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Impressive sequel!

Revisado: 09-21-22 El oyente recibió este título gratis

The gripping sequel to A Ritual of Bone is a much longer and character-driven tale, but no less vivid or gruesome. Focused primarily on the protagonists and their challenges with the events that began in Book 1, it is far more complex than its predecessor. The author ramps up his already impressive writing style and character development while slowing the pace for the first 2/3 of the novel. The reader is given glimpses into the struggles of ordinary citizens that populate this world, as well as the political machinations through a global pandemic (sound familiar?). We learn quite a bit more about the Cursed Ones, and several questions from Book 1 are answered, while leaving some unanswered for now. Mr. Conley expertly escalates the tension and action through the latter 1/3 of the story, and we’re left both heartbroken and hopeful by the conclusion. Once again, the audiobook features the remarkable talent of RJ Bayley, and I’m eagerly waiting for Book 3!

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Phenomenal!!

Revisado: 09-09-22

This is an absolutely terrifying and grisly twist on the zombie genre from Lee Conley. The pacing was perfect and the ever-present suspense kept me from wanting to listen after dark! The world-building, depth of characters, and writing style is especially impressive for a debut novel. Each scene was expertly choreographed and gruesomely vivid. The constant presence of hope and heartbreak only adds to the tension. The details involving necromancy, disease, and how these things can begin to spread were well-thought out and executed. RJ Bayley is a very good narrator, lending his range of voices and well-timed cadence to the audiobook. I was drawn in by this story and have many questions that I hope will be resolved by the end of the saga. I’m already on Book 2 and anxiously awaiting Book 3.

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Great follow-up!

Revisado: 09-09-22

It’s rare that a sequel exceeds the first of a series, but Soulsmith is among that list. The story picks up where Unsouled left off, and we follow Lindon as he continues his quest to advance in power. I made the comparison to Dragonball Z in my review for Unsouled, not knowing how accurate it was! We learn quite a bit about the magic system in this world and the intense preparation needed to “level.” Once again, the fight scenes were well-written and the backstory kept me engaged. Travis Baldree is excellent as usual.

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Promising start

Revisado: 08-23-22

I picked this up 4.5 years ago and finally decided to delve into the series. I really don’t know how to classify this. Is it fantasy, anime, YA, or game-lit? My kids loved Dragonball Z when they were younger and this story has a similar vibe. The story begins with a society where everyone besides the MC has some sort of magic. He’s proclaimed “empty” by the village elder and cannot choose a “Path.” The MC is clever and proceeds to spend the next decade or so trying to cheat his way into a Path. Unsouled is an Asian-inspired progression story and we get to see the MC grow stronger with the help of ancient texts, powerful artifacts, and one mysterious ally. The underlying thread is how the MC uses his wits and determination to overcome his weaknesses and increase his power. This was a fun read and it looks like I’ll be binging the series over the next few months. Travis Baldree lends his talents to the audiobook and it’s a perfect match.

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Not the Fae you're used to.

Revisado: 08-18-22

This was an incredibly well-written series, and the imagery/world-building described by the author was some of the best I’ve encountered. There are some very dark themes and possible triggers for some people. These scenes are scattered throughout and several of them are short, yet graphic, but the premise is central to the arc directly involving the Fae. The storyline was very well thought out and the structure of the series as a whole flowed with ease. The POV from characters of opposing human forces showed very real emotions and struggles from both sides. The many battle scenes were expertly crafted, leading to the epic showdown and satisfying conclusion. There were enough hints at past events and future possibilities that I hope that the author revisits this world in a prequel or sequel series.

Jonny McPherson is an absolutely superb narrator and I would love to hear him perform in other series. His versatility and range are impressive to say the least. The fear experienced by the humans is haunting and visceral as each encounter with the Fae plays out, owing in large part to the talent of the narrator.

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WOW!!!

Revisado: 07-11-22

Following on the heels of the amazing Dead Acre novella, Bruno and Castle stepped up their game for the first full-length novel in this series. We're presented with a gritty western tale of a murdered outlaw who was brought back to serve the "White Court" in hunting down evil. What makes this tale stand out is that there's no redemption for James Crowley. Rather than the usual heavenly reward for a job well-done, the best he can hope for is oblivion. Crowley is gruff, irreverent, and unforgiving - the epitome of an anti-hero. He has his own sense of honor and you can't help but root for him despite his flaws. The other characters are realistic and varied in personalities, and one particular bad guy is ruthlessly savage to the point that you can't wait for him to get his due. The storyline was well-conceived and executed with a pace that kept me listening long into the night. Roger Clark delivered another stellar performance and brought a definitive realism to this type of story. There's also a plot twist that demands a sequel, and Book 2 can't drop soon enough.

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Light-hearted fantasy!

Revisado: 06-29-22

After reading several grimdark fantasy novels back-to-back, this was a welcome breath of fresh air! I've enjoyed Travis Baldree's narrative gift through other books, and his first novel is a wonderful little story that's a light, easy listen. I hope to see (or listen to) more of his unique imagination brought to life.

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Light-hearted fantasy!

Revisado: 06-29-22

After reading several grimdark fantasy novels back-to-back, this was a welcome breath of fresh air! I've enjoyed Travis Baldree's narrative gift through other books, and his first novel is a wonderful little story that's a light, easy listen. I hope to see (or listen to) more of his unique imagination brought to life.

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Definitely worth the credit!

Revisado: 06-14-22

Before you read further, please be aware that there's a book 4. This is an excellent series involving a huge cast of characters, a wide variety of "new" races, and plenty of plots and intrigue. It's a bit on the darker side of fantasy and a couple of brutal scenes in book 1 were reminiscent of Abercrombie. That said, at least one of those horrible events helped one character advance the plot and wasn't completely gratuitous. That scene in particular is mercifully short. The world-building is very nicely done, and the main characters display more than one dimension. There are loads of political intrigue as well, however the books don't get bogged down with them and the author throws a LOT of fight scenes in the mix. Like many others, it took a while to get used to the 2-narrator format, however both of them were very good. Greg Patmore in particular has an amazing arsenal of voices. I flew through this collection in 2 weeks and I started book 4 already. Don't wait like I did!

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Excellent Sequel!!

Revisado: 08-23-21 El oyente recibió este título gratis

This story continues on from the amazing Fate of Wizardoms series, so read those first. Mr. Kohanek begins another epic story full of rich characters and a world struggling with a new reality. I don't want to spoil anything, but the new threat the heroes face is pleasantly well-developed and a far cry from the standard "big bad" that is prevalent in many other series. Also, the climactic fight scene was suberb! Mr. Baldree once again delivers a flawless narration and is perfect for this role. I've already finished Book 2 and should have Book 3 completed by the end of the week. Yes, they're that good!

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