Jennifer

What a surprise!

Revisado: 07-03-22

I must admit, I’m speechless. I’m actually finding it incredibly difficult to write this. Marion Zimmer Bradley has been a favorite author of mine for many years. The first title I read from her was Priestess of Avalon and ever since I’ve been hooked.

When I say I just about fell off my chair when I saw this newest offering from her on Audible I am not exaggerating in the slightest. Not one bit! I wasn’t even looking for any particular title. It just showed up as a recommendation one day. After I picked my jaw up off of the floor I immediately added it to my wish list. Let me tell you, that month between adding it to my list and it’s actual release was ridiculously long.

I’ll be honest here, I… uh… acquired… an older copy of this audiobook years ago. The narrator was so-so and it was actually missing a couple of chapters. It was annoying but I love this story enough to deal with it. This new release has a great narrator and no missing chapters! Plus I have the benefit of supporting the author and narrator. Win win!

If you’re a fan of the story of the Trojan War you might definitely enjoy this. It’s Homer’s classic tale, a bit of fantasy, and a feminist perspective. I won’t go into any plots or storylines although it’s not like I’d be giving anything away. Seriously, if you’ve never read The Iliad and The Odyssey than you’ve been living under a rock and probably didn’t pass high school English. I’m only refraining from commenting about any specifics because of the unique way the story is presented. All I will say is the story is both familiar yet new, the pacing is appropriate, the different minor plot lines intersect nicely with the main storyline, and the character development is amazing.

Please give it a shot!

Would I be pushing my luck to hope for ‘The Fall of Atlantis’ next? It might be unlikely but considering how this release came out of nowhere and that the sequel to it (Ancestors of Avalon) has been available for some time now I’ll keep a smidge of hope.

Audible team - y’all are great. Every time I think I should pause or cancel my membership you recommend just the right title or out of the blue you spring an obscure favorite of mine on me. Keep up the great work!

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What a surprise!

Revisado: 04-23-22

Lori Wick is a favorite of mine and I’ve always been sad that there weren’t many of her titles available. After the release of “The Princess” I had nearly given up hope for any additional audiobooks but boy was I surprised when I found “Sophie’s Heart” the other day! I shall continue to hope for other favorites from her. “Pretense” and “Bamboo & Lace” are two I hope to see one day.

As for this title, I can highly recommend it. It’s a sweet story, a nice message, in good taste, and (for me at least) no dull moments. The pacing is good and I have nothing bad to say about the narration. Some might call it a bit preachy but I don’t think it would be enough to turn people away.

Here’s hoping it won’t take another three years to get another!

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This one was hard…

Revisado: 11-21-21

The narration is great. Easy to follow storyline (at least to anyone who might have read other emp/ doomsday/ prepper fiction. This novel moved me more than the others I’ve read or listened to. There were several side plots and concepts that I haven’t seen in other books in this genre. It was also slightly more realistic. I won’t go into details but it was definitely a heartbreaking story. Thankfully it was one that also left room for hope.

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Sweet story, nice narration.

Revisado: 07-02-18

All around great audiobook. No audio issues and a tasteful, if old fashioned (haha) story. Definitely worth the credit for any Louisa May Alcott fan.

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What a surprise!

Revisado: 05-10-18

I absolutely love Gone With the Wind and I have read the follow up novel, Scarlett by Alexandra Ridley, several times. It was a complete surprise to see it pop up on my recommended list! Best of all it is narrated by Linda Stephens who also did GWtW so the voice, flow, and reading style is seamless between the two. Using a credit for this one was a no brainer!

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Excellent!

Revisado: 01-31-18

Great story! I totally thought I would only listen to a chapter or two at a time and hoped to finish in a week or so but I finished in less than 2 days because it really sucked me in. The storyline flow was good and I never felt bored. There were descriptions in all the right places without gumming up the works. The topic was terrifying because I can really see something like this happening. Great narration! No production issues that I heard. I highly recommend this novel!

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

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I liked it!

Revisado: 01-17-18

I’ve read a lot of EMP/dystopian/end of the world fiction. This one portrays your basic everyday non-prepper characters, rather than packed and ready-to-go survivalists, which is a nice change. Not everyone is prepared for major disasters and it’s much more interesting to watch the characters learn how to survive. Like “on the job training!”

One unique storyline I haven’t read till now is a pilots experience of an EMP while midair. I also like some of the narration effects. While speaking to someone on the phone it sounds like the other person is actually on the phone. The echo in the elevator shaft. Etc.

The only critiques I have are of the narration rather than the storyline:
- Some of the “performed” script overlapped with the narration. (The part where they’re getting the maintenance guy out of the elevator.) It’s very distracting and interrupts the flow of the story.
- While not an aspect of the actual storyline, the narrator was a bit stiff. His voice is pleasant and has good tone and reading speed but it seems like it took him a chapter or two to really get comfortable with the story and characters. Once he settled in it was like watching a movie in your head which is the best sign of a good reading imo.

All things considered, this is a great addition to the EMP genre. Good balance of action and character growth. The story didn’t drag on or make me yawn. It was busy enough to keep me interested yet slow enough to really get to know the characters and their relationships. I highly recommend this novel and look forward to the next installment!

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

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A new point of view!

Revisado: 11-28-17

I grew up with the Little House Series and I will never forget the stories and life lessons that are gifted to the reader from Laura’s words. This is a retelling of The Little House on the Prarie from Caroline Ingalls’s point of view. I actually find it quite refreshing to hear it all from an adult perspective rather than the innocence of a child. Laura told us of the day to day monotony of travel and struggle as a child would see it. Endless days of open skies, camping outdoors, wanting to play or walk rather than ride, fear during a river crossing, missing a beloved pet who was believed drowned, and the excitement once a new home was found.

In Caroline’s point of view we see the melancholy of leaving friends and family, the trepidation of moving from an established home, the travails of pregnancy, the desire of wanting to protect two little ones on the open road, wanting to please her husband, inner dialogue, guilt, and thoughts that many a pioneer woman no doubt wrestled with, and the struggles of creating a home where once there was none. It is the same beloved stories that we are all familiar with. It is just from a different point of view.

The fact that Ms Miller received permission and approval from the Wilder estate gives reassurance that the novel she has written holds fast to the truth and spirit of the original work. I’d like to see more of the beloved stories retold from Ma’s point of view or even Pa’s! A new perspective is always a refreshing change! 10/10!

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