The Devouring Time: A Widdershins Universe Novel

by Jordan L. Hawk

I wasn’t even supposed to be there.

My business partner, James—co-owner of Forgotten Folios Rare Book Shop—is the one who meets with clients. But an accident kept him in New York, so I took the train to Hart’s Leap, Massachusetts, to meet with eccentric book collector Zebulon Hart.

I was the one who walked through the eerie marsh with its strange sculptures. Who knocked on the door of the old manor in the middle of nowhere.

Who was attacked and drugged by my host.

Now I’ve awakened a year and a half later, with no memory of anything that happened during that time. I don’t know where I am, or why someone is trying to kill me.

My only ally is the insurance investigator who says he’s been pursuing me for the last few months. According to him, I stole a rare book, and his firm wants it back.

I have to find out what happened during my missing year. Because it’s not just my fate that depends on it.

It’s all of humanity’s.

Genres: Fantasy, Magic, Queer, Lovecraftian

343 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 25, 2026

About the author

Jordan L. Hawk writes queer fiction with a helping of eldritch monsters and things that go bump in the night. He's best known for the award-winning Whyborne & Griffin series. He lurks in the forests of Massachusetts, but can be lured out with pizza.

Reviews

[Joyfully Jay]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.25 stars

The Devouring Time by Jordan L. Hawk is a fascinating and engaging historical magical suspense story, set within the author’s larger Widdershin’s universe. While I will eagerly read anything Hawk writes, this book grabbed my attention the second I saw it was about an amnesiac bookseller who wakes up to find himself suddenly more than a year into the future, and this story definitely didn’t disappoint. It is so twisty and clever and I was at the edge of my seat following along with Sterling and Adrian as they try to uncover what is going on.

This was a really clever and engaging story that drew me in from the very start. I can highly recommend it, both for fans of historicals and suspense, and those who like a tiny dose of horror. And folks who love the Widdershins world should definitely check this one out as well.

Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.

[Erik West]

Money well spent. I haven't been reading much for pleasure lately due to my university schedule, but I can always count on Hawk.

I loved seeing what felt like a grittier take on the Widdershins universe, and I loved the Lovecraft-meets-Machen vibes.

[小さな N (.❛ ᴗ ❛.)⊃ [_|_] ♡]

3.5 stars