The Witches of Echo Park

By: Amber Benson

Narrated by: Amber Benson

Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

From beloved author, director, and actress, Amber Benson...

Unbeknownst to most of humankind, a powerful network of witches thrives within the shadows of society, using their magic to keep the world in balance. But they are being eliminated - and we will all pay if their power falls... When Elyse MacAllister's great-aunt Eleanora, the woman who raised her, becomes deathly ill, Lyse puts her comfortable life in Georgia on hold to rush back to Los Angeles. And once she returns to Echo Park, Lyse discovers her great-aunt has been keeping secrets - extraordinary secrets - from her. Not only is Lyse heir to Eleanora's Victorian estate; she is also expected to take her great-aunt's place in the Echo Park coven of witches. But to accept her destiny means to place herself in deadly peril - for the world of magic is under siege, and the battle the witches now fight may be their last...

©2015 Benson Entertainment, Inc. (P)2014 Audible Inc.

"The Flood is coming, Lyse. Prepare yourself."

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely. This is the start to a great series.

What other book might you compare The Witches of Echo Park to and why?

Lyse is your very typical Amber Benson heroine; quirky, a little neurotic, sweet and absolutely no clue about what is in store for her. I can picture her sitting down with Calliope (from her Daughter of Death series) over coffee and talking about who had it worse. But also like Calliope, Lyse has a hidden reserve of will and power and hopefully we will see more of it.

Have you listened to any of Amber Benson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I fist have to say that it is a real treat to hear Amber Benson reading her own books. I feel I am getting something extra that I would not get from another reader. Amber gets better with each book. Having her read her writing is a treat.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

"The Flood is coming, Lyse. Prepare yourself."

Any additional comments?

I picked it up as both an audio book and as an ebook.

The Witches of Echo Park is the first book of a series and thus we are hit with a lot of characters at once and the plot builds. We meet Lyse and her great-aunt Eleanora first and they are focal characters of this book. We are also in turn introduced to the other members of the Echo Park Coven. Devandra, the tarot card reader and mother of two. I am expecting her daughters also have some power. Arrabelle, the second in charge (behind Eleanora) and the herbalist of the group. Daniela, a powerful empath and equally forward flirt. She has a lot of secrets. And lastly Lizbeth. She is the mystery here. 17, mute, and a terrible childhood.
Now it would be easy to complain that this is only a set up and by the time the book gets going it is over. But no, this book is the set up, but there is a reason why this book does what it does and ends where it does. The plot is about to be turned up to 11 and our witches are in for a wild ride.
Amber has really honed her craft here. I like the switching narrators (the various members of the coven) to give