Fallow (Whyborne & Griffin Book 8)

A complete change of venue as Griffin and Whyborne travel to Fallow, the town in Kansas where Griffin grew up and from which he was expelled when the townsfolk learns of his true nature. Along with Christine and Iskander, the two travel there after two men from the town arrive in Widdershins and are immediately dispatched horribly. Since Griffin was acquainted with one of the men and is told his foster mother is in danger, he feels he has to return to protect her though he'd been told she never wanted to see him again. THough Whyborne is weakened by leaving Widdershins' magic protection, he won't allow his husband to go to his old home alone.Arriving in Kansas on one of the family trains, Griffin finds the town very changed. The fields are drought-stricken, except for those at the family farm, now being run by Griffin's foster cousin who has married Marian, the widow of his first lover. She, of course, blames him for her first husband's death and he's rejected by his mother when she learns he's brought Whyborne with him and hasn't returned alone.Though Kansas reveals itself to be more liberal than some states, in that Fallow has a female mayor and women are allowed some voice in government, other prejudices aren't so easily done away with. The only family who'll have anything to do with the newcomers is a friend of Griffins who has a black wife, and Iskander is treated rudely because his skin is darker than acceptable, as well as the fact that he's married to white Christine.Prejudice and old hatred aside, the threat of the fallow, a spot in the center of the fields where something unholy lies, poisoning the fields and anyone who eats their produce or drinks the water, is soon revealed. The affected farmers team with the secret society to send the affected grain East where anyone consuming it will come under their spell, and one of its chief proponents is Marian who is determined to make Griffin pay for her former husband's disgrace.As the maelstrom selects those it would keep in Widdershins, the fallow is doing the same to those in Fallow. Iskander is affected but the main goal is to get Whyborne under its spell. The time has come for Whyborne to reveal to Griffin the secret he learned from the maelstrom, if he doesn't die first.A good entry in the series, showing how each person living in Widdershins was purposefully brought to the town, even Griffin. It also gives a good view of Griffin's life before his commitment to the asylum and how events worked to bring him to Widdershins.A great deal of hairbreadth escape, with a slam-bang and breathtaking ending, plus a foreshadowing to what looks to be the finish of the series coming up, and I'm definitely not looking forward to that.This novel was purchased by the reviewers and no remuneration was involved in the writing of this review.

I was apprehensive because I disliked Hexbreaker and wondered whether Jordan Hawk was in a slump. But nope, this book fits right in the series - continuing the story of the fabulous Whyborne and Griffin.This story is about Griffin's homecoming. The series in general has dwelled quite a bit on both characters' quest for the approval of their parents. I kind of feared it would be one of those stories where a cruel parent suddenly has an epiphany and everything is fine (there was a bit of that with Whyborne, but at least there was a reason) but I think she dealt meaningfully with the situation. In the end, Griffin didn't need his parents' approval.This series is just so creative. It has gone in so many directions while still keeping a plot arc and bringing us closer to some future climax. The characters have grown and developed, the town maintains its own personality, and the settings are very rich. I wish she'd expanded a little more on the racial history in the story, but I was glad she discussed it in the afterward.If you haven't read the series, start with book 1! If you have, you won't be disappointed in this one.

~ * ~ The wind strengthened from over the ocean, coiling around the slender figure standing atop a craggy rock. She might have been some barbaric sea goddess, dressed in nothing but golden jewelry and a skirt of knotted seaweed. Dark swirls marked her pearlescent skin like war paint, and the stinging tendrils of her hair writhed as the autumnal breeze grew into a gale. ~ * ~My first thought? Woohoo, Persephone! After that? Wow, what an opening paragraph! And what immediately follows? Hahaha, you’ll want to read to find out, but I will say typical Whyborne.I’m just going to get this out of the way right now: I try hard not to go overboard with the squee in my reviews when I absoposilutely love a book because that isn’t all that helpful to most people trying to decide if they want to read it or not. But sometimes? Every once in awhile, ya gotta frackin’ let the squee loose. I’ve loved this series from book one, Widdershins, and these characters are some of my all time favorites, ones that I find joy and comfort and excitement in spending time with them. Every time. No joke. Including this one.~SQUEE~Ok, now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, I’ll do my best to provide a review that might actually prove useful.Oh, Ival and Grif, surely you’ve by now learned that keeping things from each other in order to “spare” or “protect” one another never works. When will you learn? How many lessons do you require? I groaned a bit when this appeared to be the case, a carry over from the last book and the events that took place then, the past summer in Widdershins. I feel like knocking their heads together. And they’re equally guilty of it. I know this because we get both their points of view in this tale. For real, though, this dual keeping of secrets threatens to undermine the truth of the incredible strength of their relationship. Luckily, and wonderfully, the dual POV is used to fantastic effect, creating mini cliffhangers at the end of many a chapter, causing my heart to race right along with the action.As is the norm in this series, Hawk lays on the creeptastic with the paranormal inclusions. Magic, maelstrom, shadowsight, and… well, you’ll find out.Griffin’s voice is stronger than ever, which works out considering where most of this story takes place and the role he plays. It feels like Hawk has delved deeper into and understands him better than before. Most importantly his character’s narration is approaching parity with Whyborne’s and that makes for even smoother storytelling, complex emotion, and greater investment from me as I’m experiencing their lives. It also allows for more exploration and development of the relationship he and Ival have. Passionate, intelligent, stubborn, loyal, and still learning, they both are, and it’s awesome. It’s so cool to watch a writer’s progress continue, particularly into an eighth story in a series, and the benefits it bestows upon her characters. Brava.Christine, also as usual, demonstrates that she is badass. She doesn’t hesitate to voice or carry out her plans when it comes to protecting these people she loves, this chosen family. These are true of all of them but she is often first in line to make it happen, whatever ‘it’ might be, no matter how dangerous or uncertain the situation. All four of these characters, these best friends, this chosen family – Whyborne, Griffin, Christine, and Iskander – show growth and solidity in their characters, matching their author’s writing. I will say, though, for as much as Iskander does in this story, I would love to see an even larger role for him, or rather more exploration of HIS story, how he came to be the person he is, how does it feel to be him during these crazy events, and being married to Christine. My inquiring mind wants to know.Magic, adrenaline, humor, fear, love, gore, and many things coming full circle bring on the kind of symmetrical connections that then bring on the tears. At least they did for me.~ * ~ ”I see you,” I murmured, once he let me speak again. “And I love what I see. More than I would ever have thought possible.” ~ * ~You’ll have to read in order to find out who is making such a beautiful proclamation. ;)*Originally reviewed for Prism Book Alliance® 4.5 stars

Strange things are happening on the streets of Widdershins – well, stranger than normal. Murder most foul and violent strangers collide with someone from Griffin’s past that send our intrepid team to Kansas, where secrets, mysteries and family are all waiting to ambush them.Yup, Whyborne and Griffin return with another dig deep into Griffin’s past. We’ve had the pain of his time in the madhouse, a reunion with an estranged brother and this time Griffin is trying to save his mother from a strange corruption that turns ordinary folk into berserker-style assassins. Which is kind of an ordinary day for this lot.Alongside Griffin’s troubles, Ival is having doubts of his own. After the powerful events in the last book, he’s questioning his own humanity and the ways in which Widdershins may have been collecting people all along. But being Whyborne, of course he doesn’t talk about it. He prefers to brood and sulk and turns his attention to a different mystery instead.Thank goodness Christine and Iskander are also along to keep these two sensible. Especially Christine, who remains ever awesome.Anyway, the plot this time is a creepy yarn that unravels slowly at first before building and building in momentum to an unstoppable ending that had me gripping my Kindle and wondering just how they were going to get out of it this time. There are monsters, there is much mayhem and something about those wide open spaces that seem destine to drive everyone involved mad.There is also more pain for Griffin. His family… wow. Whyborne’s family isn’t perfect, but he’s known this for years and gave up on them as much as they gave up on him. But Griffin so desperately wants to belong. It hurts my heart. The revelations in this book didn’t surprise me, but that didn’t stop them from having an impact. It makes me so glad that Widdershins knows its own.Which of course leads onto Whyborne and Griffin together. These two, still, after seven books, remain wonderful. Yes, they have communication issues at times, yes, Whyborne’s obliviousness to his attraction to women can get a bit much, and yes, Griffin’s tendency to need to hide to become more acceptable is sad, but when it really matters, these two are just perfect. I love how their relationship continues to develop and deepen and there are some lovely moments between them in this book.So once again JLH has come through with a winner. This series is a phenomenal read from start to here, and this book continues the themes of love, friendship, monsters, mayhem, mysteries and the glorious weirdness that is Widdershins. Like the other Griffin-focused books this is a little more painful than some of the series, but it adds important pieces to the puzzle and definitely keeps the overall plot going. I cannot wait to get back to Widdershins again and see where it all heads next in Drakkenwood.

4.5 stars from me for this latest, wonderful instalment of the Whyborne and Griffin series. Not doing a long review, just know that there some more prize one-liners from Dr Christine Putnam, heartbreak for Griffin as far as family is concerned, the Fideles cult is growing ever stronger and as far as they are concerned, the Restoration of the Masters to the Earth is a foregone conclusion. They have of course reckoned without our 4 brave heroes.As far as I'm concerned, this was my favourite part of the story....Griffin was the center of my world, the one I'd do anything for, if only to make him as happy as he made me. I'd spent my life in aching loneliness before he'd come into it, turning my dull gray existence into one of color and light. I sometimes felt as though he'd brought me to life. Or at least wakened me from a deep sleep, like some character in a fairy-tale cursed to dream away the years until roused by a kiss.Big sigh.....

Jordan L. Hawk's fine series continues with Griffin and Whyborne and their fine friends Christine and Iskander.In this book we return to the town where Griffin spent his late childhood and adolescence. The town that disowned him. However a series of unlikely events draw the friends to the town.This book contains so much, the enduring relationship between Griffin and Whyborne (not for those looking for a steamy m/m romance); the supernatural where magic is about what you do with, not simply good or bad magic; the momentum of the industrial age; social history and; how we manage difference, in this case gender, sexuality and race.Running through it all is love and friendship, for the former we can see how much good or harm it can do.To enjoy this adventure and the enlightenment of Griffin it is best to have read the others books as much of what happens here builds on the various experiences of the main characters.Jordan, thank you. I await book nine.

Jordan L Hawk never fails to hit the spot. Whyborne and Griffin's eighth novel length adventure is just as gripping as all the others.Delivered with more than a healthy dose of angst this time because Griffin, in Jordan's own words has "far more baggage than Whyborne ever did" and all that baggage is laid on the table. I like that the last few books have included the two point of views. Seeing things, especially Whyborne, from Griffin's point of view, gives the series new depth.I loved this as much as the others. Roll on 2017 for book 9.

I can never get enough of Whybourne and Griffin and every time a new book comes out it's my new favourite. But this one hits all the right spots. Griffin's past once again comes into play and the way Griffin feels really made me love him even more. Whybourne is his usual wonderful self and the development of his and Grifin's characters is sublime. Christine is my hero as usual. Just a truly fabulous addition in the series. I have never read a bad or even mediocre novel by this writer. Jordan L Hawk is an author who I would buy without even reading the blurb. Fantastic.