The Language of Spells

By: Sarah Painter

Narrated by: Stevie Zimmerman

Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's Summary

When you are ready, seek, and you shall find. It is your gift.

Gwen Harper left Pendleford 13 years ago and hasn't looked back. Until an inheritance throws her into the mystical world she thought she'd escaped. Confronted with her great-aunt's legacy Gwen must finally face up to her past.

The magic she has long tried to suppress is back with a vengeance. Gift or burden, for Gwen, it always spells trouble. She has to stay - she has nowhere else to go - but how can she find her place in the town that drove her out after branding her a witch?

©2013 Sarah Painter (P)2016 Sarah Painter

DNF..

So, according to Goodreads this book has 332 pages. At 20% (location 1136 of 5601) I don’t have a clue what Gwen looks like. She could be a snaggled-tooth-crossed-eyed-wart-nosed-female-with-a-brillo-pad-head-full-of-orange-hair for all I know. Nor do I have any idea what Cam looks like. In all these pages couldn’t she have told us what the main characters look like? I absolutely hate when an author doesn’t tell you important things like that. It makes me lose interest in the book so fast it’s not even funny.

BUT worse than that is the author’s laziness in: replies, answers, remarks, exclaims, articulates, mentions, murmurs, mutters, anything but “said.” Is it really so hard to find another word once in a while other than “said?” In this 332 page book (according to Goodreads) Sarah Painter used the word “said” 1,096 times. Really?

That’s why I stopped reading at 44%. If I’d read that word again I was going to scream. I think I only read 1 Loretta Chase book then never read another because of this very reason. It was all “he said she said.” Needless to say, I won’t be reading any more Sarah Painter books.

The F-bomb was released 14 times and I have no idea if there was sex. As of 44% there was no kind of desire that would make you believe Gwen and Cam would ever be involved romantically.

As to the narrator: Stevie Zimmerman did a fantastic job, up until I quit reading. Her men sound like men and as long as a narrator reads with emotion they’re great in my opinion. Stevie Zimmerman gets better with every book she reads.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Loved this book!

Where does The Language of Spells rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's a keeper

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Language of Spells?

Overcoming negativity

What about Stevie Zimmerman’s performance did you like?

Stevie's performance made the book come alive

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There were some laugh out loud moments!

Any additional comments?

I received this book as a gift from the author for an honest review.
I would definitely buy other books if there are more in this series

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Interesting

Where does The Language of Spells rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Close to the bottom.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Language of Spells?

I am not sure. I thought that this was a historical story but Gwen was actually reading her Great Aunt Iris letters.

Which character – as performed by Stevie Zimmerman – was your favorite?

I liked all of them, but he did Gwen and Cam very well.

Any additional comments?

I lost interest after while, I had to slog through the story although the narrator did a great job with moving the story along.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

A little long winded

What did you love best about The Language of Spells?

The narrator really did a great job with this story.

Any additional comments?

It took me awhile to figure out the context of the story and got a little confused. It seems there should've been something more left for Gwen to maneuver what her great aunt was leaving her instead of her having to figure it out as she went. I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

THE LANGUAGE OF A REALLY GOOD BOOK

I enjoyed this book because it was like a fun fairytale. Full of love, loss, adventure, magic, mystery and fun! A well written book with the perfect narrator for it leaves me extremely pleased yet wanting more.

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

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Good narrator so/so story

First time author for me.
Though not my favorite, I do like fantasy/paranormal at times. This one just didn't captivate me.
I think Stevie Zimmerman did great with what she was given. The story fell short.
The author tried to make it spooky but just didn't expand enough on her characters and some where just not needed.

1 of 3 people found this review helpful

EXCELLENT

Would you consider the audio edition of The Language of Spells to be better than the print version?

DO NOT KNOW

Who was your favorite character and why?

GWEN .... for dealing with her life before she actually realized she was doing it

Which scene was your favorite?

the ceiling issue

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

both

Any additional comments?

I received this audio book for free from the author, narrator or publisher and am freely offering my honest, unbiased opinion and review.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

wonderful book not long enough!

This book was a lot of fun to read and I hope that there's a sequel to come.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Just Your Average Girly Book

What disappointed you about The Language of Spells?

The main character was a little weak and oblivious when it came to her obvious foe, this left little to predict. There was no actual depth to the story line, even when it had so much to work on.

If you’ve listened to books by Sarah Painter before, how does this one compare?

I have listened to the pre-quel of this book "The Garden of Magic", although it was much shorter than this book I found the main character Iris much more appealing than her niece Gwen in this series.

Did Stevie Zimmerman do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

The narration was very soothing and she has a lovely voice. This may be the reason why I finished listening to the book.

What character would you cut from The Language of Spells?

I dont think a character needs to be cut from The Language of Spells, I think that the main character could have had more depth and solidity of ego. She seems to simper any time there is anger or frustration coming at her. I also think that Gloria could have been utilized in the story more as a character.

Any additional comments?

The author should expect more from her characters and not give them such a shallow sense of self. For someone looking for a soothing basic magic book to pass the time this is a good choice. If you are looking for something emotionally impactful, find another author.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Magic, Mystery and Romance

I enjoyed the book. The narrator was great.

“I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher in exchange for an unbiased review."

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Tia

I Loved it. Just my kind of book. A easy listen with a good story .

Magic and Romance

If magic and romance are your thing, then do have a listen to this book.

When Gwen returns home to the place of her childhood, she quickly discovers she isn’t welcomed by everyone. The locals assume she is a witch like her late aunt who has left Gwen her house, and all of her possessions.

Gwen has her own special powers, but isn’t interested in using them - all she wants is a normal life. However, she finds herself drawn into the goings on of the local community.
Some are wary, some are downright unfriendly, and a few are expecting her to take over where her aunt left off.

There is one man in the village keen to get reacquainted though, her old flame Cameron, who I’m not going to tell you anything else about - You’ll have to listen yourself.

Better than I hoped for

I used to love audio books in my youth but have fallen out of listening to them as I grew up, I'm not sure why. Perhaps it is because I have a very vivid imagination and the narration and voices didn't always match my interpretation of them.

I was somewhat nervous embarking on this audiobook adventure as I love 'The Language of Spells", have read it many times and have strong ideas of the characters. I need not have worried; the narration and character portrayal are spot on - the sign of a well written character and good communication between author and narrator.

I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to this engaging story and getting to know the characters anew in audio form.

The book follows Gwen, a 30-something small business owner, who just happens to be a witch, settling down as an adult in the town where she grew up. Petty jealousies, not so petty jealousies, past loves and town council officials all play their part in this engaging tale which is as much about finding out who you are and where you belong as it is about magic.