Gabrielle Chartley

The best Paladin yet

Revisado: 06-06-24

Enchanting from beginning to end, with fully fleshed-out supporting characters, and character growth. Had me laughing out loud several times. Unexpected twists towards the end, Really looking forward to the next one. The narrator is excellent, as always. On occasion, some characters have accents, which is delightful.

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Absolutely delightful

Revisado: 05-29-24

We see the whole family continue to develop, and lovely insights into Nykus' relationship with *both* Penric *and* Desdemona, such a unique triangle. Grover Gardner wonderful as always.

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Seriously depressing .

Revisado: 11-04-23

Agree with the other reviewers. Kids die, people are betrayed, no happy ending for anyone. So different from assassins of thassalon, which was truly wonderful.

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Narrator really does impact the story

Revisado: 10-26-23

The narrator’s voice is pleasant overall, but the actual performance is so poor it really ought to be re-recorded.

It’s not just the many mispronounced words that pull you out of the narrative. It’s also the many phrases where the emphasis is so misplaced it actually CHANGES the meaning of the sentence. Other sentences are just rendered incomprehensible.

This is the first time I’ve ever called for the re-recording of a book, but I do, I really do.

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Truly excellent

Revisado: 10-10-23

Wonderful to see Enola evolving, learning and GROWING (which is what's missing in many other long-running female-detective series, Rhys Bowen I'm looking at you.) Also splendid to see the development of female friendships, and her increasing collaborations with Sherlock.

Regarding narration, Tamaryn Payne does a remarkable job considering who she had to follow (the late, great Katherine Kellgren). I'd love to see her improve her range of British (Scottish, Irish, etc) accents, but that's just me.

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The most encouraging and practical book on autism I’ve ever found

Revisado: 09-10-23

So useful to get both perspectives; of the parent AND the autistic adult. So many resources. Each chapter ends with them.

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So good, I started right over as soon as it ended

Revisado: 01-17-23

This book is magical. It takes us into Sir Terry Pratchett's life -- it really feels as if you are there in the room with him, from the day of his birth, watching him grow up. It's 16 hours long, and somehow, every minute is enjoyable. It really is. We discover Sir Terry to have been so much more than simply one of the greatest English novelists, alive *or* dead.

We learn of his remarkable precocity with all things electronics, of his love of tortoises, of his near-hallucinatory powers of imagination. Of his youth in a post-war English cottage, without electricity or running water, but with potentially lethal falling tiles.

There are fantastic anecdotes about the books and delicious insights into the characters. In a way, this is giving me a whole new library of Pratchetts because now, *I know the stories behind the stories.* I am so looking forward to re-reading Night Watch and knowing why Nobby & Colon request a kettle and a dartboard as their reward for saving the entire city of Ankh-Morpork.

Wilkins does good voices, too. If you listen to "Terry Pratchett in his own words," which I highly recommend, you'll know that he captures Pratchett's cadence, tones and especially his wry humor beautifully. And it's wonderful to get to know Pratchett's wife Lynn and his daughter Rihanna. You can't help but fall in love with this family circle.

The extraordinary people who peopled Pratchett's world are brought to life. It was delightful to hear how they influenced the stories. I now firmly believe Bernard Pearson *is* Sam Vimes, and nothing will make me change my mind. I wish we could've gotten to read What Doger Did Next and Raising Taxes.

It's so good to finally know what happened with Raising Steam, I had desperately wondered. I'm going to go back and read it again now, and I think I'll be able to enjoy it more. As for The Shepherd's Crown, that one always felt right, for which I will forever be grateful. Pratchett's final novel was pure Pratchett, one final time.

Wilkins is both a wonderful writer and an wonderful narrator. The love he has for his employer, mentor and friend shines through in every word. It's told with humor -- I burst out laughing within the first six sentences and did so at regular intervals through the rest of the narration-- honesty and heartbreak as we witness Alzheimer's destructive progress and are invited into the family's intimacy in Sir Terry's final days.

Pratchett feels like a strong voice in this book, almost a coauthor. This truly is a gift from Sir Terry, his family, and Rob Wilkins, to the readers he loved so much. If you love and miss Terry Pratchett, and wish you had more of him to read, do yourself a favor. Listen to this book.

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Absolutely fabulous

Revisado: 09-26-22

I really really hope a sequel is written. My favorite Kingfisher book, the funniest and sweetest.

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The fat-shaming is real. And quite appalling.

Revisado: 08-18-22

As other reviewers noted— this is a wonderful story, delightfully told, marred by recurring fat phobia. This is truly harmful for any teenage girl at risk of eating disorder, and I wish it could be revised in the same way Enid Blyton’s books were.

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Monotonous narration kills the story

Revisado: 01-02-22

The narrator sounds like she’s reading “principles of accountancy “ and boring even herself. It’s really too bad; was looking forward to this one. Couldn’t get past the first chapter.

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