Levi

Protagonist is unlikeable, & a sexual predator

Revisado: 01-31-19

Yes this is a fantasy world. Yes we shouldn't project our social views onto fantasy. But the scene where the 30 year old main character has a threesome with 15 and 17 year old girls put the final nail in the coffin for me.

The main character is simply not likeable enough to justify the rather obtuse fantasy terms the author uses. The protagonist is obviously a self-insert vehicle for the author's cynical world view and while some might describe his cycnicism as a kind of world-weary wit, it's honestly just exhausting.

Basically, if you enjoy female characters who aren't treated as sex objects, this might not be the book for you. The idea that there's a whole series following this beginning is physically exhausting.

I'm not saying this is a bad book, just depressingly formulaic in it's misogyny, and the author mistakes cynicism for humor. The book makes a strong case that if someone wants to write a high fantasy novel, they should only be able to do so if they've taken a sexual harassment seminar. We deserve better.

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Minor blemishes on a masterpiece.

Revisado: 11-26-18

Erikson's style of multiple lengthy scenes per chapter is not entirely conducive to audio format as the narrator tends to only take a 3 second pause between scenes. this is compounded by Erikson's habit of starting scenes with setting (instead of characters) so that one may not realize a new scene has started until a few detailed paragraphs of scenery in. This is FURTHER compounded by the narrator's sometimes too similar voices. minor complaints for what was otherwise a stunning audiobook.

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The real star is the narrator

Revisado: 06-26-16

Moira Quirk is outstanding. With the perfect delivery that compliments the often dry humor, and Ms. Quirk delivers accents left and right that are both convincing and distinct. 5/5

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Great!

Revisado: 06-26-15

The narrator is the real star of he show- most of the time. Sometimes for minor character her voice for the narrator and the voice for the character the narrator is interacting with is are too similar, but her other voices, especially for Nicolette are flawless. Sometimes she varies the volume too much which leaves you scrambling for the volume controls.

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Good! But had more potential

Revisado: 03-09-15

The fact that Clarke managed to write in the exact same stuffy British quality throughout the entire book- including the climax- was both a blessing and a curse. On one hand it provided consistency, but when the climax came and went I felt very indifferent to it. There was a lot of opportunity for humor that the author passed up, but she usually chose good, informative options that while not furthering the story, didn't detract from it and helped to flesh out the universe. One plot point- I still do not really understand what this universe's Magic is. It's stated often enough but both main characters are unreliable at best, and at the end I'm left suspending my disbelief of the magic system.

However it was very interesting, the characters are nothing like what's hinted in the publisher's blurb, and the typical ideal of antagonist/protagonist is set aside for a mixed cast of characters who strive for magic as an ideal rather than for good or evil.

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Simply sublime

Revisado: 02-29-12

Would you consider the audio edition of Spellbound to be better than the print version?

Absolutely. The true star of the book is Bronson Pinchot, the narrator. His voice is beautiful and versatile. He manages to capture the voices of Japanese Ambassadors and midwestern girls with equal ease. His performance is amazing, but I always come back to the sheer beauty of his speaking tone. That alone is enough to recommend the book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite character is without a doubt Faye Viera. It's a classic situation: small town girl thrust into a big world with amazing abilities, but unlike most, Faye never loses that simple oakie charm and honesty. She's straight forward and direct in a world compromised of lies and deceit. She's extremely intelligent, and more importantly, quick. I found her to be a breath of fresh air in a world populated by liars and schemers.

Which scene was your favorite?

Any scene involving Faye. Her interactions with the other protagonists, as well as with the antagonists were without fail hilarious and satisfying.

Any additional comments?

I really can't say enough about the narrator. I could write all sorts of cheesy similes describing his voice, but I wouldn't be able to do it justice. Just listen. You won't regret it, although if you are new to the series I'd recommend starting with the first book.

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Cant stop reading

Revisado: 06-02-11

Even if the book was missing its amazing plot, fantastic characters, AND Original ideas, I'd Still Listen to it just for Oliver Wyman, The Narrator. His performance is phenomenal, and his vocal flexibility (from trailer park hick to big city gangster) is astounding.

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esto le resultó útil a 11 personas