J. Linch

Awesome Back Story Filler

Revisado: 05-18-19

First, I am writing this review for both Exile’s Honor and Exile’s Valor, since I think of them as a set. Second, I disagree with Audible’s decision to list the two books as books 4 and 5 in the Heralds of Valdemar series, as these two stories actually pre-date the story in the ‘Arrows of the Queen’ story both chronologically and by actual publish date. ‘Arrows of the Queen’ was the first Valdemar book, the other two were written years later.
Having said all that , I lived these two books. They filled in a number of the ‘back stories’ referred to in ‘Arrows of the Queen’, among other Valdemar books and gave much greater ‘life’ to some significant secondary characters from other books.
Now, if only Audible could get around to publishing ‘By The Sword’, another one of those ‘bridge’ books between other Valdemar series, one which I believe may be the best Valdemar book ever written.

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Was the ‘Great American Hero’ the inspiration for

Revisado: 02-05-19

This series reminds me of that TV series. The main character of the series, Kaylin, has symbols all over her body, that appeared when she was a child, that give her powers. Powers she doesn’t understand or, for the most part, know how to use. She learns a little bit, over time, but by book 14 she really doesn’t have a clue and only now thinks she might try to do a little research to see if she can discover anything more. Really? Fourteen books to reach this point?
There was a decent amount of character building for Kaylin in the first few books, but since then the story has morphed away from Kaylin’s development, while the story continues to be told from her point of view. Other characters introduced along the way have become the main focus of the story plots. The author continues to mention some of the older characters or they have a small part of the story lines, but are pretty much dismissed at this point.
At this point I am pretty sure the author has lost whatever story line she originally intended and just keeps writing in the hopes of stumbling onto another.
I honestly told myself to drop the series about 8 books again. But for some reason I can’t really define I keep reading, maybe in the hopes the author will latch onto that new plot I am hoping for. Not sure I will read the next one, as disappointed as I am in this one.
Still LOVE the narrator.

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AWESOME!

Revisado: 10-05-18

David Weber ended this ‘arc’ in fantastic fashion! If this is the end of this ‘arc’, that is. As Weber mentioned in the afterward, the overall story line has been written in three ‘arcs’, where this book is the culmination of two of them. Which means the overall story will continue. And based on some of the plot lines in this story, I am pretty sure where that ‘arc’ is headed. Which I am looking forward to with great anticipation.
I would also like to thank the publishers for getting Allyson Johnson to read this one. She is, by far, the BEST of the Honorverse narrators and I truly missed her in the other ‘arcs’.
Thank you – David Weber! As the saying goes – ‘Let’s be about it!’ with writing the next one.

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NOt as good as the original story, but not bad

Revisado: 09-28-18

Like many, I did not like the narration and would love the reader of the original series to read the next one. Or even re-read this one, though I don’t suppose this will happen.
As to the book itself, I have to admit I was not aware it was coming. I just happen to be re-reading the original series when I got the announcement of its release, as the first book in a new series. I immediately downloaded it and started to listen.
I liked the book. But not as much as the original series. The original series was much more focused. This one reads more like ‘what happened next’, now that the big stuff has occurred. My hope is that the story line picks up in the next book in the series and has a more dynamic story line. Based on the author’s past work, I imagine it will.

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Not surprised there weren't any more in this serie

Revisado: 08-31-18

I’m not one much for romance, but have enjoyed the world introduced with Aisling, then May then Ysolde in the Dragon books (not as pleased with the last four however). This series takes place in the same universe. The first book in the series, Time Theft, was decent. This one however, is simply lame. It starts out decent enough, then takes a left turn into wonder land and the story goes from bad to worse from there. And really doesn’t get back onto solid footing until the last chapter. One of my ‘not worth having wasted the time listening’ books.

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Exceeded my very high expectations

Revisado: 03-09-18

I discovered the Mercy Thompson series in 2014 and read all the books currently available, ending with ‘Shining Shadows’, a collection of short stories and novellas about Mercy’s world. (There have been two more books since). During the reading of this collection I read the ‘Alpha and Omega’ novella, and understood from the preface to the story that there was a parallel series to the Mercy storyline. Absolutely loving ‘Alpha and Omega’ (one of my favorite novellas of all time – I re-listen regularly), I quickly started reading the second series.

I really like the Mercy series. I found I liked the ‘Alpha and Omega’ series even more. The main characters, Anna and Charles, speak to me more than Mercy and Adam. Not sure why, but they do. So, I have been waiting with great anticipation for the new release since it showed up available for pre-order a few months back.

I pre-ordered ‘Burn Bright’ and downloaded it the first day it was available. About an hour into it (I think it’s funny that people who listen think in ‘time’, while people who read think in ‘pages’) I already knew. This one was my favorite, by far. Without giving anything away, I loved how Patricia developed a number of the characters introduced in prior books. They were just there before. Now they were central to the storyline.

It was funny, but with about two hours left I actually checked to see how much time was left. Not something I normally do, but I was hoping for many hours more. Then, with just that two hours left, where the story was, I thought ‘damn, this is going to be a two parter’. Only to have the plot take off for a rousing finish. One I definitely didn’t see coming.
If you liked the rest of the stories in this ‘universe’, I think you will love this one too.

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Cast in Disappointment

Revisado: 02-06-18

I’ve been reading this series since the first book. And have become increasingly dissatisfied with the story line. There is NO new character development and has not been for a number of books now. If someone can actually explain the plot to me I would be both pleased, and very surprised. I don’t see where this story has been, nor where it is going. The character Kaylin Naya has become very stale.

Having said all that , I actually like the narrator, but she is not enough to keep me coming back.

I personally plan to move onto something else.

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Not as good as the other four

Revisado: 10-19-17

I am a huge fan of this series. Loved the first three and was very glad when someone else continued it with the fourth book. And I loved where the new author took that fourth book. So I was very disappointed when I read this latest one. Without giving much away, it felt like the author was trying to use a similar plot line from the first three books here in the latest, without the success the original plot line accomplished. Which left this story line weak and unsatisfying, at least to me. I think there is something there from the fourth book that could be continued, but this storyline needs to be dropped and forgotten.
I do enjoy the narrator however, and hope they continue with him.

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Enough is ENOUGH!

Revisado: 08-08-14

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No. I have become increasingly frustrated by Goodkind’s need to force his moralistic opinions down his reader’s throats. It was not bad at all in the early books. But in each successive story the preaching has gotten worse and worse – to where in this book one of his characters is spouting some moralistic monologue or other almost constantly! It has gotten to the point where the story lines are getting lost in all the moralistic chatter. The length of the book could have easily been half of what it is – with no lose in the actual story line. What a shame!

Oh Yes – I actually liked the story – what there was of it.

What do you think your next listen will be?

I need to finish ‘The New Watch’, read several stories by Mercedes Lackey I bought and have pending, or the 1st book in the Safehold series by David Weber (LOVE his Honor Harrington series, and hope this is as similar as it seems). Just finished 'The Book of Life' by Deborah Harkness. I really enjoyed that one.

What does Sam Tsoutsouvas bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I like Sam’s voice. And I like the passion he brings to the story when intensity is called for. He also does a fairly good job of giving unique voices to most of the main characters.

Did Severed Souls inspire you to do anything?

Stop listening.

Any additional comments?

This will probably be my last Goodkind book. I can't stand any more moralistic preaching. It really ruins the stories for me.

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Loved the story - hated the narration!

Revisado: 06-03-14

What made the experience of listening to City of Heavenly Fire the most enjoyable?

Like many others – I did NOT enjoy listening to the story. The narration was very poor. But, I loved the story itself. It was a little long, but I loved the way it ended – bringing the two story lines together, and setting up the next series in the bargain. I wonder if we will see Clary and Jace in the next one, but if not, I am really looking forward to it.

What was one of the most memorable moments of City of Heavenly Fire?

I liked the way the author had Clary be the hero, when I thought it would be Jace at the beginning of the book. Liked that twist. Also liked Clary meeting Tessa. Another nice twist. Some of the things they said to each other, and which were said by Tessa later make me think she and Clary will interact some more. I would like that.

Would you be willing to try another one of Jason Dohring and Sophie Turner ’s performances?

The narrators were all wrong for these characters. They might be okay for some other story line.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

I really like series where the narrator (when good) stays with the series the whole time. You get used to the ‘voice’ they use for major (and sometimes minor) characters. You get used to the way the pronounce words. It drives me crazy when a new narrator pronounces names or words differently than I got used to.

Really poor selection by the PUBLISHER on the narrators used! I don not blame the author! As I understand it, most of they time they have no say.

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