Jean

A Magical House

Revisado: 05-19-21

Don't read this book of you are looking for bloody fights, or TMI bedroom scenes. If you like real people learning to deal with a magical house, cursed artifacts, and people with extra-ordinary talents, you will love this story.
The writing is in a narrative style that reminds me of older detective stories, like Raymond Chandler.
Even though Mr Lowell doesn't go into the main character's history, you get glimpses of it through the other characters. Mulliford, an Afghanistan vet, suffering from PTSD and anger issues, who is also very 'mundane,' is almost forced by circumstances into a butler job. In this job, he has to come to terms with the existence of wizards, pixies, and fairies - a far cry from the realities of war, but he finds healing and a peace of heart in this magical house.
If the tone is anything to go by, there is a series here, and I truly hope this is the case. Don't worry, though, this story is wonderful as a stand alone.

I would rate this story G.
I highly recommend this book.

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I'm Glad I Decided On This

Revisado: 03-27-21

I seriously debated whether to get this book or not, but finally decided to take a chance. I'm so glad I did! I totally enjoyed listening to this book. I actually preferred it to Brisinger.
A youth, on the brink of becoming an apprentice cook under his father, steals an imperfect dragon egg set aside for destruction. This story follows his path as he and his dragon, despite being rejected for their imperfections, grow in strength and responsibility. The author did a good job of showing the process of a boy seeing his ideals slowly replaced by the realities of the world around him.

Unfortunately, the sequel isn't out yet, but I knew that when I bought it. I'm keeping a credit available for it. Take a chance on this book if you like books about young men growing up with dragons, books by Paolini or Mccaffrey, or books with swords and magic.

I would rate this YA book PG, only for the blood and war.

I recommend this book.

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A Great Addition To Pillars!

Revisado: 02-09-21

I loved the Pillars of Reality series and have listened to it several times. The daughter series I didn't like quite as well, but it was still a good series.
This first book, at least, is a prequel to the original series and, in my opinion, just as well written as Pillars.
I have only listened to these books, so I don't know how the different cities are spelled or even people's names. So you'll have to excuse any misspellings.
I really missed MacLeod Andrews' narration. I can understand the switch, but there were parts of Caitlin Davies narration that took some getting used to. I don't know how "legionnaires" is spelled in the book, maybe it IS spelled "legionnaries" but I don't think so. I had to work at not letting the pronunciation set my teeth on edge. I did get used to it. Another aspect that got old was the constant "dramatic" voice. But these were minor things, overall Caitlin did a good job and I HAVE heard narrators who were much, much worse.
if you like Jack Campbell's books, you already know you don't want to miss this one. if you have never read "Pillars of Reality," "The Genesis Fleet," or any of the "Lost Fleet" series, or this "Empress of the Endless Sea," you are in for a treat.
I wish I had never read these books so I could read them all for the first time AGAIN!
Highly recommended.
(I rate this book PG-13. It does get a little bloody, not gory, and involves killing.)

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A Unique Story for Heyer

Revisado: 05-17-17

I love G. Heyer's historical romances and mysteries. She is a good writer and her historical fiction is very accurate since she was an amateur historian. Many of the publications she refers to in her books, she actually owned. She could read Middle English and Middle French (I do good just reading modern English - Chaucer had to be translated for me to understand it.)
Readers who prefer the cotton candy of modern authors most likely will be bored with the meat & potatoes of an older style of writing.
The idioms and phrases of the time period will seem awkward and foreign at first, but hang in there, by the third chapter you will be thoroughly enjoying it and incorporating some of the lingo into your own vocabulary.

Delightfully no porn! I highly recommend this book to those with college level or higher reading skills.

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When is the next one?!

Revisado: 08-05-16

Not a classic writer, but so worth the read. Can't wait for another story about Austin and the Star Runners!

This book is good for any age reader. I would rate it PG, but there are difficult subjects of death, loss, and sacrifice that might be hard for children old enough to understand but not old enough to deal with it. These issues were well-written and very true-to-life. unlike tv, where people suffer tremendous trama & loss and the next day are fine.

My dad always said, "if your beliefs aren't worth dying for, they aren't worth living for."

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Much More Than...

Revisado: 07-25-16

The Last Starfighter movie, although there is a lot of similarities. I put off getting this audio book because I thought it would be a repeat of the movie - I needn't have worried.
The narrator is fair. Only a few times getting his voices mixed up, but overall an okay job.
This is the first in a series of three, and having finished this first book, I'm immediately getting the second one, and I am very glad there is more. You get sucked into this universe and into the life of Austin, the main character.

I recommend this book.
No swearing or sex. People die, but not a lot of gor - suitable for young adult.

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Don't miss the Afterword!

Revisado: 04-20-16

I really enjoyed this book, the second in a 3-book series. It's an alternate history based on actual events that happened in WWI, but in an interesting twist on the Steampunk genre.
I enjoy historical fiction, and the Afterword tied the events in the book with actual events - giving the book weight despite the JA category, and making WWI much more interesting and personal.
The "Darwinist" ideas in the book are fascinating and, I think, not so far from reality in some aspects.
I highly recommend this series.

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Two Hours of Freeway Got Me Hooked

Revisado: 07-06-15

I originally criticized the reader, but by the end of the book I had decided I couldn't imagine anyone else reading the book better.
The story revolves around a small book store in an island town in New England and the various lives that revolve around the book store. The characters are very human, and endearing for all that they aren't perfect. I got very attached to them and it was hard to say goodbye. The story has 'human nature' humor. The emotion was refreshingly REAL, not overdone the way we have become accustomed to seeing on television. If this was turned into a movie it would ruin it - it would lose its simplicity and become a mere moody drama. As a book, it is perfect, and I recommend it to those who don't mind sad parts.

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A Modern Romp in Black & White or

Revisado: 05-28-15

Nancy Drew meets Sabrina the Witch read by FBI agent Frank. Good Story, monotone Narrator.

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Beautiful Vocabulary! Great Story!

Revisado: 03-01-15

I really enjoyed this story. It was a great story enhanced by vocabulary so varied and extensive that the 300 standard words used by newspapers compares to baby talk.
I actually checked to see if the narration wasn't done by a team, so unique & consistent were the character voices used by Mr. Wyman.
Philosophical questions such as, 'what is intelligence and how do you measure it?' What constitutes freedom? Friendship? And an illustration of Maslow's hierarchy of needs are explored in a very entertaining story, rife with dry humor and a delightful sense of the absurd. The main protagonist is kidnapped from earth by Ferengi-like aliens and imprisoned in a zoo with other aliens considered to be merchandise. The unique characters this human meets and the ensuing adventures they go through were very entertaining - and occasionally nail-bitingly tense. The light-hearted philosophical undertones added depth to the story.

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