Kate D

excellent character consistency

Revisado: 08-23-24

The concept of higher life forms breeding lower life forms as food is not a new concept. This story has an interesting twist on this theme with the development of firstlight, and secondlight being an important part of the culture of Pangera and the Vaneer whose bodies are a source of it. I like the way in which the lineage, and ancient lore regarding the truth of from where all the sentient beings originated is slowly revealed through Bryce's desire to understand her dead friend's, Danica's, research and hidden secrets.
The characters are narrated with consistent voices. The emotions are conveyed well, from Bryce's snark, to the loss and longing in Cormack over the death of the Thunderbird.
I would not recommend this novel to anyone prudish or too young because of the adult content. I personally don't enjoy romance novels, nor explicit sex scenes as a rule. However, the story and characters are developed enough to appreciate the tension the varied secret or forbidden romances add to the storyline. Like a printed novel, which can be skimmed, the mature content can be fast-forward through and nothing would be lost from the storyline.

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consistent characters and tempo

Revisado: 06-01-24

Having the same narrator who keeps the characters consistent is fantastic for listening. The story of the child surprise is a great one.

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great voices, an easy listen

Revisado: 04-09-24

A great fairytale, told by a not-prince.
The only odd chapter, but a nice interlude, was the one from Radar's perspective.
I enjoyed the voices and tempo. The sound quality was excellent other no mouth noises or page turns. Perfect.

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strange feminism

Revisado: 03-30-24

What I disliked was Wyatt's voice. Yuck. I understand how difficult it is to make many different male voices with a limited alto or mezzo-soprano female narrative voice, but Wyatt's voice made me not want to listen at all. Cringe worthy.
The tempo and volume of the narration was good, listening at 1.15x to 1.25x. I liked the variation between female voices, this being done well enough in the first novel. also by the same narrator, for me to be able to listen to the dreadful Wyatt's voice in between.
I like that the small historical pieces were included to make the story feel overall set at a particular time in England. The story is fairly fast paced, and spends a good deal of time on the propriety of women with their dealings with men. The actual Mystery is fun, with a few red-herings included.

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One Narrator ruined it for me...

Revisado: 01-25-24

Dion Graham sucking in air after every 6 words drove me up a wall. Editing should have taken that sound out. There is nothing worse than wet mouth sounds or gasping narrators to ruin a truly marvelous masterpiece.
The other narrators had appealing voices, although I had to warm up to Kat's narrator. The voice fit to th character's flippant, quick witted and maildly abrasive personality.
The story, layered inside stories was fantastic. I kept hoping the boy who never felt like he belonged would get the ending he so desperately needed, and deserved. I, like the Guardian, thought he would not be given this gift after what he did on Faith to liberate all of the people from the stories.
the symbolism, and irony in symbolism was my favorite part. Second to this was the wordplay. fantastic! The world building was not overdone to the point of tedium, but enough to let the reader-listener develop images formed will enough to rember places and events.
I would recommend this for anyone who reads Clive Barker; it reminded me so much of Arabat(trilogy) or Imagica.

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what a world

Revisado: 01-05-24

The Narrator read for the near 40 hrs with a consistency of characters and tempo. I enjoyed the interpretation of characters.
The story is fantastic. Knowing the meaning of Nivi Nirvana as words both in Inuit, and Hindi, makes a full understanding of the transformation of the 3rd dominion, and the meaning behind the first dominion.
I am left wondering about how Quasar ended up with the doppelganger Sartori, instead of remaining with Gentle. It isn't explained in a memorable way.
This is an Audiobook that can be revisited many times, and more can be understood or interpreted with each listening. I am glad I own it.

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sci-fi in Savanah Georgia

Revisado: 09-02-21

I have been reading Preston&Child's Pendergst series since Relic. I saw the horrid movie, and looked for the book. I enjoyed the writing this pair does to create this series. This novel is no exception. The only aspect of this series I found to be an unnecessary decision, and for the worst of the novels(Cemetry Dance), was killing off Journalist Will Smith back; Unforgivable.
This novel left me with this feeling of another unforgivable situation being created with Constance Greene and her choice at the end of the novel. she continually makes self-destructive decisions that hurt Pendergast deeply. I would have left her in the institution fr the criminally insane. Aside from saving Pendergast's life twice or three times, she is a complication for the protagonist, a solution for situations where other characters are not inherently intelligent enough to be of use to solve part of a case, or an oddity for the recently added Coldmoon to wonder over. I am not looking forward the the next two in this trilogy if it continues with Constance Greene, who was well developed in the novel, Blue Labyrinth, and not been shown in the same way since. Her moody dark nature, and illogical, emotional, and irrational decisions based on how Pendergast loves her, not if he loves her, is getting tiresome.
The idea of a time warping machine that is described as something based on Tesla's Jacob's Ladder, is intriguing. The idea that it came from the mind of a working from Boeing, pre-1972, an outcast wanting to prove himself and be. value to the company, is fascinating. Tying it in with a female coworker, and a real unsolved crime, is a clever start.
The world from which the metallic based, insect shaped, horror originated was an interesting choice. Theories about life from different galaxies would be more insect like due to gravity difference and star exposure, among other factors, is a popular idea. What didn't work for me, despite its size and insect strength, was its lack of struggle to fly in this world with extra gravitational pull. it also seemed to have an endless pit for a stomach when it went on a rampage. Even Mosquitoes from this planet have a blood capacity. This one ate a whole film crew, half of a political rally, and didn't get bloated o that a bullet would make it leak. Sci-fi is great that you can do what you want, but when you bring it here to earth, now, it creates an inability to suspend reality, just a bit.
I liked the overall story - it was original and entertaining. I dread seeing Pendergast with his needles and paraphernalia, like Holmes, or sloppy drunk from "Killing the Parrot". I don't enjoy his "dark times" books, especially since they come out in the summer now.

The narrator used this time around absolutely butchered Constance for me. She sounds like an old crone. I do know that chronologically, she is close to 150 years old, however, her physical body is that of a woman in her late 20s. She may even look younger. That voice he used sounded like a B film with a very old woman given contacts to appear to have cataracts, and could possibly have been a school mistress. She has a deep voice, and speaks with the phraseology of the late 19th century, as well as diction or accent. It isn't that the narrator couldn't produce young woman's voices - the Sergent of the police was a woman, and sounded fine, as did the young cinematographer for the "Vampire of Savanah". I feel that Coldmoon was understood as a character, as were the other characters. I enjoyed the Southern styled accent, but I would not be blessed to tell Savanah Georgia from Birmingham Alabama, and they do sound dfferent. Only those of you from Savanah can judge the accent.
With many theaters being closed down, so many stage actors are turning to narrating books. I cannot believe that this was the best fit. I have absolutely heard worse, but with so many to chose from, I would not have picked this one.

I would recommend the novel for anyone who loves the series. This one does not have the same tempo and rhythm as Brimstone, Fever Dream or even the early Cabint of Curiosities, but it is a good story.

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Scott Brick is Scott Brick👍🏻👍🏻

Revisado: 05-30-21

I have been following Cotton Malone adventures since the first novel. I enjoy Scott Brick's voice for all of the characters and hope he continues narrating the series.

I listened to the book in two sittings. I close my eyes and visualize like it is a long movie. The stories are easy to follow, but even more easy if you know the cast from previous adventures, and some of the inside jokes and references. I enjoyed the premise of this novel in that it doesn't take much suspension of reality for the events to be plausible.

I was disappointed with the ending. I felt that the theme of the novel was not given its full potential in that 1. Germany was accepting the weight of past atrocities that happened on the land, but were still moving forward with an idea of solidarity. 2. Germany survived the worst attack from the allies, and grew strong; it did not died from shame and chose to exist. Likewise, I think leadership could have made these same choices.

Overall, it was an entertaining read.

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Book within book Money Chase

Revisado: 04-05-21

The plot was Tarentino like, where the characters are taking direction for their lives based on a book titled Stingray Shuffle. Some parts are clever, and other parts ridiculous.

The Narration is what I enjoy through the long informational sections, which I enjoy, but the wrong narrator could ruin it, making me tune out. I am captivated by the Narrator's choice for Surge's wound up, off his meds, voice.

I was stuck on two parts, they just didn't work for me - as insanely composed as the plot already is - I couldn't buy that Surge's Stoner Friend was just left at the hospital, with a clever name. Just a thoughtless way to get him out of the Mystery train ride. The second was Surge not erasing the Answering machine. at the time this was written, machines didn't have codes or fancy security. Again, just a way for Jamaica and Russia to follow on Blazing Saddles.

I enjoyed the book, I laugh out loud with every one in the series so far, but this one was flawed in too many ways. I almost wish I read them out of order so I would know the reasons for why things occur in the previous novels.

on to the next!

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Mages and battles for power

Revisado: 03-31-21

Jackson's narration is fantastic! I enjoy a book that is read like a story or a tale, rather than someone reading a book to me. The tempo, pauses, and tone inflection draws you in, and makes the plots twists connect because all preceeding clues have been made apparent through voice. Each character is very different in sound, and so even should I not recall the character's name, I knew who it was by the voice being used. Gildart Jackson is one of the better story tellers I have listened to from his generation.

The story would appeal to anyone who likes Harry Potter series, the Alchemist(Nicholas Flammel) series, The Dresden Files(Harry Dresden), or other Magical books. There are The Light/White Mages, which have control of the council since the Dark Wars. They have become a wishy-washy excuse making group of Mages that would rather look the other way at infractions of magical law, than confront the issues. DRk Mages are ruthless, and want a seat on the council. Their methods of apprenticeship are heinous, but no magical law interferes.
The main character is a Divining Mage. He can see strands of the future, and sort out what actions will lead to the best future. He has trauma in his past from studying under a ruthless Dark Mage, and so has picked neither Light nor Dark. I would call him a Gray Mage, but the characters of the novel refer to him as a Rogue. Because he studied under a Dark Mage, but never completed his full training, he is powerful but has self-doubts. This novel can be seen as a Bildungsroman of sorts because the main character leaves behind childhood trauma, which has kept him from seeing himself as an adept Mage, being stuck at the age of a teenager where trauma and a falling-out with his master took him away from his training. It took this adventure, and finding magic stronger than anyone could imagine for him to fully understand who he was, and leave behind his fears and doubt.
The novel is witty, imaginative and has fantastic characters.

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