Platypus

Good Production, Solid Performances, Predictable Plot

Revisado: 01-23-24

If you feel like you've read all the good vampire fiction but it's been a long time, you could do worse then this audio drama.

The first half or so is painfully predictable and trope-filled BUT once you get into the nitty gritty of the vampire world-building, things pick up significantly. There's a lot of Vampire: The Masquerade-caliber potential in terms of a rich history and world.

I went from "finishing it to get it over with" to prepared to give part 2 a shot if it means more vampire drama and less predictable, brooding teens and cheap horror tropes.

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Feels more like a reddit rant

Revisado: 08-28-23

Pretty weak, overall. The premise could have come from a dartboard, the humor could be from the 1940s, and it plays everything so straight that even the parody attempts are flat as a board. If viewed as sincere, parody, satire, or deconstruction, it really adds nothing to literature. I really want the time back that I wasted.

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Strong Premise & Worldbuilding That Drags Too Long

Revisado: 05-09-23

If you're really jonesing for some classic space opera sci-fi low on fantasy with several good female protags, this might be worth a shot.

I'm not sure I would have finished this book if not for Jennifer Hale's truly exceptional voice acting though.

"To Sleep in a Sea of Stars" has a promising beginning with an intriguing setting of not-too-distant space travel and colonization and a pleasant main character.

Unfortunately the whole thing is artificially bogged down by a long, too slow, drawn out mystery that could have been solved day 1. It is made worse b@y an inexplicable mystery antagonist that takes far too long to be fully revealed.

The mystery of the antagonist is very briefly "explained" but the explanation lacks detail and makes no sense for the bulk of the book.

My patience was rewarded with a satisfying ending except Paolini managed to drag that on too long as well.

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Riveting; Truth is Stranger Than Fiction

Revisado: 05-26-21

Fascinating and well-presented. Very little melodrama with the voices of those involved providing the details. At no point was I ever bored. I would listen to anything else put out by this group.

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esto le resultó útil a 4 personas

Riveting; Truth is Stranger Than Fiction

Revisado: 05-26-21

Fascinating and well-presented. Very little melodrama with the voices of those involved providing the details. At no point was I ever bored. I would listen to anything else put out by this group.

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Predictable 2☆ Story, Fab 5☆ Narration+Production

Revisado: 03-27-20

When other reviewers say this story is predictable, they went weren't kidding. I went into it expecting at least a little intrigue but from start to ALMOST finish (a bit at the end got me good), but instead found myself internally screaming at the protagonist.

It's not terrible, though. I enjoyed the writing style and for all my eyerolls, I still had a good time -- with the exception of a laughably bad and out of touch bit on internet gaming and cyberbullying. Absolute garbage parenting.

Perhaps the reason I'm willing to excuse it is the absolutely amazing narration from Aimee Horn with really subtly immersive production. Horn made almost every character sound distinctive, emotive, and realistic. I think she could give reading the dictionary a good turn.

Bottom line: if you have a soft spot for psychological thrillers and sometimes just want the story equivalent of a Big Mac, Aimee Horn will feed you a cheap, cheesy snack and you'll feel satisfied at the end.

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The Narration Makes It

Revisado: 03-25-20

3.5☆ for the book, 5☆ for Janina Edwards' narration

When this book started off with a description of naked post-coital lesbians, I think I physically narrowed my eyes in suspicion. It was done in a way that felt very male gaze-y, and the descriptions of the oppressive, brutish, and thoroughly masculine matriarchy didn't do much to help. It felt like the author was trying WAY too hard and was missing the mark.

The superbly immersive narration by Janina Edwards really did wonders though. The main main character is a woman of color (kudos to the author, don't see that much in fantasy, sci-fi etc.) and Edwards reads the whole thing with the sentiment of a gruff, experienced Afro-Caribbean ship captain from a lost past and it just really grabbed.

So did the overarching plot involving an adventure to reach a lost and ancient city. For all my initial misgivings, the story was good enough to keep me intrigued and I'm glad i stuck with it.

I agree with a lot of the other reviews that say there's room for so much more lore, worldbuilding, and gap-filling. It definitely leaves you asking "But what about ____?" but not so much so that it makes it a 1 or 2 star book.

Speaking of other reviews, I'd wager that the ones whining about narrator Edwards being "hard to understand" and "shrill" (???) are born from neanderthal white folks who have negative associations with anyone who doesn't "sound white." Pathetic. If my autistic, ADHD, hearing impaired [butt] can understand her, turn up your volume or perhaps remove your head from a location that is obscuring your hearing.

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A Fascinating, Unique Form of Storytelling

Revisado: 09-05-19

As a white nerd, I use Audible almost entirely for fantasy, horror, suspense, and sci-fi. I know I need to branch out and learn more but I always put it off.

I got Olio Live as a monthly freebie and I'm so glad I did because otherwise I would have missed out on an incredible series of uniquely dramatized and magnificently performed non-fiction stories.

Olio regales the listener with the story of several extraordinary black entertainers who broke out of the early days of America's entertainment scene. This was a time largely dominated by whites playing the few black roles that existed in cruel and harmful minstrel shows.

These stories are told by (mostly) fantastic stage actors but uniquely woven together as poetry, especially sonnets, musical performances, dialogues and monologues.

It's short but I couldn't put it down. This is no dull, dry non-fiction history book but a living collection of biographies presented with a rare beauty.

Give Olio Live a chance, even if it doesn't spund like "your thing." You'll be entertained but also informed and moved about parts of American history that are largely ignored or forgotten.

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