Welcome to The Great Widdershins Reread of 2023!
Do you love fussy, repressed scholars with magical talent? How about ex-Pinkertons with seductive smiles and sword canes? Female archeologists with fantastic rifle skills and more brains than most men? Eldritch horrors and old town secrets?
Well then, you’re in for a treat!
Love is dangerous. Ever since the tragic death of the friend he adored, Percival Endicott Whyborne has ruthlessly suppressed any desire for another man. Instead, he spends his days studying dead languages at the museum where he works. So when handsome ex-Pinkerton Griffin Flaherty approaches him to translate a mysterious book, Whyborne wants to finish the job and get rid of the detective as quickly as possible.
Griffin left the Pinkertons after the death of his partner. Now in business for himself, he must investigate the murder of a wealthy young man. His only clue: an encrypted book that once belonged to the victim.
As the investigation draws them closer, Griffin’s rakish charm threatens to shatter Whyborne’s iron control. But when they uncover evidence of a powerful cult determined to rule the world, Whyborne must choose: to remain safely alone, or to risk everything for the man he loves.
The Whyborne & Griffin series by Jordan L Hawk is one of my favorites. Of all time. These books combine so many of my favorite story elements and genres – historical, paranormal, LGBTQ+ stories, Lovecraft retellings, romance – it’s honestly perfect!
I can’t think of a better time to reenter Hawk’s world of magic and monsters. W&G is an 11 book series with 1 book of short stories, so 12 books total. Perfect for a year-long reread!
I know January is nearly finished, but the number of books to the number of months means that if I get to be a little lax 😂 I think the hardest thing about this challenge will be not rushing through, but I hope forcing myself to slow down will allow me to savor them the way they deserve.
I’ll be working through the books one month at a time starting with Widdershins in January.
If you’d like to join me, please do! I’m trying to decide what would be the best method for group reading in blog format. In the meantime, I’ll be making a post for each book where you’re free to comment (don’t go to the comments unless you want spoilers!). I also might do something with Instagram, so keep an eye out.
- WIDDERSHINS, book 1
- THRESHOLD, book 2
- STORMHAVEN, book 3
- NECROPOLIS, book 4
- BLOODLINE, book 5
- HOARFROST, book 6
- MAELSTROM, book 7
- FALLOW, book 8
- DRAAKENWOOD, book 9
- BALEFIRE, book 10
- DEOSIL, book 11
Fictional Wanderings 