Cover Image: Megge of Bury Down

Megge of Bury Down

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I am incredibly fussy when it comes to audiobooks, there are some that I loved reading the book but wasn't the biggest fan of the audio version and vice-versa, this falls into the former category. I enjoyed the story itself, I found it to be really engaging and one which I really like. The characters are well defined and bring something unique to the story. But, it was the narration from the reader which put me off, the narrator didn't keep my interest.
A good story, and would be better in reading form than as an audio.

Was this review helpful?

This one has a great narrator! I enjoyed listening to them portray the different characters. The story was fascinating but not quite my cup of tea. I am looking forward to listening to the second book though.

Was this review helpful?

I tried hard to get into this audio but I just couldn't. I tried several time and I was too lost in the beginning.

The audio wasn't for me but the narrator did a great job.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this audiobook, which is about a young girl called Megge who becomes an apprentice to her mother who is the healer of Bury Down. She has to protect The Book of Seasons, which is a magical book that holds healing information and it is centuries old. I loved the characters, the story, the healing magic, writing and the narrator was fantastic.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early listen. Very enjoyable listen. Narrator did a great job with all the characters

Was this review helpful?

Megge of Bury Down by Rebecca Kightlinger

Thank you to NetGalley and Rowan Moon for a digital audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book narrated by Jan Cramer. She did an excellent job bringing all the characters to life in this story set in 13th Century Cornwall.

Megge keeps avoiding her destiny by not reading the 'Book of Seasons'. When she first touched it at 6 years old, she was burned by it and felt like the book was cursed. Just when Megge is forced to follow her destiny, it ends with a cliffhanger. Really looking forward to reading the continuation of her story.

#MeggeofBuryDown #NetGalley

Was this review helpful?

This was an excellent story of fantasy/historical fiction! Since this was the first in the series I am happy to see what happens in the next one. I listen to the audio book with Jan Cramer as the narrator. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request from NetGalley and have voluntarily left this review.

Was this review helpful?

I was given this book as a audio arc on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity.

I enjoy the atmosphere of this book, the narrator was really good and the story was interesting. The only thing I would complain about would be the rythme of the story. which was a bit weird in my opinion. I don't think this book was made for audio and I believe it would be better as a physical or e-book even though the narrator did an amazing job, I was lost at time.

Overall it's a nice atmospheric read and I would recommend to anyone who wants to travel to medieval-time Cornwall.

Was this review helpful?

Megge of Bury Down is the story of 13 year old Megge in 13th century Cornwall. Megge is heir to the Book of Seasons but after touching it just once she wants nothing to do with it. However she might not have that choice.
This book is really the beginning of a larger tale and is the setup story. It introduces you to Megge and the family lore about the book as well as what happens to the others in her life that get her moving on her journey. I would suggest reading this in isolation because the story does abruptly end after some large revelations. If you are interested in starting a new series and enjoy historical fantasy you might find this one interesting but if not this might not be worth it.

Was this review helpful?

Megge is a complex character in this engaging story of healers ("good witches") in the middle ages.

Megge has been born into a family of healers. One line of the family has an ancient Book of Time and the other line has an ancient Book of Seasons. The books contain healing remedies and techniques and words of celestial wisdom written down by the women over the generations. Each new daughter is trained as an apprentice and prepared to take the vow of the women of Bury Down when they reach a certain age.

When Megge goes eagerly to her vowtaking ceremony she is frightened by a sense of evil and burning from the book. She refuses to touch the book again and chooses to follow a different family member who helps to train her first in shepherding and later in weaving. She knows her mother is disappointed in her but doesn’t realize that she is still being trained to take a role in the family legacy.

But some men seek the powers of the books and are willing to challenge the women as ‘witches’ doing the devil’s work in spite of the healing help they have provided in the community. A Blackfriar abbot arrives and is told by jealous young women to hunt out Megge’s mother and aunt. The confrontation puts Megge in a stressed situation as she will have to take some action if she wants to save her family.

The author takes a good portion of the story developing Megge’s character and adding the family history through storytelling times. Megge is a young girl who wants to choose her own destiny, not realizing the significance of the family legacy. I liked Megge’s conflicted character and the strong female mentors who helped shape her and give her courage.

The author does a good job of building the mysticism and tension that could easily surround skilled healers in the middle ages. The story reaches a twisted climax and conclusion but leaves open issues for the sequel, The Lady of the Cliffs. I am not a huge fan of coming of the age stories and I am glad this is much more. I enjoyed this one and hope to get the second book at NetGalley too. I recommend this story to readers who like historical dramas with a touch of ancient runes and incantations.

Audio Notes: Jan Cramer is a British born narrator who delivers the Welsh accents wonderfully. The sound is lovely and added to my being immersed in the thirteenth-century world. The narration enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 2020 NetGalley.

Was this review helpful?

I don't read much of fantasy but since this book was a historical fantasy based in medieval England (Cornwall) I decided to give it a try and that to as an audio book for a change. I was pleasantly surprised. I liked the narrator's voice; it is soothing, melodic and clear and she does manage to create an atmospheric feel but I did struggle a bit to keep up with the pace, the story and the different characters and their relationship with each other and I feel the written book would have been a better choice for myself to read.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Rowan Moon/IBPA Members' Audiobooks and the author Rebecca Kightlinger for the audio ARC of the book. Once again I will say the narrator Jan Cramer has a beautiful voice and she has done a good narration job; it's just my personal opinion that the written version would have been a better option for myself.

The book was published on 9th November 2018.

Rating:⭐⭐⭐💫

Was this review helpful?

The narration for this story was well-done and atmospheric. I enjoyed listening to it. This is a historical fantasy story, which is a bit different than I would typically choose to listen to or read. The story follows Megge, who has powerful gifts passed down to her from both her mother and fathers side. This is a coming of age story that follows Megge as she tries to deny her future, eventually coming to accept that she must fulfill her destiny.

This book takes place in medieval Cornwall area. There were times this felt a bit slow, but I thought the prose was lovely overall.

<i>*I received this audiobook from NetGalley for review. These opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I listened this audio book with love. It was well recited and written. I read the book one and two. Both have great. Narrators and plots. Highly recommended!

Was this review helpful?

Thirteenth Century Cornwall...not an easy time for women. Young Megge struggles to accept her destiny. This is an engaging and entertaining read full of interesting facts about medieval life. The ending felt abrupt, but I realize this is part one of a continuing series.

Was this review helpful?

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Megge of Bury Down is old enough to become an apprentice to her mother, which means accepting and vowing to protect the Book of Seasons. However, when she touches the book at her vowtaking ceremony, she hears a voice hiss <i>murderer</i>, and her fingers get burned. Convinced that the book is cursed and she will be too, she refuses even to look at it. When her mother and aunt are arrested for not handing over their books, will Megge find the courage she needs to look in the Book of Seasons?

This book is a bit slow at the beginning but eventually picks up its pace toward the end. I didn't realize before starting the book that Megge is only 6 years old when she goes through her vow-taking ceremony. Even at the climax of the book, she is only 13. Her immaturity definitely shows in the book and put me off her a bit. I would have preferred to follow her mother and aunt through the story more than Megge. Maybe this is a sign that I am getting old? LOL I felt like things were just getting started when the book ended, so I am curious to see what happens in the sequel!

Was this review helpful?

Megge of Bury Down is a very well written historical fantasy taking place in 13th century England. Ultimately, this is a coming of age story and we get to see our protagonist Megge from the time she is a child and into her early teens. I wasn't expecting Megge to be so young through the majority of the book, but this was well balanced with other older characters in the story. My favorite part of this book was the focus on strong female characters and the bonds between them. It was beautifully done.

I did struggle with the pacing. It was a very slow book and not quite as plot driven as I would have liked. I also would have enjoyed seeing more magic but perhaps that will happen in the next book. Overall, this is a solid debt and the series has a lot of potential. If you like historical fiction and magical realism, give this book a try. I highly recommend the audiobook. The narrator was fantastic.

**A free e-book was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I really liked this book. It had great characters and the story flowed very well. I also liked the writing.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this audiobook but think I would have liked a different narrator better. It was just me and my take on the voice. I enjoyed the main character and her struggle to discover and come into her purpose..

Was this review helpful?

The narrators voice is percect which makes this story extremely enjoyable. I would recommend all of her books to anyone that likes to read for escape. Extremely enjoyable as an escape from these times we are in...

Thank you to NetGalley for this free alc in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This was the first book by this author I have “read” and I really enjoyed the audiobook version. The reader of this audio book absolutely hit the Mark with this story. She reads clearly, with amazing tone, emotion, and inflection. She melodically and methodically adjust her voice to fit the particular parts of the story.
The story by Rebecca Kightlinger, is so very authentic to the frustration healers had in Celtic English. It has amazing depth to the characters. Although some parts are difficult to read/hear, I believe that this leads to the authenticity of the story.
If you enjoy historical books, Wiccan history, Celtic history, or just want a good fantasy fiction book this would be a great read. There are a few points in the story that it gets sometimes too descriptive or the story doesn’t feel like it is progressing at the pace you would like, however, I challenge any reader to stick with it because it is a really great read!
Thank you to NetGalley, Rebecca Kighrlinger, and Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks for the opportunity to read and review this book. All the words and thoughts in this review are completely my own.

Was this review helpful?