Try free for 30 days

  • The Black Witch

  • The Black Witch Chronicles, Book 1
  • By: Laurie Forest
  • Narrated by: Julia Whelan
  • Length: 18 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (72 ratings)

1 credit a month to use on any title, yours to keep (you’ll use your first credit on this title).
Stream or download thousands of included titles.
Access to exclusive deals and discounts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
The Black Witch cover art

The Black Witch

By: Laurie Forest
Narrated by: Julia Whelan
Try for $0.00

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $33.99

Buy Now for $33.99

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

A Great Winged One will soon arise and cast his fearsome shadow upon the land. And just as Night slays Day, and Day slays Night, so also shall another Black Witch rise to meet him, her powers vast beyond imagining. 

So foretells the greatest prophecy of the Gardnerian mages. Carnissa Gardner, the last prophesied Black Witch, drove back the enemy forces and saved her people during the Realm War. Now a new evil is on the horizon, and her granddaughter, Elloren, is believed to be Carnissa's heir—but while she is the absolute image of her famous grandmother, Elloren is utterly devoid of power in a society that prizes magical ability above nearly all else. 

When she is granted the opportunity to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming an apothecary, Elloren is eager to join her brothers at the prestigious Verpax University and finally embrace a destiny of her own, free from the shadow of her grandmother's legacy. But she soon realizes that the University, which admits all manner of people—including the fire-wielding, winged Icarals, the sworn enemies of all Gardnerians—is an even more treacherous place for the granddaughter of the Black Witch.

©2017 Laurie Forest (P)2017 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited.

Critic Reviews

"This ambitious story is impressively narrated by the talented Julia Whelan, who creatively details its world of intricate magical practices and diverse inhabitants.... Whelan ably creates and sustains a wide cast of characters with intriguing and faithfully distinguished voices. Most importantly, she cultivates listeners' connection with flawed but ultimately good-hearted Elloren, whose first-person story portrays her fumbling attempts at understanding a wider world." (AudioFile)

What listeners say about The Black Witch

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    52
  • 4 Stars
    11
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    52
  • 4 Stars
    8
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    45
  • 4 Stars
    13
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Good story, not the best narration

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I wouldn't because of the narration.

Would you be willing to try another book from Laurie Forest? Why or why not?

Yes I am looking forward to wandfasted coming out.

How could the performance have been better?

The narrative was not the best. The accents by the narrator was terrible.I really hate it when fantasy novels are read with American style words like (h)ERBs. It sounds stupid. The American accent just made the main character sound very mean girly/whining that at some points I found very hard to listen too.

Could you see The Black Witch being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?

If it was it would be better played by English actors.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Travel time

Great to listen too as we drove across Australia. Full of surprises and able to imagine everything..

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Very slow burn

Generic fantasy, heavily dripping with religious oppression. Wish there was a little more world building and talk of each species.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

long winded and boring

takes along time for anything to happen, heroin is weak and pathetic personally can't stand up for anything she supposedly believes in. easily swayed by others feelings, writing is silly lots of wild emotions all the time every one is super angry and glowering all the time, duel love interests and Lucas is creepy, yet seems she ends up sleeping with him in later books because her main love interests is "dead" no integrity as a person.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

excellent!!

I loved this book!! at first I rolled my eyes when she fell head over heels for the handsome, popular guy but the story redeemed itself quickly and brilliantly!! I've already bought the next 3 books!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent fantasy story

Took a little to get started in terms of the develop the characters and story. Once you understand the struggle and world of the back witch, you will be surprised and encouraged by its development. Loved it

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Narrator stayed this performance

I truly loved this story, more than I've love a story in a long time, I haven't enjoyed a book this much since I read Cruel Prince.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Fantastic Fast Pasted YA Fantasy!

I loved this book so much more than I thought I would, I loved the Narrator and the story, I was adicted from the start.
already started book 2, cannot wait for where this goes next.

🧙‍♀️❤

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Couldn’t put it down

The story pulled me it and the writing continued to delight. It is a wonderful book to walk in the shoes of inclusion and acceptance.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

WOW!!

Wow what a great read. once you start you won't be able to stop!! Fantastic story and awesome narration :)

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.