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Audiobooks > Fantasy >  Contemporary > Widdershins

Download Widdershins Audiobook

Widdershins Audiobook, by Charles de Lint Extended Sample Click for printable size audiobook cover
Author: Charles de Lint Narrator: Kate Reading Publisher: Blackstone Publishing Format: Unabridged Audiobook Delivery: Instant Download Audio Length: Series: The Newford Series Release Date: June 2010 ISBN: 9781483076287
4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 4.00 (2,498 ratings) (rate this audio book)
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Ever since Jilly Coppercorn and Geordie Riddell were introduced in de Lint’s first Newford story, “Timeskip,” back in 1989, their friends and readers alike have been waiting for them to realize that they belong together. Now, in Widdershins, a stand-alone novel of fairy courts set in shopping malls and the Bohemian street scene of Newford's Crowsea area, Jilly and Geordie’s story is finally being told. Before it’s over, we’ll find ourselves plunged into the rancorous and sometimes violent conflict between the magical North American “animal people” and the more newly arrived fairy folk. We’ll watch as Jilly is held captive in a sinister world based on her own worst memories—and Geordie, attempting to help, is sent someplace even worse. And we’ll be captivated by the power of love and determination to redeem ancient hatreds and heal old magics gone sour.

To walk “widdershins” is to walk counterclockwise or backwards around something. It’s a classic pathway into the fairy realm. It’s also the way people often back slowly into the relationships that matter, the real ones that make for a life. In Widdershins, Charles de Lint has delivered one of the most accessible and moving works of his career.

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Quotes & Awards

  • “[A] pleasing addition to the popular Newford saga…inevitably recalls Neil Gaiman’s American Gods, to which this more intimate and folksy book compares favorably.”

    Publishers Weekly

  • “As familiarly as though he were chronicling the lives of old friends, de Lint spins yet another magical story of the intersections between reality and the faerie and spirit world in this latest addition to the Newford opus, his twin loves of storytelling and music-making shining through every page...Highly recommended.”

    Library Journal (starred review)

  • “De Lint weaves the individual characters’ stories into a tight-knit whole, accompanied by music, love, pugnacity, frustration, and healing. Many of his faithful readers see the people he has created as kin they want to keep up with. Walk widdershins (i.e., counterclockwise) once and you may, too.”

    Booklist (starred review)

  • “Widdershins is easily one of de Lint’s best books…an excellent, heartfelt read that delivers a satisfying conclusion. De Lint fans would be foolish to miss this book, and urban fantasy readers will find a lot to enjoy here.”

    SFSite.com

  • “De Lint is a master stylist, and the tale of Jilly and Geordie’s slow but inevitable coming together is told with extraordinary sensitivity and grace.”

    Romantic Times Bookclub (4.5 star review)

Listener Reviews

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  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Jennifer | 2/20/2014

    " My airplane book this last trip. I've read de Lint's stuff before, and while it's entertaining, as with so many otherwise solid works of fiction the prose just feels a little thin, the characters sometimes spilling into Mary Sue land. I like my prose buttery! Take the long road to the finish! Also a personal hangup: for some reason it always makes me cringe when characters describe themselves, or are described, in more pop-cultural terms . . . when they think about bands they like by name, or describe themselves as bohos or skateboarders, that sort of thing. I feel squirrelly just thinking about it. Makes my teeth hurt. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Abby | 2/16/2014

    " Widdershins was the second book I read by Charles de Lint, and it was a good book, but I found myself disenchanted with the ending. (view spoiler)[I know that the stories are kind of fairy-tale-esque, but it's such a clean ending: all the bad guys die, all the good guys live and get together; even the two who were killed end up coming back to life. (hide spoiler)] "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Shawna | 2/16/2014

    " Fun read if you like urban fantasy. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 JooLee | 2/6/2014

    " : ) perfect. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Tami | 1/23/2014

    " I always love a book that makes me think about calling in sick to work, just to sit and READ . . . TGIF!! "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Rae | 1/22/2014

    " Anyone who knows me knows Charles de Lint is my favorite author. This book though....it blew my heart out, in a good way. It further explores Jilly's childhood and the pieces of her psyche that are still not fully healed. I won't give away the ending, but it made me a very happy girl. :) "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Kelly | 1/19/2014

    " I don't know what my problem is. I was lukewarm about Onion Girl and then I went and gave it four stars. I got sucked in. Then I borrowed Widdershins. I feel much the same about this book. Not sure exactly why I liked it, but generally pleased with the experience. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Travis | 1/18/2014

    " Once again Charles de Lint masterfully balances a multitude of characters in creating an enchanting modern fairy tale with heavy adult tones. Would recommend reading the rest of the Newford series first. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Sen | 1/7/2014

    " Very good book. This and Moonheart are my favorites so far from de Lint. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Kelly | 12/11/2013

    " Honestly... I'm an enormous de Lint fan, but this book was very meh for me. Stale story, boring and slightly annoying focus on the "broken girl" labels, bland, predictable dialogue... seems like de Lint needed to write a book, and so threw one together with a love story his readers wanted. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 June | 10/30/2013

    " I did not read The Onion Girl. My first introduction to de Lint was Widdershins and I was captivated by his numena and their alternate lives to those of the human population. The idea was unique and blended beautifully into the urban landscape of today. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Laura | 9/27/2013

    " Standard De Lint- if you generally like his stories, you'll like this one, too. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Desiree | 5/15/2013

    " I hitched up at the last section of the book and don't want to finish it for some reason. Okay, I do, but I'm not sure when. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Bridgett | 1/14/2013

    " A fascinating book where fairies from Europe are at war with more Native American-type spirits. It focuses on the emotional journey through the otherworld of one woman who was abused in childhood. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Kat | 1/6/2013

    " Slightly trashy and adolescent, as most "urban fantasy" seems to be, but well written and reasonably complex. (Actually a bit TOO complex, as the many different POVs got annoying pretty quickly. ) I find his books unmemorable and more or less interchangeable, but I do enjoy them at the time. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Barrett | 10/13/2012

    " It is the continuation of Jilly's story. It rules. Start with Onion Girl before reading any other Jilly stories, but Widdershins is very satisfying. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Nollyposh | 10/8/2012

    " More fabulous De Lint *magic* "

  • 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Jez | 6/12/2012

    " Pretty meh so far. I don't like the writing style very much. It's quick and easy though. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Pancha | 10/28/2011

    " As always, I enjoyed De Lint's vision of Fairy and the Spirit World. But the romantic relationships seemed much less realistic or even real than the friendships, and although the entire book was written to hook the main characters up, it didn't resonate with me when they finally got together. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Harry | 7/6/2011

    " Pure fantasy, but very effectively done. Not the usual quest type, either. Sure there was the expected struggle between good and evil, but some of that was within rather than between the characters. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Stephen | 5/14/2011

    " de Lint is at the top of his game, despite and because of this being a deliberate fan-pleaser. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Sheena | 5/10/2011

    " Really great urban fantasy; however, the ending wandered too much. I would have preferred that Jilly's Story be separated out from the other goings on as it seemed displaced. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Cj | 3/20/2011

    " Charles DeLint lives in my world "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Sheree | 3/3/2011

    " This one just hit a note with me. Not sure why. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Desiree | 2/8/2011

    " I hitched up at the last section of the book and don't want to finish it for some reason. Okay, I do, but I'm not sure when. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Kim | 2/5/2011

    " It's scarier than I ever could have predicted from De Lint. I wonderful follow up to Onion Girl, though. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Harry | 1/31/2011

    " Pure fantasy, but very effectively done. Not the usual quest type, either. Sure there was the expected struggle between good and evil, but some of that was within rather than between the characters. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Rae | 1/10/2011

    " Anyone who knows me knows Charles de Lint is my favorite author. This book though....it blew my heart out, in a good way. It further explores Jilly's childhood and the pieces of her psyche that are still not fully healed. I won't give away the ending, but it made me a very happy girl. :) "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Dan | 1/7/2011

    " i just love these books by deLint .. as soon as i start to read any of them .. my mind escapes to where the book takes me ... "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Nia | 1/4/2011

    " I'm a sucker for a happy ending. I loved this book :) I could not put it down! "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Tig | 12/27/2010

    " The first Charles de Lint book I have read and very impressed. Reminded me of a Sheri Tepper book I had read as a teenager and it was wonderful to revisit that world. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Stacie | 11/16/2010

    " Thank you, Charles De Lint, for this book. Not only was it funny, it was also scary, and heartwarming, and oh so full of magic. If Onion Girl made you feel deeply depressed (I did), than this book is the Anti-depressant. Read your fill, and you'll come out ahead. I promise. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Alisa | 11/12/2010

    " Very good.
    Works as a stand alone. Luckily, each chapter tells you whose point of view the chapter is in. And, for long time fans, Geordie and Jilly FINALLY get together!
    War threatens, betrayal, pain, great courage, and hope.
    What more could you ask for? "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 housedintherock | 10/21/2010

    " YAY!!! no spoilers - just so happy that Charles deLint's wife was as curious as the rest of us about what would become of Geordie and Jilly. You will not be disappointed:-D! "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Mckinley | 10/20/2010

    " This was epic! Listened to the 17 cds. "

About the Author

Charles de Lint is the award-winning author of fantasy fiction, including urban fantasy, contemporary magical realism, and mythic fiction. In 2018 he was a finalist for the World Fantasy Awards’ Life Achievement Award. He is best known for his fantasy novels in Newford series, but he also writes, novellas, short stories, poetry, lyrics, literary criticism, and a children’s book. Among his many awards are the Ontario Library Association’s White Pine Award, the Great Lakes Great Books Award, the Canadian SF/Fantasy Award, and the 2000 World Fantasy Award.

About the Narrator

Kate Reading has recorded hundreds of audiobooks across many genres, over a thirty year plus career. Audie Awards: The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter (mystery), Breasts (non-fiction), Bellwether (fiction), and Words of Radiance (fantasy), co-narrated with her husband, Michael Kramer. Among other awards, she has been recognized with: the ALA Booklist best of 2019 for Bowlaway (fiction), AudioFile Magazine Voice of the Century, Earphones Awards, Narrator of the Year, Best Voice in Science Fiction and Fantasy, and Publisher’s Weekly’s Listen-Up Award. She records at her home studio, Madison Productions, Inc., in Maryland.