S. Leach

reader not a storyteller

Revisado: 03-20-25

This is the first in a long time that I did not finish listening to. I can't put my finger on a precise moment, but the delivery is stale like the doldrums, lifeless as a failed diplomat in Benghazi, and soul-less as my last boss.
Seriously, if this was AI speaking, I might have enjoyed it more. I enjoy the writing of David Eddings and of Raymond Feist. And I LOVE listening to SAG -listed Luke Daniels. But the guy reading this is doing only that...reading. out loud. and badly.

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whole Lotta listing going on

Revisado: 09-02-24

As much as I am a fan of Luke Daniels, and I am, I am really not loving this book. There's little setting description throughout; tertiary and quaternary characters are thrown in haphazardly as though just mentioning a heretofore unmentioned name is enough to build a scene; and the bulk of the writing is an iteration and reiteration of lists, item sheets, and character sheets from a dungeons and dragons style multiverse. In fact, personally, were it not for the amazing voice acting of Luke Daniels, I would have given up on this book by chapter 10. There are numerous grammatical errors that jar the reader out of the willing suspension of disbelief; plot-holes big enough to fly a giant Ogre through; and little character development beyond the initial cookie cutter stereotypes (and no, the constant stat upgrades do NOT count as character development!)
Of particular note, I recommend the epilogue blooper reel from Daniels for a peek into the behind the scenes' problems of a voice actor. Now if only a production company would contract Luke Daniels to read the audiobooks of Robert Heinlein.

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delightful revelations

Revisado: 08-23-24

Seven months I waited for this audiobook to propagate in my Audible library. Worth the wait!
Luke Daniels, as always, is just honey to the ears. Gotta wonder how many Texans he knows and how much intent he placed on getting a Texas-style drawl to some characters. He's such fun to listen to and absolutely Love the inclusion of bloopers at the end! Please work on pronunciation of the word irrevocable if you're reading this.
As for the author, Honor Rae... this trip into fiction is pleasant without being plodding, and meshes wonderfully with the previous 3 tales, though it does feel like many of the secondary characters could be fleshed out more. The mechanics fate could have had more impact if not catharsis. But Honor Rae is the wordsmith, not I... which is a good thing considering how beautifully this came out. Anyone else would have botched it.
Unfortunately, this tale has an aftertaste.
It demands More!
Please don't force us to wait another year for the next one.

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leveling up

Revisado: 02-24-24

Luke Daniels is a treasure. Elements of his performance mirror his performance of THE IRON DRUID CHRONICLES by Kevin Hearne and is a delight. The focus he gives to different characters forces the listener into the same willing suspension of disbelief as direct reading of the text demands. His is a master level voice-over talent.
The continuing story of ALL THE SKILLS takes up the loose threads from the first introductory book and weaves them into a compelling path of advanced storytelling without getting bogged down in retelling the first book ad nauseum while expanding the fantasy world building into a comfortable home for reader and listener alike. In the third act, THE KING, the author does get a bit rushed in his writing to the point of glossing over the advancing plot as though a deadline was needing to be met. Certain elements of this type of rushing the story exist in the first book as well, but are forgivable as the minutiae possibly are not intrinsic to the movement of the plot nor the expansion of the main character.
Overall, the underlying underdog tale of a man coming into his own integrity and ascension from peasant to nobility heakens to the classics of Boccacio, Chaucer, and several of the Breton Lays. I am hopeful for the next in the series but am satisfied with the progress thus far. Hopefully others will find delight in this fantasy escapade as well.

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Tears of Joy and Enjoyment

Revisado: 02-05-24

All the Skills is a treasure of an unexpected find. The world building is masterfully written and I found myself totally immersed in a shirt time. The fantasy plot begins in a simple and predictable series of events that not only introduce the fantasy world in logical description but set up the protagonist Arthur as delightful child growing to manhood scenarios. The variety of conflicts are minor and never dangerous enough to instill fear in the reader/listener and each accomplishment endears Arthur to the reader so it can be vicariously shared in the reading. Simply delightful.
The reader is Luke Daniels, from The Iron Druid Chronicles. Keep this performer on your radar. His readings are reliably animated and enthralling. Having been most favorably impressed by Daniels' rendition of The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne, I sought after his voice for more epic tales and am not dissatisfied. Luke Daniels has a happy talent for voice-over work bordering on hypnotic and magical.
The only complaint I have is in some vagueness from the writer as to how old Arthur is at various levels of the writing. This is

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solid storytelling

Revisado: 01-31-24

Feist succeeds in enmeshing his readers in the world of Krondor from page 1 book 1 onward. This book stands alone but is Much more enjoyable building up and away from it. Many of the words are pronounced with British emphasis and galls to the American pronunciation but is forgivable in the long-term.
Enjoy.

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the once and future knight

Revisado: 10-11-22

There are fewer and fewer master storytellers every year and when Terry Pratchett's soul was released back to the Universe, there is one less. However, we, the readers, may revisit and become delighted once more in the tales of Discworld and Ahnk-Morpork. These few visitations Pratchett gave us with the Night Watch Men at Arms are whimsically detailed by the congested nasal voice of Nigel Planer who somehow enunciated around snootfulls of phlegm keeping the listener snorkeling and snuffling in commiserations throughout the audiobook in sympathetic congestion. The need for decongestant aside, Planer keeps the pace quick and lively and mesmerizes the listener to the end of the masterfully written tale. If you are planning on getting this audiobook without having lived through the previous works of Pratchett, stop. Begin at the beginning. Go all the way through. And when you get here, enjoy. Then press on.

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Survivalist's Guide to Prepping

Revisado: 09-29-22

I was lucky enough to receive Nash's paperback in July. He writes with a noticeable voice that resembles an Uncle at a campfire educating a boy scout troop. The information is prosaic and helpful and covers literally everything to be prepared for in contingency situations from herb lore to canning and plausible scenarios that require special information up to and including what to do in the event of nuclear war. The audiobook is lacking where visual step by step knot tying is concerned, so you may want to go ahead and get the paperback as well, but the audiobook is succinct and the presentation has good diction and enunciation. This turns out to be a splendid listen in the car on the way to and from work. So get your Go Bags ready and have a sense of personal security with the knowledge Nash imparts. God Bless.
Stefan Leach in Oklahoma

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masterfully told tale

Revisado: 08-11-22

there is a glitch that left chapter 87 unfinished but beyond that, it is a good fantasy audiobook. A bit plodding and predictable but competent storytelling building to minor crisis points evolving characters and plot points without resorting to cookie cutter characters. Fine exposition on what is magick.

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Blah Blah Blah

Revisado: 03-04-22

really unimpressed by Saskia Maarleveld's performance. Ignoring moments of mispronunciation and severe pacing concerns in her delivery, for a SAG/AFRA member to give a performance of such sophomoric and soporific degree bodes ill of her acting teacher's abilities. I expected better. As far as the continuing tale of the whiny sorcerous...Nuttall fails to flesh out the plot once again.

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