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Dark Tales of Cryptids and Park Rangers
- By: Michael Kelso
- Narrated by: Virtual Voice
- Length: 4 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 28
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Performance3 out of 5 stars 27
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 27
Imagine being chased by a Bigfoot, stalked by a Skinwalker, or sucked into another dimension that’s a disturbingly dark mirror of our own. What would you do when the very creature that’s stalking you is like nothing you’ve ever encountered and the sight of it freezes you to the bone? How dangerous is it being a Park Ranger? In peaceful parks where sunshine reigns, not very. However, there are places where unknown things roam loose, and hunters become prey. These stories come from such places. Once you step inside this dark world there’s no going back. These eleven stories from ...
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3 out of 5 stars
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Definitely NOT true stories !
- By Indrid Cold on 10-24-24
- Dark Tales of Cryptids and Park Rangers
- By: Michael Kelso
- Narrated by: Virtual Voice
No mark between chapters
Reviewed: 04-14-24
There's no chapter sections, headings, etc, unsure if there's chapter titles or not -- the AI narration doesn't pause at all to indicate a story break.
the stories themselves were all right, not my particular cup of tea but something I'd support as an upcoming author... if not for the AI narration. I know production is expensive, but this ain't the solution, evidently.
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Master of One
- By: Jaida Jones, Dani Bennett
- Narrated by: Lisa Cordileone
- Length: 15 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 66
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 56
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Story4 out of 5 stars 56
Rags the thief has never met a pocket he couldn’t pick, but when he’s captured by a sorcerer with world-ending plans, he realizes even he is in over his head. Forced to use his finely honed skills to nab pieces of an ancient fae relic, Rags is stunned to discover that those “relics” just happen to be people: a distractingly handsome Fae prince, a too-honorable Queensguard deserter, a scrappy daughter of a disgraced noble family, a deceptively sweet-natured prince, a bona fide member of the Resistance, and him. Rags.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Bland
- By 🔥 Phx17 🔥 on 06-03-23
- Master of One
- By: Jaida Jones, Dani Bennett
- Narrated by: Lisa Cordileone
good fun fantasy for a modern audience
Reviewed: 02-22-24
and by "modern" that isn't just code for "queer," though yes being queer myself that's part of it. Also the plot of intrigue and questioning values/authority, rather than a straightforward Evil Enemy Empire or something. The fact that a decent amount of the scenes and character design feel inspired by shonen anime.
The ending felt... like a weird place to stop, I do wanna say. No spoilers, ofc, but exactly one (1) plot thread felt thoroughly addressed at the end of the novel. Like they were making progress on others, good, and just because the one plot *could* take this as a turning point, it's not like. great. I assume there is (or was) a sequel planned, but doesn't look like it's out yet.
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The Wizard's Butler
- The Wizard's Butler, Book 1
- By: Nathan Lowell
- Narrated by: Tom Taylorson
- Length: 12 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 8,683
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 7,769
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 7,750
For five grand a month and a million-dollar chaser, Roger Mulligan didn't care how crazy the old geezer was. All he had to do was keep Joseph Perry Shackleford alive and keep him from squandering the estate for a year. But they didn't tell him about the pixies.
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5 out of 5 stars
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I LOVED this book!
- By Kristin Butner on 04-24-21
- The Wizard's Butler
- The Wizard's Butler, Book 1
- By: Nathan Lowell
- Narrated by: Tom Taylorson
perfect mix of fantasy and mundane
Reviewed: 08-24-23
I first came across Nathan Lowell through his sci-fi merchant's ship crew series, the (x) share, I forget at the moment what it's actually titled. at the time they were free in podcast form, so I quickly devoured the whole set in a matter of weeks, if I recall correctly. once I realized he'd written more, I've been meaning to listen to something else of his for years, but I guess part of me was afraid that I'd find myself disappointed.
those fears, I'm happy to say, were unfounded. the subject material is entirely different between this and the merchant's share series, and my memory of specifics is fuzzy, but the tone is very much familiar. this isn't a swashbuckling magic adventure, it's very sedate in that sense. there are two primary conflicts in the story, and one of them is the very mundane fact of a greedy niece wanting to declare an old rich relative incompetent to get control of his estate. the other... isn't revealed quite as early in the book, so I'll be circumspect, but it's magical in origin, but the stakes aren't the fate of the world, or anything, they're personal. and I guess that's what I'm saying here: Lowell is very good at stories with personal stakes that use science fiction or magic in a way that doesn't feel tacked on, nor like 'magical realism' of Important Literature.
my only real complaint is that this book is listed as a series, but it's too new to have a sequel available on audible yet, hah. truth be told, the story would work well *enough* if it were ended here entirely self contained, but I'm fond enough of the characters that I'd like to follow their lives a while longer.
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Mystery Writers of America Presents Vengeance
- By: Mystery Writers of America, Lee Child - editor
- Narrated by: Angela Dawe, Jeff Cummings
- Length: 11 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 272
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 238
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Story3.5 out of 5 stars 239
In our dangerous world, offenders cannot always be brought down by the justice system. When a different kind of justice is needed—swift, effective, and personal—a new type of avenger must take action. In Vengeance, best-selling author Lee Child, “a superb craftsman of suspense” ( Entertainment Weekly), presents 21 riveting stories from some of today’s top crime writers.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Two stories were excellent.
- By Jane on 05-04-12
The book title is self explanatory…
Reviewed: 05-12-23
I generally love the anthologies but had not read any MWA (I usually stick to SciFi). I was not disappointed. I may not love every story nevertheless I was able to add at least a couple authors to my reading list.
Since “Vengeance” is in the title I was expecting dark and possibly morally corrupt stories. The authors took me places that I don’t normally go but they definitely held my attention!
Well worth the money for me!
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The Alchemy of Stone
- By: Ekaterina Sedia
- Narrated by: Eileen Stevens
- Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 154
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 131
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Story4 out of 5 stars 131
Mattie, an intelligent automaton skilled in the use of alchemy, finds herself caught in the middle of a conflict between gargoyles, the Mechanics, and the Alchemists. With the old order quickly giving way to the new, Mattie discovers powerful and dangerous secrets - secrets that can completely alter the balance of power in the city of Ayona. This doesn't sit well with Loharri, the Mechanic who created Mattie and still has the key to her heart - literally.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Steam Punk with a fizzle
- By Janice Budd on 12-29-11
- The Alchemy of Stone
- By: Ekaterina Sedia
- Narrated by: Eileen Stevens
wonderful but *tough* (in a good way)
Reviewed: 03-25-23
Great speculative fiction piece, very clockwork/steampunk-- including our heroine, who is literally clockwork.
tough because... well, I'm physically and intellectually disabled, and I see a lot of my struggles, and the struggles of others like me but which I don't personally face, reflected in the story. in addition to the SF veneer metaphors for prejudice, there's also literal garden variety racism and abuse of power of law enforcement and wrongful imprisonment based on such things. I normally binge stories, but I had to keep pausing to let myself out of the story to deal with these things that hit so close to home.
In the beginning I didn't like the slightly over-purple prose, but I got used to it after a bit-- and the author stopped using twenty words when "she shook her head 'no'" would do so much, lmao. what remained fit the character and the style of the story.
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Dark Lord of Derkholm
- Derkholm Series, Book 1
- By: Diana Wynne Jones
- Narrated by: Gildart Jackson
- Length: 13 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 444
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 386
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 384
Mr. Chesney operates Pilgrim Parties, a tour group that takes paying participants into an outer realm where the inhabitants play frightening and foreboding roles. The time has come to end the staged madness...but can it really be stopped?
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5 out of 5 stars
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One of my Favorite Fantasy Books
- By Jake on 08-09-19
- Dark Lord of Derkholm
- Derkholm Series, Book 1
- By: Diana Wynne Jones
- Narrated by: Gildart Jackson
fantastic... mostly.
Reviewed: 03-23-23
DWJ was one of my favorite authors when I was younger, and this book is a huge part of the reason why. I loved the driving plot, the big reveal near the end, etc. as an adult, I love the chapter where everything becomes too much and a character just sits down for... weeks? bc trauma.
I'm less thrilled about the narrator, and how he puts an emphasis on squawking the gryphons' lines, rather than showing any kind of emotion for them-- which really does them a disservice.
on the book itself, I'm also not so keen on .. spoilers beyond this point.
okay so. not so thrilled with how everything is wrapped up in a neat little bow, rapidfire, in a single scene. it feels too convenient. this is a hallmark of DWJ's books if I recall, and I think I loved the salvo of things coming together as a kid, but now it just doesn't sit right.
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A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians
- A Novel
- By: H. G. Parry
- Narrated by: Andrew Kingston
- Length: 20 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 154
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 128
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Story4 out of 5 stars 129
It is the Age of Enlightenment - of new and magical political movements, from the necromancer Robespierre calling for revolution in France, to the weather mage Toussaint L'Ouverture leading the slaves of Haiti in their fight for freedom, to the bold new Prime Minister William Pitt weighing the legalization of magic among commoners in Britain and abolition throughout its colonies overseas. But amid all of the upheaval of the early modern world, there is an unknown force inciting all of human civilization into violent conflict.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Could have been better
- By E. Thiessen on 08-12-21
- A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians
- A Novel
- By: H. G. Parry
- Narrated by: Andrew Kingston
disappointing
Reviewed: 02-05-23
I loved the politics and intrigue of this, and what a strong start the novel had. so much of it was right up my alley. but as the plot threads started to come together near the end of the book... won't spoil it exactly, but everything can be blamed on one big bad evil guy, and it's not the guy you think. and the BBEG doesn't have interesting motivation, there's one (1) traumatic event mentioned for him, but it's not motivating, exactly.
robespierre's story was great, though. a+. probably the best part of the novel? the fact that he won't be in the next one isn't the *only* reason I won't continue, or even the biggest one. and I don't fault this one for ending where it did, except that it's a cliffhanger for everyone else. but I'm not compelled by their stories the way I was by Robespierre's.
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Midsummer's Mayhem
- By: Rajani LaRocca
- Narrated by: Ariana Delawari
- Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 178
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 146
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 147
Eleven-year-old Mimi Mackson comes from a big Indian American family: Dad's a renowned food writer, Mom's a successful businesswoman, and her three older siblings all have their own respective accomplishments. It's easy to feel invisible in such an impressive family, but Mimi's dream of proving she's not the least talented member of her family seems possible when she discovers a contest at the new bakery in town. Plus, it'll start her on the path to becoming a celebrity chef like her culinary idol, Puffy Fay.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Cute story, not really well written
- By Harmony Button on 12-17-20
- Midsummer's Mayhem
- By: Rajani LaRocca
- Narrated by: Ariana Delawari
good middle grade adaptation, + new twists
Reviewed: 07-26-22
I love listening to middle grade books. I appreciate other age demographics as well, ya through adult, but there's a special charm that's lost once you leave middle grade, and this book has that charm in spades.
I had some very minor quibbles about how some of the plot things happened-- they're really asking me to believe a theater company would intentionally put on A Midsummer Night's Dream with the opening night on the summer solstice and in the woods? theater people will get Legit Mad if you name drop "the Scottish play," I don't believe for a moment this in charge would tempt fate like that lmao-- but... that's minor, bc I'm well aware that the parallels DO make the story stronger, esp so they can highlight where the stories do in fact differ.
the narration was... good, but not great. the emphasis landed oddly sometimes, there were some sentences (dialogue especially) that were read in a tone which seemed counter to the context given by the text itself, etc. but she did put effort into giving characters audibly different voices, which helped me keep track of the rather large cast.
overall, I loved it. if I were curating a book list for middle school kids to read over the summer, this would be one of my top choices. it's fun and shows how Shakespeare can be fun as well, despite his reputation for being The Bard and all. it has a good moral imo about a few things, but notably impressed that one char literally came out and said "the plot contest is exploiting you for your baked goods & publicity." said in a moment of meanness, but it was proven pretty much accurate by the end-- if anything, that was underselling the issue rather than over doing it.
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Can Such Things Be?
- By: Ambrose Bierce
- Narrated by: Anthony Heald
- Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 372
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 329
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Story4 out of 5 stars 329
Prepare yourself for the shocking, the strange, and the terrifying in Ambrose Bierce’s 1893 story collection Can Such Things Be? One of the greatest masters of horror brings you 25 tales of the supernatural and the unexplained. Whether in stories of ghosts sending desperate warnings to their human counterparts, psychics attempting to bridge unknown dimensions, howling werewolves, or a robot who takes on a life of his own, Bierce plumbs the depths of fear and fascination.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent narration of the classics
- By Adeliese Baumann on 10-31-14
- Can Such Things Be?
- By: Ambrose Bierce
- Narrated by: Anthony Heald
chillingly strange... but repetitive, aged badly.
Reviewed: 11-29-21
I was spellbound by the first few stories. One line in particular stuck with me: "He lived in Saint Helena; where he lives now is uncertain, because he is dead." between the spooky atmosphere and the softly different verbiage of 120 years ago, it was off-putting above and beyond my expectations... at first.
Each story stands alone... and, in fact, is *better* when taken alone. I listened to this like I might a chapter book, which is to say in very large chunks, one story right after another, and finished most of the book in about a week. halfway through I lost interest, though, bc a lot of these rely on the twist that "ooooh! there was a ghost!" and as any good horror movie fan can probably tell you, unrelenting tension isn't nearly as scary as when that tension is briefly released by a (fitting!) comic moment or tender emotional scene, bc sameness just gets *tiring*.
wonderful stories, though! very atmospheric, and imo great if you're a fan of Edgar Allen Poe. a little less direct, but a lot of the same style notes, imo.
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An Inhabitant of Carcosa
- By: Ambrose Bierce
- Narrated by: Jim Moon
- Length: 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 18
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Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 15
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 15
Ambrose Bierce's classic weird tale, first published in 1886, brings us the eerie visons of a feverish man, and introduces to the world the strange realm of Carcosa. Following this telling is a commentary tracing the origins, influence and importance of this Bierce story.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Omfg
- By Rhombus Ticks on 11-03-16
- An Inhabitant of Carcosa
- By: Ambrose Bierce
- Narrated by: Jim Moon
TLDR great lit discussion, poor story narration
Reviewed: 11-20-21
the summary following the story proper is exactly the start I needed, discussing some of the legacy that this story has. I bought this as research, in a sense, as I'm considering writing my own fiction using a lot of the King in Yellow mythos as a basis/ starting point-- and that all directly ties its inspiration and many of its names to this story-- as well as some of Bierce's other work.
the narration, though, is... unrefined. it's clear that the narrator is much more comfortable speaking as though in a lecture theater about nonfiction. he sounds prefecture natural in the discussion of this story's place in modern literature. but for the actual story itself, his narration left something to be desired. inflection, pacing, and emphasis were all over the place, and if the story had taken much longer than 10m, I'm not entirely certain I could have finished it.
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