RDDall

Unpleasant listening experience

Reviewed: 12-16-23

The entire audiobook was a non-stop, violent grunting, growling fight fest, that as a listening experience, it was utterly unpleasant and grated on my nerves. That stuff works better as a movie with visuals, but as an audiobook, not so much. SPOILER ALERT: if you haven’t listened to it, stop here and go no further. The backstory to Lorna, while fascinating, and full of potential, building layers and complexity to her character, but the ending was unconvincing and rushed. I mean, there was a build-up revealing a noble and self-sacrificing side to Lorna, but then to kill Jon Wittick, one of the few people that believed in her, after a lame monologue… what the heck? Utterly unconvincing.

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I can’t wait to listen to Book 2!

Reviewed: 06-05-23

I loved this story; carefully woven with complex characters; masterful world building; parallel plots laced with myth, political intrigue, espionage, magic, and even the occasional sardonic humor. The book is intelligently written. I appreciated the strong female characters in this book without making the male characters look weak. I appreciate that any romance was understated, or rather the potential for romance which, although mostly clean, still managed to sizzle (no blubbery teenage novel here, thank goodness). The narrator was excellent, with the various voices performed very well. The story kept me on the edge of my seat, with fate of a few and of a whole country always on the edge of disaster. There was a twist that I didn’t expect in the end which sets up the direction for the next book, which makes me excited to listen to book 2.

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“Udderly” charming!

Reviewed: 05-28-23

I loved this endearing memoir, full of good natured humor throughout. There were so many moments where I laughed heartily out loud. Never a dull moment. Yet there were rral tender moments as well. The narrator , Christopher Timothy, was absolutely brilliant. I compared the sample narration of both this version and that of the more recent recording with a different narrator, but somehow, I preferred Timothy’s voice, whose sample promised the perfect timbre and comedic timing. I was not disappointed. I can see why some call this book a masterpiece of storytelling.

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Even better than the first book!

Reviewed: 05-26-23

I enjoyed this book much more than the first book. Perfect choice of narrator with all the right comedic timing. Narrators can make or break a book!

I appreciated the flashbacks into Scarlett’s backstory, which explained a lot about her actions and life choices, because frankly, I found Scarlett an unlikeable moral sinkhole in the first book. I think that is why I didn’t enjoy the first book as much, being introduced to Scarlett directly following the killing of several assailants, with no remorse. It was an unsettling beginning and with a cavalier approach to theft and further killings throughout the book, it left me uncertain about wanting to follow this series. It’s definitely not a story for younger audiences (the cover misleads one to think it is). I couldn’t understand why Stroud chose to write the protagonists this way and left her character unfleshed out until the second book, but I sort of get it; the first book was about the contrast between Scarlett and Albert. So I persevered, being a loyal Stroud fan.

Therefore I was gratified that the second book came through. Book 2 was a wild ride with more of Jonathan Stroud’s signature humor (of which I could never tire) and complex world building as he peels away the onion of Scarlett’s unresolved past and the discovery of new powers for Albert, and the a new revelation and a mystery for a 3rd book. No spoilers. I can’t wait for book 3!

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Idiotic protagonist

Reviewed: 03-13-23

Really, where do I begin? I was dumbfounded that a female author would write such an idiotic female protagonist that I was seriously offended as a female. I wonder how her editor failed to reign the author’s long, drawn-out and needlessly repetitious monologues of an sappy and insecure teenage girl, most of which said the same thing over and over, and could have easily been cut out of the book. Why does the author have to over explain Eden’s feelings all the time? It just insulted my intelligence as a reader. Seriously, most of the insipid melodrama could have been edited out of the book, not to mention all the ridiculous cliché scenes of a girl drooling over a shirtless boy or similar moments. Puleez! 🙄🙄🙄 Cut all that out and the story could have been much improved.

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Entertaining

Reviewed: 01-10-23

I found the story enjoyable, with its blend of quirky, likeable and snarky characters and the sassy quips throughout. I could have done without the sex scene however. The female narration was good. Got the snark down. The story was definitely more comedy than horror, which for me is good, not being a fan of hardcore horror. Nevertheless, it’s not a bad ghost story. I’d listen to book 2 when it comes out.

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Excellent performance! Loved the twists and turns.

Reviewed: 01-08-23

I don’t understand the bad reviews about the audio. The performances were excellent and I was completely sucked into the story because of the performance. It’s a terrific to have Dominic Monaghan and Biily Boyd (Merry and Pippin) reunited in this incredible cast, only now both playing much more serious roles. I loved this alternate take on the Moriarty/Sherlock Holmes rivalry; a sympathetic Moriarty and a diabolical Holmes was wholly new and refreshing. The intrigue and the pacing kept me on the edge of my seat. And the script and story were very clever. This interpretation fit into the genre perfectly despite turning the classic Sherlock Holmes story on its head. Bravo to the performance. I was riveted to the end.

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Disappointed

Reviewed: 04-10-20

I was oppressed by the whole Rita/Louisa dynamic, which got more exhausting and irritating, frankly. Tiresome. There was no resolution to their dynamic. Louisa never redeemed her character, so her arc just escalated, only getting more and more trollish. Really?... turn her into the wicked witch in the end? Locking in Rita, as if she were in Hansel and Gretel? Just weird. Stuck out like a sore thumb, as it was unrealistic. Gave me a headache. The first two books were so much better.

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1 person found this helpful

One of the most entertaining books ever!

Reviewed: 03-10-20

Loved the refreshing writing style, wit, and performance of this book/narration!! Best book I've read all year!

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Two worlds of fandom collide! Brilliant!

Reviewed: 12-01-18

Who’d have ever thought the screenplay could be retold this way? And true to both Star Wars and Shakespearean iambic pentameter! Brilliant! The asides and soliloquies were the best; they even gave the characters and story more depth. Excellent performances!

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