Vanessa
- 15
- reviews
- 2
- helpful votes
- 113
- ratings
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Warbreaker
- By: Brandon Sanderson
- Narrated by: Alyssa Bresnahan
- Length: 24 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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In the world of Warbreaker, each person is born endowed with the power of one Breath―which can be sold and collected by others, then used to Awaken objects and even corpses to do their bidding. A few individuals who die in glory return as gods, with the power of thousands of Breath, but no memory of their mortal lives―and are enthroned in the Court of Gods in Hallandren’s capital. To Vivenna and Siri, princesses of Idris, the abuse of Breath and the claim of the Returned to be gods are repugnant blasphemy.
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My Favorite Sanderson Yet
- By Carol on 09-10-17
- Warbreaker
- By: Brandon Sanderson
- Narrated by: Alyssa Bresnahan
Imaginative
Reviewed: 07-27-24
I really enjoyed the story. Such an interesting world and idea, the bio chroma. He always manages to surprise me.
The performance was very enjoyable as well.
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Crystal City
- The Tales of Alvin Maker, Book Six
- By: Orson Scott Card
- Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki, M.E. Willis, cast
- Length: 11 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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From the end of the 18th century, Americans traveled west to find new homes and new lands. They brought with them the magics of plain people. It is from these roots of the American dream that award-winning writer Orson Scott Card has crafted what the Charlotte Observer called "a uniquely American fantasy." Using the lore and the folk magic of the men and women who settled a continent, and the beliefs of the tribes who were here before them, Card has created an alternate frontier America.
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I love Alvin Maker but don't like this audiobook
- By Paul on 06-04-05
- Crystal City
- The Tales of Alvin Maker, Book Six
- By: Orson Scott Card
- Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki, M.E. Willis, cast
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Reviewed: 11-12-23
Orson Scott Card is one of my favorite authors. He is a master at bringing characters to life. He seems to have a great understanding of human nature.
This book however was unpleasant to listen to, because he includes characters whose thoughts we'd rather not hear like Calvin.
So having those annoying thoughts in my ear actually affected my mood negatively, like listening to constant whining.
The ending of building the Crystal City did feel a bit flat like others remarked.
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Edenbrooke
- By: Julianne Donaldson
- Narrated by: Emily Elizabeth Hamilton
- Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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Marianne Daventry will do anything to escape the boredom of Bath and the amorous attentions of an unwanted suitor. So when an invitation arrives from her twin sister, Cecily, to join her at a sprawling country estate, she jumps at the chance. From a terrifying run-in with a highwayman to a seemingly harmless flirtation, Marianne finds herself embroiled in an unexpected adventure filled with enough romance and intrigue to keep her mind racing.
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Delightful Story
- By 🌸DARA on 08-18-13
- Edenbrooke
- By: Julianne Donaldson
- Narrated by: Emily Elizabeth Hamilton
Annoying
Reviewed: 11-11-23
The narrator was so utterly awful I couldn't finish even the first chapter. The timbre of the voice was too high for my taste. That said, I couldn't tolerate her horrible, fake British accent, over enunciating words, missing the inflections of Brits, and using "a" sometimes in an American pronunciation and sometimes in British. It was insufferable.
I borrowed a copy from a friend to at least read the story, because she loves it. She has read it many times, so I was hopeful I would like it. I have to admit I couldn't finish the story either. Maybe one day I will.
Here is why: this heroine comes upon a man in an Inn after having been attacked. The man is unfriendly to him. She chastises him for his manners and not acting like a gentleman, yet she behaves very poorly herself.
I tried to press on and give her a chance, but then found myself so annoyed that really this isn't British. The phrases are so American. As the author lives in the same county in the USA as I do, I'm familiar with this way of speaking.
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Changeless
- The Parasol Protectorate, Book 2
- By: Gail Carriger
- Narrated by: Emily Gray
- Length: 10 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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Alexia Maccon, the Lady Woolsey, awakens in the wee hours of the midafternoon to find her husband, who should be decently asleep like any normal werewolf, yelling at the top of his lungs. Then he disappears, leaving her to deal with a regiment of supernatural soldiers encamped on her doorstep, a plethora of exorcised ghosts, and an angry Queen Victoria.
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A step down from Soulless but still fun
- By EllaG on 10-10-17
- Changeless
- The Parasol Protectorate, Book 2
- By: Gail Carriger
- Narrated by: Emily Gray
Even funnier than the first book
Reviewed: 09-19-23
I absolutely love this series. The second book is just as funny, if not even funnier than the first one.
The dialogue is so witty, the voices of the characters so distinct. What makes this author one of my favorite is that the pacing is just superb. The mystery is well done and well solved, and providing a great back drop to develop the characters.
My only annoyance with the book is that I don't really love the way she voices the minor characters. Lord Maccon and Alexia are great, and even Lady Kincair, but the other ones are a bit annoying.
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Beauty and the Clockwork Beast
- The Steampunk Proper Romances, Book 1
- By: Nancy Campbell Allen
- Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
- Length: 10 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Lucy, a smart, attractive, and well-respected botanist, travels to Blackwell Manor to take care of her sick cousin, Kate, who is married to Miles' younger brother. For Lucy, the trip is a welcome respite from her work and recent discovery of a breakthrough serum that could eliminate the scourge of vampires from London. But Lucy finds more than she bargained for when she arrives at the Manor.
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Interesting retelling, but not without its faults.
- By AC-US on 09-19-19
- Beauty and the Clockwork Beast
- The Steampunk Proper Romances, Book 1
- By: Nancy Campbell Allen
- Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
Refreshing take on a favorite story
Reviewed: 09-18-23
To my knowledge there are four books in this series. Each of the books is a stand alone retelling of a familiar fairy tale. I still recommend reading them in order, as the main characters are either related or known to each other.
This was a breezy read. I read all four books in four days. What I particularly enjoyed about the stories is that from the get go, the romance protagonists are introduced early on, and you know they will end up with each other, and yet, reading how they come together is rewarding rather than tiresome. The supernatural elements and mystery of the story keep the plot moving along and rather than wondering "will they or won't they get together" you wonder how they will solve the mystery at hand.
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A Proper Scoundrel
- By: Esther Hatch
- Narrated by: Noah Wall
- Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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As the successful owner of multiple railroad lines, Diana Barton is all too accustomed to fending off suitors seeking to stake their claim on her wealth. In order to keep the wolves at bay, Diana has contrived the perfect plan: appeal to the most notorious rake in London, the Baron Lord Bryant, to ruin her reputation and scare off the worst of the time wasters. The ruse will be no hardship - she’s secretly been fascinated by the man for years.
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A True Regency Romance
- By Jenni on 06-22-21
- A Proper Scoundrel
- By: Esther Hatch
- Narrated by: Noah Wall
It's like a C-movie
Reviewed: 09-10-23
My need to finish books I start got me through this one, but it was very much like watching a C-movie you know after 2 minutes is likely going to be a total waste of time, but you do it anyway.
I only read it because I'll be attending an event with several regency authors in our area, so thought it would be nice to have at least read some of them. This one was the first one I picked up.
I was aware that most regency era books are romances. I like a good romance, and I cherish witty dialogue and excellent character development.
The premise, that a 22 year old female from the countryside outside of London is running a railroad business in the Regency era is highly unlikely. I was hoping that this would make for some excellent story telling, because women have been overlooked in history, and the stories of truly great, ingenious women, who succeeded despite everything being set against them so often go untold, and I would love to read more stories about them.
This however was not such a story. One of the challenges of this book was that the inner monologues of the characters is so repetitive and dumb. I don't know how many times I rolled my eyes when Diana was fawning over LB's good looks, only to repeat to herself that he is a scoundrel over and over, or LB's constant self-loathing that he is undeserving and evil. If those two were as accomplished and intelligent as the reader is asked to believe, I would have liked to see them catch on to what was going on a lot sooner.
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Meat Cute: The Hedgehog Incident
- Parasol Protectorate, Book 0
- By: Gail Carriger
- Narrated by: Emma Newman
- Length: 1 hr and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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From the comedic mind of New York Times best-seller Gail Carriger comes the much requested prequel short story to Soulless. Alexia Tarabotti attends what appears to be a very dull London party, until the new werewolf Alpha turns up, is unconscionably rude to her, and sits on a hedgehog. Don't miss this charming novelette featuring the first encounter between the Parasolverse's most popular power couple, preternatural Alexia and supernatural Lord Conall Maccon.
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Funny Origin Story - Fan service for Parasoleverse
- By Amazon Customer on 02-11-20
- Meat Cute: The Hedgehog Incident
- Parasol Protectorate, Book 0
- By: Gail Carriger
- Narrated by: Emma Newman
Fun
Reviewed: 09-08-23
It is a fun little novella. It is likely better to first read at least the first book in the parasol protectorate to fully appreciate the characters.
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The Late Mrs. Willoughby
- A Novel
- By: Claudia Gray
- Narrated by: Billie Fulford-Brown
- Length: 12 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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The suspenseful sequel to The Murder of Mr. Wickham, which sees Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney reunited, and with another mystery to solve: the dreadful poisoning of the scoundrel Willoughby's new wife.
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Poor Mrs. Willoughby…
- By Katidid on 09-23-23
- The Late Mrs. Willoughby
- A Novel
- By: Claudia Gray
- Narrated by: Billie Fulford-Brown
Such fun!
Reviewed: 09-08-23
I very much enjoyed the second book in Claudia Gray's Austen-Universe. There is no shortage of adaptations of Austen's stories and characters. What is so refreshing about Claudia's stories is that the characters read so very much as if they are exactly the continuation of Austen's original heroes and heroines. I look forward to reading the third book.
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Morgan Is My Name
- Morgan le Fay, Book 1
- By: Sophie Keetch
- Narrated by: Vanessa Kirby
- Length: 11 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Even as a girl Morgan has always been wild, like the seas which batter the cliffs beneath her home, Tintagel Castle. But she has always been safe, too. Then one day her father is called away to a war from which he does not return. In his place comes the High King, Uther Pendragon, with the sorcerer Merlin lurking in his wake. Uther claims Morgan’s mother, the Lady Igraine as his queen.
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Bravo!!
- By Belle Barrell on 10-16-22
- Morgan Is My Name
- Morgan le Fay, Book 1
- By: Sophie Keetch
- Narrated by: Vanessa Kirby
Very enjoyable
Reviewed: 07-09-23
I love the Arthurian legends. This is a fresh take. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was hoping the author had continued Morgan’s story. Eager for more!
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The Queen's Gambit
- By: Walter Tevis
- Narrated by: Amy Landon
- Length: 11 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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Eight-year-old orphan Beth Harmon is quiet, sullen, and by all appearances unremarkable. That is, until she plays her first game of chess. Her senses grow sharper, her thinking clearer, and for the first time in her life she feels herself fully in control. By the age of 16, she's competing for the US Open championship. But as Beth hones her skills on the professional circuit, the stakes get higher, her isolation grows more frightening, and the thought of escape becomes all the more tempting.
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I can't listen to it.
- By Kindle Customer on 10-26-20
- The Queen's Gambit
- By: Walter Tevis
- Narrated by: Amy Landon
Loved it!
Reviewed: 07-01-23
I saw the short series before reading the book. It was such an engrossing story to watch and I found it equally enjoyable to read.
As far as book to series adaptation this one is really excellent!
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