Sarah

A fantasy story with a lot of heart

Revisado: 07-21-14

If you could sum up Patty Gayle and the Legend of Kingsley in three words, what would they be?

Charming fantasy story

What other book might you compare Patty Gayle and the Legend of Kingsley to and why?

I would compare it with CS Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. Both stories involved humans from our world traveling to another world and becoming entangled in the struggles of the locals.

What does Gail Shalan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She really made it feel as though you were being told the story, rather than just reading it, or listening to someone read it.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I don't tend to have extreme reactions... There were some sad parts, and I thought they were very well done.

Any additional comments?

In his book The Magician's Nephew, CS Lewis describes a sort of world between worlds where someone might travel from our world to Narnia or to any of a great number of alternate worlds. In Patty Gayle and the Legend of Kingsley I felt very much as though I was being transported to one of those places - one of those many worlds about which CS Lewis left us to wonder in vain.
In Patty Gayle and the Legend of Kingsley Cynthia P. Willow somehow manages to capture all the charm and all the heart of the Narnia series yet without stealing anything from CS Lewis besides perhaps inspiration.
For a fantasy story the book spent a good deal of time in our own world, and I was impressed as I read that I really didn't mind so much. The writing was so good that I didn't even notice - I was so caught up in the characters and their somewhat mundane struggles that I almost forgot I was reading a fantasy novel.
That said, I do wish I could have learned more about the world of Kingsley in the book, and I trust I will in the sequels. It is my opinion that a good book leaves you satisfied, but a great book leaves you wanting more...

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A worthy sequel to an excellent fantasy novel

Revisado: 07-15-14

What did you love best about Lycentia, Harrak's Scrolls?

I love the way Dave King keeps the focus on ordinary people, rather than filling his story to the brim with heroes.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Lycentia, Harrak's Scrolls?

When you (the reader) realize that certain events are not accidents...

Have you listened to any of Ian Miller’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, I've listened to his performance in Betrovia, the first book in Dave King's Betrovia series. As before, Ian Miller really imbues the story and the characters with life and personality.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I don't tend to react to books emotionally. The book definitely makes you care for the characters, though.

Any additional comments?

Lycentia definitely moves a bit slower than the first book in the Betrovia series, and I can just imagine that there are some who would be bothered by this. For my part, however, I found it very enjoyable. In truth, some of the best books ever written move no faster.
I love the emphasis the author places on the religious background of his world. This makes the motives and concerns of the people all the more vivid, in my opinion.
Dave King does an excellent job developing his characters in both Betrovia and Lycentia; once again they each feel like living, breathing people with their own personalities, ideas and ambitions. I also think it is fascinating how King keeps his focus on 'ordinary' people rather than on great warriors and heroes. It is refreshing to see an author try something different, and very refreshing to see how well he succeeds with it.
This book definitely left me wanting to see what happens next.

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A great character driven fantasy story

Revisado: 06-18-14

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, the book was very enjoyable, and well-written.

What did you like best about this story?

I like the fact that the story centers on an inn-keeper and his family rather than on heroes and warriors. It makes it easier to relate to the characters, while also giving it a fresh and original perspective on the fantasy genre.

Which character – as performed by Ian Miller – was your favorite?

Patrik

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Troubled times are coming to the land of Betrovia.

Any additional comments?

Dave King is a fantasy author who clearly has an eye for the grand as well as for the little things. Whether it is the politics of the kingdom or the politics of the kitchen, the author pays close attention to every detail. This is definitely my kind of fantasy story; it remains focused on the characters and their day to day doings without losing sight of the grander picture, and without locking you inside their heads like many modern fantasy novels seem to do.
In Betrovia, Dave King approaches the fantasy genre from a unique perspective, telling the tale mostly from the perspective of an old inn keeper - the sort of man who is usually only in the background of epic stories.
I liked just about everything about the book. There was very little in the way of magic, which I much prefer over magic-saturated stories like The Wheel of Time series. The author did a great job of making his characters lovable and interesting, each with their own quirks and strengths.
The dialogue was especially interesting. There was a lot of humorous banter and the characters had some unique expressions that helped give you the sense that you were truly in a different land and a different time.
One of the most enjoyable fantasy stories I've read in a LONG time.
The audio performance was excellent! Ian Miller really made the story come alive, and added a lot of... character to the characters. It really felt as though Betrovia had a culture of its own just in the way the voice acting was executed. One of the best audiobook performances I have listened to.

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Fear and Trembling

Revisado: 05-28-14

What did you love best about The Beloved Daughter?

The authentic feel of the book was never interrupted. I did not feel as though I was listening to a work of fiction. I feel the author must have done a tremendous amount of research to pull this off.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Beloved Daughter?

Toward the end there is a plot twist that changes a lot for the main character, but I don't want to give it away.

What about Kathy Garver’s performance did you like?

The pronunciations of North Korean words seemed to be good, and the voice acting was very clear.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The way the characters wrestle with very difficult situations affected me. The author doesn't make any of her characters into noble little robots who always do the right things for the right reasons. They are fully human, and you can sympathize with them even when they go astray or act cowardly.

Any additional comments?

For many American Christians, putting God first simply means occasionally forgoing some form of pleasure or recreation for the sake of a healthy, happy God-relationship.
Jesus said, 'He that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.'
In The Beloved Daughter this horror - the horror of being willing to sacrifice one's own child for the sake of God - is shown through the eyes of a young North Korean girl, as the consequences of her father's faith affect and mold her throughout her life.
Never has a book forced me to more honestly consider the true ramifications of Jesus' words. This book makes you wrestle with them in all their terrible strength.
The writing is great, and the characters are VERY believable. They have flaws, they make mistakes - sometimes BIG mistakes. Nothing is glossed over, and no punches are pulled, although everything is written tastefully. This is a difficult balance, and the author does an excellent job portraying the horrors without offending the reader.
I don't know a great deal about North Korea, but not once in the entire novel was the 'spell' broken. I did not notice anything that might clue the reader in to the fact that they were reading fiction, nor did I notice anything that would spoil the authenticity of the book. And I am VERY picky about such things - I cringe every time the word 'Stoically' is used in fantasy literature, for instance, since it conjures up (to me at least) the idea of ancient Greek philosophical schools.
The Beloved Daughter is a great book that will make you think.

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