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Lee Paredes

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Hilarious

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 10-11-23

This production was amazing. The story was well written and excellently performed. In a magical realism world the tropes of fantasy fiction arelooked at and poked fun at for funny dialouge. A great experience with the addition of a sound track and I hope a few more are coming.

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1 person found this helpful

An expansion of "You Are the Placebo."

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 09-10-22

This book gives the reader more meditations to add to, from YATP, and explores the science behind what the meditations are doing to the body. There are also more success stories that demonstrate the validity of Dr. Dispenza's ideas.

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A modem fairytale for grown-ups

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 04-23-22

Neil Gaiman perfectly narrates his modern fairytale, fleshing out the story of the movie more.

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This book provoked me, I thought of the holes in

Overall
2 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Story
2 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 10-21-21

The holes in his argument. He gets close to an epiphany, but misses the mark.

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Speed up playback toget through the flat narration

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 10-12-21

Dolores Cannon's work is always good for expanding the mind, but speed up the narrator.

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Very Excellent.

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 10-01-21

The full production cast really puts you into another world. It was fun to hear.

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Skip to book 2 or better 3 then 2 (Spoilers)

Overall
2 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
2 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 08-16-19

This book does not end with a "happily ever after," (HEA)
If this is your first book in this series, or your first A. E. Via book, trust me and skip it. Or get it after I explain my reasons for giving this book 2 stars. I listened to this book twice, the first time was to enjoy the story, but 4 out of the last 5 chapters ruined the story for me. I listened a second time to verify what I had heard in the building story, to make sure I didn't miss any clues that would have led to the ending happening. As I suspected there were no clues or indications, the story building up to the last chapters would have turned the way it did.

* Warning Spoilers and Rants*

First let me say Aiden Snow's narration is excellent. His gruff deep voice is perfect for these characters. The story building up the last chapters is fairly good. I say fairly because there is some unbelievable circumstances/situations but the get the story moving and I can suspend my disbelief. There are beautiful scenes between God and Day that Aiden Snow really brings to life, like the scene when Day is trying to stop God from leaving his apartment after Day has to wake God from a nightmare. God slowly reaches down to hug/lift Day out of the way, it is intimate and rippling with emotional current. Like most romance, the two main characters (MCs) have to work towards acknowledging their respective feelings, overcoming some plot hurdles, and "proving" themselves as "worthy" partners/companions.

God and Day do all this, and it seems like their story is coming to an end, but there still 5 more chapters. What we get is, in the first of the last five chapters, is Day hugging Ronawski in an intimate, but platonic way, because Ronawski is wrestling with if he loves Johansen or not. Day gives good advice and continues to comfort Ronawski, they're caught by God's brother Genesis. When God and Johansen show up to the kitchen, instead of God playfully pulling Ronawski off of "his man" (which earlier in the story Day makes a big deal out of have God saying Day is "his man") and shoving him to Johansen, both Johansen and God sidle/cuddle up to their boyfriends who are still holding onto each other. Before Day hugs Ronawski, Day flirts with Ronawski explaining it away as "well when you have hot man like God, how can you not be horny all the time." I call bulls--t, this is character inconstancy, and it really spoils the relationship between God and Day. Even if, God did make Day more flirty it would/should only be directed towards God. Also, while earlier we see God demonstrate his possessiveness with Day, but this is different because . . . Ronawski and Johansen are "so hot" how could God not want them to have sex with Day and him. Bulls--t.

The next chapter is the foursome, it starts with a little hesitation from God to which Day "explains" how this is going to work while still being a romance story. Day essentially says that they won't do threesomes, or foursomes with just anybody, so it's not an open relationship. Day goes on to tell God this is just something some couples do with other "trusted" couples, and that if God doesn't want to they won't, but apparently God can't resist seeing the one person he feels gives his life meaning (earlier in the story, God and Day make love, then Day is taken as hostage; God makes a menacing, threatening, speech to the Kingpin holding Day hostage, in the threat God says how he feels like he is nothing and that Day, being so amazing, is the only one who thinks God is special) have sex with another guy because they're "too hot." Inconsistent characters and unrealistic relationship progression. Both God & Day's and Ronawski & Johansen's relationship is only 2 months or so old in the book's time, in reading or narration it is very quick and hard to accept, that they are going to have a foursome when Rowanski was just asking Day how does he know if he's in love with Johansen. I call bulls--t. I even have issues with the foursome. Rowanski hesitates, but only because God is so intimidating. Rowanski quickly gets over his fear with Day agreeing to bottom for Rownaski, Bulls--t, Day topped before he made love to God and says so earlier in the story, he was even going to top a twink he picked up in a bar to get back at God, but in the foursome Day bottoms for both Johansen and Rowanski. God does threaten to kill Johansen if he "marks" Day with a bite, but that possessiveness is too little too late, as God being God should have stated the rules/boundaries before they played with each other. I'm not against threesomes or foursomes if they are done right. They are done right in a romance story if they are consistent with the character's depiction up to that point. If the threesome/foursome is done early in the story as a way to sexually open up one of the characters and done to indrectly sexually connect the two main characters. In "Owning Corey" by Marius Black there are two M/M/F threesomes in the first third of the story to sexually connect the two MCs. After the MCs start to romantically connect there are no more threesomes, because they didn't need them, like this story doesn't need this one or others.

The next chapter is the morning after with a little wake up oral. As the men are eating breakfast, Day thinks to himself, "Isn't it great gay men can have sex with multiple partners and have it not be weird," like it is a gay man's super power. Bulls--t, I feel like that sentiment diminishes me as gay man. The rest of the chapter is about God & Day getting a promotion and Ronawski congratulating Day with a hug and kiss on the lips, outing Ronawski to the department.

The next chapter is good, as it shows God opening himself to Day, by bottoming for Day. This chapter is the night before their 5th year anniversary as police partners (really how long God & Day have been together).

The final chapter is during the 5 year anniversary party happening at Day's house. God & Day are trying to get some alone time to exchange anniversary gifts. They are interrupted first by Genesis, then Ronawski & Johansen. When you think that the foursome they had about a month ago was a one time thing, Day explains that it wasn't. When Ronawski & Johansen enter the room the are suddenly all over Day & God, Day explains in the few weeks leading up to the anniversary they have had a few more foursomes, and Ronawski & Johansen were wondering if they wanted to play that night too. Day & God agree, then kick them out to exchange gifts. Day gives God a pair of customized guns and God gives Day a one of a kind rare jazz record that reminds Day of his Mother & Father slow dancing to the record. The chapter ends with Day putting the record on and asking God to dance with him. It is a nice scene to end on if it didn't feel hallow because just moments earlier they agreed to a foursome on the night of their 5th anniversary. Real special.

I wanted to like this book, Aiden Snow makes it easy to identify with the characters and in hearing the story instead of reading it is easier to over look poor grammar and some word choices. Listening both times I had to question if I heard Aiden correctly when he said Day "shuttered" (like a camera) instead of "shudder" (like what a human body does when experiencing strong emotions), but according to the 1 to 3 stars of the kindle/paperback version those kind of poor word choices are in the text, not the narrator's voice of the text. 75% to 80% of this book is like other romance stories with good build-up, and relationship development, with steamy sex scenes.

After listening to the book the first time, getting to the end, I became physically ill. My stomach was in knots and I felt really depressed. I knew it was because of the story because I felt it almost immediately when listening to the chapter where the idea of a foursome is introduced. I powered through to see where it would go, maybe the foursome would be a one off thing or done in a way to re-affirm Day & God's connection with each other and or show how dominant God & Day are over Ronawski & Johansen. It didn't, it made Day everyone's bitch, and gave permission to Ronawski to be gropey with Day (bulls--t). I have never had that reaction to a book before, and so I thought it was me, that I missed clues like Day checking out Ronawski, or God having a lingering stare on Johansen. I listened a second time and was still drawn in and again felt the gut punch. Again, I thought it was me, that I couldn't accept a lover that wanted to play with others, because I would have wanted my partner to be with just me. To see if I was alone in my reaction, I checked the 1 to 3 star reviews of the kindle/print versions on Amazon, because Audible doesn't make it easy to just search for 1 star or lower rate reviews. In reading the 1 to 3 star reviews I learned I'm not the only one, and that the sudden introduction of a foursome, while also quickly changing character's motives/feelings of self worth/possessiveness combined with the poor grammar, poor word choice, poor city research (Atalanta GA, in this book's universe is on or near the coast to have shipping docks, because in real life Atlanta is land locked and the nearest beach/ocean coast 267 miles away), all combine to say that this is a case of bad writing. There is nothing wrong with me or wanting a romance story to end with only the MCs ending up together and getting an HEA, the foursome felt sudden and gratuitous because it was. It was unnecessary and did derail the HEA. I almost got the second book to see if the author would fix this, but then I realized if I don't like this author's twists it might be possible she would write that this new couple's story would end with them becoming part of God & Day's harem of couples they helped get together, which would have pissed me off again. I read all the 1 to 3 star reviews to see if God & Day make any reappearances. They do in the second book flirting/secretly making out with Ronawski & Johansen, which would have upset me again because I would have been reminded of the potential HEA God & Day could have had, but didn't end up with.

If you start the series with book 2 (Embracing His Syn) and know not to give too much attention to mentions of God & Day you will be fine. From the Amazon 1 to 3 star reviews, book 3 (Here Comes Trouble) is where it's at. Book 3 is what God & Day should have been (book 3 has no 1 star reviews as the writing of this review). I feel the author does have potential, but she needs to refine her writing style, or I need to try her other titles. I hear good things about the Bounty Hunter books as they end in satisfying HEAs. Maybe I'm not the target audience for THIS book by A. E. Via, maybe it isn't for gay men who want a romance story with an HEA and instead THIS book is more for straight women who like stories about "big, hot, strong men," who have sex with each other.

As an Amazon reviewer noted, the author must have gotten the hint as in the summary/description of the second book (of the kindle/print version) it ends with a Disclaimer: The MCs DO NOT participate in polygamous sexual pairings. This is why I started my review stating this book doesn't end with an HEA. I hope this prevents some readers from feeling the emotional gut punch I felt after reading this book. I'm skipping book 2, to not remember God & Day as what the author forced them to be and am going for the best book of the series, skipping the rest (I don't care if God & Day are getting married in the 5th book, they're tainted as being inconsistent, regardless if they aren't seen with Ronawski & Johansen, I can't trust how "deeply" they feel for each other, if just 2 months into their relationship that is supposed to be about each other, they let their d--ks do the thinking and have a foursome, and it's not a one time thing, bulls--t on how much they can really feel for each other). This isn't the author's best work.

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24 people found this helpful

Its really a Swiss Army Ritual/Meditation

Overall
2 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Story
2 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 03-22-18

What would have made The Quantum Magician better?

More explanation about the scientific theory known as the "Many Worlds Theory." If this concept was fleshed out more with mystical philosophy or explained to be extremely plausible with mystical philosophy it would be a better book.

Has The Quantum Magician turned you off from other books in this genre?

No.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Resheph?

Maybe not, his reading was straight forward and dry. Maybe if he sounded like he was entertained by the idea or interested in it's possibilities, it would have come across better.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The very concept is novel and interesting. It is quite possibly a very helpful/ingenious ritual/meditation, if done seriously with your whole mind, heart, and body focused on preforming the ritual/meditation.

Any additional comments?

This little book/audio-book is cheap and short so don't expect several rituals like the description says. It is one ritual/meditation that can be used in a multitude of ways, like a Swiss Army Knife. To make it better I think the author should have consulted a thesaurus to give more word choices for the specific use/target you want to achieve; as the more specific attributes, the more specific results you could get. I would also have liked the author to have mentioned what magick system his candle correspondents came from, then tell the reader to experiment with their own system of magickal correspondences they utilize to preform protection/prosperity/love/etc . . . rituals. If practiced regularly, with clear intent of the aim which you wish to achieve, and preformed/practiced with all seriousness and dedication from the mind, heart, & body, I can see this ritual/meditation being effective. That's just my two cents though.

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5 people found this helpful