catgirl29
- 56
- reviews
- 40
- helpful votes
- 78
- ratings
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Queen of Shadows
- By: Sarah J. Maas
- Narrated by: Elizabeth Evans
- Length: 20 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she's at last returned to the empire - for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past.... She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight. She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison.
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Unexpectedly excellent
- By Elisabeth Carey on 11-02-15
- Queen of Shadows
- By: Sarah J. Maas
- Narrated by: Elizabeth Evans
Creative and derivative at the same time
Reviewed: 01-21-25
Say it with me now - Why-vern, why-vern.
Down, down, down. Toes curling. Wash and repeat.
I feel like Sarah J. Mass is derivative of herself the longer these books and series go on. There are a few surprising elements but the books do get tedious and a gold star for Elizabeth Evans, who must think she’s read this all before.
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Constituent Service
- A Third District Story
- By: John Scalzi
- Narrated by: Amber Benson
- Length: 2 hrs and 30 mins
- Original Recording
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Ashley Perrin is fresh out of college and starting a job as a community liaison for the Third District–the city’s only sector with more alien residents than humans. Ashley’s barely found where the paper clips are kept when she’s beset with constituent complaints–from too much noise at the Annual Lupidian Celebration Parade to a trip-and-fall chicken to a very particular type of alien hornet that threatens the very city itself. And if that’s not terrifying enough, Ashley is next up at the office karaoke night.
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Short and fun!
- By Andrew on 10-04-24
- Constituent Service
- A Third District Story
- By: John Scalzi
- Narrated by: Amber Benson
Scalzi Has a Vivid Imagination
Reviewed: 12-25-24
Mr. Scalzi has a vivid imagination and knows how to tell a story. I always wish that his shorter ones are a bit longer. In this case, and as he often does, he mixes in good writing with a sense of humor. Listening to this is a good use of a couple of hours of your time.
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Dawnlands
- A Novel
- By: Philippa Gregory
- Narrated by: Louise Brealey
- Length: 19 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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It is 1685 and England is on the brink of a renewed civil war. King Charles II has died without an heir and his brother James is to take the throne. But the people are bitterly divided, and many do not welcome the new king or his young queen. Ned Ferryman cannot persuade his sister, Alinor, that he is right to return from America with his Pokanoket servant, Rowan, to join the rebel army. Instead, Alinor and her daughter Alys, have been coaxed by the manipulative Livia to save the queen from the coming siege. The rewards are life-changing.
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Great
- By Sybil Brown on 11-23-22
- Dawnlands
- A Novel
- By: Philippa Gregory
- Narrated by: Louise Brealey
Engaging characters, captivating story
Reviewed: 10-10-24
Philippa Gregory rarely disappoints. I enjoyed every character and the storyline carries on nicely from the previous book, which I recommend.
The narrator has a somewhat weak voice until she gets to the Italian characters. All the sudden, I feel like she’s acting - and acting well. I wish she was strong throughout.
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The Duchess
- By: Amanda Foreman
- Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon
- Length: 15 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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Lady Georgiana Spencer was the great-great-great-great-aunt of Diana, Princess of Wales, and was nearly as famous in her day. In 1774 Georgiana achieved immediate celebrity by marrying William Cavendish, fifth Duke of Devonshire, one of England's richest and most influential aristocrats. She became the queen of fashionable society and founder of the most important political salon of her time.
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Captivating Biography with Outstanding Narration
- By Johanna on 05-15-16
- The Duchess
- By: Amanda Foreman
- Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon
Very, very long…still interesting
Reviewed: 08-06-24
For all of the correspondence that was censored or lost, there was still enough source material to make for an all too-long book. This is not historical fiction but what seems to be a faithful telling of Georgiana’s life. For me, it took some of her own fortitude to get through it.
The major themes in her life - odd relationships, politics and a pathological need to lose absurd sums of money gambling were certainly repetitive. The Duke and Duchess seem to have deserved each other. It does seem as if she was well-loved by her family and friends. Thank goodness. Many would have thrown her out on her ear.
Wanda McCadden is a fine narrator. She does amazing child-like voices at times. I’ve noticed this in other books. I’m also assuming she speaks French - or at least she makes me believe she does.
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The Little House
- By: Philippa Gregory
- Narrated by: Alix Dunmore
- Length: 9 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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It was easy for Elizabeth. She married the man she loved, bore him two children and made a home for him which was the envy of their friends. It was harder for Ruth. She married Elizabeth’s son and then found that, somehow, she could never quite measure up. Isolation, deceit and betrayal fill the gaps between the two individual women and between their different worlds. In this complex thriller, Philippa Gregory deploys all her insight into what women want and what women fear, as Ruth confronts the shifting borders of her own sanity.
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Great job, Phillipa!
- By Ellis on 01-21-24
- The Little House
- By: Philippa Gregory
- Narrated by: Alix Dunmore
Well written and engaging
Reviewed: 05-28-24
When I am reading the historical fiction that Philippa Gregory is generally known for, I know that she has taken liberties (hence the fiction of the genre).
In this story, the characters are very believable and I was pleasantly surprised to find this modern thriller. Most of the characters are both likable and deplorable at once. It challenges one to consider what “good” and “bad” look like in the context of the story.
I recommend it if you like Gregory’s work but have had your fill of royal drama.
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Galatea
- By: Madeline Miller
- Narrated by: Ruth Wilson
- Length: 46 mins
- Unabridged
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In ancient Greece, a skilled marble sculptor has been blessed by a goddess who has given his masterpiece—the most beautiful woman the town has ever seen—the gift of life. After marrying her, he expects Galatea to please him, to be obedience and humility personified. But she has desires of her own and yearns for independence. In a desperate bid by her obsessive husband to keep her under control, Galatea is locked away under the constant supervision of doctors and nurses. But with a daughter to rescue, she is determined to break free, whatever the cost.
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Fantastic reimagining
- By Mark on 11-29-23
- Galatea
- By: Madeline Miller
- Narrated by: Ruth Wilson
Beautiful as usual
Reviewed: 05-25-24
Madeline Miller’s writing is so beautiful. The words just flow so well and her audiobooks have been narrated by wonderful voices.
The story was interesting and engaging and tragic. It was also entirely too short.
I hope that Ms. Miller is feeling well enough to continue writing and giving us her gorgeous work for a long time into the future.
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Cage of Souls
- By: Adrian Tchaikovsky
- Narrated by: David Thorpe
- Length: 23 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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The sun is bloated, diseased, dying perhaps. Beneath its baneful light, Shadrapar, last of all cities, harbours fewer than 100,000 human souls. Built on the ruins of countless civilisations, Shadrapar is a museum, a midden, an asylum, a prison on a world that is ever more alien to humanity. Bearing witness to the desperate struggle for existence between life old and new is Stefan Advani: rebel, outlaw, prisoner, survivor.
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Slow Start, Strong Finish
- By Jacob McCollum on 05-01-23
- Cage of Souls
- By: Adrian Tchaikovsky
- Narrated by: David Thorpe
Masterful Stoytelling
Reviewed: 05-04-24
This story was fascinating throughout. Few authors build interesting worlds and situations as well as Adrian Tchaikovsky. The characters were unique and their backstories were always a surprise.
The narrator was amazing - so versatile. He brought every character to life.
Highly recommend.
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A Deadly Education
- A Novel (The Scholomance, Book 1)
- By: Naomi Novik
- Narrated by: Anisha Dadia
- Length: 10 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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I decided that Orion Lake needed to die after the second time he saved my life. Everyone loves Orion Lake. Everyone else, that is. Far as I’m concerned, he can keep his flashy combat magic to himself. I’m not joining his pack of adoring fans. I don’t need help surviving the Scholomance, even if they do. Forget the hordes of monsters and cursed artifacts; I’m probably the most dangerous thing in the place. Just give me a chance and I’ll level mountains and kill untold millions, making myself the dark queen of the world.
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Intersting concept, way too much self pity
- By Rune on 10-13-20
- A Deadly Education
- A Novel (The Scholomance, Book 1)
- By: Naomi Novik
- Narrated by: Anisha Dadia
Not the best wizarding school tale - not the worst
Reviewed: 04-16-24
I don’t know what I expected when I chose this book. It’s an ok story with an ok narrator but it doesn’t have the same finesse as Spinning Silver, which was my first introduction to the author.
The story is not derivative of “those books” so that’s good - but it was a bit hard to follow and to imagine the world.
I’m debating on whether this is a series on which o want to spend my credits.
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The Sisters
- By: Dervla McTiernan
- Narrated by: Aoife McMahon
- Length: 3 hrs and 8 mins
- Original Recording
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In this prequel to the international best seller The Ruin, set 10 years prior, bright-eyed Carrie Ryan is at the very start of her career. When she has a hunch about an ongoing murder investigation, she knows it could be her only chance to prove herself and truly break into the “boys' club” of Dublin’s police force.
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Look forward to hearing more from this author
- By C. E. Pitchford on 09-09-19
- The Sisters
- By: Dervla McTiernan
- Narrated by: Aoife McMahon
Lovely narration and story
Reviewed: 04-06-24
This short, ancillary book was my first introduction to this author and narrator. It was a pleasure to listen to all around and I look forward to exploring more.
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Anathem
- By: Neal Stephenson
- Narrated by: Oliver Wyman, Tavia Gilbert, William Dufris, and others
- Length: 32 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Fraa Erasmus is a young avout living in the Concent of Saunt Edhar, a sanctuary for mathematicians, scientists, and philosophers, protected from the corrupting influences of the "Saecular" world by ancient stone, honored traditions, and complex rituals. Over the centuries, cities, and governments have risen and fallen beyond the concent's walls. Three times during history's darkest epochs, bloody violence born of superstition and ignorance has invaded and devastated the cloistered mathic community.
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I love Neal, but Good lord... ugh!
- By SpiderGrrl on 10-08-19
- Anathem
- By: Neal Stephenson
- Narrated by: Oliver Wyman, Tavia Gilbert, William Dufris, Neal Stephenson
Engaging Story
Reviewed: 04-04-24
I really almost gave up on this book. I really did. The first chapter or two are just hard to listen to and I don’t think actually reading them would be any easier. Since one has no context, it’s hard to understand why two people would be bantering back-and-forth about the subject matter. However, as the book went on, I came to genuinely like the characters and the character development. The world building is very good. One never knows what planet these people live on, although one can guess.
After those first couple of chapters, this became very binge worthy and I listened to it constantly to the end. I thought the narrator did an excellent job and that the story was concluded in a satisfactory way. The whole book made me perform a sort of mental gymnastics, but I think you can pay as much attention (or not) as you want.
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