Sarah Sampino narrates the second audiobook in the Carolina Files by Willa Blackmore. Undertow has us back in the small town of Henley-on-Hale, where an evil has been set loose. The only thing stopping hell from reigning is the Whitlow family. Another engaging mystery with magic, snark, and danger.
Series: The Carolina Files #2
Narrator: Sarah Sampino
Length: 9 hours and 59 minutes
Genres: Fantasy
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Narration: 5 cups Speed: 1.5x
Three sisters, one power, and an evil out to destroy everything in its path.
The Whitlow witches often rub elbows with all things that go bump in the night, but what will they do when Hell itself comes calling?
A dangerous ritual, decades old, is about to set loose an evil on the town of Henley-on-Hale and the Whitlows are the only thing standing in the way. The sisters must untangle a web of lies to find the truth behind a series of brutal and horrific murders that are taking the lives of local teens and leaving very strange clues behind. Clues that say this is more than just your run-of-the-mill serial killer.
The witches must call on the aid of their allies—old and new—to confront a force unlike any they've ever faced before. The fate of the town and its inhabitants hangs in the balance and, should they fail, the evil that could be unleashed on the world would be cataclysmic.
Undertow is the second installment of the Carolina Files, by Willa Blackmore.
Perfect for fans of gritty, fun urban fantasy in the vein of the hit TV show Supernatural.
Undertow is the second audiobook in the cozy fantasy series, The Carolina Files. While each book deals with a threat to the town that the Whitlow family must solve, overall series arcs regarding the stone under the Whitlow manor have me recommending you listen to the series in the order of their release.
When a series of teens go missing from the town and some show up dead, the sisters must piece together what is happening, only with the aid of the local sheriff, their aunt, and other secondary townfolk who, like the Whitlow’s are different. The sisters are witches, and each has unique gifts. Henley-on-Hale has residents who aren’t quite human, living among those who are. The Whitlow family has protected this community for centuries.
The tale that unfolded delivered quite the mystery, with demonic sigils & ancient rituals, secrets, and possessions. I loved tagging along with Tula Whitlow as she tried to piece together what evil had come to town, and the reveal is shocking.
While the focus is primarily on Tula, we get to know her sisters and aunt a little better. Her mother is still out of town and urging Tula to step in and handle the stone under the manor. Tula doesn’t think she is ready, but the danger in the town continues to grow. Blackmore mixes snark, humor, and mystery into this cozy urban fantasy with small-town antics.
There is a slow-burning, deny my feelings romance served as a side-dish with a sexy vampire named Victor. The storyline is more complex and developed than book one, as we learn more about our witch siblings and their abilities. The pacing and world-building are well done, and I felt like I was right there with the characters.
Sarah Sampino narrates and really captures Tula, the other characters, and the tone of the overall story. I enjoy listening and recommend grabbing the audiobooks.
About Sarah Sampino
Sarah Sampino graduated from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts, where she was trained specifically in voice acting and audiobook narration by the top narrators and producers in the business. Sarah also studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, which has helped her master all kinds of British dialects. The fact that her fiancé is British doesn't hurt either! The two of them now record dual and duet narrations together. On the occasion that Sarah is not being actor-y, she can be found procrastinating everything by burying her face into a fantasy novel. She loves fantasies, especially with enemies-to-lovers, or a strong and badass heroine. Romance, fantasy, YA thrillers, LitRPG—you name it!
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Bree @ BibliophileBree
I love the cover of this one!
Angela (Angel's Book Nook)
Wonderful review! I actually have the second audiobook on my TBR right now. I enjoyed the first one so much, so I’m really looking forward to diving back into this world!