Brian

It Hurt So Good

Revisado: 07-11-25 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Every once in a while, I stumble into an audiobook that just reaches right in and grabs my heart, and Told You So is exactly that kind of story. From the very first moment, Lee Anderson, quietly awaiting his execution on death row, you know this is not going to be a fairy tale. But what unfolds is a love story so raw, so deeply felt, and so beautifully human that it will stick with me for a long, long time.

Lee is about as flawed and vulnerable as a main character can be. He’s not perfect, but he loves fiercely, especially when it comes to Delilah Novak. Their love isn’t just a plot device; it’s the heartbeat of the story. Watching them fall for each other, build a life together, and support one another through heartbreak, cults, and impossible choices was both uplifting and devastating.

I have to give credit to Sarah Asermily for handling such heavy themes—child loss, trauma, faith, and sacrifice—with such compassion. The writing flows so naturally between Lee’s past and present, painting him as a stoic man shaped by a hard upbringing but softened and made whole by the people he loves most. Even when the story wades into tragedy, it always feels honest and, weirdly, hopeful.

Ray Conley’s narration? Absolute perfection. His gruff yet tender delivery captures every bit of Lee’s southern soul. At any speed, he nails the emotional beats and brings Lee’s world to life in a way that feels both intimate and epic.

By the end, I was a blubbering mess (in the best way). Told You So is ultimately about love. Messy, powerful, imperfect love—and the ways we protect the ones who mean the most. Even if you think this isn’t your genre, trust me, this audiobook will make you feel.

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Eerie & Disorienting In a Good Way

Revisado: 06-23-25

4.75 out of 5 stars
Psychosis Diagnosis hooked me from the jump with its eerie, disorienting premise — and it only got more compelling from there. Monroe Morgan’s voice felt so real, so raw, and so chaotic that I constantly found myself questioning what was real and what was imagined, right alongside him. The central mystery and Monroe’s fervent need to prove Indi’s existence had me fully locked in.

The use of multiple narrators added a ton of dimension. Ari Maza Long delivered such a grounded, believable performance that you could feel the desperation, and he really rooted the entire audiobook. The full-cast format made it feel like I was listening to a dramatized series, not just an audiobook. Really ramping up to help make those tense and chilling moments hit hard. I enjoyed each voice, but a few stood out, especially Enzo’s chapters with that smooth Louisiana drawl. I could have listened to him talk occult history for hours.

The plot itself? Wild and unpredictable. Just when I thought I had a grip on the cult storyline, it morphed. Touching on addiction, family trauma, and even the supernatural. That said, I wanted more from the cult aspect. I wanted to understand the daily life, the beliefs, the psychological grip — instead, we mostly see the leadership, and only brief glimpses of those trapped inside.

I’m not even going to call it a downside, but a personal preference/being nitpicky; I think this could’ve been even more powerful sticking strictly to Monroe’s POV. Letting the reader discover things as he does would have heightened the unreliable narrator vibe and the slow unraveling of reality. But even with that, it was a story that kept me pressing play, needing answers, and never quite sure who, or what, to believe.

Bottom line: Psychosis Diagnosis isn’t your typical thriller. It’s a genre-defying slow-burn mystery wrapped in psychological horror and cultic dread. Disturbing, immersive, and wholly unique. And don’t forget the performance. I enjoyed this one, even though it messed with my head!

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Syndicate Moon Lights Up the Darkness

Revisado: 06-21-25 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Scott Killian, you mad genius, you’ve done it again. Syndicate Moon takes everything I loved about Stellar Heir and turns the dial way, way up. This sequel is a full-on space opera thrill ride with layer upon layer of intrigue, danger, and cosmic drama.

Jael’s journey across a crime syndicate-controlled moon is anything but linear, and I was hooked. Between the deadly “games” that determine moon dominance and Jael’s personal quest to find the second Antiqui lock, there’s no room to breathe, but in the best way.

The dual storyline structure had my brain working overtime (in a good way), mixing the overarching galactic politics with the boots-on-the-moon survival arc. It’s complex, it’s rich, and it rewards active listening.

I’ll admit, at times I felt like I needed a character map and a corkboard to track all the syndicates, secrets, and betrayals, but somehow Killian manages to wrangle the chaos into a compelling and emotionally grounded story. It never felt like confusion for confusion’s sake—more like a story that asks you to pay attention.

Shamaan Casey, once again, absolutely crushes the narration. He brings Jael’s desperation, strength, and sharp wit to life, while juggling a huge cast of voices—human and otherwise. He brings clarity to a dense narrative and keeps it charging forward with style.

There’s real tension here, not just from the battles and betrayals, but from the moral questions Jael has to face. What’s the cost of power? Who can you trust when everyone’s playing their own game? And how do you protect your crew when the whole galaxy wants a piece of you?

While the scope is massive and the worldbuilding deliciously intricate, it’s the stakes that truly shine. This isn’t just a race for a mythical artifact—it’s about survival, loyalty, and navigating the fine line between hero and weapon.

Syndicate Moon isn’t a passive listen, it demands your full attention, but it rewards you with a rich, cinematic experience that’s well worth the ride.

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A Slow Burn Fantasy That Sinks Its Claws In

Revisado: 06-05-25 El oyente recibió este título gratis

4.5 out of 5 stars

Shadow of the Dragon snuck up on me. I didn’t expect to be this pulled in, especially coming in at book two of the Qiledara series, but here we are, fully hooked. Amy Daniels manages that rare trick of making a sequel feel accessible without turning it into a recap parade. Her writing just flows, filling in the gaps naturally while drawing you into this sprawling world of kingdoms, curses, and complicated loyalties.

Aaron, better known as the Dragonslayer, may be the central figure, but he’s not walking this path alone. His squire, a cursed knight’s children, a necromancer with some eerie talents, and a healer who can undo monstrous transformations all play key roles. The story jumps perspectives often, sometimes more than I wanted, but I get why — Daniels isn’t just telling a story, she’s building a living, breathing realm. Still, I found myself gravitating toward Aaron’s chapters and wishing we spent even more time in his head.

The dragonkin angle? That part fascinated me. The idea that people can transform and be saved adds a whole layer of moral tension that I wish had been front and center. And there’s this invisible dragon that’s hinted at but never quite steps fully into the light. It created some great atmosphere, but I kept waiting for a bigger payoff.

As for the narration, Phillip Nathaniel Freeman is phenomenal. His voice feels made for fantasy: grounded, expressive, and easy to follow even when the story shifts gears or timelines. Add in a supporting cast, and it all clicks together like an immersive audio drama. The transitions between characters were seamless, which matters when a story’s this wide in scope.

Sixteen-plus hours went by fast. The pacing isn’t breakneck, but it’s steady, deliberate, and richly rewarding. I came for the dragons and stayed for the characters, the politics, the quiet heartbreak. Now I’m absolutely circling back to book one to see how it all started.

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Driving Miss Daisy… with a Body Count

Revisado: 05-29-25 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Dying Breath is book 14 in the Silence Jones series, and somehow, Erik Carter keeps finding ways to surprise me. What starts off feeling like a low-stakes escort mission quickly spirals into a far more tangled, emotionally charged mess. One dead man, one blabbermouth passenger, and one absolutely relentless Silence trying to do the right thing even when the path forward is soaked in shadows. And tugging at every emotion he has left.

I appreciated how this story wasn’t just about bodies hitting the floor (though there’s plenty of that). There’s a tender undercurrent woven in through therapy and reflection. A trickle of Silence confronting the life he left behind, and how much of it he might never reclaim. That added depth hit me harder than expected, and I love how the series continues to evolve emotionally alongside the action.

Gary Bennett delivers another solid performance, especially with Silence’s dry, sardonic edge. And let’s be honest, Silence does a lot more talking in this one, so I hope Bennett has a stash of throat lozenges on standby. I feel like I owe him a box of Throat Coat! The banter, the tension, the intensity… It’s all executed flawlessly.

This was a different kind of Silence Jones book, and that’s what made it stand out. Still brutal, still sharp, but with more heart than I anticipated. Fourteen books deep and I’m still all in.

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Worth Devouring

Revisado: 05-14-25

(Warning: lots of puns ahead…)

Whisk Me Away by Georgia Beers was exactly what I hoped for… and then some. From the first bite (err, chapter), I was hooked by the irresistible setup: two rival pastry chefs with sizzling tension, creative drive, and just enough baggage to make the stakes feel real. Regan’s passion and persistence clashed so beautifully with Ava’s cool confidence, and watching them go from frosty to fiery was a total delight.

This isn’t just your average “rivals forced to work together” trope. There’s heart here, real emotional growth wrapped in buttery layers of tension, vulnerability, and personal redemption (and growth).

The culinary camp added that perfect pinch of pressure and drama, but the romance stayed the main course. It was charming, swoony, and full of warmth, just like the best desserts.

Even the angst near the end (which usually knocks a star off for me) was handled with realism and grace, making the payoff that much more satisfying.

Lula Larkin’s narration? Chef’s kiss (as always). She brought both women to life with such clarity and personality that I never once got lost in the back-and-forth. I felt Regan’s sweetness and stubbornness just as much as I felt Ava’s guarded ambition. The dynamic between them was written with such care—playful, sharp, and slowly warming to something soft and romantic.

If you’re into slow-burn sapphic romances with snark, sweetness, and soul, this one’s worth devouring.

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Worth The Wait (Glory & Glorious)

Revisado: 05-14-25 El oyente recibió este título gratis

A monster-mash sequel that's more than worth the wait.

Returning to the world of Zombie Bigfoot after seven years felt like slipping on a pair of well-worn hiking boots—if those boots were caked in mud, blood, and cryptid mystery. Nick Sullivan brings us right back into the chaos with Zombie Billionaire, and let me just say, it was like no time had passed. The action picks up immediately, but I appreciated the subtle and effective recaps peppered in to jog my memory (though I still might give book one a re-listen just for fun).

What really stood out to me was the balance of multiple points of view. I'd forgotten how well Sullivan juggles them, each one feels like a fully-formed story in its own right, and I found myself just as invested in the Bigfoot troop's plight as I was in the very-much-undead billionaire's weirdly fascinating journey. The survivalist show host, the Shoshone tracker, the primatologist, the cryptids... I'd read a spin-off from any of them, honestly.

Yes, it's gory. Wonderfully so. The horror elements don't pull punches, but they're matched with smart pacing, comedic relief, and a genuine heart underneath it all. It's a rare feat to make a zombie-sasquatch mashup feel this grounded and enjoyable. Also, can more authors please include an afterword like Nick's? It added so much heart and context, and honestly made me enjoy the book even more.

If you like your audiobooks with horror, cryptids, heart, humor, and a bit of chaos tossed in for good measure, this one's for you. I'll be shouting about this to fans of monster mayhem, absurdities but interesting storylines, and even genre-skeptics. Zombie Billionaire proves that sometimes sequels can be everything you hoped for, and then some.

Nick's narration is no slouch either. Coming from a world of hundreds of audiobooks recorded, Nick voicing a story he wrote just turns it up to 11. Able to perfectly become each character, likely using the voices he thinks of when writing. Delicious (a play on HUNGRY... hey, hey, Bueller?)

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The Story I Was Craving

Revisado: 05-06-25

An unforgettable return to the gritty, emotional heart of Hell Divers.

I’ve been a fan of the Hell Divers series from the jump, pun intended, but The Lost Years gave me something I didn’t realize I’d been craving: the raw, unfiltered story of Commander Xavier “X” Rodriguez’s time on the surface. This is the chapter of his life that was always whispered about in the shadows of other books, and finally getting to walk beside him through it? It hit hard—in all the best ways.

Nicholas Sansbury Smith continues to be a master of character-driven post-apocalyptic storytelling. His writing digs deep into the human condition, and nowhere is that more evident than in X’s solo journey. Even though I know how the broader story plays out, this novella had me on edge, heart thudding, completely caught up in the haunting loneliness and brutal survival. NSS doesn’t need 500 pages to gut-punch you with emotion and tension; he manages it beautifully in this tight, gripping installment.

Hearing the origin of everyone’s favorite pup, who would go on to mean so much in the series, was another layer that brought unexpected emotion. It reminded me just how deeply invested I am in this world and its players. These characters aren’t just survivors; they feel like family, and every little backstory like this makes the broader Hell Divers universe even richer.

R.C. Bray, as always, delivers. His voice is practically synonymous with this series by now, and his narration of X’s descent—both literal and emotional—was filled with a weight and vulnerability that matched the story beat for beat. I could hear the strain, the fatigue, the flickers of hope in every word. It’s no wonder this duo keeps drawing fans back again and again.

If you’re already a Hell Divers fan, listening to The Lost Years is essential. If you’re new to the series… well, buckle up. This novella may be short, but it carries the emotional power and post-apocalyptic grit that make the entire saga so unforgettable.

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Exactly What I Needed

Revisado: 05-06-25

Every once in a while, a book sneaks up and hugs your heart in all the right places. Those parts you didn’t realize needed holding. Too Forward by Krystina Rivers, brought beautifully to life by narrator Lula Larkin, was that book for me. Equal parts feel-good sports romance and emotional journey of self-worth, this story hit my sweet spot from the very first chapter—and I devoured it like a post-practice snack I didn’t know I was craving.

We follow Jane Gray, a once-promising basketball player who’s been burned by injuries and self-doubt. Her shot at redemption (both on the court and in life) begins with a spontaneous night with a stranger, who just so happens to be Kinzie Lancaster, a brand consultant. You can feel that they will be in each other’s orbit, but you’re not sure how. And when that pay-off happens, their chemistry is undeniable. But what makes this book soar is how it leans into healing, not just from injury, but from years of internalized negativity.

As someone who has worked (and is still working) to quiet that inner critic through therapy, Jane’s journey felt raw and real in the most affirming way. Rivers doesn’t sugarcoat the struggle, but she also reminds us that love—romantic and self-love alike—isn’t just a reward, it’s a right. Watching Jane learn that she’s allowed to want more, to dream again, and to be loved was genuinely moving (I paused the book a few times to allow for some healing tears to fall).

The romance? Swoon-worthy. There’s something so powerful about a love story where one person is working hard to rebuild themselves, and the other stands beside them, not to fix them, but to remind them they were never broken. Jane and Kinzie’s connection was tender, grown-up, and full of moments that made me smile like an absolute goofball.

And can we talk about Lula Larkin’s narration? She nailed it. Her performance brought both characters to life with nuance and warmth—I could practically hear the smirks and heart-thudding moments in her voice. She was the perfect choice for this emotionally layered and joy-filled audiobook. Absolutely nailing the business-first but flirty Kinzie and the WNBA self-doubting Jane.

If you’re into (queer) sports romances with heart, healing, and heaps of chemistry, Too Forward is more than worth the listen.

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A Thrilling Launch into a New LitRPG Universe

Revisado: 04-23-25

Sometimes you can feel a book clicking into place from the very first chapter, and Interstellar Pawn by Dawn Chapman, narrated by Neill Thorne, was absolutely one of those moments for me. Troy’s entire world falls apart in a single afternoon, and suddenly he’s hurtling through space in a ship he barely understands, with danger and mystery dogging his every move. I couldn’t help but get swept up in his scramble to survive and thrive.

One of my favorite things about Chapman’s writing (and I’ve read a lot of her work!) is how naturally the LitRPG elements blend into the story. Here, it’s so seamless that it doesn’t just feel like a game mechanic layered onto a sci-fi story – it becomes the heart of the world-building itself. Watching Troy level up, make critical decisions, and chart his own course felt authentic and thrilling, not gamified or gimmicky. That works in some context, but here it’s *chef’s kiss* perfection.

Troy is an easy character to root for, and the side characters, even the ones lurking with hidden agendas, made the galaxy feel alive and dangerous. Plus, I have to give a shout-out to the ship itself. It’s practically a character all its own, and I’m already way too attached to it. There’s such a sense of discovery built into every system and upgrade that I can’t wait to see where it all leads next.

Neill Thorne’s narration was a perfect match for the story. He captured the uncertainty, excitement, and stubborn determination of Troy so well that it added an extra layer of energy to the entire audiobook. I’m already counting down to the next adventure — this series is off to a stellar start (pun absolutely intended).

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