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The King's Watch #1
The 13th Witch
Ever had a text from a deity?
Conrad Clarke did.
Someone has plans for Conrad, and those plans don’t involve an easy life.
Conrad Clarke, former RAF pilot and alleged gangster is dragged out of his comfort zone by a visit from The Allfather.
Norse gods in twenty-first century England?
Don’t be silly. Load of nonsense.
Before you can say “Ragnarok”, Conrad is plunged into a world of gods, Mages, Witches, Dwarves and one rather aggressive giant mole.
But he has next to no magick of his own.
Armed with nothing but a sense of humour and a willingness to cheat, Conrad has to save the Witch – and his life.
Conrad Clarke did.
Someone has plans for Conrad, and those plans don’t involve an easy life.
Conrad Clarke, former RAF pilot and alleged gangster is dragged out of his comfort zone by a visit from The Allfather.
Norse gods in twenty-first century England?
Don’t be silly. Load of nonsense.
Before you can say “Ragnarok”, Conrad is plunged into a world of gods, Mages, Witches, Dwarves and one rather aggressive giant mole.
But he has next to no magick of his own.
Armed with nothing but a sense of humour and a willingness to cheat, Conrad has to save the Witch – and his life.
253 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 25, 2017
1391 people are currently reading
2516 people want to read
About the author
Mark Hayden
27 books284 followersAuthor also writes under Ruth Ward
Mark Hayden is the nom de guerre of Adrian Attwood. He lives in Westmorland with his wife, Anne.
Adrian has had a varied career working for a brewery, teaching English and being the Town Clerk in Carnforth. He is now a part-time writer and part-time assistant in Anne's craft projects.
He is also proud to be the Mad Unky to his Great Nieces & Great Nephew.
His current writing project is the King’s Watch series of urban fantasy novels, from 13th Witch all the way down to Zero Hour. If he can keep it up.
Mark Hayden is the nom de guerre of Adrian Attwood. He lives in Westmorland with his wife, Anne.
Adrian has had a varied career working for a brewery, teaching English and being the Town Clerk in Carnforth. He is now a part-time writer and part-time assistant in Anne's craft projects.
He is also proud to be the Mad Unky to his Great Nieces & Great Nephew.
His current writing project is the King’s Watch series of urban fantasy novels, from 13th Witch all the way down to Zero Hour. If he can keep it up.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 420 reviews
October 10, 2020
Loving this British UF series. I'm reading the fourth book now and not planning to stop till they are all gone - so, yeah, it's sort of addictive :)
It's humorous and British so comparison to Peter Grant is inevitable. I'd say it's less geeky and more lighthearted, with more action, quicker pace and more various deities. Rather different feel altogether - not better or worse - just different.
Main character reminds me a bit of Harry Dresden, just older (37) and with more self deprecating humour. Series has a little of military flavour too since he is an ex RAF helicopter pilot with the leg trauma.
It's very British in lots of subtle ways: appreciating a pint or two of a local brew, horse riding and races, cricket, love for traditional architecture and antiques and ofc lots of tea drinking, with biscuits. I blame this series entirely for getting me hooked on chocolate hobnobs. :) It's also quite cosmopolitan - main character's closest circle consist of Indian, French, Jew and Geordie. (Yes, there is a joke in here) And then again it's very British in it's respect, knowledge and acceptance of various believes, traditions, religions and accents.
All in all it's a very enjoyable 'feel good' read. Comfort read for me. Once I'm done with this series I'm planning to check out other Hayden's books.
It's humorous and British so comparison to Peter Grant is inevitable. I'd say it's less geeky and more lighthearted, with more action, quicker pace and more various deities. Rather different feel altogether - not better or worse - just different.
Main character reminds me a bit of Harry Dresden, just older (37) and with more self deprecating humour. Series has a little of military flavour too since he is an ex RAF helicopter pilot with the leg trauma.
It's very British in lots of subtle ways: appreciating a pint or two of a local brew, horse riding and races, cricket, love for traditional architecture and antiques and ofc lots of tea drinking, with biscuits. I blame this series entirely for getting me hooked on chocolate hobnobs. :) It's also quite cosmopolitan - main character's closest circle consist of Indian, French, Jew and Geordie. (Yes, there is a joke in here) And then again it's very British in it's respect, knowledge and acceptance of various believes, traditions, religions and accents.
All in all it's a very enjoyable 'feel good' read. Comfort read for me. Once I'm done with this series I'm planning to check out other Hayden's books.
September 13, 2020
For a very particular reader
I waited till I was a little less than half-way through the second book to write this review. I now have a much better sense of what type of reader will enjoy it. In short, you will most likely enjoy this book, and this series, if you:
* Think that smoking cigarettes, lots of cigarettes, is cool.
* Are unconcerned about grammar, or at least feel comfortable switching tenses mid paragraph.
* Believe that a middle-aged, balding, criminal, with no particular talents other than faking his way through everything, is an attractive protagonist.
* Don't mind that the central love story is between two sadly desperate losers, one of whom is in jail, and seems clearly destined to fail.
* Are willing to stipulate that every mythological system, ever devised by our very creative species, is both true and exists in parallel with every other one.
* Couldn't care less that there seems to have been a prequel series that is referenced but possibly unpublished.
* Posses not the slightest discomfort when reading pages of illogical, incomprehensible, magic system and world building exposition that even rereading can't resolve.
* Just need to feed your fantasy reading addiction and, at this point, don't really care.
Unfortunately, none of the above describes me. There are some good elements of this book and, If you can answer yes to more than one of the above, there is enough else that is good to get you through. I gave it two stars instead of one as I did finish the first book. I made it to 47% of the second book before I got tired of waiting for it to get better.
I waited till I was a little less than half-way through the second book to write this review. I now have a much better sense of what type of reader will enjoy it. In short, you will most likely enjoy this book, and this series, if you:
* Think that smoking cigarettes, lots of cigarettes, is cool.
* Are unconcerned about grammar, or at least feel comfortable switching tenses mid paragraph.
* Believe that a middle-aged, balding, criminal, with no particular talents other than faking his way through everything, is an attractive protagonist.
* Don't mind that the central love story is between two sadly desperate losers, one of whom is in jail, and seems clearly destined to fail.
* Are willing to stipulate that every mythological system, ever devised by our very creative species, is both true and exists in parallel with every other one.
* Couldn't care less that there seems to have been a prequel series that is referenced but possibly unpublished.
* Posses not the slightest discomfort when reading pages of illogical, incomprehensible, magic system and world building exposition that even rereading can't resolve.
* Just need to feed your fantasy reading addiction and, at this point, don't really care.
Unfortunately, none of the above describes me. There are some good elements of this book and, If you can answer yes to more than one of the above, there is enough else that is good to get you through. I gave it two stars instead of one as I did finish the first book. I made it to 47% of the second book before I got tired of waiting for it to get better.
November 1, 2019
Very enjoyable UK based urban fantasy, different in style to the Peter Grant series and the Alex Verus series.
Start is little disjointed but this soothes out after the 40% mark, where it all starts to come together.
Well worth reading it, and looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Start is little disjointed but this soothes out after the 40% mark, where it all starts to come together.
Well worth reading it, and looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
May 4, 2021
3.5 This was pretty good and a surprise- in a good way. I do enjoy an UF series set in London with a male lead- (Rivers of London; Alex Verus) and this new magical world has made a promising start. I think it’s a shame that the MC uses actual weapons though- gives it a Larry Correira vibe that I’m not that fond of. Looking forward to seeing how the world building and plot develops.
May 1, 2020
I found the writing style awkward and at times descriptions of minorities and female characters were unnecessary bordering on offensive. I won't be reading this author again
June 20, 2022
Of all the flavours of fantasy novels, I only really enjoy those set in the real world (often described as urban fantasy, although some, as is the case here, are mostly rural) - whether it's the intricate cleverness of something like Gene Wolfe's Castleview, or when it's mixed with the police procedural, as in Ben Aaronovich's Rivers of London, Sarah Painter's Crow Investigations or Paul Cornell's Shadow Police. That meant I was delighted to discover Mark Hayden's King's Watch series. In many ways it's great, though it has proved to be something of a curate's egg.
The good news is that Hayden does some things brilliantly. I love the idea of rather than a police tie-in, it's a quasi-military one linked to the Tower of London, with a group originally set up by King James I (the aforementioned King's Watch, headed by a Peculier Constable). Hayden's magickal (sic) world and its political complications are beautifully imagined - whether it's the interplay between various human factions (for obscure historical reasons, for example, the North West doesn't recognise the authority of the King's Watch), or a very rich mix of different races from the near-human to demi-gods. Hayden is also very good at the action scenes - they really carry the reader along with page-turning vigour.
In The 13th Witch, the central character Conrad Clarke, a former RAF helicopter pilot, is introduced to a hidden magickal reality. At the time of writing there are 10 books in the series, with presumably 13 in total as each title reduces the number by one. There's an element of humour that's quite strong in the first book, though this tends to disappear as you move through the series.
So far, so good. But there are a couple of issues. The smallest one is that sometimes the situation Hayden imagines gets a bit beyond his ability to describe it, particularly in later parts of the series where he describes shifting between different planes of reality, some of which involved distorted flow of time. (Never as confusing as the movie Tenet, though.) There is also rather too much domestic background - we spend a lot of time on Clarke's relationships (and cricket playing) that really doesn't take the plot anywhere. Apart from his irritating fiancé, he has a series of attractive female work companions, who all seem to be about half his age, which is a bit creepy. But the thing that really irritated me was the way that you get the literary equivalent of in-app purchases.
As is not uncommon with big series, there are some spin-off novellas. I have no problem with these to optionally fill in back story or generally go off on a tangent, provided the main line of novels doesn't refer to them. The issue hear is that Hayden will mention something significant to the plot... then say 'which you can read about in Novella X, so we won't talk about it here' (or words to that effect). I found that so infuriating that a couple of times I nearly gave up on the series part way through a book. Each time (so far) I felt like that, I was then roped back in by a clever bit of suspense and intrigue. But I really didn't like this approach.
If these are your kind of books, I heartily recommend giving them a try - but they do come with that warning.
The good news is that Hayden does some things brilliantly. I love the idea of rather than a police tie-in, it's a quasi-military one linked to the Tower of London, with a group originally set up by King James I (the aforementioned King's Watch, headed by a Peculier Constable). Hayden's magickal (sic) world and its political complications are beautifully imagined - whether it's the interplay between various human factions (for obscure historical reasons, for example, the North West doesn't recognise the authority of the King's Watch), or a very rich mix of different races from the near-human to demi-gods. Hayden is also very good at the action scenes - they really carry the reader along with page-turning vigour.
In The 13th Witch, the central character Conrad Clarke, a former RAF helicopter pilot, is introduced to a hidden magickal reality. At the time of writing there are 10 books in the series, with presumably 13 in total as each title reduces the number by one. There's an element of humour that's quite strong in the first book, though this tends to disappear as you move through the series.
So far, so good. But there are a couple of issues. The smallest one is that sometimes the situation Hayden imagines gets a bit beyond his ability to describe it, particularly in later parts of the series where he describes shifting between different planes of reality, some of which involved distorted flow of time. (Never as confusing as the movie Tenet, though.) There is also rather too much domestic background - we spend a lot of time on Clarke's relationships (and cricket playing) that really doesn't take the plot anywhere. Apart from his irritating fiancé, he has a series of attractive female work companions, who all seem to be about half his age, which is a bit creepy. But the thing that really irritated me was the way that you get the literary equivalent of in-app purchases.
As is not uncommon with big series, there are some spin-off novellas. I have no problem with these to optionally fill in back story or generally go off on a tangent, provided the main line of novels doesn't refer to them. The issue hear is that Hayden will mention something significant to the plot... then say 'which you can read about in Novella X, so we won't talk about it here' (or words to that effect). I found that so infuriating that a couple of times I nearly gave up on the series part way through a book. Each time (so far) I felt like that, I was then roped back in by a clever bit of suspense and intrigue. But I really didn't like this approach.
If these are your kind of books, I heartily recommend giving them a try - but they do come with that warning.
February 3, 2020
Our hero, Conrad Clarke, is a former RAF pilot with a gammy leg. After being involved in something highly illegal (although potentially black ops) he is helped by an apparition which turns out to be a manifestation of the Norse God Odin. Odin wants to recruit Conrad to the King's Watch, a highly secretive society which investigates illegal use of Magick (yes, that's magic with a K) - just don't call them the Ministry of Magic. Unfortunately, in order to join the Watch Conrad must first obtain a badge of office and that can only be obtained once he has undertaken a task - in this case find a missing witch.
I think if you enjoy the Rivers of London or The Chronicles of St Mary's series you will enjoy this series. Our plucky hero may have very little magickal ability, but he makes up for the lack with sneakiness and an understanding of how people behave.
I'm a sucker for books set in London and this one centres on Bank underground station and the Tower of London so I loved reading about a place I walk past five days a week. Now every time I see the statue of the Duke of Wellington outside Royal Exchange I will picture Conrad sitting there with his cigarette and coffee. I'm also tempted to look for the Churchill Arms to see if he is there with Alain and Vicky.
Anyway, its funny and clever and I thoroughly enjoyed it. And for the moment it's free to borrow on Amazon Prime.
I think if you enjoy the Rivers of London or The Chronicles of St Mary's series you will enjoy this series. Our plucky hero may have very little magickal ability, but he makes up for the lack with sneakiness and an understanding of how people behave.
I'm a sucker for books set in London and this one centres on Bank underground station and the Tower of London so I loved reading about a place I walk past five days a week. Now every time I see the statue of the Duke of Wellington outside Royal Exchange I will picture Conrad sitting there with his cigarette and coffee. I'm also tempted to look for the Churchill Arms to see if he is there with Alain and Vicky.
Anyway, its funny and clever and I thoroughly enjoyed it. And for the moment it's free to borrow on Amazon Prime.
December 17, 2020
This is an urban fantasy and quite fun. Be warned, you are thrown into this as if you have missed a previous book. You haven’t. This is the start of a series but the main character, Conrad Clarke, has featured in a previous series which is not fantasy. So there are references to this and some characters that do make you feel you are missing something. Just ignore it.
Anyway The Allfather likes the cut of Conrad’s jib and thinks he should join the King’s Watch to protect England from magical types and transgressions. But first he has a mission to prove himself. Find a witch that doesn’t want to be found. I liked that he has no particular magical power or gift and has to make his way using his wits and cunning. He also makes some interesting friends, including a giant mole.
So you have read plenty like this before, but this is a fun and pacy addition to the genre.
Anyway The Allfather likes the cut of Conrad’s jib and thinks he should join the King’s Watch to protect England from magical types and transgressions. But first he has a mission to prove himself. Find a witch that doesn’t want to be found. I liked that he has no particular magical power or gift and has to make his way using his wits and cunning. He also makes some interesting friends, including a giant mole.
So you have read plenty like this before, but this is a fun and pacy addition to the genre.
March 17, 2020
STONKINGLY good book!
Very understated 'British' writing so be warned! Dry humour, amusing characters, Britishisms, weirdly wonderful and somehow compulsive.
I LOVED this! I can see how people might compare it to the Rivers Of London, but this deserves its own status. The plot is complex and Conrad is very much a 'mystery' but that simply adds to the fun.
Reading Book 2 right now!
Edited to add further comments:
I've finished reading the series as far as it goes and I am now waiting eagerly for the next book to be published - sometime around the end of March 2020. I cannot remember the last time I enjoyed an urban fantasy series quite so much, and to the extent that I immediately started reading again, from the start. The writing is deliciously 'British', the characters each have their own distinctive 'voice' and the author uses some subtle and clever ways to change POVs (which doesn't happen very often.) And I LOVE the slight obsession with shrugging!
As the series progresses, the back story becomes clearer, though there are still several mysteries regarding Conrad, and usually that would irritate me. But it doesn't here. It works really well for some reason (and yes, I know Conrad's story is written in a different series, but I hadn't read those)
I also love the way details are dropped into the story with an almost casual air. I expect the author has done a phenomenal amount of research and it shows, but not in massive info-dumps, or great wodges of boring details. There's a comfortable sense that this author isn't going to drop a clanger or write something so stupid that I want to throw my Kindle across the room. Instead I am quietly enjoying learning small details without feeling I am being lectured at!
There are a few niggles about the actual format of the book - changes in scenes/times are not sometimes marked with the usual *** and it can confuse the reader. The chapter titles are a tad too large - maybe because I have my kindle font set at 'large' and although I like the covers, they have a slight 'blurriness' about them?
However, I have read all six books in the series and I am going to start reading them again, tonight. I think that's a good enough recommendation. ;)
I'm probably going to cheat and post this latter part of this review on all the King's Watch novels to date, seeing as I feel the same way about each book!
Very understated 'British' writing so be warned! Dry humour, amusing characters, Britishisms, weirdly wonderful and somehow compulsive.
I LOVED this! I can see how people might compare it to the Rivers Of London, but this deserves its own status. The plot is complex and Conrad is very much a 'mystery' but that simply adds to the fun.
Reading Book 2 right now!
Edited to add further comments:
I've finished reading the series as far as it goes and I am now waiting eagerly for the next book to be published - sometime around the end of March 2020. I cannot remember the last time I enjoyed an urban fantasy series quite so much, and to the extent that I immediately started reading again, from the start. The writing is deliciously 'British', the characters each have their own distinctive 'voice' and the author uses some subtle and clever ways to change POVs (which doesn't happen very often.) And I LOVE the slight obsession with shrugging!
As the series progresses, the back story becomes clearer, though there are still several mysteries regarding Conrad, and usually that would irritate me. But it doesn't here. It works really well for some reason (and yes, I know Conrad's story is written in a different series, but I hadn't read those)
I also love the way details are dropped into the story with an almost casual air. I expect the author has done a phenomenal amount of research and it shows, but not in massive info-dumps, or great wodges of boring details. There's a comfortable sense that this author isn't going to drop a clanger or write something so stupid that I want to throw my Kindle across the room. Instead I am quietly enjoying learning small details without feeling I am being lectured at!
There are a few niggles about the actual format of the book - changes in scenes/times are not sometimes marked with the usual *** and it can confuse the reader. The chapter titles are a tad too large - maybe because I have my kindle font set at 'large' and although I like the covers, they have a slight 'blurriness' about them?
However, I have read all six books in the series and I am going to start reading them again, tonight. I think that's a good enough recommendation. ;)
I'm probably going to cheat and post this latter part of this review on all the King's Watch novels to date, seeing as I feel the same way about each book!
June 9, 2020
By the end of this book I quite liked it and probably would give it 3/5. But the problem is the first half is dreadfully slow, introducing lots of magical concepts but without explaining any fully. It just tried to do too much too soon - I would have only given it 1/5.
Also didn’t buy the main character’s romance with his girlfriend. It added little to the plot and he seemed to turn into a snivelling wreck, at odds with his magical MI5 persona in the rest of the plot.
To be fair I will probably give the second book a go - mainly because it’s free to borrow on Kindle Unlimited.
Also didn’t buy the main character’s romance with his girlfriend. It added little to the plot and he seemed to turn into a snivelling wreck, at odds with his magical MI5 persona in the rest of the plot.
To be fair I will probably give the second book a go - mainly because it’s free to borrow on Kindle Unlimited.
September 6, 2022
Lots of magick and action but I felt like I had missed reading the book that set up the story. So many internal thoughts, mostly held back from the reader who is then 'surprised' by actions. Way too many messed up outcomes. I don't think the writing style suits my reading style.
May 24, 2021
"Did you know that the gods can use mobile phones? No? Me neither."
That is how Conrad Clarke's journey into the world of magic and the supernatural begins. The phantom image that had been appearing to him suddenly becomes real...and that reality is nothing that his prior life in the RAF had prepared him for. Soon he is tasked with a series of tests that will bring him new teammates, new abilities, and new responsibilities and strange new "friends" that he wasn't prepared for. And...nothing like getting thrown into the deep end as his first true mission could literally save everyone he knows and loves.
I have an extensive library with books that I realize that I may never have time to read before I shuffle off this mortal coil. That makes it a little difficult sometimes to discover new authors and new stories. Luckily, I had been seeing advertisements for a new writer I wasn't familiar with and a series that, after reading the story summary and premise, prompted me to take a chance on the first book in THE KING'S WATCH series. That chance definitely paid off as the story was fun and filled with many of the elements that I enjoy in any book that I read. Plus, the specific mythic element that the author introduces happens to be one that I have loved and indulged in since I could pick up a book and read on my own some cough-cough-60+ years ago.
Mark Hayden kicks off this NEW series around the main character of Conrad Clarke, but Conrad is NOT new to the pages of the Mark's previous books. It IS the first new book that thrusts Clarke into a world he never knew though, as the previous trilogy, OPERATION JIGSAW, was more main stream adventure/thriller/mystery with none of the elements that make up these new stories - other than the main character, of course. Not having read the original trilogy I have no basis of comparison as Hayden switches genre types, but, his writing style is definitely entertaining and held my attention as, once having picked it up I didn't put it down until reading the entire 196 pages.
Needless to say...or actually, I DO need to say...I immediately ordered the next book in the series and am now making my way through that as well with the full intention of buying the complete series.
New favorite author and series...what more can you ask for as a reader?
That is how Conrad Clarke's journey into the world of magic and the supernatural begins. The phantom image that had been appearing to him suddenly becomes real...and that reality is nothing that his prior life in the RAF had prepared him for. Soon he is tasked with a series of tests that will bring him new teammates, new abilities, and new responsibilities and strange new "friends" that he wasn't prepared for. And...nothing like getting thrown into the deep end as his first true mission could literally save everyone he knows and loves.
I have an extensive library with books that I realize that I may never have time to read before I shuffle off this mortal coil. That makes it a little difficult sometimes to discover new authors and new stories. Luckily, I had been seeing advertisements for a new writer I wasn't familiar with and a series that, after reading the story summary and premise, prompted me to take a chance on the first book in THE KING'S WATCH series. That chance definitely paid off as the story was fun and filled with many of the elements that I enjoy in any book that I read. Plus, the specific mythic element that the author introduces happens to be one that I have loved and indulged in since I could pick up a book and read on my own some cough-cough-60+ years ago.
Mark Hayden kicks off this NEW series around the main character of Conrad Clarke, but Conrad is NOT new to the pages of the Mark's previous books. It IS the first new book that thrusts Clarke into a world he never knew though, as the previous trilogy, OPERATION JIGSAW, was more main stream adventure/thriller/mystery with none of the elements that make up these new stories - other than the main character, of course. Not having read the original trilogy I have no basis of comparison as Hayden switches genre types, but, his writing style is definitely entertaining and held my attention as, once having picked it up I didn't put it down until reading the entire 196 pages.
Needless to say...or actually, I DO need to say...I immediately ordered the next book in the series and am now making my way through that as well with the full intention of buying the complete series.
New favorite author and series...what more can you ask for as a reader?
February 2, 2019
Truthfully, I'm not even sure where to begin. I was literally blown away with this novel. Some of the concepts were just mind boggling, a why didn't I think of that kind of mind boggling. It does help to know your mythology and fairy tales, but make sure you have an open mind, cause this is a whole new take on them. I loved how descriptive Mark Hayden was. In fact, if you get queezy easily you might have a bit of trouble. I loved how you were never quite sure who the good guys were. I usually have a good idea as to who did it, but this time, not even close. I love that. Actually, the only problem I had with this book was that it was written in British English, and I'm American. There were a few words that took me awhile to get used too. I also loved how Mark Hayden started with 13 instead of 1 like most people do, I thought it was clever. It's nice to know this is a series, cause you'll want to know more about the characters. I usually don't give stars but this is definitely a 5+ stars. I feel sorry for the rest of the books I'll read this year, they have a tough job trying to make it in the top 3 for the year, as this book set the bar pretty high. If you love magick, witches, fairy tales, mythology, family mysteries, then I highly recommend this book. You won't be disappointed.
February 4, 2020
Magickal
I wanted to like this from the cover and name, but my heart sank when I realized the protagonist was a hard bitten ex-serviceman. Not my sort of book, I thought. However, I was wrong! After a slightly slow start, this imaginative Britain with 'magickal' hidden elements has a lot of charm. The story is well paced and packed with interesting details, the characters are engaging (yes even grizzled James Bond esque Conrad) . Definitely a good one to pick up and enjoy on a rainy day. And don't think about mentioning Muggles!
I wanted to like this from the cover and name, but my heart sank when I realized the protagonist was a hard bitten ex-serviceman. Not my sort of book, I thought. However, I was wrong! After a slightly slow start, this imaginative Britain with 'magickal' hidden elements has a lot of charm. The story is well paced and packed with interesting details, the characters are engaging (yes even grizzled James Bond esque Conrad) . Definitely a good one to pick up and enjoy on a rainy day. And don't think about mentioning Muggles!
did-not-finish
November 10, 2020Imagine thinking that your girlfriend's entire personality is being pretty.
3 chapters in and the writing is so dry I have no interest in the character (we got it after the 10th time, you were in the RAF), the plot or anything related to this book. The narrator wasn't bad.
3 chapters in and the writing is so dry I have no interest in the character (we got it after the 10th time, you were in the RAF), the plot or anything related to this book. The narrator wasn't bad.
May 18, 2020
No where as good as the Peter Grant/Rivers of London series, but it will do as a filler until the next Grant comes out. Not only will read the next in the series, I am starting it now.
September 21, 2024
Jarring out of date treatment of minority characters. How was this book written in 2017???
July 19, 2021
Um... the writing is pretty good and I really like the world but the mc felt kind of bland to me and I swear I must have missed a plotpoint at some point cause the plot kind of resolved itself in the end. It is not that the mc was passive or a Gary-Stew, it is just that I am not very sure what the villain was trying to accomplish exactly...
May 14, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. An RAF pilot, Odin, magick what more can you ask for?
I hope the second book holds up to my expectation.
I hope the second book holds up to my expectation.
April 30, 2021
This one is a real shame. I could tell by the writing style that if the story had gelled with me a bit better then I might have grown to like this series. I like the magical elements and the characters all feel distinct and interesting. I'd even go so far as to liken this in tone to something like a Neil Gaiman novel as it has something of American Gods about it... in tone at least.
However, after three false starts, I have to admit that I can't get into this one. The story is really disjointed at the start, almost feeling like I have come into the series too late and have missed a book. Then things develop really quickly, almost too quickly as the protagonist gets introduced to the supernatural, meets a deity and gets himself a job for a shadowy government organisation before I even realised that the story had actually started. The character is literally on some form of mission already before I realised that I had been given all of the set up I was going to get and I had to just get on with it.
The problem is, there just wasn't enough setup. It's like someone cut out huge chunks of this book... and necessary chunks at that. The result is a choppy and uneven story that feels like it's been lifted from a better novel. Unfortunately, it doesn't matter how good the fragments are if you can't see the whole picture.
Overall I made it about 50% of the way through on my third try and decided to call it a day.
However, after three false starts, I have to admit that I can't get into this one. The story is really disjointed at the start, almost feeling like I have come into the series too late and have missed a book. Then things develop really quickly, almost too quickly as the protagonist gets introduced to the supernatural, meets a deity and gets himself a job for a shadowy government organisation before I even realised that the story had actually started. The character is literally on some form of mission already before I realised that I had been given all of the set up I was going to get and I had to just get on with it.
The problem is, there just wasn't enough setup. It's like someone cut out huge chunks of this book... and necessary chunks at that. The result is a choppy and uneven story that feels like it's been lifted from a better novel. Unfortunately, it doesn't matter how good the fragments are if you can't see the whole picture.
Overall I made it about 50% of the way through on my third try and decided to call it a day.
July 11, 2022
If you have a subscription to Kindle Unlimited at Amazon, you know that the titles available for borrowing include a large number of self-published, straight-to-Kindle titles. I’ve read (or attempted to read) at least a couple hundred of them since the service was introduced in 2014, and while they were mostly pretty mediocre at the beginning, their quality has improved dramatically in the past couple of years. That’s where I found this one, the opening volume of a ten-book series, which is an interesting mix of urban fantasy and techno-thriller, and it’s first-rate, both in its story and character and in the author's unadorned but vivid writing style. I don’t know anything about Hayden, who is British, but I’m guessing he had a career in the RAF before he turned to writing, for reasons that are apparent almost from the first page.
Our protagonist is ex-Squadron Leader Conrad Clarke, now in his mid-thirties, who flew helicopters in Iraq and Afghanistan until he was badly wounded and took medical retirement, and then got himself involved in a money-laundering scheme. His father’s an antique dealer and his mother used to solve problems for one of Her Majesty’s intelligence organizations, and both are now retired in Spain, which leaves Conrad in sole possession of the huge family house in Clerkswell, in Gloucestershire. When the story opens, Conrad is on the run from the authorities, nursing a couple of bullet wounds, and hears a voice telling him where to hide his weapons before the police catch up. Which he does, and then puts his hands up, and goes to the emergency room.
But Conrad has a knack for getting out of scrapes and soon he’s back home, sitting by the ancient well at the bottom of their land, which supplies a very special water to the local pub, which brews the best ale in the county. And there he’s approached by the Allfather -- Odin, that is -- who recruits him into the King’s Watch. And there his adventures really begin, involving not only the discovery that Magick (with a “K”) actually exists, but a secret military/law enforcement organization hidden in the Tower of London, a talking mole the size of a bull that lives under the Bank of England, dwarves that more closely resemble a cross between R2Dt and a Dalek (but made of stone), and a whole lot more supernatural deities and other beings than he’s really comfortable with.
It’s first-rate worldbuilding, with a well thought out system of magic and “secret history” explanations for numerous oddities in English history. The humor, of which there’s a lot, is dry and British and often tongue-in-cheek, and the characters, especially those in the Watch and the Invisible College are highly original and credible with the terms of the world they inhabit. There’s a love story between Conrad and his Hindu girlfriend, but it’s sort of on hold until she’s out of prison. All in all, it’s terrific story and I recommend it highly. This also wasn’t the author’s first effort, by the way. There’s a prequel trilogy featuring the earlier adventures of Conrad Clarke. “You can look it up if you want,” as he says on the first page.
Our protagonist is ex-Squadron Leader Conrad Clarke, now in his mid-thirties, who flew helicopters in Iraq and Afghanistan until he was badly wounded and took medical retirement, and then got himself involved in a money-laundering scheme. His father’s an antique dealer and his mother used to solve problems for one of Her Majesty’s intelligence organizations, and both are now retired in Spain, which leaves Conrad in sole possession of the huge family house in Clerkswell, in Gloucestershire. When the story opens, Conrad is on the run from the authorities, nursing a couple of bullet wounds, and hears a voice telling him where to hide his weapons before the police catch up. Which he does, and then puts his hands up, and goes to the emergency room.
But Conrad has a knack for getting out of scrapes and soon he’s back home, sitting by the ancient well at the bottom of their land, which supplies a very special water to the local pub, which brews the best ale in the county. And there he’s approached by the Allfather -- Odin, that is -- who recruits him into the King’s Watch. And there his adventures really begin, involving not only the discovery that Magick (with a “K”) actually exists, but a secret military/law enforcement organization hidden in the Tower of London, a talking mole the size of a bull that lives under the Bank of England, dwarves that more closely resemble a cross between R2Dt and a Dalek (but made of stone), and a whole lot more supernatural deities and other beings than he’s really comfortable with.
It’s first-rate worldbuilding, with a well thought out system of magic and “secret history” explanations for numerous oddities in English history. The humor, of which there’s a lot, is dry and British and often tongue-in-cheek, and the characters, especially those in the Watch and the Invisible College are highly original and credible with the terms of the world they inhabit. There’s a love story between Conrad and his Hindu girlfriend, but it’s sort of on hold until she’s out of prison. All in all, it’s terrific story and I recommend it highly. This also wasn’t the author’s first effort, by the way. There’s a prequel trilogy featuring the earlier adventures of Conrad Clarke. “You can look it up if you want,” as he says on the first page.
January 22, 2019
A thriller with fantasy elements, a mystery with a magical twist; this book is all these things and more. This is the first tale in a series where an established hero from another setting discovers that he is capable of more than courageous cunning, even if that has kept him alive so far. It is quite a cheeky book, as it gently overlaps with a certain series where a boy discovers his magical abilities, and sets out the adult realities, responsibilities and dangers of a hidden world. Dramatic events, working out of clues and deciding on strategies sit alongside some wonderfully accurate pictures of people living in our own society in all their bewilderment, sympathies and abilities. I enjoyed this novel immensely, as it works up to a climax where courage, luck and humanity are tested. I was very grateful to be offered a copy to review as part of a blog tour.
Conrad Clarke, battered ex RAF officer and more recently involved in shady dealings, returns to the family home for Christmas. His parents greet him, confused by his latest injuries, and keen to hear more of his romantic life. I particularly enjoyed the portrait of his mother, retired code breaker and struggling cook. As his father tries to find out more, and the pub with a family interest beckons, Conrad encounters a mysterious figure with supernatural powers and the offer of work. As Conrad discovers more by working out how to contact the next layer of a complicated system, and deal with the keeper of the way, the encounters are frequently funny in some ways, and always fascinating. Hannah, senior officer and damaged person was a character I wanted to find out more about, and while the hero is male, he cannot function without the strong women he encounters as he lies, speculates and generally tries to work out what is going on. Some of the techniques and resources he calls on are remarkable, yet all are based on solid everyday life. His relationship with Mina is also fascinating, and I look forward to finding out where that narrative strand takes her and Conrad.
There are many entertaining strands to this story and a terrific amount of clever plotting and thought which transforms this from a fantasy into a solidly grounded contemporary novel, while maintaining the magical elements. The descriptions are so well written that I could visualise the settings and equipment used, especially as Conrad visits the London sites. I found Conrad to be a fascinating character as he methodically goes through his next steps, but has to mix in spontaneous elements to survive. I found the details extremely interesting, such as the small carvings of one of the types of beings that Conrad encounters and how he deals with a giant creature. The women who help him are varied and far from mere back up characters; I enjoyed the snapshots of village life which thread throughout the book. It all adds up to be a really readable novel which kept me turning the pages and I would be really interested to read what happens next to Conrad, Mina and how he experiences “The King’s Watch”.
Conrad Clarke, battered ex RAF officer and more recently involved in shady dealings, returns to the family home for Christmas. His parents greet him, confused by his latest injuries, and keen to hear more of his romantic life. I particularly enjoyed the portrait of his mother, retired code breaker and struggling cook. As his father tries to find out more, and the pub with a family interest beckons, Conrad encounters a mysterious figure with supernatural powers and the offer of work. As Conrad discovers more by working out how to contact the next layer of a complicated system, and deal with the keeper of the way, the encounters are frequently funny in some ways, and always fascinating. Hannah, senior officer and damaged person was a character I wanted to find out more about, and while the hero is male, he cannot function without the strong women he encounters as he lies, speculates and generally tries to work out what is going on. Some of the techniques and resources he calls on are remarkable, yet all are based on solid everyday life. His relationship with Mina is also fascinating, and I look forward to finding out where that narrative strand takes her and Conrad.
There are many entertaining strands to this story and a terrific amount of clever plotting and thought which transforms this from a fantasy into a solidly grounded contemporary novel, while maintaining the magical elements. The descriptions are so well written that I could visualise the settings and equipment used, especially as Conrad visits the London sites. I found Conrad to be a fascinating character as he methodically goes through his next steps, but has to mix in spontaneous elements to survive. I found the details extremely interesting, such as the small carvings of one of the types of beings that Conrad encounters and how he deals with a giant creature. The women who help him are varied and far from mere back up characters; I enjoyed the snapshots of village life which thread throughout the book. It all adds up to be a really readable novel which kept me turning the pages and I would be really interested to read what happens next to Conrad, Mina and how he experiences “The King’s Watch”.
September 20, 2024
This was a really fun read! If you lurk around the reviews for the book, you'll see a lot of comparisons to 'Rivers of London' series, and that's bang on the nose.
- Story set in urban London: check
- A magic system, in which the protagonist starts with basically no abilities: check
- A romance subplot: check
- A male protagonist doing investigationy things: check
So how does the king's watch series differ?
- Norse mythology and gods
- A giant fucking mole that is probably one of the best characters in the book
That's about it. That being said, I did prefer this book as an introduction to the series more than I enjoyed rivers of london to it's respective series, most people hold them equally in regard but this one was more to my taste in terms of humour, fun and overall enjoyment.
' The 13th Witch' is a very fun, fast paced story with tons of plot twists, action and giant mole with a taste for curry worms. There is a huge cast of characters, and there's something to like about most of them. I enjoyed it a great deal and i'm definitely convinced to check out atleast a couple more books in the series (as I continue holding off on continuing rivers of london book 2 lolol)
The main thing that I would have enjoyed more in this book is more Odin. We got him at the start of the book, and he didn't really have much importance (despite being a phone call away) apart from giving the main character his quest. Hopefully the gods become more relevant, there was one that actually had more impact in the story than Odin lol.
4/5 go read it
- Story set in urban London: check
- A magic system, in which the protagonist starts with basically no abilities: check
- A romance subplot: check
- A male protagonist doing investigationy things: check
So how does the king's watch series differ?
- Norse mythology and gods
- A giant fucking mole that is probably one of the best characters in the book
That's about it. That being said, I did prefer this book as an introduction to the series more than I enjoyed rivers of london to it's respective series, most people hold them equally in regard but this one was more to my taste in terms of humour, fun and overall enjoyment.
' The 13th Witch' is a very fun, fast paced story with tons of plot twists, action and giant mole with a taste for curry worms. There is a huge cast of characters, and there's something to like about most of them. I enjoyed it a great deal and i'm definitely convinced to check out atleast a couple more books in the series (as I continue holding off on continuing rivers of london book 2 lolol)
The main thing that I would have enjoyed more in this book is more Odin. We got him at the start of the book, and he didn't really have much importance (despite being a phone call away) apart from giving the main character his quest. Hopefully the gods become more relevant, there was one that actually had more impact in the story than Odin lol.
4/5 go read it
July 7, 2025
English version below
******************
In dieser Urban Fantasy-Serie begleiten wir einen ehemaligen RAF-Piloten, der nach einem Unfall mit einer schweren Kopfverletzung plötzlich Stimmen hört.
Unser Protagonist Conrad Clarke findet bald heraus, dass die Stimmen zu Odin gehören, der ihn in seine Dienste verpflichtet.
Die Geschichte lässt sich vielversprechend an, aber meine Begeisterung versandete recht schnell, zum einen bedingt durch den Schreibstil, aber auch durch die merkwürdige Vermischung von militärischen und magischen Aktivitäten. Dazu kam auch noch, dass ich die Charaktere nicht so richtig ansprechend fand.
Alles in allem fand ich das Buch interessant genug, dass ich es bis zu Ende gelesen habe, aber nicht interessant genug, um die Serie weiter zu verfolgen.
Ich bewerte mit 2 Sternen.
-------------------------
In this urban fantasy series, we follow a former RAF pilot who suddenly hears voices after an accident with a serious head injury.
Our protagonist Conrad Clarke soon discovers that the voices belong to Odin, who enlists him in his service.
The story starts off promisingly, but my enthusiasm faded quite quickly, partly due to the writing style, but also because of the strange mixture of military and magical activities. On top of that, I didn't find the characters very appealing.
All in all, I found the book interesting enough to read to the end, but not interesting enough to continue with the series.
I rate it 2 stars.
******************
In dieser Urban Fantasy-Serie begleiten wir einen ehemaligen RAF-Piloten, der nach einem Unfall mit einer schweren Kopfverletzung plötzlich Stimmen hört.
Unser Protagonist Conrad Clarke findet bald heraus, dass die Stimmen zu Odin gehören, der ihn in seine Dienste verpflichtet.
Die Geschichte lässt sich vielversprechend an, aber meine Begeisterung versandete recht schnell, zum einen bedingt durch den Schreibstil, aber auch durch die merkwürdige Vermischung von militärischen und magischen Aktivitäten. Dazu kam auch noch, dass ich die Charaktere nicht so richtig ansprechend fand.
Alles in allem fand ich das Buch interessant genug, dass ich es bis zu Ende gelesen habe, aber nicht interessant genug, um die Serie weiter zu verfolgen.
Ich bewerte mit 2 Sternen.
-------------------------
In this urban fantasy series, we follow a former RAF pilot who suddenly hears voices after an accident with a serious head injury.
Our protagonist Conrad Clarke soon discovers that the voices belong to Odin, who enlists him in his service.
The story starts off promisingly, but my enthusiasm faded quite quickly, partly due to the writing style, but also because of the strange mixture of military and magical activities. On top of that, I didn't find the characters very appealing.
All in all, I found the book interesting enough to read to the end, but not interesting enough to continue with the series.
I rate it 2 stars.
March 25, 2020
Very surprised that I found myself liking this more than expected. A unique urban fantasy! I liked the characters, especially Lord Mayor of Moles, they were pretty unique. The magic system was also interesting to read about, and I liked their take on dwarves which were cool.
Now, I would have given this book higher if it weren’t for the way the world building was explained. I appreciate the dedication went into fleshing out the lore and systems of the magick used in the world and classes of people who use lux, and I know Conrad (protagonist) is as ignorant as the reader with nobody explaining anything fully, but bloody hell I am a simple person with a brain like a sieve. I can only take in so much information!
I can see that there are a few other books in the series, and that they may be quite short as this one is, so I’m on the fence about whether or not I should actually go for it. Seeing the synopsis of the next book though, it’s not intriguing me enough to want to get it, but we shall see.
Now, I would have given this book higher if it weren’t for the way the world building was explained. I appreciate the dedication went into fleshing out the lore and systems of the magick used in the world and classes of people who use lux, and I know Conrad (protagonist) is as ignorant as the reader with nobody explaining anything fully, but bloody hell I am a simple person with a brain like a sieve. I can only take in so much information!
I can see that there are a few other books in the series, and that they may be quite short as this one is, so I’m on the fence about whether or not I should actually go for it. Seeing the synopsis of the next book though, it’s not intriguing me enough to want to get it, but we shall see.
May 9, 2024
Title: The 13th Witch A Conrad Clarke Novel (Kings Watch Book 1)
Author: Mark Hayden @mhaydenauthor
Rating: 4/5
Pages: 253
Also available on @amazonkindle - kindle unlimited
I stumbled along this book, looking for fantasy smut 🤣 (it isn't that)
Conrad is sent on a mission to prove himself. We meet lots of interesting characters with plenty of back story that I hope to see more of in future series.
As its an urban fantasy based in Britain It's hard not to compare Conrad Clark to Peter Grant and Alex Verus. He has a srlf depreciating humour to himself and seems to be a loveable rogue that always falls on his feet.
The military element is a nice touch.
The book is definitely a comfort read for me. (Like most urban fantasy genres)
Despite the slow start, I'm intrigued to see where the series goes, and I've already started the second one; The 12 Dragons of Albion
Have you read this book or series?
Will you give it a go?
What's your favourite urban fantasy book at the moment?
Author: Mark Hayden @mhaydenauthor
Rating: 4/5
Pages: 253
Also available on @amazonkindle - kindle unlimited
I stumbled along this book, looking for fantasy smut 🤣 (it isn't that)
Conrad is sent on a mission to prove himself. We meet lots of interesting characters with plenty of back story that I hope to see more of in future series.
As its an urban fantasy based in Britain It's hard not to compare Conrad Clark to Peter Grant and Alex Verus. He has a srlf depreciating humour to himself and seems to be a loveable rogue that always falls on his feet.
The military element is a nice touch.
The book is definitely a comfort read for me. (Like most urban fantasy genres)
Despite the slow start, I'm intrigued to see where the series goes, and I've already started the second one; The 12 Dragons of Albion
Have you read this book or series?
Will you give it a go?
What's your favourite urban fantasy book at the moment?
January 11, 2020
Some very decent world-building, with a number of unusual and interesting ideas about how magical creatures might operate: the Lord Mayor of Moles, for example, was a surprisingly original character, and far less kitschy than the name suggests. Also it was completely packed with fast-moving plot. While at times that was enjoyable, it ultimately became a problem because it left very little room for creating a sense of atmosphere or developing the main character. The reader is barrelled along this rush to the end of the story, and never gets to feel like Conrad Clarke is a real person, just a collection of convenient talents and experiences.
January 18, 2021
I really liked this, first time I had come across this author. The writing style is easy to read, and the sardonic sense of humour is very British. The fantasy background is a bit baffling, but explained as you go along, and the background of London and shire parts of England well described. The hero is a lovable rogue of country background, who doesn't take himself too seriously, and I love the way that the multicultural background of modern Britain is used. Looking forward to working my way through the rest of the series.
March 4, 2023
I went into this book blind like I saw the cover and thought it was like a witchy novel. I was thoroughly surprised.
This is so well written and easy to read, Conrad is hilarious & I love how he talks to/at the reader and I love all the mythology.
For me ~~
- “I strolled along, enjoying the freedom that having a purpose gives you”
- The old legend requires that six ravens be present at all times, lest the Tower crumble and the monarchy collapse. Everyone knows that this is accomplished by clipping their wings and having seven ravens in case of death, escape or attack by urban fox.
- You promised never to lie to me, Conrad.
Then you said you loved me. I love you too.
This is so well written and easy to read, Conrad is hilarious & I love how he talks to/at the reader and I love all the mythology.
For me ~~
- “I strolled along, enjoying the freedom that having a purpose gives you”
- The old legend requires that six ravens be present at all times, lest the Tower crumble and the monarchy collapse. Everyone knows that this is accomplished by clipping their wings and having seven ravens in case of death, escape or attack by urban fox.
- You promised never to lie to me, Conrad.
Then you said you loved me. I love you too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2019
OK. I'm only halfway through this book. Needed something to read 'next' and picked it up off Amazon because I liked the cover. Great choice. Super character concepts and a really refreshing, unique take on a hidden world of magic. Sincerely enjoying the read and can't wait to finish this one and pick up the next book in the series. Well done, Mr. Hayden!
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