Emilie

A well earned happily ever after

Revisado: 05-05-24

I’ve been invested in Ishmael’s story for many years and 12 books now. I’ve rejoiced and cried, laughed out loud and been terrified. I was furious at his backsliding at the beginning of this trilogy and have continuously smacked my head over his pigheadedness. But I love him, love all his friends. I love how in these last 6 books we have caught up with so many of the people who had the strongest influences on him in the first three.

After a slow and frustrating start to this trilogy, we find Ish once more out in the Deep Dark with the crew of the SC Marva Collins. Action kicks off almost from the very beginning, and the question of “what next” becomes increasingly more important as the book winds its way back to the Collins’ home port of Newmar and the Academy. Ishmael ends this part of the story in a place I’m happy with.

I would love for Mr Lowell to write more about Ish, but if this is the end of his tale I’m content with where he’s left it. That said, I believe there are still places for Ish to go and whelkies for him to rehome if Mr Lowell finds more threads to this story. If so, I will gladly go along for the ride.

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Trope filled but fun

Revisado: 05-03-24

MMC Des is The Bargainer, a man who can make problems go away—for a price. When FMC Callie is 15 she called on Des to fix a problem for her and he doesn’t call in the favour, or the further 300 some-odd she adds on over the next year. In fact, he disappears without a trace. Suddenly, 8 years after they initially met, he’s back.

The significant power imbalance is partially redressed in the intervening 8 years, mitigating that trope somewhat. Watching Callie and Des circle each other is a bit fun, with strong sexual tension. For a supposedly experienced woman, Callie is surprisingly prudish in their eventual encounters which ruins the experience for me somewhat.

The plot outside of the romantic story kept me going, as I wanted to know what was happening with the missing soldiers. Hopefully book 2 will build on the strong points and shore up the weak ones.

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An Ode to the Miscommunication Trope

Revisado: 05-03-24

Bargainer Des is a vault that secrets go into and never come out of. His mate, human/siren Callie fails to ask questions and to press for answers when she occasionally does ask. After a fairly strong book 1, book two lets down the side hard. I won’t be continuing, even though the board is set for a solid conclusion. When most of the “peril” is manufactured by crappy communication, it becomes angst instead and I ain’t got time for that.

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Wow Jake!

Revisado: 03-13-24

I came into Jake’s Magical Market 2 straight from the first book without realising there was a narrator change. I will admit I had to go listen to another book to help my brain make the switch between Travis Baldree and John Pirhalla, but once I had done that I really enjoyed Mr Pirhalla’s performance and the different tone he brought to Jake’s travels. Jake is in a pretty dark place at the beginning of this book, and he struggles a lot with guilt and isolation as this book continues. By the end, he seems to be in a better, healthier place to continue his journey of understanding, revenge and building a better world. Lots of fun and will look forward to book 3!

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Back to the Ish I have come to love

Revisado: 03-01-24

After School Days left a sour taste in my mouth, Working Class seems to find Ishmael coming back into himself finally. The crew is back in the toeholds, now with a bunch of cadets/quarter shares along to make trouble and force Ish to do some soul searching. Captain Case is much more mature suddenly in this book and has some very important things for Ish to hear. Lots for Lowell to wrap up in the final instalment. Looking forward to it!

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Another cosy chapter of a practically perfect story

Revisado: 11-30-23

Like many other people I read Legends and Lattes last year and was completely caught up in the sweet (sometimes literally—I bake a LOT when I relisten!!) tale. I have loved Mr Baldree’s voice and performance for a long time and to now have the joy of him performing his own stories…he’s even more expressive when he voices his own characters!

I was perfectly happy with where Viv ends up at the end of L&L, so I will say I had a bit of trepidation when I heard there was a prequel coming out. I should not have been anxious though, because Bookshops and Bonedust is just as lovely as the first book. We meet a younger Viv, more rash and with something to prove but sidelined in a sleepy seaside town when she picks up a severe injury in battle. Out of sheer boredom she goes into a local book store and then the magic begins. Mr Baldree weaves relationships we can all believe in and aspire to in our own lives. He again adds just enough peril to the plot to drive the story and keep me interested but not so much to kill the cosy vibe. I can already tell this duology will become prime relistening material for when I’m stressed or sad and am thankful to have it!

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Great continuation of the Sentinels universe

Revisado: 11-16-23

I loved the Sentinels of Creation series and this was a lovely way to dip back into that world for a few hours. I loved Nick Podehl’a continued performance of these characters and really enjoyed having the addition of Autumn Jones for the stories narrated by female characters. It was great to hear about all of the original gang and their kids, especially seeing Maggie all grown up and doing her own thing. This selection of stories tied up a few loose ends from the original series (though I still want the story about Megan teaching Sera how to drive and how he manages to destroy her car!!!). Definitely hope we will get a Stories for Ariel volume too!

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A fitting end

Revisado: 11-13-23

What a roller coaster Kevin, Luke and Xe have taken us on! Political revolution! Theological upheaval! Historical anomalies revealed and then explained! And the end of so many character stories, all tied off neatly enough to engender satisfaction and not in a rushed or forced way. I laughed out loud. I cried. I pondered many messages and how they might apply in my own life. I will endeavour to breathe peace. If you haven’t already read the first two, jump on this bandwagon! It’s immensely fun!

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Awesome fast paced action packed LitRPG

Revisado: 10-01-23

If you’re looking for an action-adventure blockbuster movie style book, this is one for you. The story is full of fights, sometimes pretty gory, and the language is sometimes crude, but the action is fast and the story progression is steadily marching forward without too much interruption for exposition or world building. While you move from fight to fight, somehow along the way you will fall in love with the main and side characters, fully investing in them and their survival through the dungeon. The series continues to be just as action packed and enjoyable through the most recent release (book 6 in 2023) and I’m already jonesing for book 7! Jeff Hayes does an amazing job giving us recognisable voices for all of the characters, which makes listening even more enjoyable. I would give this 500 stars if I could!

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Awesome fast paced action packed LitRPG

Revisado: 10-01-23

If you’re looking for an action-adventure blockbuster movie style book, this is one for you. The story is full of fights, sometimes pretty gory, and the language is sometimes crude, but the action is fast and the story progression is steadily marching forward without too much interruption for exposition or world building. While you move from fight to fight, somehow along the way you will fall in love with the main and side characters, fully investing in them and their survival through the dungeon. The series continues to be just as action packed and enjoyable through the most recent release (book 6 in 2023) and I’m already jonesing for book 7! Jeff Hayes does an amazing job giving us recognisable voices for all of the characters, which makes listening even more enjoyable. I would give this 500 stars if I could!

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