J. OBrennan

Overall enjoyable, but oof...the first half...

Revisado: 07-17-21

I know this is an extended version of the original, and the author was deliberate in providing more "back story", but it would have been much better without the entire first half. I'm relatively happy I stuck with it, because the second half was fun and fast paced...but as it is, this might not be worth the time commitment.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Not Jeremy Robinson's best work

Revisado: 12-14-20

I enjoy Jeremy Robinson's work, and I've read or listened to a good number of his books. This one isn't his best. Even making allowances for the genre (no one expects total plausibility) and nutty over-the-top antics (who doesn't love that?) its just too loose, goofy and and hyper-hyped to be really...good. The characters just aren't believable, and the underlying premise is kind of a stretch. R.C. Bray does a beautiful job though, as usual.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Don't let the one bad narrator deter you!

Revisado: 12-14-20

To be honest, I don't even remember how I came across this series...maybe it was in my recommendations, or maybe it was on sale? Well, I just finished the series, and I can say it was a very well spent 43+ hours. I would advise prospective listeners to avoid making assumptions based on the titles or descriptions - there's more to the story than Good vs Bad or Heaven or psychology... There's epic storytelling and world building and (if you want) some philosophy. But mostly its a fun ride with characters that engage and occasionally surprise you.

I would also urge you not to give up on the series after you encounter the bizarre, halting, screamy narration by John Rubinstein. He does narrate parts of the first two books, and he doesn't get any better as he goes...but the other narrators do a great job and I feel justified in assuring you that it's worth it, overall.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 5 personas

A little over the top

Revisado: 12-14-20

I love Jeff VanderMeer, and this was definitely had some of his hallmark mind-bending world building - but the over-the-top absurdity kinda wore me out by the end. I mean, I'm curious to know what happens to the characters in subsequent books...but not enough to actually read them. Great narration though.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

Dark in a sort of un-fun way

Revisado: 12-14-20

The plot is interesting and the characters are engaging - but there's a bleakness here...a kind of darkness that is less "murmurs in the shadows" and more "disturbing human trafficking". I think there's definitely a market for this, but it's not really for me. Well written and excellently performed, regardless.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Alluring and spooky

Revisado: 12-14-20

This is a thoroughly enjoyable story - well written and populated with complex and intriguing characters. Bardugo wove in just enough history and sense of location to make it feel "real", without overwriting the eerie flow of magic and danger. My only disappointment is that the second in the series isn't available yet.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Kinda fun, if you don't mind overt sexism

Revisado: 12-14-20

The plot is fun, the characters are engaging...but the chest-thumping undercurrent of "men strong, women weak" was annoying and pervasive. I can forgive the main character's tendency to act like some kind of god, because, well, he kinda is. But I could do without his sizing up every female character in terms of her vulnerability, desirability and (dare I say) subservice - especially since there are so many female characters who could have been stronger, cooler, and otherwise whole people. I initially thought that Garon Whited might be just another old white male, stuck in some bygone era of celebrated chauvinism, but nope - Google reveals that he's in his early 50's. No excuse.

I also struggled a bit with Sean Runnette's narration. His voice seems better suited for business texts or home improvement manuals than the swashbuckling adventures of a sword-yielding Nightlord. I got used to it, over time - and there's plenty of time with this nearly 37hr tome - but it never really felt right.

Overall, I'm not going to try to talk you out of listening to Nightlorrd Sunset...but nor can I promise you'll enjoy it. There's a sequel, and I'm generally up for reading through the chain of stories - but I will probably give this one a pass.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Weird narration, but interesting details

Revisado: 12-14-20

I struggled to give an overall rating that wasn't influenced by the narration...but I honestly can't imagine what it would have been like to just read this book. The narrator wasn't horrible, but her odd inflection and awkward emphasis got in the way of the story. I enjoyed the characters, and I was pleased to see a female character with some power, if not agency. I see that there's a sequel and there is some small part of me that is interested in reading it. I don't know...

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

So disappointed

Revisado: 02-18-20

This book was just a huge disappointment. I’m actually a little angry with myself for not giving up after the first few chapters, but I loved Vita Nostra so much that I kept thinking that it had to get better… Nope. It just got worse. I don’t know if the writing was just bad, or if the translation murdered it. I suspect the translation, because the dialogue was so stilted and unnatural, and every opportunity to use a good descriptive word was lost to a weak or absurd substitution. But that doesn't excuse the many meaningless passages, lack of follow-through, and weak build-up to "important" events. And no hate to the narrator – I’m sure he’s done a fine job with other audio books – but he his portrayal of these characters fluctuated from flat to cartooney. I’m sure lots of readers/listeners who enjoyed Vita Nostra are super excited to see another book by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko on Audible…but please don’t waste your credit. This one is not worth ten hours of your life.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Good enough to suffer through the poor narration

Revisado: 03-22-19

The Bird King is an exciting adventure with undercurrents of social commentary and maybe even a dash of "feminist anthem" for extra flavor. I thoroughly enjoyed the story line and the characters. G. Willow Wilson did a great job of creating whole people - imperfect and complicated, but each one valid in their own right. The blend between the real world and the realm of jinni and sorcery is beautifully done, and I found it easy to gloss over the small handful of events that probably could've used a little more explanation.

Having said all that - I almost returned the book after the first 20 minutes. I'm sure Elmira Rahim is a fine actress, and I could tell that she really put forth effort in keeping the characters distinct...but her bizarre emphasis and random mid-sentence pauses were painful to listen to. I can't imagine why she was chosen to narrate this audio book. The narration was so poor that I can't actually recommend listening to The Bird King on Audible - but instead, go pick up the hard copy book and read it to yourself.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 35 personas