Sarah

A gripping tale of jealousy and theft

Revisado: 01-18-24

I’ve read other books by RF Kuang and enjoyed them but this one felt very different to the others. What a range this author has! I loved reading the story from the villain’s perspective. Kuang did a great job of writing a character who was so jealous and self-centered but was still interesting. The reveal of layer upon layer of racism and resentment was fascinating. The indictment of the publishing industry was pretty depressing, hopefully things will get better.

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Charming and clever

Revisado: 01-13-24

I’ve listened to this book twice with my child and it’s really enjoyable. The author portrays her young teen protagonist really well, her thought process made me smile a lot. I loved the grumpy but kind grandmother who turns out to have a few tricks up her sleeve. I also really enjoyed the well-drawn portrayal of New Orleans. The mystery was complex enough that I was interested and simple enough that a kid could follow it. And the narrator has a lovely voice and performs the characters wonderfully. I would highly recommend this as a family listen or a road trip.

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More of a romance novel than I expected

Revisado: 01-13-24

The book has a clever premise and it is well-paced but it is more romance themed than I thought it would be based on the descriptions I read. It did sustain my interest though and I really enjoyed the narrator.

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A very enjoyable cozy fantasy

Revisado: 02-10-23

I loved the idea of a book about a reclusive woman who runs a very popular website about her model house. I’m fascinated by people who share their niche hobbies with the world. I was pleasantly surprised by the fantasy aspect in which the little house was much more than it seemed. I really enjoyed the historical storyline and would have loved even more detail about that.

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Alternative history mystery

Revisado: 12-27-22

I tend to avoid ghost stories because I scare easily, but I had read some of Mary Robinette Kowal’s other novels and enjoyed those so I decided to give this one a try. The concept of mediums being using for intelligence gather in WW1 was clever. The book is very atmospheric, she clearly did a lot of research into wartime France. The magical elements are integrated very seamlessly. The mystery the main character must use her powers to solve is very gripping, with great twists, and a wonderful cast of characters. The author reads the book, her accents are a little iffy at times, but she suits the main character well and I enjoy hearing her read her work.

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Magical realism with LGBTQIA themes

Revisado: 12-27-22

I particularly liked the main character of this story, a young gay man who always felt like a misfit in his family because of his supernatural abilities and sexuality. It felt like a fresh perspective on a coming of age type magical realist novel especially because of his rural, working class background. In general, I found the characters well-drawn, the pacing was good, and I cared about the stakes. The narrator has a nice voice and fleshed out the characters very well.

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Gripping and Well-drawn

Revisado: 12-01-22

I live in the DC area and I was delighted to read the author’s portrayal of the city’s black community in the 1920s. It was very detailed and lively. It brought the historical information that I was familiar with to life and mixed it with fantasy in a satisfying way that reminded me a little of Neverwhere. The story is intriguing and the main character is an interesting woman I enjoyed spending time with. I’m probably going to buy some print copies as gifts for family members who don’t enjoy audiobooks. The narrator is excellent, she has a lovely speaking voice and differentiated the characters well. I’m going to look for my books featuring this performer.

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Content warning: graphic rape description

Revisado: 10-08-22

I didn’t expect the rape description to be so long and graphic. I had to skip ahead. Overall the revenge storyline is not very plausible. It’s an ok read if the violence isn’t too triggering for you.

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Great narrator, good story

Revisado: 08-31-22

This isn’t my favorite Grady Hendrix book but I enjoyed it a lot. Chris, the main character, was very well drawn and the narrator felt like a great fit for her in particular. I loved following Chris on her journey to redeem herself and get revenge on those who prematurely ended her music career. This book is a little spooky and quite gory in places (if that bothers you maybe skip this one).

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Extremely Gripping

Revisado: 09-10-21

An interesting story that felt very well researched. I enjoyed the narrator, he was very well suited to performing as the main character.

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