Indigo

Awkward and sophomoric

Reviewed: 05-01-25

The writing isn't great or particularly insightful. The narration has awkward cadence with abrupt stops and starts and chuckles during reading. I couldn't finish it.

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Refreshing and hilarious

Reviewed: 05-12-24

This book is quite refreshing. Easy to follow and funny. Harrison starts as a lovable jerk who develops into a more lovable version of himself, kinder and more considerate.

A series of unfortunate but hilarious mishaps makes him into a servant for the deceased. As he helps the ephemeral characters only he can see and hear, he develops and navigates his complicated relationships in the process. The author gives him a great voice with a funny inner dialog. The pacing is just right and the plot is full of action. Somehow Harrison ends up a target, but... I don't want to spoil it.

Tl;Dr: it's a fun, refreshing story that doesn't follow any tired old tropes that I know of. Action, comedy, romance, ghosts!

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Compelling characters, rich setting

Reviewed: 01-13-24

This is my second time enjoying this book, and trilogy. Hobb is masterful and eloquent in her storytelling and it's uncommon to find an author who can make me feel so strongly for the characters. I've read countless books in which I don't care whether the protagonist succeeds or fails, but this one keeps me interested from beginning to end.

I'll admit the plot moves slowly, which usually would annoy me. But with Hobb's excellently refined prose, it's never a drudgery to move methodically through the events, but like a leisurely stroll through a comforting garden.

Okay, maybe that's too dramatic. Anyhow, I don't think there's any other writer whose descriptions and dialogue I admire more.

As for the narration, I think it's nearly perfect. Paul Boehmer does justice to Hobb's voice and the character voices are distinct and recognizable.

All in all, I highly recommend this Audiobook and the whole Farseer anthology.

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Road Trip with Kids!

Reviewed: 01-05-24

We needed something for a 3 hour drive with the kids, ages 8-12. This was the perfect story. kept everyone engaged. Full of silly hijinx, it's like the love child of Harry Potter and Wayside School. I thought it was a little more childish, but my 7th grade kids really loved it and laughed along with the younger kids in the van.

Armand is a great reader, too. Definitely an adult, but speaks convincingly as a middle school student. I think the mark of a good narrator is that you forget he's a narrator and just hear the story from the character's voice.

The story is clean and funny. Wyatt and Genevieve move to a new town and a new school where a bunch of weird stuff happens. Wyatt isn't content to just blend in. He wants to figure out the strange occurrences at school and so risks getting into trouble or danger from a Snoodraggle. The teachers can't seem to keep their minds on important lessons and each have their own quirks that derail class time in hilarious ways. These side stories really keep the pacing of the story engaging.

My kids have already gone back and relistened to their favorite parts and quote the story quite often. So we've gotten our money's worth out of this short little gem.

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1 person found this helpful

Pretty basic logic, but well presented

Reviewed: 09-05-22

I was going it would be as deep as some college courses I had taken, or as outside-the-box as some of Edward DeBono's work on thinking as a skill. It was more of a surface-level flyover of logic and mental processes. Basic stuff which is good for some people, but I had already heard most of it.

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I can't recommend

Reviewed: 05-02-22

The prose was well written, but the plot was frustrating and the ending disappointing. It was difficult to get through. More like a collection of novellas than a cohesive story. Dan Simmons is an excellent writer and the narration was great, but there's really nothing about the book that compels me to want to listen.

The connection to John Keats seems arbitrary; the weird religious threads that almost alluded to some end now seem pointless. And what about the mystery on the wind ship? I really can't see the purpose of the story. Maybe someone else can help me understand.

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Entertaining enough for multiple listens

Reviewed: 08-24-19

I loved it first, then I shared it with my kids and they loved it, too!

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Boring.

Reviewed: 08-08-19

Golly, so many words describing so little. Could have easily been a third the length.

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Interesting concept. Mediocre mystery.

Reviewed: 04-21-19

The setting has an interesting concept, butt the mystery was not very mysterious or compelling.

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Almost too much action

Reviewed: 12-12-15

Narration is great. The story is interesting but I would have liked it if it ever slowed down. It was like a continuous stream of action from start to finish and just a chapter of slow down to catch my breath might have improved things. Good sequel, though, and I look forward to the next book in the series.

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