itsamystery994

A good solid entry.

Revisado: 09-18-22

Not every origin story can be a whiz-bang I suppose. There were parts of Tribe I really enjoyed, no question. But there were also times when my attention drifted. Not a great sign, I admit. But even still - I felt like the time went by pretty quickly - so it couldn't have been all that bad.

Tribe is about finding your power, your purpose, family and belonging. This is subject matter we can all relate to at one time or another during our lives. Not the most exciting of subject matter - not for Sci-Fi anyway - if you ask me. I kept waiting for the good stuff. And it does happen, of course, as there is a supernatural component that eventually shows itself. But I found it to be a slow burn - more grounded in reality than the previous books - at least until the last few chapters.

There's also a lot of dialogue here between the two main characters - some of it being quirky - which I suppose enriches depth and defines character. However, at times I felt like "get on with it already"... lol. I guess it's a fine line. I won't spoil it, but by the end, you finally see where the author was taking us. Was it telegraphed? Yes. Was it worth it? That's up to you to decide. For me, I was left with more hope than I started with, that's for sure. As we end with defined roles and powers... whew - thank the GOD(s)! ;)

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

A "decent" chapter of the Infinite timeline

Revisado: 09-18-22

You're either going to love it or... like me, be a bit "meh". How vague, yes - I know. But as a Sci-Fi lover, The Others feels a bit polarizing. Nothing at all like the fascinating, enthralling first book - Infinite. The subject matter here (ie. alien greys, Area 51-like, cattle mutilations, missing kids etc) has just been so overdone - and in so many types of media over the decades. Hard to get excited. Not that it's done badly here, it's not - it just didn't grab me personally. The performance is great though, well done as usual. It's the situations that seem so expected, and not really all that creative or unique. In fact, I kept having to refocus my attention as it tended to wander on occasion. Was I bored? Yeah... kinda. Sometimes.

But that's about as harsh as I can be really. If you're into this genre (I'm not, obviously), you'll love it, I'm certain. Many of the characters are memorable - and I hope to see them in future books. Which is the main reason I listened to this in the first place. This series is a big time commitment after all, I knew that from the beginning. I also knew that a few of the books likely wouldn't fall into my wheelhouse, The Others being one of them. And... that was the case alright. Which is fine. I'm hoping there will be an interesting payoff down the line.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

The start of a connected universe.

Revisado: 09-15-22

I've always loved Sci-Fi and the farther out, the better. Although - at my age (54) - wild, surprising and unique concepts are hard to come by, no question. And Infinite is no real exception in that department... or is it? This book starts out a lot like the movie Passengers - that one with Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence from 2016 - but it quickly turns into something a LOT more interesting. If you like space adventure, smarmy robot Ai, intrigue and "out of this world" (galaxy? universe?) twists and turns, this book is for you. It's predictable at times, sure - but not always. And it actually goes into territory that Sci-Fi rarely goes. Bravo!

It's so nice to disappear into this type of media too... one that isn't forced to cut out scenes based on special effects, budget limitations, temperamental actors or scripts desecrated by committee. Just one guy's imagination and your window into it. It also helps that, besides being a writer, Jeremey Robinson is a movie buff, a comic book nerd and a video game enthusiast. It's a combination skillset that mirrors my own - so I can't help but be curious.

What excites me even more is that this is just the beginning of a fleshed out, connected universe. One that will culminate in several crossover novels and finish with a bang (apparently). Yes, just like the MCU (ie. Marvel) did with Endgame. Everyone is trying to copy the formula these days of course - but without much success. And I can see why - as the comic book world had many decades to figure it out already (ahem... wtf DC?). But I suspect that the Infinite Timeline, an audiobook experience, could prove to be a better medium in some respects, it's certainly a lot more in depth. Based on the time investment alone, it better be worth it. I have to justify all those credits I'll be spending... like water... yikes.

And so far, I haven't been disappointed, not one bit. Infinite is a superb start. I can't wait to see what's up next.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Beware - a 53 minute commercial for the author

Revisado: 08-21-22

Good grief. I should have never purchased this. The information contained within is practically useless. It's vague and nondescript. "Franchises built to last?" Please. This is advice that anyone with common sense would already know. However, it quickly became obvious why this book exists whatsoever. Mr. Goldman (the author and narrator) is pitching his franchise consultant services. Imagine that.

Maybe he's a decent guy, maybe he's even a good consultant... who knows? But I certainly wouldn't hire him, not after listening to this. While yes, he did offer "some" advice, it wasn't particularly interesting, detailed or insightful - and certainly not worth paying for. There are MUCH better books out there on the subject that deserve your money (look up Mark Siebert... also a shill for his franchise company, but actually offers useful info in his books). This one felt like an hour long paid commercial, one that barely teaches you how to be or buy a Covid-proof franchise.... ie. as the title plainly suggests.

Do yourself a favour, save your money (or credit) for something more worthwhile. I know it's super cheap, but you definitely get what you pay for here.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

More value than I expected

Revisado: 08-13-22

Don't be put off by the low price and short run time here. If you're interested in Franchising out your business, this audiobook is worth your attention. Especially as an addition to more popular, detailed offerings out there. Instead, listen to this for a short, non-biased, non-commercial counterpoint to books like "Franchise Your Business" (by Mark Siebert). Because Lisa isn't a Franchise consultant (a la the iFranchise company), rather - just an owner herself - and thus passing along what she learned along the way. In fact, she sees her book as equivalent to a $15000 (pound) consultant fee. Don't know about that... but... still good value nonetheless.

Especially because your tiny $4-5 purchase also includes a good sized (about 83 pages) PDF, a condensed version of the hardcover edition. Something that Mark Sieberts book (at 4x the price) neglected to offer... and really wished it had. And it's not even a transcript of the audiobook, it's instead packed with all sorts of useful extras. ie. a financial model spreadsheet, royalty and cost calculations, a contract example, legal docs, a Franchise road map, an operations manual and franchisee checklist and more. Nice!

Any downsides? Not really. Considering the price, pretty hard to knock anything. But be aware that Lisa's accent (Welsh? .. I think?) is quite heavy, especially for unaccustomed North American ears (hence 3 stars for performance). But apart from a couple of quick rewinds (what did she say?), I got used to it. And although she's based in the UK, there isn't much specific regional info here either, as she thankfully keeps things quite general. It was originally written back in 2016, but nothing seemed out-of-date, it all still seems relevant in 2022.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Lots of valuable, detailed info... but beware.

Revisado: 08-12-22

Overall, this was a great first introduction to becoming a Franchisor. It's well worth the price (or credit), even as a Canadian. However, you should know that the author is directly connected to the iFranchise company. Which means, this can sometimes come across as a 13hr commercial for their consulting business. Still, they do a good job with the book. After finishing, you will know whether your particular business model is suitable to be franchised, rough developments costs, the direction you should head, where to begin and who to enlist for help. Knowing this info will save you a lot of time, hassle and money, that's for sure. It also does a good job of telling it like it is, pitfalls and all - tempering expectations.

It's a smart play by iFranchise. As a company that offers their services worldwide, the book essentially prequalifies prospective clients quite thoroughly for them. But it goes both ways - as you'll also know what to look for in a good franchise consultant - one that will help you grow as a franchisor, step by step - safely and with as little risk as possible. Win win... yes, but not cheap.

Why not 5 stars? Mostly due to the "wolf guarding the henhouse" scenario. ie. be cautious if you decide to deal with iFranchise directly and perhaps check out their competitors too. There are a few other minor nitpicks: one being the heavy use of "she" throughout the entire audiobook. ... which, being male, kept throwing me. Why not use "he or she", "they", "someone", "them" or "you"... where gender isn't identified? There's also a glossary at the end. It's only 3-ish mins, but pretty much useless in audio format. And there's no PDF document either - where some diagramed flow charts, written bullet points, summaries and lists would've been highly appreciated. None of these are deal breakers though.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Ho-hum story... but an amazingly lifelike reading

Revisado: 07-13-22

I do enjoy The Boys on Amazon Prime. While admittedly over the top in places, it's a unique take on the superhero genre, no question. And while I was hoping to prolong my enjoyment after finishing Season 3, this surely isn't the way. Ok, Deeper and Deeper is slightly amusing at times, and does delve into The Deep's character a bit more. But there's nothing earth-shattering or notable here either. And it's quite short too, played as an interview - about his new book - and pretty much what I expected story wise (ie. lots of ego on display)... check. Besides, it was included as a freebie in the Plus Catalogue.

But the most shocking thing about this 1 hour recording is... Chace Crawford's performance. As an audiobook-aholic (in the hundreds now), I've listened to some of the best there is: Neil Gaiman, Will Wheaton, Ray Porter, RC Bray, James McAvoy, narrators worthy of their high "golden voice" status. Frankly, I've felt spoiled listening these greats, as some of them are also notable film actors. And yet - from the second I began Deeper and Deeper, I noticed a HUGE difference with Chace... so realistic and nuanced, he comes across as such a natural speaker. Incredible, I was a bit taken aback and felt as if he was really there, doing an actual interview as The Deep. Maybe it was filmed first, then cut from the TV series? I don't know, but however it came to be, it's worth a listen just for his performance alone.

Never thought I'd say that about an audiobook.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Too much fighting... not enough meat.

Revisado: 12-23-21

To be honest, I purchased this title solely on the back of it's overflowing (and glowing) reviews. Was I setting myself up for disappointment? Perhaps. But I try to enter into each audiobook with a fresh and open mind, especially those of the fiction variety. In this particular case, Iron Prince proceeds as your typical "zero" to "hero" story - nothing new here folks. Still, although predictable, it's an enjoyable listen, engaging and interesting. Albeit, a bit repetitive and telegraphed over the last 1/4.

As a life long casual gamer (and fan of fighting games), I have to say - the skirmishes described are impressively detailed and action packed. I could clearly visualize them, just as they would play out in a battle of Tekken, Mortal Kombat, Injustice, Demon Soul's etc. Nice job. However by the end, I was exhausted by Reidon Ward's dragged out fight progression (yes, which takes up the entire book, 34hrs!). Ok already. Wishing instead the focus was more on the story, unrest and other characters too. Because ultimately, there is no adventure beyond the military school walls here. *yawn*

But again, hard to complain really - as this is a tale about becoming a fight legend. So yeah, it succeeds in that respect for sure. I just came away from it all thinking ... too much fighting, not enough "meat". Maybe Book 2 will be more balanced in this regard? Hope so. I did enjoy most of this book and am thus looking forward to where the story could venture next. Like, what can The Iron Prince actually DO with his skillset? Beyond battling with his classmates that is.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

I may have my own mental illness now...

Revisado: 03-13-21

Don't get me wrong, this is a fairly decent book. Lots of interesting, well researched information. Even if I've heard much of it before (through various health related podcasts, audiobooks and such)... it still worth a listen. BUT... I nearly lost it several times throughout its 13+ hour runtime. Not due to the subject matter itself, that's all well and good. But rather to Dr Amen's insistence on including the names of his nieces... ad nauseam, throughout the book.

Hey, I have no problem... once, twice, three... five times maybe? But to include their names within the pages so often - I kept wondering "who's damn book IS this?" Amalea and Amezay (spelling?) were mentioned HUNDREDS of times during the course of the reading. As the numbers piled up, so did my agitation. At one point I actually vocalized my frustration, headphones on and in public no less. lol. Not a flattering look, I'm sure. But seriously Daniel? Your nieces are mentioned, by name, an absolute ridiculous number of times. What a way to alienate your reader (listener).

However, IF you can somehow look past that intentional little oversight (?), it's not a horrible book I guess.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña