This is my first audible book from NetGalley. It had the makings to be a pretty good read. From the blurb…right up my reading alley. But, it fell short, basically because of the narrator.

I can usually listen to just about any book. But this narrator was just not for me. If she was reading an exciting part, she speeded up and got louder and louder. She was overly dramatic and just not my style.

I hate to leave a two star review for any author…they work hard for their craft. But, this is about the audible book. Just did not meet the cut.

I received this audible book from NetGalley for a honest review.

I loved Megge of Bury Down by Rebecca Kightlinger!  Megge is a young girl who has come of age to take on an apprenticeship with her mother to learn of her healing powers, but to do so she must accept and protect the Book of Seasons, an ancient book that will teach her what she needs to learn. When she does, the book speaks to her and she jumps back, burned and frightened and refuses to take the oath.  This refusal changes her life and that of her family and sends them on a path that no one expected.

Thank you to the author, Rowan Moon and NetGalley for the audio file of this novel in exchange for my honest review.  I can't wait for the next installment!

AudioBook Review:  
Stars: Overall 4 Narration 4 Story 5  
 
Starting a bit slowly, we are introduced to Megge at age 6, daughter of the seer of Bury Down in Cornwall, and subjected to all of the ‘superstitions’ and isolations that the questions (and fears) that surrounded healers in the day. Questions about witchcraft, learning the potions and ointments, the nature that surrounds them, as well as protection of the book – one that chronicles their art and is valuable to more than just Megge and her mother.  
 
We follow Megge as she comes to understand the power of the book, and her fights for her own ‘recognition’ within the family, as her cousin Brigida is the “golden child’ of her generation. Alternating forces pull at Megge as she struggles to find her place, her acceptance and her own footing in a world that isn’t always kind or open to her.  Filled with historic references, details and plenty of something simply magical – we see Megge grow and start to discover her own worth and strength –and are drawn into the next moments.  

Narration for this story is provided by Jan Cramer who presented the story with flair: we understood that Megge was ‘finding her place’ while those around her were either seeking to help or hinder that progress. Magical moments, the feelings of despair and elation, and the little bits about the book, the process and even the social ostracizations all allowed the story to slowly develop and leave me wanting more .  
 
I received an AudioBook copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.  

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aO2  /”> <a> I am, Indeed</a>

Megge of Bury Down is a tale of magic, wisdom and the strength of women to persevere through the harshest conditions. Past hatred and misdeeds transcend time to reappear and cause  pain and disaster, yet the women continue and survive. The narrator of Megge of Bury Down does a fantastic job bringing the listener into tale. Rabecca Kightlinger captures the personalities of the characters and makes you part of their story.

What a story!  It was slow to start, and, just as I became invested in the characters, it ended, leaving me wanting the next volume immediately. But what a fascinating coming-of-age tale of healers and shepherds, weavers and blacksmiths. This is the kind of book one can read as a tween and then reread as a teen and then again as an adult, making new connections to the characters each time.

Jan Cramer as narrator is fantastic! Her voices ring true and help keep the many characters sorted out. 

This would make a great addition to any library collection.

I want to give this a 4.5 out of 5 stars. The book focuses on Megge throughout her childhood with her aunt, cousin, and mother and learning her path in life, which is a story of magic, healing, and time/reincarnation. The description of the characters and the time period was done exceptionally well. The pacing of the story was a little off, though, with some aspects of the story being a bit slow. There is a good bit of action toward the end, but I felt it tried to rush through some of the other bits and leave open-ended for a sequel. The narrator made the story and characters come to life.

This book was a nice work of historical fiction focusing on witchcraft and witch persecution, with added magical elements of actual witchcraft. It was also a coming-of-age story about Megge growing up and coming into her own and finally embracing her true magical, witchy path.

The audio narration was very pleasant, and I loved Jan Cramer's voice and accent. Her reading was perfect for the story and made for a comforting listen, though the story definitely became fast-paced and intense at several places.

My only criticism is that this book ends so abruptly, more like it is a television episode that will be resumed the next week, rather than a book. I very much dislike that method of ending books in a series.

This was an interesting coming of age tale of Megge and her discovery of what her purpose of life truly is.  The path shown to her never seemed what she perceived it at.  With the difficulty that women had during this time period, the thoughtfulness that went into her daily activities withing the household and community.  I cant wait till another chapter in her life begins.

This was a fabulous historical fantasy! This was a well written story that starts out a bit slow but so worth it to stay with it! This story is so interesting it’s a coming of age story, a finding your true self story, a story about what family and society expect from you. Megge is a child when the story starts in a family of strong women healers but it is the 1200’s so you can guess parts of this book because healers weren’t always accepted as such! But is Megge ready or willing to be in line to inherit the book of healing? Something happens that makes Megge not want to be in the “family business” .
 I won’t spoil anything for anyone but I highly recommend this very well written historical fantasy.
Wonderfully narrated by Jan Cramer  she did an amazing job she really brought the emotions and characters to life. I will definitely be listening to her again!
I look forward to reading anything else this author puts out and I look forward to more books in this series!!
4 stars 
I received this audiobook from Rowan Moon Publishers and Netgalley for a fair and honest review.

Set in 13th century Cornwall, this is a delightful book about strong, purposeful and courageous women healers. It is in the main a coming of age story about Megge, starting out at the tender age of 6 years old, who will be on a pathway to find out who she is and the magical responsibility she is meant to inherit, but which she is resistant too.

I only dabble with audio books, and on the whole enjoyed the narration, although did find the voice a bit sing song-y at times. On the whole the tone was in keeping with the historical setting and times depicted. It also kept me drawn into the story and clearly able to picture the settings, characters and events.

All the key characters are likeable, true and wise. Megge herself is easy to like – her true heart and reasoned thinking well ahead of her years. It is described as a historical fantasy, and whilst it is, I saw it more in keeping as a YA read, and would consider that it sits best in this category. It has a gentle cadence. It captures well the simplicity and routines of life at that time. The focus on how to use a loom, offered a rich and insightful of an old art. A lot of research has gone into the writing. There was a darker edge to it, no real transferrable tension, but an undertone that forms part of the ending that gives it legs & sets it up perfectly for the next book Lady of the Cliffs.

Pacing Off; Complex World Confusing

Book and Audiobook Review:
I am still relatively new to audiobooks, and this is the first fantasy book that I've listened to. I also read along, which I think helped me to understand some of the complexity of this story—and its multigenerational cast of characters—more. The book stars a Cornish, Dark Ages little girl called Megge who was born into a family of healers and seers, and she is supposed to follow in her mother's healing path. She resists this strongly, not wanting to read from the book that has been passed down through the generations. I felt like the pacing was off in this book. The first part felt very slow and repetitious, as it seemed like similar things kept happening, like Megge’s mother helping heal someone when Megge happens to be there to help out—sometimes willingly, sometimes resisting. The pace does get faster, but the two different parts of the book—the first part more about Megge’s family and then the Blackfriars' part—felt too different and were a little disjointed. After all that went before, the ending felt abrupt. I mostly liked the narrator of the audiobook, though some of her tones, especially for the moments when Megge’s mother was perhaps whispering (unsure) or talking quickly (??), sounded a little harsh for the words. All in all, I feel ambivalent about this book. I wish the pacing had been more even, and that certain things had been explained better—like the large cast of characters and the deep family history. The author has woven a complex world, but it was certainly confusing at times.

*received audiobook for free from netgalley for honest review* Really liked this book, didnt care much for the ending though! it wasnt bad i just dont care much for such open ended, endings i suppose lol, really liked the characters tho

A mystical story set in centuries past Cornwall about a relectant girl who needs to follow in the footsteps of her family is healers. I really liked the fact that it is mostly focused on the relationships between women. The world building was great and I would like to read more installments.

4,5 Stars. Megge of Bury Down was such a whimsical read. In my case I listen to the audiobook. The narrator did a fantastic job in  portraying the magic behind the  story of women healers. I enjoyed every bit but the thing that I missed was a little bit of action in the middle of the audiobook


Netgalley was.unable to find book with ISBN "9781734316841" on Goodreads. However, I wrote the  feedback on goodreads.

I chose this book because of the historical fiction and was curious how fantasy would play in. I typically really enjoy stories about female healers in the 13th century. The characters were well developed and written clearly. Maggie’s turmoil is palpable, and the reader experiences her aging and maturing with these fears. The first half of the book was quite enjoyable as the tension builds and we wait to discover secrets with Maggie. I did not particularly enjoy the second half as it lost the focus of healers and turned more specifically to witchcraft and a darker style. 
The narrator, Jan Cramer is an excellent storyteller who manages to keep all the characters distinct while preserving the beautiful language and accents. 
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions and views expressed are my own and freely given.

In this tale, we follow Megge as she grows from a 6 year old child who is afraid of ghostly whispers to a young woman who is prepared to stop at nothing to save the people she loves. Narrator Jen Cramer's voice skips along with a poetic rhythm through picturesque descriptions of the Cornish countryside and thoughtful tales of castles, sailors, medieval craftsmen and wise women. Along the entirety of the novel, one can feel the heavy weight of destiny that follows Megge in the secrets of her mother's magical book, which Megge is afraid to open. Tragic loss pierces the soft flow of a gentle childhood until Megge has no choice but to stand up and do something. What will she do? We don't know because apparently it happens in the second installment of this series. 
I have mixed feelings about this book. The first half of it was nearly an idyllic bedtime story with soothing language and only the occasional discomfort as Megge's mother continued to push the child into a confusing and sometimes terrifying future. Somewhere around the middle of the book, things suddenly get a lot worse for the characters, and after the soft beginning, I felt that loss very acutely. This novel has a unique style that I found definitely worthy of thought but which I'm still struggling to make peace with. Rebecca Kightlinger definitely has a way with words, but I'm less confident in her way with parenting advice and plot formation. Although the main character is a child under 15, the themes of witchcraft, inquisition, parenting, crafting, loss and medical concerns plant this novel firmly in the adult category, mostly because even most teenagers wouldn't be comfortable grasping the subtleties in sensation that trickle through the pages.

A beautiful historical fantasy story set in the 13th century. A  slow building  start to begin with but I found I was captivated once the foundation was set.

We follow a young girl through her years as she comes to face the facts of her own family and what the entails. Megge discovers that she is the daughter of a healer and thus is expected to learn this way of life through the teachings of a family heirloom 'The Book of Seasons'... after an event in which frightens Megge, she turns away from these expectations and thus, turns her back on her family. 
The story continues to follow Megge as she grows into a young adult, into her complicated world as she struggles with her identity, her place, and who she is to the world. 

I wouldn't say this is a heavy read, but it would be beneficial to perhaps take note of what is happening. The plot is complex and complicated. I'm a note taker!! 

I would suggest if paranormal, witchcraft is not your thing, than this book is not for you, personally I liked it!

Megge of Bury Down: The Bury Down Chronicles, Book One by Rebecca Kightlinger
Narrated by: Jan Cramer
Publication Date: November 9, 2018 - Available in book stores. 
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Description from NetGalley...
“In 13th century Cornwall, young Megge has just come of age to be apprenticed to her mother, the healer of Bury Down. But first, she must accept and vow to protect The Book of Seasons, an ancient tome that holds life-sustaining power harnessed centuries earlier by Murga, the first seer Bury Down.
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At her vow taking ceremony, yearning to accept her inheritance and take her place in her family's long line of healers and seers, Megge reaches for the book. When she touches it, she feels something writhe within it and becomes convinced that the book is cursed and that she too will be cursed if she accepts it.
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Despite her mother's pleas to protect the book from the one who would usurp its power, Megge refuses to even look at it. But when a Blackfriar abbot arrives in the village claiming to be under orders to root out heretics and imprisons the healer for refusing to turn over her "demon's book", will Megge finally summon the courage to take that vow?”
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Thank you to @NetGalley , Rowan Moon, @ibpa for the digital ARC in return for my honest review.
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My thoughts...
The narrator was good. She was able to differentiate between the characters. And in this book, that was important. There were many characters that it got confusing at times. I felt the story was drawn out, too many subplots that unfolded very slowly. The first 3/4 just seemed like a story of day to day lives and just when it was starting to get interesting, the book ended. This is a historical fiction and the description of the Medieval village and life with magic entwined kept me interested. The book ended with a semi-cliffhanger.

3.5

This book felt very "A Day In The Life" until the story started happening; I think it could have used a clearer direction much sooner. That said, once stuff started happening though, I was totally invested.

Megge of Bury Down is a girl who is starting to learn and ask big questions about her family and destiny, and the answers are equally large. The book is set in the 13th century, so everyone is ridiculous and superstitious and very afraid of women. That's one thing the author did very very well: communicate religious misogyny. It was infuriating. 

The narrator, Jan Cramer, did a pretty good job in creating the various characters and her voice was well-suited to the material.

Overall, it's a good, quick read and I would be happy to continue with the series.

I received a copy of this audiobook for free from NetGalley and Rowan Moon in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.

3.5 stars

As a general rule, I do not read fantasy. I chose this audiobook for the historical fiction aspect. 

Set in thirteenth century Cornwall, it is the story of a group of female healers including a young girl named Megge. The women are guardians of an ancient book of life-sustaining powers which Megge fears is cursed. The novel is narrated from her POV as she grows up in this family of women. Novels about women healers in the Medieval Period often do not end well for at least some of the women. As my expectations were about to be fulfilled, the author threw a twist into the story. The fantasy element focused primarily on witchcraft, which was my least favorite part. It became rather creepy, which other readers may enjoy more than I did. In places it felt like a ghost story. 

There is a lot going on in this novel, and it tended to ramble and move slowly as the many subplots unfolded. For me, the well-developed details of Medieval village life were the highlight of this novel. Those who enjoy complex plots with a healthy dose of paranormal will probably find this a very satisfying read.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.