Widdershins

Widdershins (2012) Jordan L. Hawk

Set in Boston in the late 1800s.

This is an historical supernatural M/M romance. One of the characters is neuroatypical, and the other is suffering from PTSD, so they both have issues to deal with, but I very much like the spin that puts on the story. (Damaged or atypical characters seem to be my catnip.)

All of the elements of the story were fine. There was nothing either outstanding or terrible. It was more horror than I generally prefer, pulling from the Cthulhu mythos, but the main characters were sweet, and I was rooting for them to beat the bad guys and work out their troubles.

Couple things I did particularly like: there were female characters who were more than furniture. Whybourne’s coworker Dr Putnam was competent and likable and a good friend to Whybourne. His mother, although ill and trapped in the house was a sensible woman who he was able to talk to.

Christine’s voice, strengthened from bellowing orders to workers at dig sites, echoed down the hall. “I will not surrender my profession simply because men throughout history have been unduly enamored of their penises!”

I had gotten the fish sandwich again, and proceeded to cut it up into neat squares, a practice of which Christine heartily disapproved.

For once, she didn’t accuse me of misunderstanding the entire purpose of a sandwich.

The other thing I especially liked was that most of the “bad guys” had understandable reasons for behaving as they did: raising a loved on from the dead, curing a loved one of an illness. The author very much remembered that everyone is the hero of their own story.

“And Blackbyrne’s methods?” I asked, not quite able to resist. I had to know if (character) truly approved of the horrors he’d helped create, even if indirectly.

“Aren’t ones I would have chosen. But everything has a cost. (Character) wants his (loved one) back. I want my (loved one) back. By tomorrow morning, we’ll both have our wish.”

Those characters may not have behaved well in our eyes, but they were doing what was important to them, and for those they cared for.

It was a fun read, and since it was an inexpensive book, I was more than willing to forgive the weaknesses. The following books are more expensive, and I’m not sure I’ll be quite as forgiving at a higher price point.
Rating: 7/10

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