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    Witches of Lychford
    Witches of Lychford
    Witches of Lychford
    Audiobook3 hours

    Witches of Lychford

    Written by Paul Cornell

    Narrated by Marisa Calin

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Traveler, Cleric, Witch.

    The villagers in the sleepy hamlet of Lychford are divided. A supermarket wants to build a major branch on their border. Some welcome the employment opportunities, while some object to the modernization of the local environment.

    Judith Mawson (local crank) knows the truth -- that Lychford lies on the boundary between two worlds, and that the destruction of the border will open wide the gateways to malevolent beings beyond imagination.

    But if she is to have her voice heard, she's going to need the assistance of some unlikely allies...

    PRAISE FOR Paul Cornell's THE WITCHES OF LYCHFORD

    "At once epic and terribly intimate. This is the story of a village, not a city, and all the more powerful for that; not all big fantasy needs an urban setting. Beautifully written, perfectly cruel, and ultimately kind. This is Cornell at the height of his craft." — Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author of the InCryptid and October Daye series

    "Rich in charm... local politics and witchcraft writ small and personal, but large in consequence. [Cornell] adeptly describes the emotion of magic; its effects and internal ignition of wonder. The feel of being exposed to magic for the first time and the feel of doing magic and having it done to you have never been better described in any story." — Bill Willingham, author of Fables and Down the Mysterly River

    "Masterfully creepy and sinister, all the more so for taking place in the beautifully drawn English countryside." — Jenny Colgan, author of Doctor Who: Into the Nowhere

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Audio
    Release dateSep 8, 2015
    ISBN9781427269041
    Witches of Lychford
    Author

    Paul Cornell

    Paul Cornell has written some of Doctor Who's best-loved episodes for the BBC, as well as an episode of the hit Sherlock Holmes drama, Elementary. He has also written on a number of comic book series for Marvel and DC, including X-Men and Batman and Robin. He has been Hugo Award-nominated for his work in TV, comics and prose, and won the BSFA award for his short fiction. His urban gothic mystery series, Shadow Police, includes London Falling, The Severed Streets and Who Killed Sherlock Holmes?.

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    Reviews for Witches of Lychford

    4/5

    374 ratings34 reviews

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    • 4/5
      A surprising mix of "hedgerow"witchcraft (as one of the characters calls it) and modern supernaturalism, this book draws on the tensions between paganism against Christianity, traditional village life and modern capitalism, mental health and the understanding of how vast the universe is. It never feels corny or over-wrought, but instead is slightly spooky and well-written, with careful and evocative descriptions of what lurks in the shadows and beyond the paths in the woods.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Corporate growth disguises pure evil when a supermarket comes to a small village. Three witches, a eccentric, a vicar and a magic shop owner fight to stop it. It is a story with dry humor, well rounded strong women characters and an antagonist who may be the darkest being of them all. A easy, highly entertaining read!
    • 5/5
      Short, sweet and very complete. it seems strangely appropriate in a light of Brexit to see how opinions tear communities apart. interesting take on ideas about belief and faith. The main characters are lovely. can't wait to see where this goes in the next book.
    • 5/5
      Even though the story is short, it’s filled with adventure and renewed friendship. It’s well written and the voice over is well done.
    • 4/5
      There is something beautifully real about this narrative. The possible reality of this village is charming.
    • 4/5
      This was a quick read. More fantasy than horror.
    • 5/5
      loved it! less awkward skipping than some previous,books, but still there.
    • 4/5
      I loved this short little book, it was great fun to listen too.. sounds like they could in more mischief if it was turned into a series.
    • 5/5
      I am now officially hooked on Paul Cornell! Now for the next in this trilogy!! My only "complaint" is that these lovely little bite-sized morsels of reading bliss are just that....morsels! Bravo for the narrator selection! She has an incredible voice and wonderfully adapts to each character without taking away from the story. A perfect match!
    • 2/5
      The writing was good, but the storyline went nowhere and lacked development.
    • 5/5
      Brilliant! What a story! Excited to read the second book.
    • 3/5
      An enjoyable read but it felt lacking in character and world development; if you’re looking for an extravagant witchy read, this is not the book for you. It delves more into the world of fairy and ancient magic, rather than spells and drama. That said, the personalities are enjoyable, and I will definitely read the next two books in the series. Perhaps they will provide more depth into the world developed in the first book.
    • 4/5
      My first audio book- great story, very easy to follow. I enjoyed the interplay of mythologies. The author managed not to insult any of them. The characters were beautifully drawn; I could see, hear, and smell all of them. Will look this up to read and see if the take away is changed.
    • 3/5
      A solid novella, with a good town and some great characters. I don't object to it in any way, but I'm not sure that it's engaged me enough to read the sequels. We'll see.
    • 4/5
      Series Info/Source: This is the first book in the Witches of Lychford series. There are five novella-length books in this series. I borrowed this on audiobook from the library. Thoughts: This was okay. It was about three women in a small town who end up standing against a subtle devil who is trying to bring a big box store to the small town community. The mystery/magic was very, very subtle and learning about these three women was okay but then felt a bit thin. I didn't mind it and may continue with the series because it did peak my interest. However, it felt more like a sketch of a story than a complete story.The story focuses on three rather stereotypical women. The featured protagonist in this story is Judith, a typical small town grumpy old woman. However, in this case she is also a protector of the town and a witch. The reason the town needs to be protected was a bit ambiguous and why this town in particular was targeted was also a bit thin. The magic used was not explained very well either. However, I am a sucker for these types of small town, magical realism stories so I enjoyed it.My Summary (3.5/5): Overall this was a bit of a shaky start to this series but had enough elements that I like that I may continue with the series. I have been looking for some shorter novella length audiobooks to read and this series definitely fills that need. I like the blend of small town atmosphere and magic. I do think the characters have potential but they felt a bit thin in this novella. We will see.
    • 4/5
      The people of Lychford are divided over something that could change their little town forever: a major supermarket chain wants to open up a storefront. Emotions run high on both sides--those who see it was a step forward for Lychford and those who feel like it goes against everything their town has become. But Judith Mawson, seen by many as the village crackpot, knows the truth: the threat is much bigger than anyone realizes. In order to do anything about it, however, she's going to need to enlist others. Enter Lizzie, the new vicar, still in mourning over a lost love, and Autumn, Lizzie's former friend, an agnostic-turned-mystic. Not only will Lizzie and Autumn learn the truth about Lychford, they will also learn the truth about why they lost touch years ago. By uniting with Judith to save Lychford, they may just find the healing they both need at the same time.

      I really wasn't sure what to expect when I picked this one up, but I was pleasantly surprised. This is a complex, engaging, and well-developed urban (can I really call it "urban," though?) fantasy tale with some twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The backstory here is rich, and it's revealed over the course of the story in an almost seamless way. I can safely say this is one of my Hugo nominations for this year.
    • 4/5
      Three lonely, alienated women -- a hedge witch, the atheist owner of a New Age magic shop, and an Anglican rector -- come to realize that the campaign to build a modern super store in the middle of their small town is motivated by a demon intent on destroying one of the boundaries between worlds. Each woman is deeply touched by pain and loss, and each finds her own way to connect with power in order to fight off the threat.

      The two major strengths of the book are the characters of the protagonists and the deft way the author interweaves the spiritual, magical, and mundane. Each of the women is smart, independent, and marked by pain, but there is no sentimentality about their wounded relationships. Magic is real but not flashy. And the church is an ally of witches in the fight to protect the supernatural boundaries.

      Bonus points to author Cornell for creating believable supporting characters and having the mayor of his small town be a woman and the suitor of the hedge witch an Indian man who is never 'othered' by the narrative.
    • 4/5
      When a big box retailer threatens to come to town, three very different women—a crotchety old woman stuck with her cranky homebound husband, a minister, and a rationalist who’s running a magic store—have to fight it, because it’s going to destroy the boundaries between the worlds. Short and nicely done (though I liked his London magic police books better).
    • 5/5
      Wonderful. I want all of my friends to read it.
    • 3/5
      [I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.]
    • 3/5
      There's nothing wrong with this book, it just didn't grab me enough to be four stars (and five is reserved for special favourites, like Charlotte's Web or Middlemarch or Bridge of Birds.

      It's a nice, short, tight urban fantasy, with quite good writing, an engaging central character, but it's fairly slight, the plot itself isn't the most exciting thing in the world, and it didn't linger in the memory as some more evocative works have done (even ones I dislike have more staying power than this).

      I'd certainly read him again to see if I like the next book better, and wouldn't argue against him if you're so inclined. It's fine.
    • 4/5
      The Witches of Lychford by Paul Cornell was a quick read and the first in a series about a trio of women who come together to keep the forces of evil from finding an entrance to the world through their small English town. For centuries Lychford has been a barrier to keep the divide between the different dimensions separate, but the proposed new giant supermarket would change the village layout and destroy the barrier.Three women, Judith, an older woman, a practising witch who is greatly disliked in the town as she has no patience for fools and is very brusque with them. Unfortunately, she considers most people to be fools. Autumn is the owner of the local magic shop, but believes more in science than in magic. She had a strange experience with the fey which cost her a year of her life, but prefers to believe this was a mental breakdown. Finally there is Lizzie, the new minister in the village. Lizzie is recovering from the death of her husband which she blames herself for. Her faith is a little shaky, but her convictions are needed to keep the forces of darkness at bay. I found this a fun read about the dangers of holding both modernization and demons at bay with magic, religion and science. The three women are interesting and all have their own side issues to deal with that will probably be explored further in the next books. Since Lychford is the key to keeping evil at bay, I’m sure subsequent stories in this series will be interesting so I will keep these books in mind for quick simple reads.
    • 3/5
      This novel was a lot lighter than I thought it would be. There are 3 main characters: Judith who is not the friendliest neighbour you can have, a local vicar, and the owner of a shop that deals with all things magic. They are the weirdest trio to face against evil, but I really liked them. I found the story to be interesting, and events moved along quite quickly. The humor in this novel is very dry but very good. The witchy aspects of this novel are more fae-like and have a lot to do with symbols and herbs, so if you were looking for something more intense, then this might not be right for you. I thought the use of the supermarket as the force for evil was really interesting and entertaining and unique! My overall feeling was one of enjoyment but I always wanted more. I wanted to learn more about the characters and see more of the magical beings ... which is why I'm going to give the next novella in the series a try! If you like novellas from the urban fantasy genre and are looking for something with a dry humor, then give this one a shot!
    • 4/5
      This is a great quick read. It could be fleshed out a bit more, but the author manages to catch the essence of each of the three woman in the story, from Judith, the town crazy,to Lizzie, the new vicar at the church, and autumn, Lizzie's child friend and staunch atheist, who runs a new age shape, even is she doesn't believe in God.These three all live in Lychford, which is a small English city that is about to be changed if the new supermarket comes to town. Some folks are for it, others against, but the only thing that matters is the Lychford isn't an ordinary town... The story is simple, but deep. The "other" in this book is well done managing to mix the modern with ancient. Nothing is what it seems and it manages to take a fairly traditional story and twist it to make something new.
    • 4/5
      A large supermarket chain wants to build in Lychford. It would be great for the community, bringing jobs and ease of access for those who can't travel to other towns for inexpensive groceries. Unfortunately, it may also be the key to unlock some other unsavory elements.Cornell packed a lot of character and plot development into this little novella. It was fun to read, and left me ready for more stories about these women.
    • 4/5
      A very short and enjoyable read. A few laugh-out-loud moments. I could see this being adapted to film. With the right actors, it would likely be a scary hoot.
    • 4/5
      A surprisingly complex novella. Intriguing world building, great characterization in a short form, self contained story. I liked it, and I'm not generally a fan of shorter form fiction.
    • 4/5
      Compact and appealing. Will look forward to visiting Lychford again.
    • 4/5
      Short, but highly enjoyable. I love the premise: evil in the shape of a new supermarket chain. Some of the topics are very mundane, and I love this down-to-earth treatment of magic. To me, this is a true urban fantasy, because the real world is real, and not some brushed up parody of it, as we see in most urbans nowadays. The characters were well-done, each with their own backstory and issues. Their interaction was natural and I liked seeing the three women unite.
    • 4/5
      Lychford is a sleepy English hamlet currently divided by the proposal of the addition of a new supermarket. However, dark forces are at work behind the supermarket, and only Judith Mawson, local crabby old lady, knows that Lychford is the key point at the boundaries between worlds… and those boundaries are growing weaker.However, Judith does not find herself alone in her quest to save Lychford and thus the world. To aid her, she has the help of the village reverend, Lizzie, and the purveyor of the town’s New Age supply shop, Amber. Together, these three women will fight to save Lychford.Witches of Lychford is from the Tor novella line, so it’s a quick read. It clearly falls under the genre of urban fantasy, although I can’t figure out whether it has any connection to Paul Cornell’s urban fantasy book series. Either way, I think I might have liked this novella even better.For me, the strength of this novella lies in its three central characters. Judith, Lizzie, and Amber all had their own personal crises that they were trying to work through in addition to saving the town. None of them feel like the usual sorts of heroines you encounter in urban fantasy, and Judith in particular stood out to me. I loved that the the focus of the book was on them and the friendships between these three women.Witches of Lychford stands alone, although I gather that there’s a sequel novella. I’ve already added it to my To Read list and can’t wait to get my hands on it! If you have an interest in a quiet but strong urban fantasy novella focusing around female characters, Witches of Lychford is the story for you.Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.