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A Hollystone Mystery #3
To Render a Raven
"VAMPIRES ARE REAL AND THIS ONE'S GOT MY BABY."
Estrada is the high priest of Hollystone Coven, a shaman and magician. But is he a match for a vengeful vampire? When the devilish Diego steals Lucy from her crib on the eve of her first birthday, the Hollystone witches converge.
That same night, a woman is murdered and another abducted. All three scenes are marked by red roses that point to Michael Stryker, Estrada's lover and best friend--a man with a strange dark "virus" brewing inside him.
As the witches journey up the Pacific Northwest coast by yacht, Michael's virus spikes, and they are harassed by vicious ravens. Diego wants blood. Estrada wants his baby back. What will the high priest sacrifice to bring his daughter home?
A sexy Hitchcockian thriller that demystifies Vampire and illustrates the power of Love.
Estrada is the high priest of Hollystone Coven, a shaman and magician. But is he a match for a vengeful vampire? When the devilish Diego steals Lucy from her crib on the eve of her first birthday, the Hollystone witches converge.
That same night, a woman is murdered and another abducted. All three scenes are marked by red roses that point to Michael Stryker, Estrada's lover and best friend--a man with a strange dark "virus" brewing inside him.
As the witches journey up the Pacific Northwest coast by yacht, Michael's virus spikes, and they are harassed by vicious ravens. Diego wants blood. Estrada wants his baby back. What will the high priest sacrifice to bring his daughter home?
A sexy Hitchcockian thriller that demystifies Vampire and illustrates the power of Love.
268 pages, ebook
Published December 21, 2018
3 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
W.L. Hawkin
7 books25 followersW. L. Hawkin writes myth, magic, and mayhem designed to inspire and entertain. Described as “intoxicating, lush, magically-edgy, page-turners,” her Hollystone Mysteries series features a coven of witches who solve murders using their wits and ritual magic with a little help from the gods. Wendy is also a published blogger, book reviewer, Indie publisher, and poet, with a background in Indigenous Studies and English literature. She loves myth and magic, so when she’s not writing, she’s studying Druidry, shamanism, and mediumship. Although she is an introvert, in each book, her characters go on a journey where she has traveled herself.
She defies genre by writing character-driven fast-paced mysteries and thrillers that involve fantastical characters. See her four book series: To Charm a Killer, To Sleep with Stones, To Render a Raven, and To Kill a King.
Her latest book, Lure, is set on a Chippewa Reservation in the American Midwest and tells the story of Jesse & Hawk.
She defies genre by writing character-driven fast-paced mysteries and thrillers that involve fantastical characters. See her four book series: To Charm a Killer, To Sleep with Stones, To Render a Raven, and To Kill a King.
Her latest book, Lure, is set on a Chippewa Reservation in the American Midwest and tells the story of Jesse & Hawk.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 27, 2019
The Hollystone Mysteries just keep getting better! This one is more thriller than mystery—and it’s amazing! I couldn’t put it down.
Estrada, the hot bi High Priest of Hollystone Coven is back home in his beautiful Canada, and except for the continued jealousy amongst his lovers, all seems well. But then tragedy strikes his lover Michael’s family—and Estrada’s adorable little girl disappears.
Determined to save his daughter, Estrada and the coven embark on a harrowing adventure that leads them into increasingly greater danger. Emotions are high and raw as the close confines of a yacht exasperate the tension between Estrada and his jealous lovers. Estrada’s main focus is on finding the vampires who have taken his precious child, but saving his young daughter may come at a terrible cost.
I loved Hawken’s spin on vampires. She has a talent for taking popular mythological creatures and making them all her own. While honoring familiar tropes, these books also recreate them and weave them into things that feel fresh and new while continuing to tug at the collective unconscious.
Although action-packed, the story’s action never sacrifices the human drama that marked the two previous books, but embraces it. The result is an action thriller with complex queer characters and realistic emotional situations.
I guess this is a trilogy, but I’m hoping for more magical books about witches from this author.
Estrada, the hot bi High Priest of Hollystone Coven is back home in his beautiful Canada, and except for the continued jealousy amongst his lovers, all seems well. But then tragedy strikes his lover Michael’s family—and Estrada’s adorable little girl disappears.
Determined to save his daughter, Estrada and the coven embark on a harrowing adventure that leads them into increasingly greater danger. Emotions are high and raw as the close confines of a yacht exasperate the tension between Estrada and his jealous lovers. Estrada’s main focus is on finding the vampires who have taken his precious child, but saving his young daughter may come at a terrible cost.
I loved Hawken’s spin on vampires. She has a talent for taking popular mythological creatures and making them all her own. While honoring familiar tropes, these books also recreate them and weave them into things that feel fresh and new while continuing to tug at the collective unconscious.
Although action-packed, the story’s action never sacrifices the human drama that marked the two previous books, but embraces it. The result is an action thriller with complex queer characters and realistic emotional situations.
I guess this is a trilogy, but I’m hoping for more magical books about witches from this author.
May 30, 2022
The Review
By far the most action-packed and yet most emotional of the Hollystone Mysteries series. The author did such an incredible job of building upon the mythos and cultures of the supernatural and paranormal. From unique changes to the vampire mythos and lore to the infusion of Celtic practices and explorations of high strangeness, the author brilliantly captures the magic and wonder of the world in which these characters inhabit.
Yet what stands out to me is the way the author was able to bring real human connection and emotion into this very supernatural world. The emotional connection the protagonist Estrada has with both the mother of his child and his current love interest really pulls at the heartstrings, and the heart-pounding terror that the abduction of Estrada’s child brings to mind is sure to play on the frayed nerves of any parent reading this story. The theme of facing our own inner darkness and learning to sacrifice our needs to protect those we love came through strongly thanks to these relationships and helped elevate the overall dangers the narrative brought to life.
The Verdict
Harrowing, engaging, and captivating, author W.L. Hawkin’s “To Render a Raven” is a must-read contemporary romance and fantasy novel and the perfect addition to the Hollystone Mysteries series. The intensity and passion the characters hold onto one another and the elevated danger that that intensity brings to the narrative were an instant draw for readers, and the heartbreaking twists and turns will have readers hanging off of the author’s every word until the climactic final chapter.
By far the most action-packed and yet most emotional of the Hollystone Mysteries series. The author did such an incredible job of building upon the mythos and cultures of the supernatural and paranormal. From unique changes to the vampire mythos and lore to the infusion of Celtic practices and explorations of high strangeness, the author brilliantly captures the magic and wonder of the world in which these characters inhabit.
Yet what stands out to me is the way the author was able to bring real human connection and emotion into this very supernatural world. The emotional connection the protagonist Estrada has with both the mother of his child and his current love interest really pulls at the heartstrings, and the heart-pounding terror that the abduction of Estrada’s child brings to mind is sure to play on the frayed nerves of any parent reading this story. The theme of facing our own inner darkness and learning to sacrifice our needs to protect those we love came through strongly thanks to these relationships and helped elevate the overall dangers the narrative brought to life.
The Verdict
Harrowing, engaging, and captivating, author W.L. Hawkin’s “To Render a Raven” is a must-read contemporary romance and fantasy novel and the perfect addition to the Hollystone Mysteries series. The intensity and passion the characters hold onto one another and the elevated danger that that intensity brings to the narrative were an instant draw for readers, and the heartbreaking twists and turns will have readers hanging off of the author’s every word until the climactic final chapter.
December 19, 2020
I love the way Hawkin interweaves genres: there’s such unexpected joy to be found in never knowing what kind of situation Estrada will be in next, and there’s a richness to the reading experience that comes from the overlay of tropes and conventions. In this installment of the series, Estrada must contend with a missing daughter, tension between his lovers, and…vampires. The way Hawkin crafts vampires for this book is excellent: it’s distinctive, but familiar enough to resonate with what readers expect vampires to be. I think the true draw of this novel for me, and this is probably true of the whole series, now that I think about it, is the intricate psychology of the characters, who are complex, nuanced, sympathetic, and occasionally, deeply irritating— a sign of just how invested I’ve become, and how well drawn their inner lives, as well as outer adventures, really are. Highly recommended read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 8, 2021
Magician and Wiccan Sandolino Estrada is devastated when his one-year-old daughter Lucy is kidnapped by vampires. His lover Michael Stryker is also going through a tough time when Michael’s grandfather Nigel is badly injured and Nigel’s mistress is murdered. The urgency in rescuing Lucy launches a perilous journey for both men, where enemies present formidable and terrifying obstacles.
This fantasy/murder story deftly weaves Wiccan ritual and magic in the beautiful and somewhat haunting setting of British Columbia’s coastline. The characters are memorable, and I especially love the author’s fresh take on vampirism. Not only do these vampires possess unique and terrifying skills, but the whole concept of vampiric origin made me rethink what I’ve read previously.
The use of language and the story’s pacing are superb. As in real life, relationships are complex in this novel. The ending was completely satisfying, yet I appreciate the way relationships were not so easily resolved. To Render a Raven is a riveting, fresh look at the genre. Highly recommended.
This fantasy/murder story deftly weaves Wiccan ritual and magic in the beautiful and somewhat haunting setting of British Columbia’s coastline. The characters are memorable, and I especially love the author’s fresh take on vampirism. Not only do these vampires possess unique and terrifying skills, but the whole concept of vampiric origin made me rethink what I’ve read previously.
The use of language and the story’s pacing are superb. As in real life, relationships are complex in this novel. The ending was completely satisfying, yet I appreciate the way relationships were not so easily resolved. To Render a Raven is a riveting, fresh look at the genre. Highly recommended.
November 20, 2021
To Render a Raven (A Hollystone Mystery #3)
by W.L. Hawkin
Darker then the prior editions with the opponent and the dark partners in the adventure. Michael confronts not only the vampire that has infected him, but the man whom introduced him to sex, torture, and other illegal activities. Estrada is struggling between his love of his young daughter, her mother and Michael. His world was at odds. The darkness of the vampire nest may have been the deeper part of the story but I found the vampire less then the man whom tortured the young Michael. This fight is for love, and will it triumph is the question.
Great story of magic, myth and legend connecting in a world of questionable morals.
by W.L. Hawkin
Darker then the prior editions with the opponent and the dark partners in the adventure. Michael confronts not only the vampire that has infected him, but the man whom introduced him to sex, torture, and other illegal activities. Estrada is struggling between his love of his young daughter, her mother and Michael. His world was at odds. The darkness of the vampire nest may have been the deeper part of the story but I found the vampire less then the man whom tortured the young Michael. This fight is for love, and will it triumph is the question.
Great story of magic, myth and legend connecting in a world of questionable morals.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews