Danielle

THERE IS BACKGROUND MUSIC

Revisado: 11-11-19

I haven’t finished it and I don’t know if I’ll be able to because.. there is music. The reading is dramatic enough. This is the worst.
I had to rate the story to leave the review so I gave it a 4 because I don’t want to throw anything off, but again, I may never be able to know whether or not the story is decent.

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Potential Audio Readers, Take Heed!

Revisado: 03-07-19

This is how a classic is read. Always give this as an example. Would never have read through the songs, tbh. But I listened to every, single, one with Rob Inglis. Thank you, sir!!!

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So Bummed. Don't read if you love the GV

Revisado: 03-07-19

I am going to try and not be a huge troll right now, because I imagine, if I were the reader of this, I would be reading these comments and I just don't want to be overly offensive, but if I were the author, I would appreciate critical reviews. This book is over-read. There are inflections when the text does not indicate an inflection, there have been at least 2 mispronounced words (I can't remember them at the moment, but if I do I'll go back and edit this) and the accents are cringey. I have had to switch to just reading it several times, which, long story short, has made it nearly impossible to finish the book. The goal of a reader is to be invisible to the story and let the words of the author tell themselves. This reader did not get that memo. It sounds like she's auditioning for Broadway. Which is fine! Just, not in my earbuds. I don't want any acting of the book, just reading it. Maybe I'm alone on that one, but this is very obviously just my opinion so I'm giving it. I don't know how to explain it better than that, but a great example is listening to any of the Winter Night trilogy. The reader totally fades away and it's just words. So nice. Another example of some really bad reading is most of the Fever series.

That said, maybe I just had my expectations too high about the book. But I really, really loved everything else coming out of the Grishaverse. I mean, LOVED. 6 of crows was my literary soul mate. This one I have been dragging myself through. It's not nearly as clever, to the point of being clumsy in many interactions. There are a couple of new characters who are so laughably one dimensional, I have just been expecting them to be fodder for some fight that happens later. That is the only excuse for the level of over-obvious dialogue. How many times/ different ways can you say someone is an optimist? Or that another one is dour? We get it. At one point she literally says "But I'm not dead!" while smiling. Come on, man.

And even the descriptions, I'm just- okay, here is an example, that doesn't give anything away:
"...and, as a rule, if one had the opportunity to visit a pleasure palace, one should. Especially if said pleasure palace served as cover for a secret laboratory.". That is literally how the 'secret lab' is introduced. Now imagine listening to that with someone reading as if the notes for how it should be read say "Read Nikolai as though he is a Debonair Game Show Host". I honestly have become so obsessed with how disappointing this book is that I've decided to do a deep dive analysis into what has changed. Is it the editor? Beta readers? The thing with sequels or spin offs is that if they are not strong enough to stand alone, you risk tarnishing the whole series. It's a very risky undertaking. This book felt like "the fandom is so strong, they'll love anything we throw out there" which is an egregious abuse of pen power and straight up sullied the whole Grishaverse.

I'm sorry. I'm hurt and bummed out.
Sincerely
Dannivdunn@gmail.com
(because I don't believe in anonymous comments)

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One of the Best Listens

Revisado: 03-07-19

Seriously. She really let the book speak for itself. Composed, understated and with honestly perfect accents. I was so thankful and impressed. I'm thankful when I'm just not annoyed by the reader, but this was above and beyond. I was just as captivated as if it was going on in my head, which I think is the goal of any audible reader. So impressed! Yay!

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One of the Best Audibles!

Revisado: 03-07-19

This is right up there with whoever read the Lord of the Rings (also really really great listen). I am such a critic about readers, but Kathleen Gati is absolutely brilliant. Understated, really lets the words of the book shine through. All while giving her characters an accent? It is really remarkable. SO thankful for this performance!

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