TBR Challenge [Still Here] Audiobook Review: Gray Court (Black Hat Bureau #7) by Hailey Edwards (Narrator: Stephanie Richardson)

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Gray Court by Hailey Edwards
Narrator: Stephanie Richardson
Series: Black Hat Bureau #7
Published by Tantor Audio on October 25, 2022
Genres: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Length: 8 hours and 49 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library

Purchase Links: Amazon
Goodreads

After wiping out an entire black witch coven on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain, Rue can no longer afford to have a laissez-faire attitude toward the Maudit Grimoire. Its black magic is infecting her, and it’s leaking into her familiar bond with Colby, poisoning the loinnir with its thirst for violence.

A trip to the fae realm ought to be just the ticket, but any hope for a quick fix dies when a message arrives from High Priestess Naeema. Her daughter has gone missing, and she expects Rue to find her. As much as Rue wants to help Naeema, can she afford to put off disposing of the cunning book yet again?

Also in this series: Black Hat, White Witch, Black Arts, White Craft, Black Truth, White Lies, Black Wings, Gray Skies, Gray Witch, Gray Tidings

For the January 2026 TBR Challenge the theme is Still Here, I picked a series I’ve been neglecting and so, I returned to the Black Hat Bureau.

 

Gray Court is book seven in the Black Hat Bureau by Hailey Edwards and narrated by Stephanie Richardson.

Picking up in the wake of Gray Tidings‘ explosive finale, Gray Court finds Rue, Asa, Clay, and Colby stealing a moment of peace before Rue’s return to the Black Hat Agency. But tranquility is short-lived as Rue grapples with a growing internal darkness. Haunted by her reliance on the grimoire’s power, she fears her corruption will inevitably taint Colby’s pure white magic. 

Gray Court is a whirlwind of progression where the overarching stakes advance by leaps and bounds. Rue is forced into high-stakes decisions that carry a heavy price, grounding the supernatural action in real emotional weight. From the opening pages to the final scene, the relentless pace kept me completely hooked.

Rue’s evolution is both powerful and painful. While her magical abilities reach new heights, she is haunted by the forced isolation from her human found family—a heartbreaking sacrifice made solely to ensure their safety. As she constantly frets over Aiden’s wellbeing, she must perform a dangerous tightrope walk, balancing her noble mission against the encroaching pull of her darker powers.

Audio: I loved experiencing the story through Rue’s eyes! The narrator does a fantastic job with the voices, making it easy to tell exactly who is speaking based on their tone and personality. Whether it’s a specific species or a certain age, every character feels like a real individual. The emotional depth they bring to the performance really makes the main characters stand out.

I truly loved every bit of Gray Court. Rue is such a compelling protagonist, and I can’t wait to see the fallout of her schemes in the next book!

Rated: 4 Stars

Was this review helpful? If so, please consider liking it on Goodreads (Angela)!

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2026 Audiobook Challenge
• 2026 Beat the Backlist Challenge
• 2026 COYER Out To Lunch Again
• 2026 Library Love Challenge
• 2026 TBR Challenge

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