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Eric G.

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Something to think about

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 03-25-25

First Clarke book I’ve taken up and I love it. I don’t often read literature written in timeframe/era the author wrote because of how some authors of those times described or pictured people of certain ethnicity or color. Just my thing. It was super minimal and did not make it unpleasant like some authors (e.g. HP Lovecraft).

However, this story, while far fetched even for sci-fi, made me think about existence, a world without religion, point of a utopia or life in general, loneliness or who is at the end of all things? Are we but children in the eyes of more intelligent beings? Does that intelligence really give you any sovereignty? Who oversees the overseers? If you like think about concepts as opposed to having a character driven story, this for you. The characters the book did focus on in parts one and two (the time jumps) aren’t really what I consider main characters as much as they are tools used to help drive the concepts. Overall I like it. I’ll try another Clarke book eventually. The ending to this was satisfying.

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One of the Best Fantasies Going Now

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 10-20-24

This is not a perfectly told story by any stretch of the imagination. It wanders, no pun intended, unabashedly through its plot with no indication there is a definitively set main narrative. I want to say the linking thread here is the Earthlings mystery. Especially after this book but I’m not sure. It could just be all about Erin. It even rarely stays on track title wise, with very small portions of each story pending less time on the title subject than the rest of the plots in the books.

However through all the meandering, it is the most engaging, thought provoking, charming, exciting and edge your seat thrill ride. Even through the boring political intrigue. It never stays stale on one thing. When you think it was spending too much time on the election it pivots and same with other plot threads. It links them all together. Somehow this coming together. Everyone seems to be linked to an overall “thing”. What that thing is, I have no clue, but the narrator and the author make taking the journey to get there worth it. Love this getaway runaway story.

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Fantastic Characters, and Satisfying End

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 09-15-24

I’ll let the title just be my review. As it says the author did a great job fleshing out each character and their agency throughout the book and the ending leaves you fulfilled but ready for what comes next.

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Refreshing!

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 06-20-24

Spoilers: I’ll keep this short, but it is a spoilery opinion. You’ve been warned lol. I’m late to listen to this story however it was so refreshing to see time travel done differently. The way it’s mixed with alternate realities/dimensions is just new for me. I love time travel but most of what I’ve read is straight time travel. Pulling the candidates from time and alternate realities is just awesome. A good old fashioned mystery to boot. Love it!

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Love the story, not the narration

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 04-21-24

The story was great for me as I said but Whil Wheaton is not really good a reading stories. I love his enthusiasm. A little too much sometimes but he just has one note and it’s difficult to listen to

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Great series! Overly Descriptive :(

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 02-25-24

I love this series. Lots a drama. Lots of action. No one is safe from death. Life just isn’t fair in this broken down version of the US. I like how stupid people get rewarded for their actions. Lee even has a saying for it although can’t quote exactly. Similar to play stupid games, get stupid prizes. Like any zombie apocalypse novel there are layered threats.

The one thing I don’t like though….description. I love thoroughly fleshed out world but when it takes you several paragraphs to get to the zombie eating, murder, or anything it just drives me nuts. I’m patient but this book and this series in general stretches the boundaries of that patience to the point I had to fast forward just to get to the part where someone was killed or they got away. It’s like experiencing the slow scrambling away in horror movies but in written form. Just stop describing the scene and get on with it. Other than that this book is great.

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Hauntingly Beautiful and Sad Story

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 02-11-24

I think it wasn’t the best thing I’ve read, but the thing about this story in my opinion, and not so much the awful and creepy antagonistic, but the message behind it. To have something that defines you and have that taken away. Do you completely self destruct or fight to redefine yourself and hopefully build something different? Maybe just learn to live life with the new you after the loss. How do you deal with that loss. I’d be interested to hear another story to see how all the main characters got along after this.

Plus there are a lot of threads that need to be tied off.

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Refreshing and free spirited!

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 01-20-24

I don’t mind young adult books. This was very refreshing to listen to. Never got tired of the narrator and the characters were very interesting and memorable. I’d love to see them continue in the sequel series. Assuming it’s a series.

The delvers were meh. I was kind of not convinced about their motivation. I guess if I put it up against real life loss I can understand. Especially from a personal perspective but the fact that they couldn’t let it go despite some very convincing arguments to the contrary just didn’t sit as realistic to me. When they let go and stopped account like babies I was able to release my eye roll. Chet I liked. Overall great series.

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Engaging story

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 11-05-23

I can safely say that this series will keep you entertained and engaged. I loved the idea of Armageddon spanning the multiverse and bleed was terrifying. The characters were mostly likable. It was the side characters I liked the best.

I think I missed something or it was a tiny plot hole. Wasn’t the guardian Seven with them in the tower towards the end? It just completely fell out of the story at the end. Probably me. A Calindor and Timtar story wouldn’t go unwanted.

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Good for an author narration

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 11-03-23

Normally one would think in my experience that authors shouldn’t read their own books but Luke Smitherd does a great job. Great cadence. Just enough softness in his voice to make female voices not so grating like some seasoned narrators do. Not as good as Gaiman though.

As for the story. Standard horror fair. A little Hitchcocky to me. Overall suspenseful and creepy.

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