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The Boys of Raven Cove #1
That Old Black Magic
Male witches, magic, lust, love and betrayal...just another day in Raven Cove. Julian, the leader of the Blue Light coven, adores his boyfriend Chris and loves training him in the ways of magic and the circle that binds them and their friends. Chris wants nothing more than to be a good student, help others and ascend to high priest like his partner. He just hasn't discovered what his primary gift power is yet and why it has eluded him. Everyone else in the coven has one. All seemed right in Raven Cove until a dark secret from Julian's past makes its way back into town, exposing hidden desires, buried lies and weakening the bond of the coven. The lovers soon find themselves in a struggle with powers beyond their control and a dark energy that hungers for lust, power and the one thing that Julian will protect with his very life, Chris. The sleepy town of Raven Cove is about to wake up. That Old Black Magic is book 1 of The Boys of Raven Cove series.
139 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 30, 2015
89 people are currently reading
215 people want to read
About the author
J. Ashburn
18 books127 followersJ. Ashburn is your source for exciting, sensual gay paranormal fiction featuring unique stories, magical characters and wild settings. Werewolves, witches, polymorphs, psychic warriors, phantoms, creatures of the night and more dominate the worlds of J. Ashburn. Follow the paths of romance and the supernatural entwined with hearts and minds of men who love men.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 29, 2015
The blurb for this book sounded awesome, but unfortunately it was the best-written part about the entire thing. I felt more and more disconnected from the story the longer I read, and by the end my initial interest had morphed into active dislike. There were a number of things that contributed to my change of feelings, but they can all be lumped into two main groups: Immature, idiotic characters and the author's poor stylistic decisions.
A number of characters in the story, including the MCs, were very irrational, irresponsible, or otherwise immature. Julian was by far the worst. The situation he and Chris found themselves in at the end of the book could have been entirely avoided with proper communication, and if Julian hadn't been a complete idiot.
Julian also didn't seem to be a very good leader. He kept promising, but didn't actually DO anything to help find Jonathan. He did the scrying right at the beginning, but it wasn't until later in the story that he suggested Geoff use his astral projection ability. Why not suggest that after the scrying failed? And when the astral projection also fails, that's it. He doesn't do anything else.
My second complaint had to do with the author's style. There were a number of times I felt could have used more description, and the lack of elaboration was jarring. For example:
Chris had just woken from a terrifying nightmare and is completely freaked out. Five seconds later, he's back asleep. No! He should have trouble returning to sleep, or not want to sleep anymore and get up because he's too jittery. Instead, he falls asleep as though he'd awoken for something as routine as a trip to the bathroom.
Lastly, I was rather confused by Sage. He was a total dick, and routinely manipulated people with his magic to get what he wanted. But he was also polite considerate, especially during sexy times. Not that the villain has to be rude (just look at Samuel L. Jackson in the movie Kingsmen), but it didn't work for Sage. Honestly, I think Sage can be summed up with a quote from Jordan Castillo Price's Among the Living:
Sage wasn't a murderer (at least as far as I know), but he was definitely a psycho.
tl;dr Can't recommend this story, primarily do to idiotic, immature characters and poor writing quality. There are other books out there far more worthy of your time.
A number of characters in the story, including the MCs, were very irrational, irresponsible, or otherwise immature. Julian was by far the worst. The situation he and Chris found themselves in at the end of the book could have been entirely avoided with proper communication, and if Julian hadn't been a complete idiot.
Julian also didn't seem to be a very good leader. He kept promising, but didn't actually DO anything to help find Jonathan. He did the scrying right at the beginning, but it wasn't until later in the story that he suggested Geoff use his astral projection ability. Why not suggest that after the scrying failed? And when the astral projection also fails, that's it. He doesn't do anything else.
My second complaint had to do with the author's style. There were a number of times I felt could have used more description, and the lack of elaboration was jarring. For example:
Chris’s heart slowed, and he caught his breath, but he still panted. “It was just a dream…shit…it was so real. I—I—you—were gone and I was being chased down and attacked…shit…it was awful.”
“I’m here.” Julian put his arms around him. “I’ll never leave you. No one is going to touch you.”
“I know.”
They kissed before returning to sleep.
Chris had just woken from a terrifying nightmare and is completely freaked out. Five seconds later, he's back asleep. No! He should have trouble returning to sleep, or not want to sleep anymore and get up because he's too jittery. Instead, he falls asleep as though he'd awoken for something as routine as a trip to the bathroom.
Lastly, I was rather confused by Sage. He was a total dick, and routinely manipulated people with his magic to get what he wanted. But he was also polite considerate, especially during sexy times. Not that the villain has to be rude (just look at Samuel L. Jackson in the movie Kingsmen), but it didn't work for Sage. Honestly, I think Sage can be summed up with a quote from Jordan Castillo Price's Among the Living:
A psycho murderer who lubed. How considerate.
Sage wasn't a murderer (at least as far as I know), but he was definitely a psycho.
tl;dr Can't recommend this story, primarily do to idiotic, immature characters and poor writing quality. There are other books out there far more worthy of your time.
May 24, 2015
Julian is an accomplished witch and the leader of the Raven Cove coven. All he wants to do is keep his town, his friends and fellow witches, and his boyfriend Chris safe. When one of the members of his coven goes missing, Julian and his friends will stop at nothing to learn where Johnathon is and bring him home. But not even a scrying spell reveals where Jonathon is. Julian is trying to balance his role as the leader of the coven with training his boyfriend Chris, and now trying to hold the coven together with one member missing and one possibly a trader.
The cover and the synopsis of this story really drew me in. I do love a good witch book. Sadly, this one wasn’t so good. There was a lot going on in this short story, like several different storylines running together all at once. The issue wasn’t the multiple storylines, it was the lack of attention to detail, the often immature actions of seemingly grown ass men, and a male lead that came across as contemptuous more often than not. Also, communication is key, and the lack of between Julian and Chris was astounding.
I was reminded of that TV show on the CW with the teenage witches, children of a coven that had imploded years ago, The Secret Circle I think. Well this was a lot like that storyline but all the witches are men, all gay and all tied to each other in one way or another. Again, the problem was this is supposed to be an adult MM title, and it read more like YA or new adult. The story didn’t really flow well, it wasn’t cohesive as a whole.
I’m sorry, I tried really hard to like this book, I just didn’t. My favorite part of the story was the bad with, Julian’s ex- boyfriend. I will say that Ashburn is on the right track with his story, the concept of personal gain and the power going to your head, that sort of thing. So you’ll have to decide for yourself if you want to read this book or not, I wish I could recommend it but I just can’t.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
The cover and the synopsis of this story really drew me in. I do love a good witch book. Sadly, this one wasn’t so good. There was a lot going on in this short story, like several different storylines running together all at once. The issue wasn’t the multiple storylines, it was the lack of attention to detail, the often immature actions of seemingly grown ass men, and a male lead that came across as contemptuous more often than not. Also, communication is key, and the lack of between Julian and Chris was astounding.
I was reminded of that TV show on the CW with the teenage witches, children of a coven that had imploded years ago, The Secret Circle I think. Well this was a lot like that storyline but all the witches are men, all gay and all tied to each other in one way or another. Again, the problem was this is supposed to be an adult MM title, and it read more like YA or new adult. The story didn’t really flow well, it wasn’t cohesive as a whole.
I’m sorry, I tried really hard to like this book, I just didn’t. My favorite part of the story was the bad with, Julian’s ex- boyfriend. I will say that Ashburn is on the right track with his story, the concept of personal gain and the power going to your head, that sort of thing. So you’ll have to decide for yourself if you want to read this book or not, I wish I could recommend it but I just can’t.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
August 15, 2018
This review has a content warning for rape, although the book doesn’t (warn about the rape.)
If you like a manic third omni POV, clumsy sentences composed of three or four (or more!) clauses, wrong words (pretty sure the town was “bustling” not “blustering”), awkward “as you know John” exposition, characters who willfully ignore plot elements to have badly described sex, and a pages long rape scene the author attempts to depict as erotic, you WILL LOVE THIS BOOK!
It has all that and probably MORE, but I stopped reading after the rape scene.
Positive Reinforcement: The cover is on point for the book’s purported genre.
If you like a manic third omni POV, clumsy sentences composed of three or four (or more!) clauses, wrong words (pretty sure the town was “bustling” not “blustering”), awkward “as you know John” exposition, characters who willfully ignore plot elements to have badly described sex, and a pages long rape scene the author attempts to depict as erotic, you WILL LOVE THIS BOOK!
It has all that and probably MORE, but I stopped reading after the rape scene.
Positive Reinforcement: The cover is on point for the book’s purported genre.
October 18, 2023
I absolutely love a good witchy story and this one was just okay.
Although this book can do with a Trigger/Content warning for RAPE, has too many sex scenes and is filled with prose in desperate need of an edit or three, the story is solid enough and there are a couple of interesting characters.
Also, the author could have named this That Old Blue Magic which I feel is a little more en pointe.
Would I continue reading this series? Possibly; if the others were to become free on the next Stuff Your Kindle Day, which is where I found this.
Although this book can do with a Trigger/Content warning for RAPE, has too many sex scenes and is filled with prose in desperate need of an edit or three, the story is solid enough and there are a couple of interesting characters.
Also, the author could have named this That Old Blue Magic which I feel is a little more en pointe.
Would I continue reading this series? Possibly; if the others were to become free on the next Stuff Your Kindle Day, which is where I found this.
December 11, 2020
This is the first book in : The Boys of Raven Cove Book Series
Okay first when I read the synopsis for this book I was oh okay some male witch action great . Because let's be real most books that deal's with the supernatural especially witches are almost always geared towards the young teenage girl or young adult female audience . There are a few awesome book series out there that doe have a strong male witch protagonist but most of them are straight very few have gay couples or gay protagonist . But I have found a few gems in this genre out there so that gave me hope that this book would be one of those gems despite it being free . Well I was wrong . This book starts out with our very madly in love with each other couple Julian and Chris Julian is the head of the Blue light Coven in which of them are a part of along with four other members . As it turns out Julian has been keeping some pretty important truths from Chris it seems that Chris is the seventh son of a seventh son and is descent to be a extremely powerful witch BUT there's a catch . Seven son's always go to the dark side of the power spectrum they become power hunger and loose themselves to their power . So Julian has been very careful in training Chris because he knows what that kind of power can do to a person seeing as that's exactly happened too Julians first love . But things go terribly wrong when Julians old flame Sage comes to town to reek havoc on Julian and his coven but especially target's Chris through powerful dark magic . Sage manages to sow distrust in Chris against Julian and also temporarily split the coven for a short matter of time which made the coven weak against Saves dark magic . But there's a twist one of Julia Julians coven decides too work with Sage for his own end thus insuring that Save gets away with Chris . What did I think about these characters okay first I was okay with Julian on a whole he was loving and caring friend and Coven master . But he did piss my off when Jonathan went missing and he didn't look hard enough in my opinion . AND he just about gave up on him although poor Jonathan had been trying his best too get through to him or anyone . Next is Chris he's presented as this loving down to earth hard working person who is madly in love with Julian . And that's true for the most part until he finds out that he's the seventh son of a seventh son when he confronts his mom like she was keeping from him which she has because seven son's are a curse in this town . It turns out that one of Chri's ancestors almost destroyed their town and guess what this ancestor was you guessed it a seventh son and by the end of this book you can definitely see Chris going down the same path . Next is Noah the needy BITCH he's Juliana oldest friend and was Juliana second until Chris showed up . And not only uprooted Noahs place beside Julian but Chris also stole Julians heart which Noah himself desperately wants so he plots with Sage to get Chris out of the way . Which indeed that's exactly what happens at the end of the book because of a powerful love spell that Noah put on Chris to make fall in love with Sage . By the end of this book I despised Noah for his part in what happened too Chris but to tell you the truth it wouldn't have taken much for Chris leave Julian Chris had already started to distrust Julian and frankly it was way to easy for Sage to get into Chri's head and manipulate Chris for my taste . As for the rest of the coven they all seemed like decent guy's and than there's Sage as villains go he's your normal baddy very CLIQUE and Predictable the only description we get is that he's tall handsome and he wears a duster on and he's sexy . This guy does some evil Shit throughout the whole book and you can see that he's shady eight miles away and he gets away with it the coven is too weak against his dark coven and not everyone is playing nice on Julian's team . So will I finish reading this series frankly I don't know I fee likel this could have been so much more if it wasn't for all the unnecessary DRAMA and stupid shit that some of these characters did that really annoyed me so yeah I'm gonna step back for a minute .
.
Okay first when I read the synopsis for this book I was oh okay some male witch action great . Because let's be real most books that deal's with the supernatural especially witches are almost always geared towards the young teenage girl or young adult female audience . There are a few awesome book series out there that doe have a strong male witch protagonist but most of them are straight very few have gay couples or gay protagonist . But I have found a few gems in this genre out there so that gave me hope that this book would be one of those gems despite it being free . Well I was wrong . This book starts out with our very madly in love with each other couple Julian and Chris Julian is the head of the Blue light Coven in which of them are a part of along with four other members . As it turns out Julian has been keeping some pretty important truths from Chris it seems that Chris is the seventh son of a seventh son and is descent to be a extremely powerful witch BUT there's a catch . Seven son's always go to the dark side of the power spectrum they become power hunger and loose themselves to their power . So Julian has been very careful in training Chris because he knows what that kind of power can do to a person seeing as that's exactly happened too Julians first love . But things go terribly wrong when Julians old flame Sage comes to town to reek havoc on Julian and his coven but especially target's Chris through powerful dark magic . Sage manages to sow distrust in Chris against Julian and also temporarily split the coven for a short matter of time which made the coven weak against Saves dark magic . But there's a twist one of Julia Julians coven decides too work with Sage for his own end thus insuring that Save gets away with Chris . What did I think about these characters okay first I was okay with Julian on a whole he was loving and caring friend and Coven master . But he did piss my off when Jonathan went missing and he didn't look hard enough in my opinion . AND he just about gave up on him although poor Jonathan had been trying his best too get through to him or anyone . Next is Chris he's presented as this loving down to earth hard working person who is madly in love with Julian . And that's true for the most part until he finds out that he's the seventh son of a seventh son when he confronts his mom like she was keeping from him which she has because seven son's are a curse in this town . It turns out that one of Chri's ancestors almost destroyed their town and guess what this ancestor was you guessed it a seventh son and by the end of this book you can definitely see Chris going down the same path . Next is Noah the needy BITCH he's Juliana oldest friend and was Juliana second until Chris showed up . And not only uprooted Noahs place beside Julian but Chris also stole Julians heart which Noah himself desperately wants so he plots with Sage to get Chris out of the way . Which indeed that's exactly what happens at the end of the book because of a powerful love spell that Noah put on Chris to make fall in love with Sage . By the end of this book I despised Noah for his part in what happened too Chris but to tell you the truth it wouldn't have taken much for Chris leave Julian Chris had already started to distrust Julian and frankly it was way to easy for Sage to get into Chri's head and manipulate Chris for my taste . As for the rest of the coven they all seemed like decent guy's and than there's Sage as villains go he's your normal baddy very CLIQUE and Predictable the only description we get is that he's tall handsome and he wears a duster on and he's sexy . This guy does some evil Shit throughout the whole book and you can see that he's shady eight miles away and he gets away with it the coven is too weak against his dark coven and not everyone is playing nice on Julian's team . So will I finish reading this series frankly I don't know I fee likel this could have been so much more if it wasn't for all the unnecessary DRAMA and stupid shit that some of these characters did that really annoyed me so yeah I'm gonna step back for a minute .
.
September 14, 2019
This is my first book from this author and I'm glad I read it. Got it as a freebie in exchange for a review. I liked the story line of male witches serving and protecting the common good, and each other - hot hot, the battle of good versus evil comes through it.
The naivety of the lads and not suspecting something was up was a bit annoying and you felt like shaking them. There where a lot of characters and couples t get your head wound and it might have been better to have sit them out over the other books. But all in al,l I enjoyed t and looking forward to book two.
I think in book one all you do by the end is shake Julian for his behaviour I sense in book two it might be Chris .
The naivety of the lads and not suspecting something was up was a bit annoying and you felt like shaking them. There where a lot of characters and couples t get your head wound and it might have been better to have sit them out over the other books. But all in al,l I enjoyed t and looking forward to book two.
I think in book one all you do by the end is shake Julian for his behaviour I sense in book two it might be Chris .
April 22, 2021
I would give this book 4/5 stars. It is an urban fantasy about witches. I did enjoy reading it so much that will finish the series. The book centers around a coven of good witches who are doing good for their lives and their community. The coven is a good guy but he has secrets. The the dark witch shows up and everything changes. They quite possibly lose one of theirs to his seductive dark powers. I want to see how it ends.
May 15, 2022
Very disappointed
While I did enjoy what little story there was, I was disappointed in how much sex the writer felt had to be included. If I wanted to read porn I can find that elsewhere. I was also very distracted by how much the book could have used a good editor. I would not recommend this book.
While I did enjoy what little story there was, I was disappointed in how much sex the writer felt had to be included. If I wanted to read porn I can find that elsewhere. I was also very distracted by how much the book could have used a good editor. I would not recommend this book.
November 20, 2020
Coven
The plot is superb, descriptions of the witches are eloquent, setting well scripted. But the story ends abruptly after the big climax without a hint of resolution. I hate being strung along.
I will add that the heat level is fine. Hence a 4 star rather than my initial 3.5
The plot is superb, descriptions of the witches are eloquent, setting well scripted. But the story ends abruptly after the big climax without a hint of resolution. I hate being strung along.
I will add that the heat level is fine. Hence a 4 star rather than my initial 3.5
dnf
November 13, 2023DNF 15%
I couldn't get into this at all. Finished chapter 2 and that was where I stopped. I think it was the multiple POV that was making it hard for me to get into it. I didn't like how casually they just brushed aside their friend missing either.
I couldn't get into this at all. Finished chapter 2 and that was where I stopped. I think it was the multiple POV that was making it hard for me to get into it. I didn't like how casually they just brushed aside their friend missing either.
December 16, 2017
Argh. Google is your friend dear author - or even walk outside. A new moon means no moon in the sky. Don’t describe the outdoors like it is bathed in the light of a full moon when it isn’t.
April 8, 2022
2.5, rounded up.
It was an okay series. It had potential.
What I liked:
The idea.
What I didn't like:
The execution.
The writing was choppy and there were several typos or grammar issues and a couple questions that weren't answered.
That said, I liked it enough to keep reading and find out what happened. The fundamentals are there i think, the writing just needs a bit more polish.
It was an okay series. It had potential.
What I liked:
The idea.
What I didn't like:
The execution.
The writing was choppy and there were several typos or grammar issues and a couple questions that weren't answered.
That said, I liked it enough to keep reading and find out what happened. The fundamentals are there i think, the writing just needs a bit more polish.
April 6, 2015
Not sure if I liked this or not. It didn't seem to be a cohesive story even up to the end. The book had promise but I'm not sure.
The characters were there and were built up well but I don't think the book flowed well.
I am going to wait for the 2nd book in this series though.
The characters were there and were built up well but I don't think the book flowed well.
I am going to wait for the 2nd book in this series though.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews