The plot falls into place, as historical truth and fiction are interwoven. Hawk creates a fascinating “reality,” a library where magic is bound by vellum and leather, as well as manners and literacy, in a town built to save mankind from other-worldly influences. Was Fagerlie responsible for both disappearances? Is Ves’ brother safe with him? As Ves agrees to help Sebastian, readers know these men are against ferocious occult forces. What’s more, that gentleman had succeeded Rath’s own mom as the library book binder, and Rath’s mom died in a suspicious fire. Rath is upset because Vesper’s predecessor disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Hawk creates a fascinating “reality,” a library where magic is bound by vellum and leather, as well as manners and literacy, in a town built to save mankind from other-worldly influences.Īt the library, Vesper meets a disapproving Sebastian Rath, librarian. And it had been (my) purpose to bring it about.” The end of the world was supposed to have happened eight years ago. “’I was raised in an insane cult’ was the sort of answer that only invited even more intrusive questions…. Is Ves truly an accursed monster, or is this merely the poor self-esteem of a once-abused youth? After all, he is so accustomed to his own difficult youth, he tends to underestimate its horror. So, Vesper applies for a job as their book binder.

If Ves completes his goal at the Ladysmith Library in Widdershins (known to readers who have read the Whyborne & Griffin series) Vesper and his brother will be freed from a curse. He’s now on a task for Fagerlie, the man who helped them and with whom his brother remains.

Readers quickly learn Vesper Rune was raised in an apocalyptic cult which he and his brother escaped as teens. Hawk’s hope for humanity draws me back to read him time and again. Hawk writes, “The monster boarded the train in Boston.” Though I don’t generally thrill to high suspense, every nail-biting moment was paired with the gentle kindness of its unlikely heroes. I was hooked by the opening line of Unhallowed: A Novel of Widdershins.

Widdershins jordan hawk