moment is when she spelled the weights to be lighter and pretended to struggle through the work out... 🤣hilarious!

My only dislike:
Ivy was wrongfully accused of some things in her past, and when she comes face to face with the person responsible she doesnt get any revenge. Now maybe that's my own character flaw, but I wanted her to turn him into a donkey or something.

I actually really liked the narrator. I saw where some reviewers were irritated that she wasnt an 'English Narrator', but I thought her performance was stellar. Each character had their own sound and she really embodied the carefree spirit of Ivy.


4 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟. Great book. I've become friends with the characters. This is for my top Tier books. The story is deep with many layers. I probably finished it in a day. I'll likely reread this one when I miss the characters or need a pick me up.

Disappointing

Would you be willing to try another book from Helen Harper? Why or why not?

I have enjoyed other books by Helen Harper

What didn’t you like about Tanya Eby’s performance?

Tanya Eby is American, not good at English accents or pronumciation, and a bad choice for a voicing character who uses so many English idioms that she must be English, nor for narrating a book that has such a very English setting.

What character would you cut from Slouch Witch?

Winter - he's a bully who willingly gives his loyalty to a corrupt organization headed by a man who openly blackmails people to get his own way, yet he's cast as the love-interest for the female protagonist.

Any additional comments?

Unfortunately, hackneyed but sadly pervasive (in paranormal fiction) trope of Girl thrown into position of being stuck working with handsome, powerful, overbearingly arrogant Man ends up falling for him instead of finding a way of slapping him down so hard he can't get back up.The amusing writing style and reasonably good plot, unfortunately, aren't enough to save this one from the offputting and irritating romance element.

Great story, eccentric narration

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The book is great, I loved the down to earth language and behaviours of the characters. Ivy is very "normal", Helen Harper hasn't fallen into the pervasive trap in fantasy literature of making her heroine super-good or special. Although she is a very talented witch, she is also very easy to relate to.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Brutus, every cat owner can appreciate his stubborn determination to get what he wants.

How could the performance have been better?

The narration is eccentric to say the least. A book set in England, with English characters narrated by someone with an American accent. The book is written in the first person so Ivy is portrayed with a US accent, even though her language is very British. (e,g, plonker, bloody hell etc). It jars when listening to it. Tanya's character accents are a bit hit and miss, some are good, but there are a few Dick Van Dyke moments with some attempts at British regional accents.
If you are American, imagine a book set in New York, with New York characters being narrated by someone with a Received English accent. It's perfectly understandable, but just doesn't sound right.

Any additional comments?

Once I managed to get passed the US accent using British vernacular, it was very enjoyable and will definitely be getting the next ones in the series.

Erm..

Liked the book. Hated the narration. The accent is all wrong for an English story, set in (the clue is in the word) England!

Hated the narration, it was so annoying

I wanted to like this but the narration was so off putting. It done my head in and I kept tuning out. A very frustrating listen for me, and I don't think I fully absorbed the story as I was so annoyed by the narration. I think if you changed the narrator I'd actually enjoy it

She had a dodgy American / robotic accent and drawn out pronunciation. I don't know if she was trying to add dramatic suspense but it was plain awful.

Great story and characters - slightly dodgy narration.

This is my first Helen Harper book and I've been avoiding this one for a while. The main reason being the title. It sounded to me like it had been dumbed down and for some reason it really irritated me - enough to keep passing it over. I've also passed over Helen Harper's previous audiobooks because of the narration. Having listened to the samples of previous books narrated by Saskia Maarleveld I just couldn't cope with an urban fantasy heroine with a clipped upper crust British accent. I know it's because I've listened to so many other urban fantasy books set in the U.S. with American narrators and it might sound a bit shallow. I feel I should be supporting British writers and narrators but I personally just didn't enjoy the narration so I couldn't warm to the main character or get absorbed in the story. So despite Tanya Eby's American accent sounding a bit weird narrating obviously British dialogue and idioms it's what actually tempted me to spend a credit on this one. And I'm so glad I did. It was a great story that was well paced and it was nice to hear some of our unique British humour. I absolutely loved the cat, Brutus. I'll certainly carry on with this series and maybe even try some of the previous books in paperback. My only criticism is again with some of the accents. The voice for main male character - Winter- who is supposed to become the love interest, sounds to me like a 45yr old banker. Despite him being written as a fit and attractive, if uptight guy, my imagination just cannot conjure up "sexy" because of the narrators take on his voice. However, I don't want to sound too negative. I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good urban fantasy. It's great to read something in this genre with a distinctly British flavour to it. I just wish the publisher with the audio rights to Helen Harper's books would find a British narrator with moderate and likeable accent that would bring t

Quirky

Funny and engaging story, hope there are more adventures, about Slouch witch and her speaking cat

A mistake, a mystery, and a will-they-won’t-they, all with a side of magic.

The premise of the story is good; a mistaken identity causes two witches to work very closely together to solve a crime.

The story itself has some nice sections, her devil may care attitude is fun. However I cannot say I enjoyed the book. It’s just bland! I wasn’t invested in any of the characters or even the will-they-won’t-they, I just didn’t care enough. Also I read a number of reviews slating the narrator, unfortunately they’re not exactly wrong.

Funny

Enjoyed the story, had some laugh out loud parts, very funny. I liked the two main characters, hoping they end up together.

A fun easy read

This was enjoyable, easy to follow with witty characters and some laugh out loud moments. Considering it was set in the UK, I would have preferred a British narrator.

Better than the blurb

I almost didn't listen to this story as I didn't care for the blurb but after listening to another of Helen Harper's series I decided to take a chance on this book and I am so glad that I did. Both Ivy and Winter are great characters and play wonderfully against each other. In this case the opposite definitely attracts as there are also enough (especially the intelligence and aptitude for magic) common between them to maintain the balance.
I can see why the narration might annoy some British people but it was alright for me and in no way detracted from my enjoyment of the story.
I am off to listen to the next in the series. 😊