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Nice intro text spoiled by poor narration

Revisado: 09-14-23 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Okay, a double edged sword here. If I had read this, I would have liked it a lot better. While it's not a in-depth examination of Irish history and mythology, it definitely makes people want to know more and it's quite comprehensive in the amount of topics it covers. However, the narration was irritating at times with the faux Irish accent and the continual mispronunciation of Irish names got on my nerves at times. If you're not Irish, you probably won't notice (or care), but I do. I recommend the book as a starter for those interested in the topics in question though.

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A little aquatic horror to brighten your day

Revisado: 06-12-22 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I received a copy of the audio from the narrator in exchange for an honest review. And here it is...

I must be honest, I'd never heard of Brian Hopkins before the day I was offered an audio arc (or whatever it's called). Anyone who regularly listens to audiobooks knows that if Joshua Saxon has put his voice to it, it's going to be good. This anthology certainly fits that bill. It's a collection of water-related horror stories that range from folklore to hints of Cthulhu mythos and, while some are better than others, they are all worth listening to. Crocodile Gods was probably my favourite, but all are worth your time.

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A decent bridge between series

Revisado: 03-02-21 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way impacts my opinion.

Caina, now in exile struggles to find purpose in her life while dealing with her past. To find some purpose she joins a circus as a knife thrower (as is one's wont). She learns that her landlady has severe problems (family taken) and Caina decides to revert to form an go on the rampage to rescue them.

A nice bridge between the previous series and the one to follow. The narrator did a solid job.

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Even better than book one.

Revisado: 03-02-21 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I received a free audio copy from the author in return for an honest review. This in no way impacts my opinion.

I had the pleasure of reviewing Black City Saint on audio a while back, so I thought it something of a treat to get to review the sequel too. Nick and his motley crew have beaten the Wyld, preventing their descent into Chicago, and life has settled down. With no major threats on the horizon, Nick, Claryce and Fetch settle into a semblance of a normal life, which for Nick means ghost-hunting. Not real ghosts mind you, but things that go bump in the night. A debunker, so to speak. It might seem somewhat odd that a man who possesses the soul of a dragon and has fought creatures from Celtic mythology is debunking ghosts but just roll with it. Nick starts to discover some real ghosts – way too many real ghosts – and figures something is rotten in Denmark. It turns out Claryce has been doing her own investigations, and has the jump on Nick, but is now attracting the wrong kind of attention – perhaps an even greater threat than that they faced in the first book. Here are my thoughts on the story:

I preferred this book to the original. Maybe that had something to do with the fact that there was no need for exposition (not that it was done badly in BCS), but I felt more at home with everyone. Instead of a “happy ever after” approach, Nick avoids Claryce to keep her out of harm’s way. However, in true heroic style, she wasn’t interested in what he thought and had begun her own investigation into the growing ghost problem. Fetch is still Fetch, and we’re never 100% what side he is on, unlike the Dragon, whose favourite pastime seems to be possessing Nick – something that amps up in BCD
Did I mention there is a bad guy? While we had to deal with Feirie last time, they were creatures out of myth, and (subconsciously I guess) seemed less frightening for it (unlike the Dragon, our inner demon). This time we have a flesh and blood human, a serial killer, who flies under the radar in a time when we didn’t have an information superhighway to keep us warned. To compare to book one again, I like that the identity and “habits” of this antagonist are kept under wraps and slowly revealed, unlike BCS where it was more obvious from the start.
I continue to enjoy the setting. Prohibition is now in full swing, and the cops are too busy chasing smugglers and busting speakeasies to see what’s going on around them. What I particularly enjoy about “period” pieces like this, is how hard it is to dig up information. Nick and Claryce constantly have to question potentially unreliable sources, including an institutionalized man, or scan old newspapers and paperwork to find leads, adding a degree of complexity to their detective work. Knaak makes sure that the story oozes 1920s Chicago.
Finally, in this second part of the series, the Dragon starts to make his presence known more, and on these occasions, it becomes harder for Nick to regain control. This concept is my favourite part of the series and is quite unique. But there is an added catch this time. Dual personalities aside, the Dragon also fears the antagonist, adding a frightening dimension to Nick’s new foe. What kind of human is fearsome enough to frighten a dragon?
Verdict

Not many sequels surpass the first book. This is one of them.

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A weird and wonderful fairy tale

Revisado: 01-30-21 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I received a free copy from the author in return for an honest review. This in no way impacts my opinion.

Phehl is the protector of her atoll, maintaining the peace and prosperity of her people. But she earned her position by cheating and fears that one day, she will be caught. However, when a trader and a girl who claims to be a shark show up on her beach, she is led on a journey that proves she is not the only one on her island with secrets.

Told in a very imaginative fashion, as if a (dark) fairy tale, the author introduces us to a fun world that is unlike those of traditional fantasy.

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A tale of one of Engand's less-known influences

Revisado: 01-30-21 El oyente recibió este título gratis

A solid historical fiction of one of many oft-forgotten "brains behind the throne" types. Godwine was half-Dane, half-Saxon, who was ineligible to rule either. Instead, he wields what power he can by placing others on the throne and offering them useful advice. Despite his one failure in securing the love of his wife, he sires a troop of sons who go on to rule.

Written with great historical accuracy, plenty of intrigue and action, this is a tale of one of the unsung heroes of history.

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A quick, fun listen.

Revisado: 09-20-20

I'm reviewing the whole series, so I'll do a quick one here. This was a fun read, a historical fantasy take on a Roman commander with mages and witch doctors who can call on the dead. I liked some of the historical touches, such as the rancour between different ranks of legionaries, and the political wrangling that went on behind the scenes. The narrator is great, and even adds in some sound effects, like in a studio play, although not all are successful.

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More like a prequel

Revisado: 08-29-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I like JT Williams' books in general, particularly his Corin series. Also, if you like history, his Facebook page is worth following as he posts some interesting stuff on there. However, Stormborn, weighing in at a whopping 62 pages, felt somewhat rushed, more of a prequel than book one in the series. Don't get me wrong, it sounds like it will be another great story, but I'm not sure this will catch the eye of other readers, especially those unfamiliar with his work. Solid narration though.

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A fun science fantasy adventure

Revisado: 08-09-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I received a free audiobook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
A fun science fantasy tale in which Marta, a spy, lands on a remote former colony of Earth (Adalta) which has lost their technology over the centuries. Expecting the people to be backward, she finds they are anything but, arriving at a time when a war is on the verge of breaking out. There's a lot going on for a relatively short book, with the war, political intrigue and a dash of will she-won't she romance for good measure. Marta's an engaging lead who at first struggles to keep her identity a secret, then later has to dissuade her employers from following her to Adalta. The narrator does a good job of mixing up the characters voices, and keeps the pacing ticking along.

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Not a strong start, but worth sticking with

Revisado: 07-15-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I received a free audio copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This isn’t a single book review, but a trilogy review, so it may look a little different to the normal one. Darnuir, Prince of Dragons, is reborn twenty years after his arrogance causes a split among the races of his land. The Dragons (not the big scaly ones, although it does suggest they were once like that), are super soldiers, protectors of the land from the Shadow (Rectar), who doesn’t require an introduction. The story, in its essence, tells of Darnuir’s efforts to reunite the land against its frightening foe, one who can turn people to his side with ease. Can the reborn Dragon (sorry for WOT reference) learn from his earlier mistakes and...well, you get the gist. Just for the record, it’s not all plain sailing. Here are my thoughts on the book(s):
The Reborn King - the first book in the series was actually the weakest, and this is actually a shame, because the trilogy as a whole is an enjoyable read. The problem with TRK is it doesn’t really have a whole lot going on except for Darnuir discovering who he is and what his powers are. It’s not awful, but there’s certainly a lot of talk. But, trust me, it’s worth sticking with
Veiled Intentions - here’s something you don’t hear every day. Book two, at least in my amateur opinion, is actually the best of the bunch. Rectar’s plan to rule the land begins to escalate, and he leads his army on a rampage with only the Splintering Isles, a small island with few warriors, standing in his way. If Rectar can win here, Darnuir will not have time to rally the other races to his cause. There are also signs of fracture among Darnuir’s people, and the hopes of alliance are slim
The Last Guardian - a good finish to the series. Darnuir has sent out emissaries to raise extra allies, but they are constantly beset by Rectar and his minions. But wait. Not only are there problems in Darnuir’s camp, but there seems to be dissent in Rectar’s too, which suggests the Shadow’s control is not what he believes. The alliance still struggles to get humans on board as the king of Brevia continues to thumb his nose at Darnuir. Can his daughter Cassandra sway his mind, or will the alliance of races fall before it has its day in the sun?
Good story. It’s not overly original, but it is fun, with some races that appear a little different to the norm. The conflict throughout, right up to the end, keeps you guessing as to whether Darnuir and Co will succeed. The various conflicts, on both sides, is nicely done and believable, and the characters are generally likeable, or eeevvviiillll. The plot is the best part of the book though, ticking over throughout and always keeping us on our toes and causing us to question if we believe we know what will happen
Finally, the narrator. He did a great job mostly, adding the right tone when required, and mixing humour with gravitas. If I had one complaint, and it may not have been his decision, the use of traditional accents (Scottish and so forth) to identify the various different races has been done to death and never really been a great idea. Perhaps mixing accents or trying new ones might have been a better idea. Then again, this could be applied to a hundred different books.
Verdict
After a rocky start, things heat up in a hurry as the trilogy progresses.

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