CalyEk

The story overcomes the annoying author

Revisado: 02-28-22

If you can make it through the first 10 chapters or so, to the part where the story involves a whole lot more interesting people and it’s not centered on the annoying author with glaring blind spots, there’s enough there to reward your efforts.

It’s an interesting read, with some ideas that might need updating. The narrator does a good job too, even though the bits with Spanish words interspersed were a bit cringing (and I speak Spanish). I think that’s on the writing though.

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Same feel, not as satisfying as Goblin Emperor

Revisado: 07-02-21

I’d been wanting to return to this world for years and am grateful for this book. It felt like that same embrace of kindness and competence. In that sense, it was equally enjoyable. The story, though, ended abruptly for me. More like spending a few days with a character than a clearly defined story.

The narrator does a fine job (although had to slow him down to 0.8-0.9x), but I missed McCarley’s outstanding performance from the first book.

I adore this type of gentle, warm fantasy read that I can always go back to for refuge. I’m so hoping for future books in this world, and also hopeful the original narrator could return for them.

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One of my absolute favorites

Revisado: 06-13-21

This book is the only addition to my favorites list in years: an intricate world, fascinating characters, a protagonist you want to spend time with. The story follows Maia as he becomes emperor and slowly grows into his role, a somewhat self-contained and often quiet plot that the author crafts so well into an expansive and emotional journey. I’m sad to leave those characters and that world after every read.

McCarley’s narration is masterful, I’ve listened to it so many times over the years and never tire of it. His performance adds to the story without distracting. Truly one of the best.

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The Adrian Accent

Revisado: 06-01-21

The Adrian Accent is baffling. Truly, why? Where did it come from? Who thought of it? I mean… why?? But I offer my respects, it managed to become a character on its own right.

This is the best of the three Roses narrating this series, even if sometimes it sounded like the words were vanishing in front of her eyes and she had to rush to get them all out before they disappeared.

The Adrian Accent, though, pure comedy genius.

The story is good even if it felt like it went on a bit too long. Thought Rose was expected to “move on” ridiculously soon, and wonder why all of Lissa’s storylines must involve melodramatic mean-girlness in one form or another. Still.

Fun ride of a book. And before I go, thanks to The Adrian Accent for existing.

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Better story than narration

Revisado: 05-29-21

I used to jokingly say those who designed the covers for Richelle Mead’s VA books had it against her, now I have to add that so did whoever produced these audiobooks.

I’ve been revisiting books I read in my teenage years to see how they hold up now I’m an adult and thought a gentler vehicle for that excursion would be trying the audio versions. I was expecting to cringe at some of the story lines, but did not expect my biggest problem with these to be the narration.

I’ve listened to Vampire Academy and Frostbite so far, they have different narrators and while I believe they were doing their best, neither managed to capture the characters. The first one felt a bit too old, the second one a bit too young. I see a third narrator was brought in for the latter books, will see how that went.

However, I think the biggest failure was of whoever produced or directed them. I’m sorry, I had to laugh, these are comical but not intentionally so and that’s a problem. On this book the narrator dropped the [again, unintentionally comical] accents the original narrator used in the first book, that was definitely an improvement. They also gave this narrator the proper pronunciation of dhampir, Moroi, etc., so good on that too. But then the oddest thing happened when halfway Mia becomes Maya. I was like ‘wow, I forgot more than I thought about these books, I don’t remember a character named Maya,’ then laughed out loud when it quickly became apparent that was supposed to be Mia. She’d already been introduced introduced as Mia a few chapters earlier, so how did that even happen??

Anyway, I’m still battling with the over the top mean girl-ness of the story that is so present in the first two books of this series, but I think I can already see the depths to the plot that captured my imagination over a decade ago. If I remember correctly, book three is where things really heat up, so I’m looking forward to that one at least, even though this narrator is coming back again and the juvenile tone may ruin it.

If nothing else, though, it’s an enjoyable time capsule. The bits about shopping and fashion feel sooo dated, but it’s fun to be transported back, the whole thing has a late 90s/early 2000s vibe. I really just wish the narrations were a lot less distracting.

Crossing my fingers, on to the next.

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interesting story, dubious execution

Revisado: 03-28-18

The narrator does a good, solid job so let's get that out of the way.

The topic is interesting but the writing a bit lacking. The attempts at wit and comic relief are rather annoying, their timing is particularly off. My biggest issue, however, is how derisive they're about speculations when it's others doing the speculating, while remaining very impressed by their own. Century old records and reports will of course necessitate assumptions to fill in the blanks, but is there need to be so arrogant? Worse part is they may not be, just come across that way, thus the comment about the writing.

Anyway, I wouldn't pay full price for this but if this type of stuff interests you, and you can pick it up on sale or something, might be worth it.

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Going downhill

Revisado: 11-09-17

The first book in the series is ok, though very uneven and uncertain of what it wants to be, it holds through. In this one, though, the protagonist loses at least half her intelligence but gains at least triple the arrogance. The marysuefication of her character became too much for me so I think I'm done with the series.

As for the narrator, she does a competent job. Some of the female friend voices are exaggerated and too similar to one another, but overall, I think she did a good job.

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Ok, on par with previous two in series

Revisado: 10-25-17

Finally figured out what bugs me about this narrator. She does a good job but sounds bored half the time. Then I was actually bored with the protagonist's love life "woes". I think this is as far as I go with this series.

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Entertaining

Revisado: 10-25-17

The narrator's pauses in her speech take a bit to get used to, but is not bad. Mysteries are never great when you figure it out 6 chapters before the protagonist but it was still entertaining. Wish Mel were smarter, but at least her dimness is funny.

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Lindsey-Let's-Not-Call-Police-In-Life/Death-Situations Strikes Again

Revisado: 10-24-17

Fun book, narrator does a good job. Would like it better if the author stopped telling how smart the protagonist is and started showing it. On the level with first in series.

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