It took me a few chapters to get into the story and enjoy it, I was a bit confused at first as to what was going on, I thought it was a bit strange, but as I continued to listen it was not as bad as I thought, I probably would have enjoyed the story more had I read it myself, but that is my personal opinion and nothing to do with the narrator.

This book was so beautifully crafted, it was a beautiful blend of good and evil. I was not familiar with Bryce Gibby or this series but I will be definitely seeking out the other books.
I really enjoyed this dark almost gothic tale, the character development of Cwen was fantastic, and I really enjoyed the look into her world.
I did struggle with the narration, though I pushed through and come to enjoy it - I do think it might have been better suited to a female voice.

This story is an epic adventure set during the time of the Black Plague in Anglo-Saxon Britannia and Germania that blends history, mythology, dark magic, sorcery, faith, and discovery. It is a beautifully written personal growth quest for Cwen, who rose to High Priestess for the moon goddess Ashtoreth, when she begins to morally struggle between Paganism and Christianity and what is good versus evil. She treasures an ancient codex, given to her by her father, to help enlighten her as she begins to question the pagan rituals and searches for her true purpose.

Cwen has great character development, evolving throughout the story while searching for the meaning of life. The writing is very thought-provoking and brings forth such parables as the consequences of your actions and recognizing what is beyond your control. It is written to be read in an archaic Old English, medieval style dialect which can be off-putting for some, but I enjoyed it.

This is book 7 of Annals of the Heroic, but it is a stand-alone novel, so it can be read on its own. I have not read any other stories in the series, but would definitely put another Bryce Gibby book on my TBR to compare against this one.

I am really struggling getting through this book, I don't know if it's the narrator or the way that it's written in third person. I don't feel invested in the character and some of the world building is really difficult to get into. The narrator's voice trying to do different characters also sounds force/hoarse for female voices. If this is a story about almost exclusive female characters I think it would have been more relatable to listen to a female narrator.

There are a lot of dark undertones to this as well and I could not get past some of the verbal/mental abuse or feelings of imprisonment. This book for me will be a DNF.

This book was so beautifully written! I was not familiar with this series but in the end I loved this gothic tale as it made you truly think about your life and the way you can change it for the better. The narration was also amazing and truly brought the book to life. I highly recommend reading this book!

What a beautifully written book. I loved the development of each character there was a little of every personality a person can think of. It shows the love of one person can change another person and the way think, live and feel about life itself. It had a great balance of good and evil 😈. A historical fiction with a mix of mythology Brought to life by narrator Michael Troughton. Who did amazing job. But listening to the audiobook and headphones I felt there was a lot of background noise which made the book a little more interesting.

This book is a game changer makes you look into and think about life and the things you do and what you can do better.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to review this audiobook.

The writing is beautiful. Loved the setting of ancient Germania and Britannia. The illustrations in the book were exquisite. There were poetic prose too. I connected with the character. So unexpected things happens in book and it kept me hooked from page one till the end. The author has woven mythology and history in this epic fantasy filled with magic, twist of fate, destiny, adventure, war and dark secrets. There were two religions; Christianity and Paganism at that time. While there were also influence of Saxon and Scandinavian.

Cwen is beautiful and passionate. She always felt connected to the forest and could speak with animals. She is not only gifted with the exquisite beauty but also feels deeply connected with the ancient codex gifted by her father and she could speak with spirits too. She always believed in moon goddess and she wanted to be her worshiper but with a twist of fate, she ended up to sorceress of Seidr and her world filled with dark magic, dangers, deception, blood sacrificial rituals and dark powers. The memory of her brother’s death still haunts her. Destiny takes her there but she couldn’t fathom all the secrets as not only the sorceress is the one with secrets but the dark forest is harbouring a secret too. She is trying to discover herself and her journey while after some time, she becomes the High Priestess of Ashtoreth. And so many things happens with revelation, truths and secrets. Loved the ending.. She finds her true purpose and discover secrets.


ALC Review

The Narration was so good and engaging. It certainly did bring the feel of the book. And it made me more invested in the story.

"Cwen" by Bryce Gibby is a riveting exploration of history, mythology, and personal growth. Bryce D. Gibby's adept character development draws readers into a tale that transcends mere historical fiction, delving into profound themes of faith and identity. Set against the backdrop of a diverse and divided Britain, the novel skillfully contrasts Christianity and paganism, prompting readers to contemplate the complexities of belief systems and cultural influences. Michael Troughton did a great job narrating, really adding an immersive element to the audio book experience.

Cwen offers a captivating narrative, rich with compelling characters and thought-provoking themes.

I was not familiar with this series or the author, so I was pleasantly surprised by Cwen: The Seventh Book of the Annals of the Heroic by Bryce Gibby. Cwen is able to feel realities that others are not able to perceive. She is capturedby a Sorceress, and she seeks truth about her own powers and her destiny. This was an epic tale with magic and romance with adventure. Beautifully descriptive, I could not put this book down.

Michael Troughton's narration was exceptional! He tryly brought the story to life.
Thank you to @netgalley for an Advanced Listener Copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was an AMAZING gothic tale, it was everything I wanted! I enjoyed it so much!! The narrator was amazing as well!

A luscious gothic tale of magic, intrigue, mystery, ghosts, and finding yourself. The story was impeccably crafted and the narrator adds to the mystery and keeps readers enthralled throughout. I highly recommend and enjoyed this audiobook.

Cwen by Bryce Gibby and narrated by Michael Troughton is a fascinating reimagining of historical fact and mythology that at its heart compares Christianity and paganism, but also the bustling era of Britain, where Anglo-Saxon, Germanic and Scandinavian influence was heavy yet geographically and socially divided. Even Cwen's parents are symbolic of this, her father an Italian glassblower, her mother Danish

The journey of this book is intriguing. I thought I was getting into a historical retelling along the lines of the old Britons like Boudicea, but this was so much more. There is a strong storyline and character development, but also a significant chonk of symbolism whereby Cwen is exploring whether she remains a pagan as she has been raised, or strives for a different type of faith as detailed in the codex

The narration of this audiobook was interesting and gave the story a unique timbre

A fascinating book, well written.

Thank you to Netgalley, BryceGibby.com Audiobooks, the author Bryce Gibby and narrator Michael Troughton for this thought provoking ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own