Wade

Well-written and narrated tale of Ancient Rome

Revisado: 10-30-22

An engaging tale by James Mace. The plot builds at a good pace from as Mace sets the pieces on the board. The central character, Verus, is captured by the Romans, enslaved and sent to die in the quarry pits—a disposable body to provide stone for the Emperor’s amphitheatre but ends up a gladiator, intended to feed the Roman populace’s voracious appetite for the bloody games.

I enjoyed descriptions and emersion at the various levels of Roman society, from the slave pits and the gladiatorial training houses to the average citizen and the ruling Caesars. All of it while propelling the story forward. Interesting characters, and realistic depictions of life and death, hope and regret.

Jonathan Waters did an excellent job narrating the tale. Distinctive voices read with emotion--reflecting anger, regret, contemplation, reslove, etc. Solid pacing and enunciation.

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Yes! Another Great Maddock Tale

Revisado: 07-19-21

I always enjoy when the Dane and Bones adventure in jungles. This one beat out Quest, which is one of my favorites. I especially liked the way Dane's new love interest is part of the tale, and doesn't slow things down (like when he and Bones go off to seek the treasure--and their encounters with Yacumama).

As always, Jeffrey Kafer does an excellent job bringing Dane and Bone's adventure to life, with its twists and surprises.

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Enjoyed this start to the series

Revisado: 07-19-21

A good action tale with multiple character stories that are each different but all intertwined in the overall direction of events. I enjoyed Sabre's story the most, but that doesn't mean the others weren't fun or interesting.

Narration was good. I normally don't listen to books with two narrators, but this one went well and I got used to it pretty quickly.

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Been Listening for Several Years-Fun & Interesting

Revisado: 03-20-21

I've been an avid listener of the Dueling Ogres for several years.

A couple of fun and interesting guys (sometimes with a guest) talking about movies, video games, science, comics, technology, weird things they've come across, and more. The format is a brief catch up on what's happening in Brandon and Rem's lives--which is almost always entertaining--then they get into fun topics with interesting and often humorous takes on the content. And most episodes have outtakes at the very end.

The editing of the recording is excellent, which adds to the experience.

Try an episode or two and you'll be going back to previous episodes (if you're new to the Dueling Ogres) or eagerly awaiting the next episode's release.

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Ambitious tale pulled off well

Revisado: 12-27-20

When I read the description of Rebellion in Judea, it sounded like an ambitious project. I have to say it was, but that the author pulled it off well. While the conflict is focused in Judea, the cast of characters is extensive and handled well. From Roman generals and lower ranking officers and a few common foot soldiers to governors, Emperor Nero and the Jewish side. That included leaders (political/religious and military) as well as some side characters.


Each was distinctive enough that as they returned to the narrative, I was able to recall and keep going without having to ponder or backtrack.


The action (political and especially military) was interesting and fast-paced. The tale didn’t drag or get bogged down. There were many angles with different sides with different hopes and objectives, from the Jewish moderates attempting to deal with the more radical factions, to the political/military intrigue on the Roman side.


The telling of the combats, from ground or ambush, to siege, were detailed enough to keep my interest and provide a vivid picture of what was happening.


While the political and military aspects were well represented in the plot, the religious was not quite so much, and that is the only weak link in the tale, albeit minor.


The narrator, Jonathan Waters, did an excellent job, especially with such a large cast of characters to voice. The little things he did, like varying inflections or pacing and tone, as well as different voices, kept me on track and not wondering who was speaking.


A worthwhile listen, especially if you enjoy tales of Roman/military history.

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A good tale, but not as strong as I remember it

Revisado: 12-26-20

While searching for a new book to listen to I discovered that Team Yankee was available, I recalled reading and very much enjoying it back in the late 1980s.

While listening, I began recalling events and highpoints in the story of Team Yankee as they struggled to survive the Soviet offensive of World War III. Things like the desperate effort for the wives and children of the combat soldiers trying to fly out of Europe after hostilities commenced, and the some of tactics the Team used, as well as those of the Soviets, the team being out on a limb more than once, and a few of the characters.

Overall, I enjoyed the tale, but not as much as I recalled reading it--it's been more than a few years. The action is well described and, while some of the characters are flat, the important ones have depth and this maintained my interest. I may dig out the old paperback and give it a re-read.

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Solid overview in the time allotted

Revisado: 10-29-20

A solid overview of the WW II battle for Okinawa in the time allotted. Relevant details and explanations of what led up to the battle, what happened during, and the battle’s results and impact on future military decision, such as use of the atomic bomb.


Could have done without the short bit with the attempted to overlay of today’s mores/social norms with the people and situation in the 1940s.


Overall a worthwhile listen.

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Not your 'typical' fae story

Revisado: 07-30-20

The Last Fae is a series of connected tales, each building a little upon the other to tell the full story arc of Fallen, the last fairy or elf or fae—depending on your perspective, and sometimes Fallen's.

It’s not your typical ‘fae’ story, set mainly in a modern setting, where she moves in and out of normal everyday human life, skirting the edges. She performs missions or assignments for a ‘boss’ she loathes for what he stole from her in her youth. Sort of a cat and mouse game between her and Sennacherib, with life and death ultimately on the line.

Plenty of fast action and violence, some subtle and some not so. A lot of innuendo and risqué dialogue and reference.

Shelley Avellino does an excellent job capturing Fallen's whimsical, yet often fatalistic attitude.

Overall a good pretty listen.

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Overall a Worthwhile Listen

Revisado: 10-15-19

Overall a good listen. Solid action and motivation for the shadow panther, Varnoth.

The storyline does seem to meander but ties up things at the end. The game mechanics and notifications enhance rather than dominate or detract from the tale. The quests are varied, in both challenge and complexity.

I did get thrown on occasion when the narration (verbs) switch from past tense to present tense for no apparent reason, and the voice choice didn’t seem to always fit for the NPCs in the story—at least for me. But those are minor overall compared to the overall experience.

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Great Story as Usual/Substandard Technical Editing

Revisado: 06-01-19

Steven Campbell hits another one out of the park with Dumber than Dead. The usual complex tale with Hank in the middle (no spoilers). Hank gets himself into the usual sorts comical situations, and all of his regular pals and the side characters combine to make it an excellent listen.

Liam Owen nails the voices and inflections.

The technical editing was lacking, especially in the area of dialogue tags. More often than not there's an abnormally long pause between the end of a character's words and the dialogue tag. The brief span that is appropriate between sentences or paragraphs, not associating words with the character via a dialogue tag. Example: "Get out of the way," <pause> I said. It just throws off the story's beat and action's pacing.

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