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The White Hare
- Author
- Jane Johnson
- Narrator
- Danielle Cohen
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Publish Date
- 4 October 2022
- Run Time
- 12 hours 32 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
A spellbinding novel about mothers and daughters finding a new home for themselves, the secrets they try to bury, and the local legends that may change their lives.
In the far west of Cornwall lies the White Valley, which cuts deeply through bluebell woods down to the sea at White Cove. The valley has a long and bloody history, laced with folklore, and in it sits a house above the beach that has lain neglected since the war. It comes with a reputation and a strange atmosphere, which is why mother and daughter Magdalena and Mila manage to acquire it so cheaply in the fateful summer of 1954.
Magda has grand plans to restore the house to its former glory as a venue for glittering parties, where the rich and celebrated gathered for cocktails and for bracing walks along the coast. Her grown daughter, Mila, just wants to escape the scandal in her past and make a safe and happy home for her little girl, Janey, a solitary, precocious child blessed with a vivid imagination, much of which she pours into stories about her magical plush toy, Rabbit.
But Janey’s rabbit isn’t the only magical being around. Legend has it that an enchanted white hare may be seen running through the woods. Is it an ill omen or a blessing? As Mila, her mother, and her young daughter adjust to life in this mysterious place, they will have to reckon with their own pasts and with the secrets that have been haunting the White Valley for decades.
Critics Review
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“Narrator Danielle Cohen…distinguishes the Cornish townsfolk with precision and unspools enchanting legends and secrets that will captivate listeners as much as this story’s characters and setting. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”
AudioFile
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“Cohen’s narrations manifests the distinct characters of these women…An immersive audio experience.”
Library Journal (audio review)
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“An exceptionally atmospheric read as Cornish folklore is mixed with the supernatural.”
Cloud Lake Literary
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“A refreshing and comforting read for fans of Alice Hoffman and V. E. Schwab. Gorgeous eco-supernatural elements make hauntings attractive.”
Library Journal (starred review)
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“A home renovation story with a Gothic flair…[that] offers suspense, historical drama, and a hint of romance.”
Booklist
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“An engrossing gothic tale of family secrets, scandals, and ancient mysteries…[with] plenty of savory atmospheric details, and Magda’s and Jack’s confessions hit hard.”
Publishers Weekly
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“Jam-packed with slowly released secrets: those between mothers and daughters, those kept by the villagers, and those locked away within traumatized minds.”
Shelf Awareness
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“In my mythical bookshop this would be in the ‘books that remind you of the true meaning of reading for pleasure’ section. It’s mythic, witchy, [and full of] mystery and romance. It sings of an earth alive with power.”
Jackie Morris, co-author and illustrator of The Lost Spells
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Jane Johnson
- Narrator
- Danielle Cohen
- Duration
- 12 hours 32 minutes
- Release Date
- 4 October 2022
- ISBN
- 9798212221436
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Genre
- Fiction: general and literary, Historical fiction
Synopsis
A spellbinding novel about mothers and daughters finding a new home for themselves, the secrets they try to bury, and the local legends that may change their lives.In the far west of Cornwall lies the White Valley, which cuts deeply through bluebell woods down to the sea at White Cove. The valley has a long and bloody history, laced with folklore, and in it sits a house above the beach that has lain neglected since the war. It comes with a reputation and a strange atmosphere, which is why mother and daughter Magdalena and Mila manage to acquire it so cheaply in the fateful summer of 1954.Magda has grand plans to restore the house to its former glory as a venue for glittering parties, where the rich and celebrated gathered for cocktails and for bracing walks along the coast. Her grown daughter, Mila, just wants to escape the scandal in her past and make a safe and happy home for her little girl, Janey, a solitary, precocious child blessed with a vivid imagination, much of which she pours into stories about her magical plush toy, Rabbit.But Janey’s rabbit isn’t the only magical being around. Legend has it that an enchanted white hare may be seen running through the woods. Is it an ill omen or a blessing? As Mila, her mother, and her young daughter adjust to life in this mysterious place, they will have to reckon with their own pasts and with the secrets that have been haunting the White Valley for decades.
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