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Free as a Bird by Hailey Edwards Narrator: Stephanie Richardson
Series: Yard Birds #3
Published by Tantor Audio on September 10, 2024
Genres: Mystery, Novella, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Length: 3 hours and 35 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Purchase Links: Amazon*Kobo
Goodreads
When an old friend reaches out to Ellie, asking for help locating her missing coven members, she’s ready for her big comeback. Witchlight is financing the op, and it feels damn good to be official again.
But when her friend’s lies begin to unravel, Ellie realizes she’s let her ego lead her into a trap. And she’s brought her coven down with her. With the girls’ lives on the line, Ellie has to decide what’s more important—reliving her glory days or saving her best friends from a permanent retirement.
Also in this series: Crazy as a Loon, Dead as a Dodo
May – Older Couple
For this one I picked an author, Hailey Edwards Free as a Bird. The Yard Bird series features a bunch of Old Gals and you can say that Elle is still a couple with her dead/cursed husband.
Free as a Bird is a novella in the Yard Birds series narrated by Stephanie Richardson. It’s a short story set in the world of the Black Hat Bureau.
I recommend reading/listening to the Yard Birds series in order if you do plan to pick them up. You don’t have to read Black Hat Bureau to pick this up.
An old friend of Elle’s reaches out about a few missing coven members, and Elle and her coven answer the call. We soon learn all is not as it seems and the more the Yard Birds investigate, the greater the danger becomes. With the help of Elle’s nephew and a cute kitten/familiar they take care of the danger.
This audio delivered an intriguing mystery. The story held my interest and had me smiling and laughing at times. If it’s the end; then this is a good place to end. Edwards has created memorable characters with Elle, her husband, the coven, her mischievous nephews, the townsfolk and extended family. It’s a smorgasbord of fun and entertaining characters.
Stephanie Richardson narrated the Yard Birds series and brought Ellie and all her friends to life. These old broads are a hoot. Each story is under four hours and perfect for a road trip. I enjoyed the narration and story.
Rated: 3 Stars
Was this review helpful? If so, please consider liking it on Goodreads (Angela)!
About Stephanie Richardson
Winning first place at a storytelling festival as an 11 year old, I knew I was destined for life behind a microphone. Nearly 20 years later, with a background in theatre, professional vocal training, and teaching I finally began my audiobook journey.
I have a degree in history and editing but also studied some dance and musical theatre in college. I love fruit and vegetable gardening and am often obsessively researching varieties of fruit trees and trying to figure out which part of my backyard I can get away with digging up to plant something new in. Family and children are especially important to me and I spent several years teaching music, swimming, and history to elementary-age kids. Now, I’m a part-time narrator, and full-time mom. While not enjoying a book I can be found playing zoo-keeper to my 6 rambunctious kids, playing nerdy board games, or talking to my plants.
About Hailey Edwards
USA Today best-selling author Hailey Edwards writes about questionable applications of otherwise perfectly good magic, the transformative power of love, the family you choose for yourself, and blowing stuff up. Not necessarily all at once. That could get messy.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
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I like that feeling of seeing plots in a series’ read become completely resolved and all get wrapped up. Yay for finding one to match your challenge prompt.
It might be a stretch for this to fill the theme, but her hubby tags along now that he is in a kitten and not the fish on the wall. ^_^ It was nice to finish the series. Now I need to get back to the Black Hat Bureau. Sophia thanks for checking out my review.
Sounds like an okay read, but not the greatest! The covers of these are really great though. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
https://lisalovesliterature.bookblog.io/2025/06/26/the-dnf-report-42-june-2025/
I agree the covers are good. They fit the series perfectly. The series has been ok. Not something I’ll go back to, but still enjoyable enough. Nice for a fun laugh and a short mystery. As always thanks Lisa for visiting and checking out my review.
Anne – It’s funny because Black Hat is the only series of hers that’s I’ve stuck with.
I didn’t finish this one, but glad to hear it remained entertaining.
Hi Jen, You didn’t like The Beginners Guide to Necromancy? I still need to finish Black Hat and I’m also listening to Body Shop the new series she has/is writing. I’ve enjoyed a lot of her work. The only series I haven’t been able of hers to get into is the The Foundling. As for Yard Birds it was funny and a nice quick listen. Won’t listen again, but still cute.
Thanks for visiting.
No, I gave up on the Necromancer series after 3 books. I can’t remember exactly why, but I was very annoyed and frustrated.
The Beginners Guide to Necromancy – It could have been Bren the male she still loved who hurt her. I didn’t like him. The series got better and she found a more suitable love partner. Maybe try the Black Hat Bureau might be more to your liking.
I’m always thinking I will go read the Black Hat books but this series didn’t appeal to me for some reason. ?
Not every series works by an author. Maybe try the audiobook. I started the Black Hat in audiobooks, but haven’t finished the series. I like the audio. The Yard Birds is a fun quirky series. The old birds are a hoot. Thanks for visiting Anne.