Sir Dawg

Amazing, and WORTHY, Follow-up

Revisado: 06-28-24

First, don't listen to the few reviews complaining about the narrator. Nikki Garcia is AMAZING and was 100% necessary for a book where Galva is the POV character for, almost, the entirety. Her voice is beautiful and a woman's voice is 100% needed for this book. Not only that, but Garcia IS Galva. She brings so much depth to Galva. Here we get a Galva that, while sometimes there in Blacktongue, is so much more... vulnerable and well rounded as a character. We get to truly know the girl who was Galva before she becomes the lovable but hard veteran we know in Blacktongue. We know why Galva is how she is and also why she is what she is (in every way- as a soldier, person, lover, friend, etc.). Also, this book is so, so sad at times and so dark that I think a woman's voice is needed throughout, in order to soften what might be the most depressing fantasy tale I've ever read; I don't mean that disparagingly either. I mean the utmost respect when I say this book is depressing. Why? Because this book makes you CARE so much about Galva and the others, that given the state of affairs they are, it cannot help but be depressing to know people we love so much are put in such awful situations. The story though is not all bleak. The happy, high moments are as high as the lowest moments are low. There's a beautiful balance of the two throughout the book. I was brought to tears several times .Before I blather on about this wonderful book though, I have to touch on the bad reviews I've seen once more...


The one main culprit of these negative reviews I'm thinking of in particular, besides the ones bashing the FANTASTIC NARRATOR and even going so far as to complain that the story is about Galva, said nothing happens in the book. WHAT!? What book could they have read!? Surely it wasn't this one, because so much happens in this book that I feel it could have easily gone another 5 hours to truly do the story justice. Heck, my only complaint is that the book isn't long enough. Anyways, enough about my problems with the bad reviews lol.

If you loved Blacktongue, you will love TDW. That said, this is a much sadder and haunting book. The action scenes are great but in a different way. In BT, the action was like an action movie almost- say, John Wick- with a smaller cast of characters and more explosions etc. In contrast, this book feels like a fantasy version of Saving Private Ryan. By that, I mean just how gritty and real the book treats this terrifying war with goblins. You feel the cost of war and the desperation it brings. Those things were there in BT but here they are front and center; That's why I love this book so much, it took from BT what I had never seen really in fantasy- and loved- and expanded on it. That thing is horror and grit. Yes, ASOIAF definitely is right there with how real the impact of war feels but what makes Buehlman's writing so unique in fantasy and especially here, is the horror. The goblins are absolutely terrifying in this book. The enemy isn't like your LOTR mindless cannon fodder. No, these are formidable enemies who are winning the war against mankind. They are cunning, awful, formidable enemies who are something you truly are afraid of... and mainly, afraid for our Galva and her loved ones (mainly them). Speaking of love and fear, discussing so many dark things I also want to talk about the reason for that intense fear: love (of these characters). The reason this book made me so fearful of the goblins is because it made me truly care about everyone deeply. This book makes you care so much about Galva and what the other characters, and her Corvids, mean to her, that when any of them get hurt, die, are in harms way, etc. you are terrified for them and heartbroken for Galva. That's the reason the biters are so scary here (biters are slang for goblin) and the fear this book induces works unlike anything I've encountered in fantasy. To know who Galva is now and just how integral she is to this current state of the world in this story... it adds so much more to her and I now must listen to Blacktongue again. I can't wait, I NEED to see how much more vibrant she might be now, given what I know about her now. I pray that the next book doesn't take years to reach us because I need to know what happens next to these wonderful characters and this beautiful world.

In closing, buy the damn book if you enjoyed Blacktongue Thief and you'll be happy you did. This is absolutely a worthy, and NECESSARY follow-up to BT. It brings so much more depth to everything in BT, especially the characters who are in both books. I think this will be even more obvious when we get to the follow-up for Blacktongue; We need to know the cost of war here in the Crownlands and why Queen Mirayah (I'm probably butchering the spelling) is so important to man-reach (and Galva). I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. I know I'll be listening to it a second time as soon as I finish Balcktongue yet again. Thanks so much, yet again, Christopher Buehlman! And thankyou Nikki Garcia, for giving Galva so much depth and nuance in your telling of this story.

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The Most Unique Fantasy Novel Since The Blacktongue Thief

Revisado: 12-18-23

while I would classify this story more as historical fiction Fantasy and Blacktongue is entirely fictional fantasy (no true history of ours in it), Amina's story has the comedy, excellent dialog, and uniqueness I have only seen in TBT. I'm not saying other fantasy novels aren't unique, but most of them all tend to have similar formulas, styles, "feels" to them, that not me truly distinguish themselves from the pack. Here though, I have FINALLY found a unique, refreshingly fun and adventurous story that I had only ever truly found once before (in Blacktongue). I think what makes The Adevntures of Amina stand out first and foremost, are the wonderful characters and their equally wonderful dialogue. The prose is done so well here that the characters truly feel like real people and not your typical fantasy stock puppets. lmm I'll finish this later but right now I'm falling asleep. Just wanted to put these thoughts out there before I passed out.

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All around great "vampire" story

Revisado: 12-08-23

This isn't your typical vampire story. The vampire isn't like most vampires, and the story constantly throws you (difficult, but excellent-after-the-fact) curveballs. The symbolism for male chauvinism and the patriarchy in general is pretty heavy handed but it's done so damn well here. Others have said it much better than I so I won't go over all of that, but another part I loved was the blatant hypocrisy that Hendrix shows in rich white communities and how they treat minority "issues" yet still show up to church every Sunday and proclaim themselves good Christians. Here the danger is made flesh and blood with a literal monster but remove said monster and the story really isn't all that far fetched- in what happens in your everyday southern American comunities: rich white people are ok with the murder/rape/drug-infestation of a minority communities so long as it isn't effecting them or their money. Like I said, though, others have said all that better than me. The ending isn't a rosey one but it's perfect for the story I think and that's another thing that's rare in a lot of horror novels imo. So, in all, I just loved this book. I docked it a star because while it was great I didn't think it was as powerful as something like Fevre Dream or The Stress of Her Regard, but it's still a wonderful addition to the vampire genre.

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Amazing Story

Revisado: 01-18-23

I absolutely loved this story. The story gripped me from start to finish and the 2 narrators were fantastic. I don't want to say what the story twist is but for fans of Lincoln and Child type of books (historical fiction/archeological thrillers) you will love this story.

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Hidden, dusty, gem!

Revisado: 11-20-22

For those who love horror anthologies/short story collections, this will be right up your alley. It's hard to find books like this one though, where all the stories are tied together based on one place or person. This one has that in spades though. It's almost like Dr. Watson retelling stories of Holmes but instead of Holmes it's this spooky town he lived in. Closest feeling of the book I can come to is The Beautiful Thing That Awaits Us All, but not near as grim. Obviously, I highly recommend this book!

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Nothing Quite Like It

Revisado: 09-05-22

Like my title says, there is NOTHING quite like this story. From the first paragraph I was hooked and, at the cost of my usual weekend routine, I listened to the entire book over a few days. The book has mystery on top of mystery: we follow our protagonist- Shannon Moss- as she tries to discover who murdered a mother and her 2 children in the most brutal ways only to discover that the suspect is someone who shouldn't exist anymore. That someone was a soldier on a ship, which was part of a larger fleet of about a dozen, tasked with finding a habitable planet for the human race to expand to- only to be lost without a trace for over a decade. So, Moss jumps from future to future trying to uncover the answer to how all of this fits together- and why. The plot, exceptional as it is, is truly made special by the actual writing.


I've never read any of Tom Sweterlitsch's work before but if his other work is like this, then I'll soon have his entire library I'm sure. Honestly, I was hooked from the first paragraph. The details in every scene, especially the ones involving any sort of action or violence, are so.. visceral, and the scenes he paints have this truly vivid imagery that's unlike any book I've read. It was like I was watching the most intense sci-fi thriller. Of course, I doubt just reading it would have given me quite THAT experience; no, the finishing touches were added by Brittany Pressley. Pressley's narration brings everything to life, taking what was "just" a beautiful photograph and turning it into a Hollywood blockbuster level movie scene. I know this might sound over the top but everything about this book is so damn truly that good.

There is nothing quite like The Gone World in the sci-fi/time-travel genre. Those master-crafted scenes drawn by Sweterkitsch, tied together with Pressley's stellar narration made me FEEL everything as the audio played out: from cringing at every violent scene like I was watching it all happen in front of me; to making me stop and gawk in awe when encountering the alien planet of Esperence; or making me clutch my seat every time Shannon was in a high stakes survival moment; The Gone World was gripping from start to finish. I guess the best way I can describe what made this all so impressive to me is that all of THAT made the stakes feel truly high- life or death, end of the human race, high- in every single scene. Again... I know that might be the longest review I have ever done and I know it was over the top in a lot of ways but I wanted to do the book justice because it really is just SO. DAMN. GOOD. There really is nothing quite like it. If you like time travel and modern sci-fi with a touch of retro-futurism, along with some horror/thriller thrown in every other chapter or so, this is the book for you,

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Best Yet

Revisado: 04-22-22

I often have a hard time sticking with a series once I get this far. Usually, the plot has gone stagnant or meandered into the woods to the point of no return; the narrator was switched and doesn't live up to the previous one or match at all in some cases; or just was too damn long... Not with this series. and especially not here. Foxglove Summer was my favorite book in the series so far and I cannot wait for The Hangong Tree. Hobna is brilliant yet again and Ben's writing is precision perfect for the series he's created so far. That all said, Ill finish by saying this was so good that I couldn't NOT write a review for this one and, in closing, buy this book if you like the series!

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this narrator sucks

Revisado: 11-21-21

I can't listen to any more of this. I loved the previous narrators but this guy is awful. his voices sound like South Park voices; they're like a parody of accents. Of all the books ive listened to, not only is this the worst narrator (of a big budget book), its downright shocking this made it to release. The guy sounds like he is doing parodies of what he thinks certain accents are. For example, his southern Louisiana accent for Pendergast is what every Hollywood 2 bit actor THINKS a southern accent sounds like but that isnt the worst... no, the really god awful one is the voice he has for Constance; shes supposed to be a 20 yr old girl in modern america with a unique accent; The narrator made her sound like some 1930s era movie star- in a really bad way. I wanted so bad to be able to get used to the voices but i couldnt. they were so truly terrible that i just couldnt listen more than 45mimutes.

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The Best Fantasy Book of the Last Few Years

Revisado: 05-31-21

Title says it all. This book is so unique, entertaining, and imaginative that I don't think I've ever found a book like it. From the magic, to the humor, to the horror, Blacktongue will keep you entertained the entire way through and you'll probably want to listen again by the time it's over. I know I NEED the sequel but Buehlman is taking his time...but that's OK because I know it will be worth it. Oh, Buehlman also narrates the book and the guy could seriously have a career doing just that if he so chose. Thus, his characters are voiced PERFECTLY because he is the one who knows exactly what they are meaning, when they say it, so his tone, inflection, mood, all that are spot on. Buy the book! You'll love it.

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A New Classic

Revisado: 05-27-21

this is now an instant classic for me. I always had trouble sticking with Miéville before. Not now. The best way I can describe it is that it's a sci-fi dystopian-cold war mystery thriller. I'm sure there's books out there kind of fitting that but I can promise you that none are like this. The concept of parallel cities, being the same and different, and having citizens for each one individually and then a select few inbetween is mind boggling at first but the story does an excellent job walking you through everything. it's deliberate in its presentation of things but it doesn't feel forced, and its an impressive feat. I just discovered they made a show based on the book and now I'm debating if I should watch it. I honestly don't want to be disappointed. The audible experience was so great for this book that I honestly don't want to try and top it lol. Anyways, I recommend it to any Sci fi mystery fan.

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