Matthew

Characters who mature, and grow, and change, while still being true to their personalities.

Revisado: 12-14-24

Loved this. Loved it loved it loved it. It's a wonderful start to a now arch of this series (technically new series). I is the kind of book you forget you're reading, because you're fully immersed. I can't praise it enough. Top notch writing. Top notch story telling. Top notch audio performance (as always with Tim Gerard Reynolds). Top notch all around.

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Best one yet.

Revisado: 06-02-23

A book that truly leaves you hungry for more. Excellent pacing and voice acting. Feels more like a part two to the last book.

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I never give five stars, but...

Revisado: 09-19-17

Would you listen to With Blood upon the Sand again? Why?

I would absolutely read this book/series again, and look forward to doing just that when the next book comes out.

What was one of the most memorable moments of With Blood upon the Sand?

The climax at the end was a real show-stopper. I literally couldn't stop listening for the last few hours. There was just the right amount of action, tension, and the coming together of multiple threads.

Have you listened to any of Sarah Coomes’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have only heard one other performance by Sarah Coome, but I am in love with her voice. She's quickly becoming my favorite voice actor. She's great with accents, and capturing emotion. My -only- critique is that, her shouts are more like loud whispers. But otherwise, she's nearly flawless. I could listen to her voice all day. If had to choose someone to perform my own writing, she'd be at the top of my list. And I mean that with all sincerity.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I felt excitement, but nothing extreme.

Any additional comments?

I've heard this series compared to Arabian Nights, which is a disservice to both stories, because they really are vastly different. The setting is similar, but this story is far more dynamic than the collection of tales that is Arabian Nights. Here, we have multiple story threads that are equally alluring to read, which is rare for a story of this scope. Usually I have a favorite character to follow, and just suffer through the other story lines until that character comes back around, but I was invested across the board. The characters are unique, as they are and compared to one another. Their motivations feel natural, as do their actions and reactions. The political machinations are intriguing to follow. And, on the whole, this series, and this second book in particular, is a fantastic and addictive read. It left me positively craving more, but not feeling like I was sold short in the least. With as well-crafted and told a story as this is, I feel it stands out enough over even some of the best stories I've read, which is why I gave it a very rare (for me) five star rating. Between the story itself and the performance, it more than earned it.

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The best in the series (so far)

Revisado: 07-26-17

This series keeps getting better and better. This book introduces a fully, richer history of its world, full of questions and intrigue, depth and allure. It also flawlessly pulls off one of the most difficult elements of story telling: it redeems an unredeemable character organically, without once feeling forced-something I typically -have- to see am author flounder in attempting, but which not only felt natural in this case, but engaging. It's been awhile since I've been so eager for the next release in a series. Kudos, Mr. Robertson.

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Lower your standards if you plan to read this.

Revisado: 10-19-16

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Apologies in advance to the author; I am loathe to give a negative review, but it's needed--if only to counter the absurd number of undeserved 5-star reviews on here.

The writing itself was fine for the most part; the author certainly has the talent to make something great in the future. The problem is that there's nothing new or compelling in the story. The characters are lackluster and rather cliché; the wizened guide, the godlike hero who you are never really concerned with because, hey, he's a god(ling), the somewhat forced love-interest, etc. And the "omnibus" itself feels like one, meandering book, with unnatural divisions in it to force three books out of it. That might have made sense to have smaller physical books on the shelves in a big box book store, but as it is, it feels completely unnecessary and, if anything, a distracting interruption in the reading.

It desperately needs a better editor to give a harsh critique, to push the author to reconsider his choices for the story as a whole, and guide him to seek more creative elements. Instead, it feels like he just went with whatever his first idea happened to be from scene to scene. It's nothing a good author won't learn from over time, which is why I don't recommend you give up on him just yet; this book is just not quite "there."

What was most disappointing about Brian D. Anderson’s story?

I found myself not caring what happened to the characters.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Godling Chronicles Omnibus?

It needs a better ending. Granted, it's just ond part of a bigger story, but as it is, it doesnt feel self-contained.

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A fantastic follow-up to Red Rising

Revisado: 08-30-16

Sequels are so often the downfall of stories, either because they're capitalizing on the success of the original story and hastily thrown together, or their clumsily edited material that was cut from the original but not substantial enough to stand on its own. But every once in awhile, you come across a book like Golden Son, that feels well-planned, and structured as a solid piece of an ongoing story, but one that can also stand on its own two feet. -AND- it's wonderfully written to boot.
I rarely ever give 5 star reviews, but Pierce Brown has earned it! This series has carved a solid place in my all-time top 10 favorite stories list, and I don't particularly care for sci-fi, so that's quite a feat. I will absolutely be following Pierce Brown as a lifelong reader.

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Well-written, but not engaging

Revisado: 08-22-16

The stars of the rating aren't a fair review on their own, but it's honest. Fans of Terry Goodkind will probably -love- these books, but I am not a fan. These three books are not three, but one, and do not function as independent books. Taken as one, they're more palatable, but not apart. They're very well-written, but lack direction. They're full of the most unapologetic of cliches, which can be fun, but left me rolling my eyes more often than not. And while I love some of the tropes of fantasy, and usually don't mind if I've seen it a dozen times before, here, they felt... Well, lazy. This could have been something new, and refreshing, but instead it comes off as lacking depth, or direction. I think the author has a chance to really shine as they hone their story-telling skill, but they'll have to put more thought into how they execute the stories. For this book, it needed a strict editor to challenge the author further. So, in the end, I can't recommend this book (with the exception of die-hard Goodkind or Brooks fans), but I can say that it might be worth giving this author a shot again down the line. They've got the talent, they just need the direction that comes with good alpha-readers and experience.

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An excellent sequel

Revisado: 07-11-16

After the exceedingly beautiful story that is River God (which I just read for the sixth time, because it's just that good) and the comparatively abysmal Warlock (which some people loved, but I like to pretend doesn't exist), Desert God recaptures the magic that made River God so mesmorizing. While no sequel could ever supersede River God, which was nothing less than perfection, Desert God really does feel like a natural, and gratifying continuation of the story. It's not forced in any way, as so many sequels often are, and feels more like a continuation of the same story rather than a self-contained add-on (although I believe it's just self-contained enough to function as a standalone). It's was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and I look forward to re-reading it again in the near future.

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A fairy (faerie) tale for adults

Revisado: 09-17-15

This is one of my favorite books. It's an unusual, but refreshingly realistic fairy tale in the vein of Grimm's and Pan's Labyrinth that's a twist between romance and fantasy. It's surprisingly deep, and the story is creatively told by alternating chapters so the reader is right in the action but also getting the depth of character development that usually only comes from a long book series. I'm a guy who likes guy fantasy and unique fiction, so this story definitely fits for both a male or a female readers. It's charming, witty, and endearing, and most of all, WELL-WRITTEN, so I count it as a must read.

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I've read this a dozen times

Revisado: 05-28-15

This is my all-time favorite book. It is just as exciting, enjoyable, and moving each time I read it. I still cry and laugh. It's just -that- good. The whole series (with the exception of warlock, which I regretfully can't recommend) is great, but this first book is gold. Wilbur Smith struck gold when writing it. And the voice actor clearly poured his heart and soul into one of the best performances I've ever heard. So besides being the best book I've ever had the pure joy of reading, it's also the best audiobook I've listened to. There aren't enough stars to fully express my love for River god.

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