Scan barcode
willrefuge's review against another edition
4.0
8.0 / 10 ✪
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2023/06/07/the-lights-go-out-in-lychford-by-paul-cornell-review/
The ancient wards of Lychford are crumbling, and all kinds of entities are collecting, looking for a way in. Autumn is desperate to undo her mistake, trying to rewrite the wards that protect their realm, but without much luck. Lizzie is happy to help—but not without problems of her own to distract her. From her congregation to her faith to her lost love, everything seems to haunt the reverend these days.
Of Judith, there is little to be seen. The local wise-woman is losing her touch on reality—instead of wandering through the various realms that border our own—she wanders her own mind, her own past, her memories haunting her. While there is little help to be had from Judith, Lychford still faces a crisis.
There is one that would lend a helping hand: a Capy, one that claims to grant minor wishes. This wish would seem to be far from her talents, but hope spring eternal, even in Lychford. But as everyone knows, wishes granted from magic always come with a price…
—
Book 4 in the Lychford sequence is arguably its best yet. The stakes are higher, the beings more mysterious, the consequences more impactful. More importantly, however, I just found it more interesting than the stories that came before it. It’s my highest rating of the series, almost twice that of the previous book, something that this one sorely earned.
From the Lost Child, and particularly A Long Day, the story of the Lights Go Out is the best since the beginning. But more importantly, the premise of Lights Go Out is better. “The wards are deteriorating, and things are starting to come through”—much preferable to “we got drunk and argued about Brexit” or even “a child disappeared, right around the time of a mysterious wedding”. It’s a premise that carries with it a tangible sense of foreboding—and ends in a cliffhanger. And a story that I was invested and immersed in, right up to the very end.
The story of Judith is actually a little heartbreaking. A witch—THE witch, the ONLY witch for many years and countless miles, the only one protecting the wards—is fading, and unsure if her coven is ready to carry on without her. Not that it matters, as the end for her is looming, whether she’s ready or not. And whether her friends are ready or not—which, they aren’t. But someone has to step up.
So, in addition to the wards falling, the hounds barking at the gates, the old protector fading, there’s added tension about what will happen next. Added tension that the series desperately needed. For not only will Lights Go Out further the overarching plot, but it’s actually a good, contained story in and of itself, and one that sets us up for a thrilling finale in Last Stand in Lychford.
Audio Note: Emma Newman returns to the narration duties with aplomb, delivering a great performance. I enjoyed the other narrators that’ve done work on this series, but Emma Newman is an excellent choice—posh, precise, lovely, immersive.
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2023/06/07/the-lights-go-out-in-lychford-by-paul-cornell-review/
The ancient wards of Lychford are crumbling, and all kinds of entities are collecting, looking for a way in. Autumn is desperate to undo her mistake, trying to rewrite the wards that protect their realm, but without much luck. Lizzie is happy to help—but not without problems of her own to distract her. From her congregation to her faith to her lost love, everything seems to haunt the reverend these days.
Of Judith, there is little to be seen. The local wise-woman is losing her touch on reality—instead of wandering through the various realms that border our own—she wanders her own mind, her own past, her memories haunting her. While there is little help to be had from Judith, Lychford still faces a crisis.
There is one that would lend a helping hand: a Capy, one that claims to grant minor wishes. This wish would seem to be far from her talents, but hope spring eternal, even in Lychford. But as everyone knows, wishes granted from magic always come with a price…
—
Book 4 in the Lychford sequence is arguably its best yet. The stakes are higher, the beings more mysterious, the consequences more impactful. More importantly, however, I just found it more interesting than the stories that came before it. It’s my highest rating of the series, almost twice that of the previous book, something that this one sorely earned.
From the Lost Child, and particularly A Long Day, the story of the Lights Go Out is the best since the beginning. But more importantly, the premise of Lights Go Out is better. “The wards are deteriorating, and things are starting to come through”—much preferable to “we got drunk and argued about Brexit” or even “a child disappeared, right around the time of a mysterious wedding”. It’s a premise that carries with it a tangible sense of foreboding—and ends in a cliffhanger. And a story that I was invested and immersed in, right up to the very end.
The story of Judith is actually a little heartbreaking. A witch—THE witch, the ONLY witch for many years and countless miles, the only one protecting the wards—is fading, and unsure if her coven is ready to carry on without her. Not that it matters, as the end for her is looming, whether she’s ready or not. And whether her friends are ready or not—which, they aren’t. But someone has to step up.
So, in addition to the wards falling, the hounds barking at the gates, the old protector fading, there’s added tension about what will happen next. Added tension that the series desperately needed. For not only will Lights Go Out further the overarching plot, but it’s actually a good, contained story in and of itself, and one that sets us up for a thrilling finale in Last Stand in Lychford.
Audio Note: Emma Newman returns to the narration duties with aplomb, delivering a great performance. I enjoyed the other narrators that’ve done work on this series, but Emma Newman is an excellent choice—posh, precise, lovely, immersive.
ceeej56's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
alekswhite's review against another edition
4.0
So I accidentally picked up the audiobook and it wasn’t until half way through that I thought to myself: this is a much bigger world than this book can fit and I realised it was the fourth in the series
You don’t need to read the previous although this was so fun to read, I’m going to go back and read the rest.
You don’t need to read the previous although this was so fun to read, I’m going to go back and read the rest.
unchainedreader's review against another edition
4.0
Trouble is brewing Lychford yet again. Judith's dementia is getting worse, and Autumn is still hiding from her last mistake that almost wiped their small village off the map. A woman going by the name of Maitland has started making a lot of promises that she couldn't possibly keep.
The fourth installment of this series was just as compelling as the first three. It was difficult to put down because of the supernatural nature and because of Judith deteriorating mind. I found myself worrying about her as if she were my own grandmother.
The fourth installment of this series was just as compelling as the first three. It was difficult to put down because of the supernatural nature and because of Judith deteriorating mind. I found myself worrying about her as if she were my own grandmother.
dokushoka's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
bookswithbets's review
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
simonlorden's review against another edition
3.5
I liked the twisted wishes, but ouch. This book removed several things I loved about the first, so idk.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Dementia
sunflowerjess's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This might be my favorite so far in the series, although they have all been excellent. On to the final one!