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: Historical, Fantasy, Lovecraftian, Mystery, Paranormal, Magic, Romance

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

[K.J. Charles]

A 1920s adventure romance set in the Widdershins world. A rare book dealer is used as patsy by a sinister conspiracy which takes over his body and leaves him with amnesia and an urgent need to find out what he's been up to for the last year. Much cosmic horror results. There's a romance, though it doesn't really take centre stage much: we're more concerned with the unspooling mystery and the thoroughly spooky world of the setting, plus it is always a delight to see Widdershins again, especially through the eyes of someone who wants to know what the bobbins they put in their drinks.

[Kassu · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

4+⭐

After reading several predictable books, getting my hands on a mystery that keeps the reader guessing was like coming home. I am a huge fan of Widdershins Universe and I was aware this story was told chapter by chapter in Hawk's Patreon, where the paid subscribers could vote what happens next. I have no patience to read anything like that, so I stayed well away and waited for the complete story. And it's lovely! One might see some remnants of the choose-your-adventure style here, but it's not glaring: the story seems whole, though I would have enjoyed some more fleshing out. There are references to earlier novels I caught and I'm sure some I missed, but I'd wager this could work as an introduction to the world too. The year is 1926-27, so chronologically this happens after the two series—sort of.

Some things about the mystery are easy to guess but there's still so much to find out, and little pieces that lock in later on. I've always enjoyed the author's way of combining adventure and mystery with a sprinkling or horror, not to forget the romance. Though the romance parts felt just slightly too straight-forward and sub-plotty here. I liked it, but it's definitely among the things that could have still used some more substance.

I didn't quite think the whole book was as strong as the beginning, at least the big exposition towards the end felt slightly rushed. Though I still enjoyed the whole ride. And I'll happily give the extra quarter of star just for the fact that the enemy so clearly represents current Gen AI. It felt like a statement in the best way. This might not be my favourite Widdershins novel, but it's so relevant to the time now, which feels just so clever, as the theme of time is ever present in the book.

[Achim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you remember that scene in Hitchcock's North by Northwest, the one Cary Grant in a cornfield? Okay, here we have marches instead of cornfields, there's no airplane, we're in the 1920's and Sterling isn't exactly Cary Grant, so it might be odd that my mind went to that scene but it's the vibe, this feeling of impeding danger, of abandonment, of feeling lost without knowing why and the danger doesn't take long to strike out of the blue. Jordan L. Hawk just makes it more creepy than Hitchcock but nevertheless he's sending his protagonist on a constant run, sometimes an escape, sometimes a hunt for information where with each step it's become more mazy and dangerous until magic, monster and greed is challenging the survival of humanity.

I loved it and was surprised how much I liked, no, wanted to be back in Widdershins and yes, there is this special Lovecraftian vibe I was looking for and there are enough easter eggs to make me feel like a member of that universe because I found them but of course it's not Whyborne and Griffin. There Hawk took his time to lead us into the Widdershins universe, introduced us to its eccentric inhabitants, let the romance between his 2 MCs evolve organically over time and ramped the plot up with each book while here it's more a breathless hunt. There's always something happening or there's a twist that kept me so involved with the story that I only recognized what I was missing a day after I closed the book. It was what I needed and also it wasn't, at least not enough. Suppose I have to reread Whyborne and Griffin and afterwards long for a view of Widdershins after their era (Rath and Rune didn't really sooth that longing).

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Tetiana]

Wow, shit happens LITERALLY in every chapter of this book. I devoured (hehe, get it) it in a couple of sittings.
Fast-paced, clever, spooky, with a sprinke of sweet, unobtrusive romance and a couple of easter eggs for those who has read all the books in the Widdershins universe. Always glad to go back to everyone's favorite Lovecraftian murder town.

[Emma · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

3.5 it wasn’t bad, I just kept wanting it to be Whybourne and Griffin. The romance part in here felt more forced in the beginning, too.

[Erik West · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 ❛.)⊃ [_|_] ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars