Mystic Madness

A Romance story on PTSD and Panic Attack

Reviewed: 03-02-24

Kathrine has PTSD, agoraphobia, and all sorts of mental health challenges following a collective traumatic event. She meets Nico who helps her deal with the challenges she is facing. At first, he was cynical, suspicious, and reserved.

It's a cute book. It's nice that such a book exists. I probably would have enjoyed it more in my 30s. As someone who is dealing with anxiety, depression, and Panic attacks, I appreciate such a book that highlights some of the struggles we go through. i truly hope it brings comfort to many women who are facing similar issues.
I have to admit that a part of me felt sad. Kathrine was lucky but how many women get that lucky and find that kind of support?

In many other reviews, Nico has gotten a lot of heat for not being supportive enough he is seen as a bully, which is unfair to him because the reality is he doesn't know how to help family members who are suffering from mental health challenges. If he had all the answers and knew exactly what do to or say, it would have been too perfect.

Nico has his share of baggage and I was a bit disappointed that he didn't get some recognition in regards to his emotional struggles. We were told about his life prior in order to understand why he was so harsh with Kathrine at first. His grief and insecurities were handled in a superficial way.

I tend to read dark romance books but I like this one. in a way I felt it was a bit long though and slow (and repetitive) I felt like DNFing several times but i made it through. the book had several laughs and a few eye rolls .( hey am cynical and a bit bitter :p) . For sure i would recommend the book to young women with anxiety who like to read

Narraters: Aletha Gorge was ok. She was great when reading Kathrine's part but I wasn't impressed when she voiced Nico's part or any of the other characters. It doesn't help that she partnered up with Joe Arden. the guy can narrate the dictionary and make it entertaining and hot. he is a five-star narrator.
another "problematic" yet interesting issue with the narration is that each of the narrators gave Nico a different voice so to speak. Nico sounded warm and caring when Joe voiced him. Otherwise, he sounded aloof and disconnected,.
still, listening to the book was fun and recommended.

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Familiar places and new adventures

Reviewed: 10-07-23

We are back in the 7 circles and beyond for a new adventure . This time it’s with a new prince and a new protagonist.
Kerri Maniscalco’s style is the same . The story is lightheaded but with many twists and turns . Many were predictable but it was still very fun .
I laughed and giggled a lot while listening . I had earplugs on, which is a great idea since it’s 🌶️🌶️🌶️, so I wonder if people thought I might be mad for suddenly bursting out with laughter for no apprent reason to them.

In a way this book could be stand alone as it’s not really built on the former books . However , having read the trilogy and now this gave me a warm feeling like am checking on old friends . It was nice to hear how Amelia and Wrath were doing after their coronation. We visited some familiar places and ventured into new territories . We got to spend some time with LUST 😝😝😝 and SLOTH. ( they might be my two favorite brothers)

We definitely need more stories that are set in the 7 circles and I have a feeling we will be getting that in the near future.

The narrators are phenomenal !! Even though we are used to Marisa Calin since she narrated the Kingdom of the Wicked yet she manages to sound a bit different when voicing Camelia. Envy sounded the same .
Shane East was also wonderful although sometimes it was confusing when there was a conversation between two men . Still ! It was wonderful having him narrate Envy’s POV .

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Too slow and modern . Stopped listening

Reviewed: 09-12-23

I really wanted to like the book and I am happy a lot of people found something they enjoy and inspires them. I am just not one of them . Actually, I am not sure how it got so many 5 stars . Maybe I am just not the target audience and This is why I am writing a review . To give a different opinion .

Before we dive into this review . A little about me : am an Arab female who lives in the desert so you can imagine that might like the setting of the book . The book had a lot of potential and I loved the premise of book but was ruined by several issues :

It’s very slow !! Thought some reviewers said it picks up later .

It’s Confusing ! Whose who and what is what ? My brain stopped following after a while .

The modern way of talking. I don’t know if this could be blamed on the performer or that is how the characters are supposed to sound in the book as per the author . I kept expecting one of the characters to go all valley girl . Thankfully she didn’t .

A lot of F Bombe which I don’t mind so much expect that it just didn’t go well with the image I had of the setting of the book .
The last two points ruined the atmosphere for me big time .

Perhaps I had different expectations when I read that this book is somewhat based on Arab and African mythology and the author is of African origin but lives in Britain . This begs the question of why it’s tagged as African American and why are all characters speaking American English .

I stopped a few chapters into the book and wanted to return but found I couldn’t so I decided to give it a try or three . By hour 6 I couldn’t anymore even if Amazon refuses to take it back . Am moving to another book .

All the best to the author and narrator

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1 person found this helpful

One of the very few books i would give a 5 star .

Reviewed: 09-02-23

My mom recommended this book even though she was only on chapter 3. I couldn't stop listening. As an Arab/ Muslim with ties to the US, I could relate to the stories. I know these people. I know their stories. and now the book is over and I am left empty! I need to discuss the book with someone !!! anyone! My mom is still reading the book. I am also feeling a bit sad. I thought I knew the plot but I was wrong. Spoiler: The novel does end with some heavy emotions. I almost regret listening to the book rather than read it but we can't escape reality.

Amira and Lina are first-generation Egyptian-American twins who live in NY with their brother and Egyptian parents. The novel takes place during the month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast and the summer after they graduate from High School. Throughout the book, they laugh, they cry. they experience life as women. Amira also experiences the duality of being Female and Muslim in the US. It was a gentle book about family love and support among siblings and a sad reality about being a Muslim man in the US today.

I would love to check on Amira and her family in a few years and see how life has been treating them.

The narrator is AMAZING! The emotions she put into the words is just incredible. One of the best I have heard. However, I deducted a star (which was VERY difficult to do ) because I couldn't stand how she pronounced Arabic words. it was pronounced with an American accent. I was even surprised to find out she is Egyptian-American so I imagine she can pronounce the words correctly but perhaps it was done intentionally. but why? From my experience, even Arab - Americans who have some command of the language know how to pronounce words correctly. Also, sometimes the Arabs sounded more Latino than Arab. But don't let this discourage you, Arab listener. Suehyla's voice is haunting.

All the best to Aisha Abdel Gawad and may she write more and more books about the lives of Arab / Muslim-American

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1 person found this helpful

It was good but not as good as The Witch's Heart

Reviewed: 08-14-23

I was excited to get the book because I LOVED The Witch's Heart. Overall, I was a bit disappointed in the book. It started great but the plot and dialog became predictable and a bit modern. Unfortunately, I didn't keep a note to give a few examples.
I would still recommend the book to those who like history and fantasy as an intro to the history of Norway especially in the 900s. The Witch is Gunnhild who went down in history as The Mother of Kings. She and her friend, the Weaver, separated when they were 12 and met again 12 years later. The book mainly covers a year of the lives of the characters.
One thing that annoyed me was that although the dialog was a bit modern, how LGBTQ+ was covered was very vague, (trying to be spoiler free) It wasn't until the end, during the author's note that I got confirmation needed about one of the characters in the book. At this point, my mind went back to the story and reflected on how little we know about the character. If the author is going to introduce a member of the trans community, especially in a historic context, then she could have dived in or just not introduced that character.

At the beginning of the story, I struggled to follow and understand what was going on, mainly whose who. soon though i was able to catch up.

The narrator is half Polish and half Norwegen. This was appreciated because, in many audiobooks, The names of Norse and Germanic Gods and Goddesses are Americanized. For example, Thor's most accurate pronunciation is "T-hor, not "Th-or". I am not Scandinavian, but half German and I have watched several youtube videos on the gods and goddesses. Yndis's pronunciation is very close if not the same as heard on the videos.
there were times when I found her annoying, like when speaking in a voice of a child, but this is a problem in most books.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and the narrator but there was for improvement. I would still look forward to a third book by the author.

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1 person found this helpful

Horrible narration

Reviewed: 01-13-23

I really wanted to like this and to finish it but I just couldn’t continue to listening the narrator.

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Might give it a second go when am in a cheerful mood

Reviewed: 11-16-22

I found this book by following narrated by Marisa Calin . Such an incredible talent . Now for the book : so creative how the author mixes a number of fairytales together . This part I also find enjoyable. But overall. I found the book too long and to be honest, I didn’t finish it yet as am debating whether or not I should force myself to finish it . HOWEVER, I am willing to believe that I am not in the right mood for such a book and might give it a second go later on . It is a cheerful book with no twists and turns or major dark characters. Maybe am too old for such books .. but Calin’s performance is everything ! It might be the main reason why I was still trying to listen to the book

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3 people found this helpful

Unfortunately, am disappointed

Reviewed: 10-29-22

Like many other readers, I was looking forward to the this four book which is all about Annette. We tolerated delay after delay and got what felt like an incomplete, short and rushed novel . It also felt like the author just wanted to make make the book seem longer but without any real content. After waiting for sooo long . I could have done without the cliffhanger
Still, fans of 1-3 will read / listen this for sure . I also enjoyed the narrator in the previous book. The two BFFs sounds soo much alike that I couldn’t figure who is saying what . Hope book 5 comes out very soon. Good luck to the team behind the book 5

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3 people found this helpful

An end of a Trilogy , mixed feelings

Reviewed: 09-29-22

This is the third & final book in the series so you already know what the book is about. it does answer questions readers and listeners had from books 1 &2. We want answers so regardless of the review, you will pick up the book anyway :p
The sex scenes were A LOT more so do bear this in mind if you are not a fan of such books or if you don't use headsets & there are kids or people running around . Personally, I didn't mind it. It was entertaining at first but then it got a bit boring but maybe because I was eagerly trying to know the story behind the curse. There are a lot of twists and events. some information was redundant and too detailed while others were vague. Too many perhaps? "blood & bones" were overly used. Gretchen, stop trying to make 'blood and bones ' happen, it's NOT going to happen!
I will probably relisten to the books and maybe then my review will change.

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What a ride !!!

Reviewed: 09-17-22

My life feels empty now ! I was so intrigued by the first few minutes of book one that I couldn’t rest until I finished 1&2 . I lost a lot of sleep to finish the two books and I don’t regret it .
Yes, the story line is somewhat predictable but at the same time it was exciting and shocking. . It’s one of these books that make you look at the 7 sins and the Devil in a whole new way .
The performance was superb but I do wonder if the narrator added helped add major magic to the story. Had it been another narrators, the books wouldn’t be so good .
A lot of people complained about Emilia .I found her annoying until I realized this is part of her personality which serves a purpose in the story .

Perhaps my biggest issue is that the book is labeled for young Adults 14-18 . I’d feel very uncomfortable if I a child ( yes, that age group is still children in my eyes) were reading it .
I didn’t mind the sex scenes at all . It was quite entertaining and to a certain extent also served a purpose . . And no , I didn’t care for fifty of shades of gray at all :p
I am incredibly lucky that Book III is write around the corner . Can’t wait

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