A review by thelibraryskeeper
A Serpent in Stormsby by Ava Smiddy

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was my first read from Ava Smiddy and I loved the storytelling. Roz is a firewitch running a tavern called The Mage and Rose. A crime happens in the small town and the kingsmen come to the tavern to stay while investigating the crime. The problem? The kingsmen hunt magic users like Roz. Caelan is the captain of the guard and he's so smooth-talking it's hard not to immediately swoon over him or perhaps into a broom closet with him (IYKYK).

The book is not long and it doesn't need to be. There's a great saying that if you want to make something good make it short. Smiddy has mastered this. I was drawn into this book from the first sentence and captivated till the last. If you enjoy audiobooks, Sara Brodt has done this one and she's absolutely brilliant. Her male voices don't pull you out of the story and she does a fantastic job of narration that I swear I can just sit there and relax. It's so well done.