Bethani

I gave this recording sooo much side-eye…

Revisado: 12-04-24

😬 I came off of this story disappointed and relieved it was over, and that makes me sad. 60% of my problem is the narrator. I gave her an extra star because she did speak clearly, the recordings didn’t have weird background noise and she was consistent in her style. She has a niche market, it isn’t one I visit, and I can’t blame her for that. The performance lacks vocal animation and what is there feels forced at times. It’s the difference between being ‘read to’ verses being ‘told a story.’

Some of this may be in part to the other 40% of my disappointment. The authors, both of them, have several books that have all been released in what looks like a relatively short period of time. I cannot speak to their personal timelines or writing history, but seeing a new book every 2 or 3 months being cranked out, it is concerning. The idea that these books are shoved out the door and on to shelves at mach speed would explain the lack of development and general clunkiness of the read.

Good storytelling is not quick. It takes time and multiple iterations. I don’t believe this book was subjected to either of these things. It still feels like an outline. Transitions are too quick at times, too many nuggets of information lack embellishments, and the vocabulary is generic, barely flavored vanilla. If readers roll their eyes so hard that they can see their own tonsils, the editor did not do their job.

At the same time, this story is relatively wholesome and absolutely safe for young readers. The plot feels very much like the tv series “Once Upon a Time.” With the hopes that this is one of the earlier books written by this duo, I will take the time to listen to the next one. These stories have so much potential for greatness and I want to see this series reach the potential there. Sometimes the ‘first season’ is ‘the worst season.’ Wish me luck, because I’m turning the hope up and diving into the next book.

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