PPK

Groundhog Day doesn’t work as a book

Revisado: 07-21-24

Of all the narrators used in this series Savanah is the least dynamic. Strange to say as the first books I read in this series were Fostering Faust. But after Andrea and Jeff it is a step back in terms of vocal differentiation. Also the lack of direction for consistency when changing narrators is troublesome but that is an across the board thing even between Andrea and Jeff.
For a harem book this was severely lacking even where the tamer/sfw Arand pen name is concerned.
There were huge portions of this book that just meander while other parts jump huge swaths of time. I know the author has the roadmap to how these events take place and trying to keep the titles independent while being part of a massive narrative is a sisyphean task but even for me who has read every book in the reading order I found myself lost.
Maybe future installments of this series will bring clarity but as of now this title seems lacking.

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For kids but fun

Revisado: 10-09-19

If you like me can find charm in Dora the Explorer or Blue’s Clues then Foreverywhere is not going to offend. My personal attraction was the music, sadly the music was very repetitive and pedestrian until the very end. The story was cute and simple with Sesame Street motivations and Electric Company style villains. There is truest nothing here to offend but at the same time there is nothing to really become invested in either. It was cute it was silly it had some chuckle worthy moments. Not one for memory but not everything has to be.

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Rushed

Revisado: 07-18-19

This is book 21 in the series that has been told over 10 years in real time and 4 years in book time. Now I’m not going to talk about the inherent issues with a book who’s chronology moves at less than half the speed of real time because I believe they can be deduced on their own however I will say that this book contains time jumps that are dizzying. Also this series for 20 books was told from the point of view of one of the three sisters per book on a rotating basis; book one is from sister one’s point of view, book two is from sister two’s point of view, book three is from sister three’s point of view, book four is from sister one’s point of view, etc for 6 2/3 rotations. This book flips from sister to sister as each chapter changes. Also for 19 books this was a romance series with very full sexual relationships, books 20 and 21 drop the relationship aspects completely; which is fine as the author had become repetitive and stale in the depictions around book 15. The book is also about 4 hours shorter than the previous entries. All of these above facts tell me that something happened that led the author to the fact that this was the last book in the series and she wanted to tie up all the loose threads. To that end she did tie it up. However it was as satisfying for readers as reading the Wikipedia synopsis of a movie or tv show. It lost all style and intrigue and the beautiful character development that had been consistently building for 19 previous installments. I say 19 because the switch really happened in the book prior which also seemed rushed but maintained most of the elements of the previous books minus the sex.
Another issue that happens late in the series is the introduction of bridge stories. Novella that galenorn(the author) wrote that tell additional plot related stories. These are stories that get you from the end of book a to the beginning of book b, they introduce characters that have consequence in later main series books and provide important information that reveals events in the main series but are only referenced in passing or given a paragraph in the main series to tell who these people are or what happened. The majority of these novella are not available at audible (only one is, book 9.5 it’s quite good). And there are 2 between books 18 and 19 and one between book 19 and 20. So when you get to book 21 you are admittedly swimming in the deep end trying to piece together what has happened while the books were away from you... much like stepping into a tv series mid way through season six and trying to understand what is happening by the “previously on.. “ montage. I guess this shouldn’t surprise anyone as the first book in the novels continues a smaller novella (also not available on audible) and drops us as readers off in a world with characters already in mid action. If you ever wondered about how in “Witchling” Camille and Trillian got bound or why there was such a threat from shadow wing then you will be equally wondering in this book how ::mild spoiler:: Tanabaum was made a Keraastar knight, how sheamus was brought back from the dead, and who these other three people are with spirit seals.
If you’ve gotten through the series to this point chances are this review won’t sour you on going through and reading this book and it shouldn’t as you should get the closure you need in a saga this long but if I can lower your expectations you will probably enjoy it more than I did. Forewarned is forearmed as they say.

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What the actual heck

Revisado: 10-23-18

This is very odd. This 3rd book of the children of Gavraleck saga picks up right where the 2nd book ended (or more appropriately didn’t end) continuing the action seemlessly. For the first few chapters we see a firm timeline that is logical and sensible and then we shift dynamically and entire sections of character history are rewritten. Not badly rewritten but just totally upended as if the events of 1 & 1/4 books were not as the author had originally told us. I often read comic books so I’m quite familiar with retconing (retro-active continuity- the act of altering small parts of a characters past to further a narrative in present day) but this book took a complete left turn which led me to think for the rest of the book it was a dream sequence or a hallucination or mind control. Every moment I waited for the explanation or the inevitable reversion. None came and I found the end of the book most empty as a result. Stakes had not risen, relationships had not been forged, and no conflict had been significantly established let alone resolved. It was as if the author wanted a romance to have difficulty but didn’t know how to impede it without changing all the fundamental players in the game.
I’ll give an example of the type of turn we take:
Here is jack a 35 year old plumber and here is Jill a 36 year old Lawyer. They meet one day on the road and begin a courtship. They climb the hill of love. Then Jack falls down. When Jill tumbles down after him she finds him to be a 2yr old Llama and she has become a 22 year old space captain for the Parisian militarized alien defense league. Jack no longer wants to climb the hill he has llama stuff to do. And Jill must climb the hill to get to her lost space ship. Ultimately Jack sacrifices his desire to spit and chew cud to be the first member of the French foreign llama space legion so he might be near his love. This is the kind of left turn this book takes and though the new circumstances are interesting and well written for themselves the incredible disconnect between the two is unforgivably jarring as a reader .

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Great spinoff of a strong series

Revisado: 04-29-17

The superpowereds series is highly entertaining in its own right but suffers from comparisons to other more well established books about special schools training gifted people i.e. Harry Potter, x-men, vampire academy. Extraordinary adolescents get recruited to a special school to teach them how to use there extraordinary skills, insert outside threat, add a sprinkling of true adolescent experience, magnified for effect and you have a formula book. But taking such a broad view would lead you to miss out in the great series and most likely miss this spinoff entirely. Corpies takes elements of the superpowereds universe and a blink and you'll miss him character from the 2nd book and weaves a spectacular story full of genuine emotion and growth. When starting the book I had preconceived notions about the main character based on his reported actions in the superpowereds books and I can say unreservedly that corpies made me reassess my thoughts. Good stories should do that. If you read comic books this is not an unfamiliar plot, With many familiar beats and characters. But that isn't always bad, I feel in love with these characters and regardless of sheathed I saw titan as a superman analog or gale as a storm analog doesn't negate the fact that the woven texture of the storytelling pulled me in and held me through to the end.
I like long stories with multiple conflicts and drew Hayes knows how to satisfy in that regard. Perhaps because he is a free internet episodic writer self publishing chapters one at a time and adding bonus chapters based on contributions his books are longer than most other writers in the genre which grants a wonderfully vivid tapestry of description and action. He lands in the realm of Robert Jordan in that regard as far as I'm concerned providing great visuals particularly for the audio book reader.
As usual Kyle McCarley is the weak link in these books, being the performer on all superpowereds books so far. His natural nasal voice is difficult to disguise and though he does perform many variations to distinguish characters(a trait will Wheaton should learn) he doesn't posses the range beyond extra nasal for nerds(stereotype), extra deep for tough guys(stereotype), breathy for female, and scratchy for gruff, tuff, or old. And these books have many more than 4 characters. I understand not everyone can be Jim dale but after 3 books of Kyle I can say for certain he should be better than this. That being said I've seen what happens s when for some reason a reader is changed mid series (Rachel Morgan hollows books) and the different pronunciations of names alone was enough to make me crazy. So I'm not advocating Kyle's removal I only point out why the reduction in score for the performance category in my review.
Another great plus if drew hayes' work is that his books are all online and should you need to reference anything while listening you can go to the web and click right to the chapter you want.

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Don't be fooled, this is a superhero book

Revisado: 12-18-13

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

The book was intriguing enough, however is was very derivative. Anyone familiar with any x-men title will recognize the format and some of the story elements. That being said, after I got over the bait and switch, it was a good read that kept my attention.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hard Magic?

There is a moment near the beginning of the book where one of the main protagonists must teleport herself away from a group of toughs. She does so bu when she rematerializes she does so in the same space where a bug is flying and the bug is fused into her body. The description of this as well as the aftermath are described in stomach churning detail.

Did Bronson Pinchot do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Mr Pinchot is a fine character actor but to his credit he is nowhere to be found on this recording. I could not find any sign of his voice which I expected to be able to pick out immediately. As for character, he uses accents, pitch, and variable speed to make each one unique. My only note is that jake, the main character, has such a low pitched voice it is very difficult to hear at points when the recording is at standard volume. If you turn up for jake everyone else gets too loud. I've never heard any narrator use such a low voice, even Jim Dale's Hagrid has an easier to hear voice.

Do you think Hard Magic needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

As is true of all superhero titles the characters lend themselves to multiple adventures.

Any additional comments?

This book is a superhero book. There is no real magic at a all. What they are calling magic is more like cosmic power. I was expecting this book to be something based on the title and other reviews but it turned out to be X-Men in the '30s. Each character has a single "super" ability. Super strength (like Rogue), healing (like Wolverine), teleporting (like night crawler), mind control (like prof X), telekinesis (like Jean Gray), etc all exist and are inborn abilities. There is an uneasy tolerance of these "magical" powers by the normal people, there is a secret group that fights to make that tolerance into acceptance, there is an antagonist who is the oldest of them all and is bent on the idea of the survival of the fittest (apocalypse anyone?). The magic that is shoehorned in to the story seems like a cheap device used to prevent plagiarism charges, and could easily be removed and alter nothing in the narrative. That being said the magical aspects of the story; runic symbols, kanji, spell casting; are some of the most innovative moments in the book. I found myself engrossed in those chapters and wishing for more. Also very entertaining was the insertion of historical events and figures into a world where super abilities exist. How would WWI have gone with platoons of super beings, what would Lincoln have done if faced with the emergence of powers, were Einstein or Tesla super beings similar to Forge? As an original story this book was lacking, as a magic story this book was lacking, but as a heroes journey this book connects. The journey of the two main protagonists is complete from obscurity to hero for one and redemption for the other.

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Quite a good read

Revisado: 08-27-12

What made the experience of listening to American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition (A Full Cast Production) the most enjoyable?

With a full cast it was easy to find the personalities of all the characters and to follow the action.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Whiskey Jack and Horus due to their humor and complete disregard for convention

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

Sam Blackhawk had a necessary youth but worldliness to her a well nuanced performance

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

American Gods: Faith is a Con

Any additional comments?

Neil Gaimon's first novel is a fine work steeped in mythology and twisted history. A circular vision reminiscent of the layered worlds he wrote about in his Sandman Graphic Novels. This novels only draw back is it tries to be something for everyone; a heist story, a buddy road trip, a mystery and an adventure all the while embroiled in obscure mythologies most of us will have to use wikipedia to fully understand. (I suggest you do this as it really illuminates several of the characters.) IF there had been a singular focus I believe the story would have been more compelling. I did laugh that there was a true denouement, an epilogue, a post script and an appendix. It reminded me of the master works of composers such as Beethoven who would write in false cadenzas to their works leading the listener to think the ending was imminent only to have the cadenza end unresolved and flurry into another cadence. American careens to an ending only to find us moving directly into an unexpected and unresolved portion of the narrative and then does it again. A unique structure that is not unwelcome.

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Not what I expected

Revisado: 08-21-12

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

A different story

What do you think your next listen will be?

Redshirts

Did Ralph Cosham do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

N/A

What character would you cut from The Screwtape Letters?

N/A

Any additional comments?

I did not enjoy this book. It was preachy and filled with cynicism from the perspective of someone who knows better in the guise of someone proscribing the path to sin C.S. Lewis shows very clearly his low opinion of the vast majority of people. C.S Lewis is well known as a religious author inserting overtly christian themes into his fiction but I was completely unprepared for this book. I have read all the Narnia books and while Aslan's similarities to Jesus are undeniable it never pulls you from the story. Screwtape on the other hand is the exact opposite of a fire and brimstone preacher and as such informs us that every moment of our lives, every action we undertake, that is not focused on god is the proper path to hell... this reverse preaching is tiresome and well... preachy. after 18 letters I had to stop listening. This is more a religion book told from the perspective of the devil than any sort of comedy or fantasy fiction. I can not recommend it.

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