P.C. Chang

Enjoyed the Development, struggled to understand

Revisado: 06-24-24

While I normally have trouble understanding Gildart, especially around the r's, he does an excellent job of inflection and keeping the voices distinct. Here, I was struggling to understand words all over the place, especially with names/words loaned from other languages. While I can understand Anje being pronounced as either Angie or Anya, I'm especially frustrated by "dwarves" taking 3 syllables among things I couldn't figure out (to whar-fah?). Keeping voices distinct was also a real issue sometimes, like when Falk and Trogdon have the same partial Scottish accent for example.

I think the development going on in the story was a but lopsided. I think all the character development happened in the first half of the book and all the plot development happened in the second half. While that inconsistency is weird to think about, all the main points that needed to happen in the series here did happen in this book. Otherwise, I just didn't like how the first chapter fit chronologically. It was amusing, but awkward as a cold open.

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pulled together nicely

Revisado: 05-25-24

Story started out pretty slow. It really felt like a prequel to go back to instead of to start with. it really did pick up (I didn't cry that badly in act 3). iirc, this is one of his earlier works still, and I felt it was rough in some places.

Narration really got to me in ways I wasn't expecting. Jerle Shannara got repetitive, and it bothered me that Jerle was pronounced like Gerald, not Earl with a J. Anyway, the important part that got me was it felt like the narration couldn't decide on an accent. There was an incomplete tendency to lean into a bad British accent with the elves. There is an attempt at a rough Scottish or Cockney accent around the dwarves. I don't remember where I heard some rough Irish pronunciation, but that inconsistency bothered me and took me out of the story. I might just be sensitive to it cause of what I've been listening to lately.

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very classical

Revisado: 04-27-24

Story, there's a lot of good things going on. Lot of subtle development, but the pacing feels really slow. I want to say that's more about how the story is aging, but I feel bad that getting through feels like a chore,very even when I'm enjoying the story.

Narration, Rosa does a lot of things that raise the bar. Varied inflection keeps things interesting. She has nice range of voices and accents for different characters. I hope I'm just being hypercritical, but when it came to just narration without giving a character a voice, I really struggled with her accent and inconsistent pronunciation. There were enough moments I couldn't understand that it was inhibitive to anything else.

I really wanted to enjoy it but I'm just not there.

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Struggled with Narration

Revisado: 02-05-24

1) I have slight ear damage from time as a musician, and the narration is in a sweet spot on lower register that I struggle to hear
2) It's harder for me to follow when there isn't a lot of inflection. Voice was very droning in the beginning.
3) While trying to sound gentle or when doing feminine voices, I honestly found it kind of creepy.

Storywise, there's bits of plot. There's world building but the exposition and explanations are lacking. Main character is kind of flat (he has thoughts but not a lot of emotion other than anger). Also, it really feels like there isn't much long term planning of where the plot is going to go.

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Too Much Horny. Not Enough Dragons.

Revisado: 12-11-23

You'd think a military academy to be dragon riders would be more interesting. More that twice as much horny as I was interested in, to the point that it was actually boring, repetitive, and annoying. Less than half as much dragons or magic to keep me interested.

Narration was okay. Not painful, but could use a better pop filter. Sufficient inflection but not enough variation to keep track of whoever is talking.

If you can get past the horny, there's actually some decent characters mixed in, but honestly would benefit from having more time with some of them. Maybe even a different perspective.

World building is very invisible. Politics are present, but never enough to follow through with anything. Magic system is very soft: consequences exist but are not clear. Honestly found the ending scene to be the most interesting as a payoff for politics that were sidelined the whole story.

Remove the tag for action or fantasy and just put in for romance.

If you want better military and dragons, try His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik instead.

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Great Premise, Horny Execution

Revisado: 12-06-23

There are great ideas, but I can't bring myself to finish.

A lot of decent story elements that don't seem to be getting development. Different aspects of the character's life should have a more visible impact. The entire body switching thing needs some commitment and it's too asymmetric and not coming together.

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I really wanted to like it

Revisado: 10-29-23

I really had trouble with the narration. Decently expressive, but I had trouble remembering/figuring out who was talking often enough. I also had a lot of trouble keeping track of what was going on, not specifically because of a different accent, but the inconsistency of his pronunciation. I still don't know if it's Silva, Silvia, Silver, or Silvra. Could be Silvar or Sirlva.

Story, it's okay. There's a decent premise, but I don't know if things are developed enough. Protagonist kinda just feels along for the ride and hasn't made any real decisions after about 1/3 of the way in.

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I want to give better

Revisado: 06-27-23

I'm about two hours in and ready to give up. Monte Cristo is one of my favorites, and I'm not understanding a decent part of what he's saying. Yes, he's enunciating, but butchering all the French that isn't translated.
Specifically, he can't seem to decide on how to pronounce Moreau, and somebody forgot to tell him that the M. that comes before a name is shorthand for Monsieur, like Mr or Mrs. Names and Places making it hard to keep track.

Also, he's relatively monotone. It's not droning, but he doesn't seem to understand the tone of what's going on and so everything is coming out flat.

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Poor Audio Quality

Revisado: 06-18-23

Normally, I like having a full studio with sound effects.
Unfortunately, the story is pretty incomprehensible. Enough is cut into an abridged version, and enough is either repeated or echo to be extra confusing. I have no idea what city anything is happening in for starters, let alone knowing who half the characters are.

I'm giving up because of the audio. Narration is decent. Normally, I'd prefer the accents, but I appreciate them not being done poorly. But his voice is quiet. I have to put volume to the max and I can sometimes hear him in the background. On top of that, he gets drowned out by the effects. Worse than TV where the show is quiet and the commercials are deafening.

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Fun, but disappointing

Revisado: 12-02-22

It was exciting to see his characters from different series interact with each other, but thy execution fell flat.
Overall as a mystery thriller, it was okay. Considering the reveal, honestly felt like it could be more theatrical?
Voices are great for their main characters, but not so great for others.
And while looking back at it, I see the hints of growing relationship, I don't like the chemistry. Feels more male fantasy

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esto le resultó útil a 4 personas