J. Clark

long

Reviewed: 01-23-25

bad language didn't add. could have been a cute story that is all I have to add

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

"National Treasure" Meets John Wicke/Jason Bourne

Reviewed: 05-25-23

Best one yet! Think the Nicholas Cage's movie "National Treasure" and merge that with the excitement of a John Wicke or Jason Bourne. I personally love the history (even imaginary). Nice balance, IMO.

Only thing that kept this from being a solid 5 stars is that there were gaps in the story. At first, I thought it was me, but rewound (a couple times), and, no, it was the editor (or whomever). The story would be going along smoothly, and all of a sudden, we were somewhere else in the story. Someone should have caught the incontinuity before releasing. Other than that, story was great, interesting, exciting, narration spot-on.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Team Marcellus!

Reviewed: 02-08-23

**There might be small spoilers.**

This is a thoroughly enjoyable book. Even though Marcellus’ (the octopus) narration is surprisingly snotty, he’s such a wonderful octopus. You root for him from the first escape getting tangled in the power cords. Marin Ireland, the other narrator did a fabulous job.

This book was so good, that I can forgive there are several gaps the reader must jump on faith – no bridge offered.
1. beyond a remote sister, no mention of the high schooler (daphne) having any family whatsoever – i.e. no parents, other siblings, extended family – nothing
2. w/o explanation of means or reason, we’re all of a sudden to accept that Daphne moved from CA to WA to go to high school – by herself
3. no hint of how a high schooler supported herself or who supported her
4. I get how the parents could be left in the cold as far as knowledge of their son’s girlfriend, but high schoolers not gossiping about 2 of their classmates hooking up? On what planet? There is small chance that either one of these kids (Eric Sullivan or Daphne caswell (or whatever) were in a high school relationship without telling at least one of their friends and zero percent chance of their friends not knowing by some other means. The remote era of 1989 is an insufficient explanation. I was there; there was gossip and common knowledge of classmates – no chance their classmates would be ignorant of the relationship.
5. and the cut anchor line – red herring just dissatisfactorily dropped without a hint at explanation. Instead we’re supposed to suddenly accept a mysterious explosion of some sort.

I have a small regret that this is Shelby Van Pelt’s first book on Audible; were there more, I’d definitely give them a listen!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

So Good!

Reviewed: 02-07-23

I listened to this book about a year ago. It was so good, I still find myself thinking about its story, so I returned to write a review. That's rare.

It made me cry and made me happy, and it's stuck with me in a good way. It is so well-written that the end is not a childish rainbows-and-cotton-candy happy, but a content, melancholy happy - like real life.

The author resisted the temptation that so many authors succumb to - to use her characters to make a point and sacrifice realism by doing so. I found the characters and story wholly believable - refreshing.

The narrators also did fantastic. Makes me wonder if they worked closely with the author to convey the message she had in mind when she wrote the book.

One of the best books I've "read" on Audible, and my library has about 1,400 books.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Too Much Hate for Me

Reviewed: 02-07-23

Where to start? This was one of the worst 2 books I've ever listened to. Filled with prejudices, bigotry and, well, hate.

For instance, there is hatred of men. (possible spoiler alert) While the green mist bestows super powers (literally) on some women, men it "breaks" before it kills them and usually leaves them in a disgusting gooey mess where they stood. There are a few masculine exceptions that spare the author's scathing: some men who think like them, incapacitated men (one of those) or those who submit to the women (the closest thing provided to a male hero).

The bigotry doesn't stop there; also belittled are: Christians, whites and John Wayne (poor John).

There is so much more off-putting about this book, that the best I can do in a quick review is just to warn others off the ordeal of listening to it. This author(ess) gives off a strong vibe of misandry. No thanks.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

🌏

Reviewed: 02-12-21

not used to 'reading' a book written with such poor grammar
know it was part of the idea, just very sad

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

meh

Reviewed: 08-19-20

Everything goes wrong until something unlikely and unbelievably wonderful happens, then everything is right.

Also, the humor is decreasing in this series; I enjoyed 1-3; #4 began a descent into redundancy and #5 slid away with it. All of that would be better if it was accompanied by the humor sprinkled into the first books; the humor was absent.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Caroline Lee!

Reviewed: 05-14-19

The story was good, but the narrator steals the show. I have a new fave (female) narrator in Caroline Lee.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Should Be Re-categorized

Reviewed: 02-24-19

This could have been a good story; I think the author has potential as a sound story-teller (have already purchased Circe), so why the 2-stars? Well, 2 instead of 1 b/c of this previously stated opinion. But why not more?

Pretty simple, actually, this book is improperly labeled. This is only historical fiction in the sense that the story is set in ancient times, but the reader would be better served if this were labeled LBQT… romance, or a LBQT… romance w/some erotica/pornography (whatever they call smut these days). (As a side, the pornography is not limited to homosexuality, there is a little heterosexual porno in there as well.) The book is improperly labeled simply as historical fiction. It is first and foremost a homosexual romance. Everything else is backdrop to that.

There is a lot of the movie Troy woven into this book. Both the descriptions of Achilles and the descriptions of Agamemnon very much describe the actors who played those parts in Troy (Brad Pitt and Brian Cox respectively). Their relationship, conflicts and tension mimic the movie as well. The same could be said of Odysseus; reading of him, one can easily remember Sean Bean reciting his lines. And so on… Eric Bana, Brendan Gleeson. It’s as if the original text was left unconsulted and the movie was the source of character description and development for the players.

As far as original text there is disappointingly little. If you’re looking for a glimmer of The Odyssey, you’ll be disappointed. For example, until the end, there is no rage from Achilles. If you’re familiar w/original text, “rage” is not only a predominate theme, but the very first word as well. And, of course, Patroclus is a minor character in the original text. So, that’s a miss. Again, writer’s prerogative, but still a miss.

To be fair, can’t hold that against the author “fiction” is in the labeling. Besides, ancient history is subject conjecture. But, sadly, we do have The Odyssey, and it is overlooked – always a mis-step when original text is overlooked.

So, misrepresented merely as historical fiction. Needs to be re-categorized for the benefit of future readers and perhaps with the acknowledgment that original source is overlooked.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

OK, Not Great

Reviewed: 01-14-19

Stories are ones we all know - oldies but goodies. David Case sounded more gravelly than I remember him from previous listens.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!