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Children of the Yew

By: Tony Torzillo
Narrated by: Skyler Morgan
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Publisher's summary

When Wesley O’Keefe first realized he didn’t age, he could’ve been hung as a witch. Now, he’s eager to be studied by a microbiologist looking for a cure to cancer. All Wesley wants is to share his miracle with the world. In the year 2042, technology has made it almost impossible for him to assume new identities, and after 300 years, he’s tired of watching loved ones wither up and die.

Yet, opening that Pandora’s Box does not come without consequences. Powerful people will do whatever they can to hoard this miracle for themselves—no matter whom they have to step on, ruin, or kill. From bioterrorism to neural scans and artificial intelligence, they will use whatever means are available to them to meet their end. Wesley’s past will catch up to him in ways he could have never imagined, and he will find that he has more to lose than he ever knew.

When the superstitious past meets the technologically progressive future, ancient grudges can be catastrophic, and agelessness can spread like a virus.

©2022 Tony Torzillo (P)2023 Tony Torzillo

What listeners say about Children of the Yew

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Listener received this title free

pretty good.

enjoyed the story, and the narrator. Some slow parts but other than that a very enjoyable listen.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Unique Storyline

This was an unique storyline about people who do not age with no understanding of why. This book involves Irish mythology of ancient beings. This lengthy book involves this secret mystery of scientists searching for explanations and those trying to cover up the findings. Skyler Morgan was the narrator who did a great job.

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Different and very Entertaining

I had never read, or listen to anything by this author, but the narrator is one that I listen to a lot. So when I saw this book and read the blurb, I decided to download it and listen.

I am so glad I did. This story is different to any story I’d come across before.

It’s set in the future at a time when everyone is given a quarterly bundle shot, this shot is designed so that nobody gets the flu or any other similar viruses. Unfortunately, an evil force has included a deadly virus into the bundle shots given to more than half humanity.

To find out why this was done, who did it, and if or how it can be stopped you will need to listen to this different and entertaining story for yourself. What I will say, is that I was captivated and enthralled by this story from start to finish.

The narration, by Skyler Morgan, is excellent, and certainly added to my enjoyment of this story.

My review was written voluntarily after listening to this book.

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Entertaining, engaging and engrossing!

Wesley O’Keefe is used to cutting his losses and running, but with technology advancing the way it has, that is no longer possible. It’s time to face his demons and find out WHY he’s still alive when everyone he’s ever held dear ages and dies. The more he learns, the clearer it becomes that there are people out there with an extremely nefarious agenda, determined to stop him by any means necessary! Fast paced, futuristic, and superbly narrated, this engrossing and well written story held me, consumed me, and delighted me from beginning to end! I loved that science was so well explained, and done so in a highly effective and entertaining manner! This made this scary good plot not only easy to understand, but easy to follow, and truly turned this listen into a throughly engrossing and entertaining experience! Five fantastic stars! I loved it!

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Enjoyed the twists and turns

I’m a big fan of DNA manipulation and such in books. More so of the Star Gate franchise IYKYK. So the story was a pleasant surprise. Bit of a slow start but a great pallet cleanser after reading different genres a chance.

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Loving this timely and entertaining read!

I’ve been listening Children of the Yew and am thoroughly enjoying the longevity storyline and Pacific Northwest setting!

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Insightful Fiction

Today’s dreams are much closer than tomorrow’s reality. By combining a firm grasp of technology and aging research with creativity, Torzillo delivers a fascinating look into the promising future for a small subset of our population. Promising … or perhaps not! Nonetheless, it’s well wit you time to read (or listen) to find out.

Since I listened via Audible, I would be remiss not to mention the fine performance of the narrator, Skyler Morgan.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

Intriguing longevity story, promising narrator

I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review, and it presents an intriguing blend of science fiction and thriller, centered around the fascinating concept of longevity, genetics, and the future. The author skillfully incorporates believable scientific elements, making complex topics accessible to both casual listeners and those with a background in biology. This grounding in real science adds credibility to the futuristic concepts explored in the book.

The inclusion of Irish folklore and Egyptian history adds a layer of mystique to the narrative, though while I am a fan of both, it occasionally feels more like a forced addition than an organic part of the story. These elements seem more like backstory fillers rather than components that truly enrich the narrative.

Skyler Morgan (the narrator) deserves praise for his performance, particularly in how he handles the mix of scientific jargon and emotional scenes. His clear delivery and ability to bring the diverse cast of characters to life significantly enhance the listening experience, especially given the story’s complexity.

However, the fast pace, though exciting, sometimes made it difficult to follow. I occasionally found myself needing to "rewind" to catch missed details. Additionally, I found it a bit confusing how the protagonists conveniently had access to expensive, university-grade equipment at different locations when needed (but I might have missed the explanation amidst the rapid progression of events).

Despite these challenges, the audiobook remains an engaging listen overall. The core blend of futuristic technology, bioethics, and the human desire for longevity creates a compelling narrative that kept me invested. In the end, this audiobook offers an entertaining and thought-provoking experience.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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Free Review Copy

This is a confusing book to rate. While the idea was interesting, the plotting was weird, the characters were fairly unbelievable, and the writing was pretty amateur. I do think this author has potential, but he could have used a good editor.

My thoughts about the narrator are similar--he has a great voice and some serious potential, but the performance could have used some fine-tuning around accents and pronunciation consistency.

Many thanks to the narrator for the free review copy in exchange for an honest review.

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