Craig Cassar

Another Masterpiece from Mr. Kay

Revisado: 06-01-19

Anticipation for each new release from Guy Gavriel Kay is a given, and they never disappoint. The publisher's summary is quite understated so you really won't get a sense of what is waiting for you once you dive in. In my experience, nobody writes as beautifully as GGK does and this one definitely lives up to the expectation. I thoroughly loved this book and how Danio's life - with only tangential interactions with the most important people at that time, in that region - had such a profound impact on the lives of those people.

The characters in 'A Brightness Long Ago' are so rich, and the dialogue is satisfyingly intelligent. The subtlety in the plot and who the characters are - their history and the choices they make - is exquisite. I would say that there a no stereotypical character-types (i.e. good guy / bad guy) as they are all shades of grey and I found myself invested in all of them.

One fantastic aspect of the writing that I must point out is the device he uses by switching character viewpoints frequently to mix up the pacing and fill out the story. Not unique, of course, but he often does this with a little bit of overlap in the timeline which makes the narrative that much richer and drew me even deeper into the story. It was a little thrill each time used this technique.

As for the narration: Simon Vance is a master and that only enhances the experience. Whenever I actually read a paper copy of GGK's books, I 'read it' with his voice in my head!

I can't say enough good things about this book. If you are already a GGK fan and haven't bought it: you will be delighted.
If you haven't yet read (listened!) to any GGK books then this is a perfect way to dive in!

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An Instant Favourite!

Revisado: 05-24-18

I was drawn to the Sci-Fi premise but was pleasantly surprised how it turned into a world-building story with a very relatable main character. There is a strong focus on the story arc at the expense of fast-paced action which will explain why others have called it 'boring' (paraphrasing), but there is enough humour and action to mix things up. I know I was enjoying this book because I couldn't wait to begin my commute to and from work so I could listen to it. I went on to listen to each of the other 3 books currently available and by the end, I had to listen to it at home on the weekend because I couldn't wait for Monday to come. I thoroughly enjoyed all 4 books and this is definitely a series I would call one of my favourites and would certianly recommend it!

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Instantly one of my All-Time Favourite Trilogy

Revisado: 02-08-17

What made the experience of listening to Red Rising the most enjoyable?

This book was described to me as very similar to Hunger Games, but that is under-selling it. Sure, there are similarities at the beginning, but the world is much richer in the Red Rising, and the characters are bright, and fearless. There are several great plot twists and it is gripping the entire way. The narrator is amazing, and I learned to appreciate him more and more throughout the trilogy. At first I thought, 'Wow, they got an Irish guy to narrate? Odd. It's going to be hard to understand him". It turns out he is a master of accents, terrific at creating a unique voice for each character, and the accent I heard was entirely pertinent to the plot. Orson Scott Card, and Robert Jordan are two legendary authors whom I will recommend to anyone. Pierce Brown is now on that list, too. Listen to this book!!!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Darrow is a strong, vulnerable and very relatable lead character, who you can grow with across the immense arc of this trilogy. He's right up there with Ender Wiggin.

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A bold subject, but so very well written!

Revisado: 05-17-14

What did you love best about Calculating God?

The subject matter is though provoking. The narration is excellent and suits the main character of Tom Jericho very well. I love how it addressed a very controversial topic and explored it in a fascinating way. The ending, particularly the final few sentences are among my favourite endings of all time. Very simple, but perfectly suited to the story and very satisfying!

What did you like best about this story?

It's a big idea and moves along very well. There is tonnes of dialogue between the main characters to explore the main themes, but there is a great mix of Tom's personal journey. I thought these two elements were intertwined very well.

Which character – as performed by Jonathan Davis and Robert J. Sawyer – was your favorite?

The voices were very well done, but I thought that he was perfectly suited for the main character, Tom Jericho. The pacing, and introspective performance was spot on. Each character voice was 100% believable and consistent throughout the book. This absolutely enhanced the listening experience.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I listened to it on my drive to and from work. Usually at least 45 minutes at a time. There is no book I would ever listen to all at once (lifestyle) but I absolutely looked forward to getting in the car and hearing what happened next!

Any additional comments?

Great topic. Well written. Excellent performance. Highly recommended!

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Ugh. So slow. I couldn't listen past Part 2

Revisado: 05-17-14

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

The pace of this story is WAAAY too slow. Not much happens.

Would you ever listen to anything by Brandon Sanderson again?

I like Sanderson, but I have given up on this series.

What aspect of Michael Kramer and Kate Reading ’s performance would you have changed?

I listened to Kramer and Reading all through Jordan's 'Wheel of Time' series and they do a very good job.

Any additional comments?

I thought that Sanderson did a fine job of finishing Jordan's ''Wheel of Time' Series. And I've read most of his other books and enjoyed them. I bought this book 'automatically' when it came out even though I had completely forgotten what had happened in book one. I couldn't even get through part 2 and saw that there were several more downloaded parts to listen to! No way I was going to be bored for another 24+ hours of listening. This one is a dud...in my opinion.

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