Audible Book Review: Psycho Inside Me by Bonnie R. Paulson

This is a dark but interesting listen.

Psycho Inside Me
By: Bonnie R. Paulson
Narrated by: Jenifer Krist

Length: 5 hrs and 23 mins
Release date: 03-04-14
Publisher: Bonnie R Paulson
Genre: Dark Fiction, Horror, Psychological, Teen and Young Adult
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
#Fraterfest

Publisher's Summary
***Mature YA listeners recommended - sexual content, violence, language***
I killed my first victim at thirteen years old - my age, not his. He was going to rape me, him and a couple of his friends. And so, I killed him. And then.... I killed again. And again.
At seventeen, I'm killing four to six times a year - maybe more. Don't stress out. I only go after the pedophiles and rapists. There are more out there than I could cover in a lifetime.
Saying I did this on my own would be selfish. Enforcing justice holds a glory all its own. But now, my lifelong friend and backup, Deegan, has been arrested. I have to decide if I want to give myself up and take his place or leave him with all the damning evidence. I don't want to stop killing. But if I let him take the fall, I can't kill anymore. And I need to keep doing that.
But the worst part of it all? I love him.
Cover artist - Ashley Byland of Redbird Designs
©2013 Bonnie R. Paulson (P)2014 Bonnie R. Paulson

Review:
Cassie was almost raped by a trio of bullies when she was only thirteen. Her childhood friend, Deegan, pulled the boy off of her but in the tussle Cassie accidentally killed the teen boy. Rather than report the event, Deegan helped Cassie dispose of the body and get away before the boys two friends returned to the scene.

On the anniversary of the first killing Cassie finds herself compelled to kill again. She specifically targets another sexual predator and Deegan arrives just in time to help her complete the killing and coverup. This pattern continues and grows. Deegan tries to convince Cassie to stop but she is intent on saving other innocent victims from men she has been able to identify as rapists and pedophiles.

It is surprising that the pair isn’t caught but finally they are betrayed, and Deegan is taken into custody. Cassie is desperate for a way to get him out of jail even if it means she will be arrested. After all she is still a minor when he might be tried as an adult.

This is a dark, macabre read/listen. It is told from Cassie’s viewpoint and the listener is tempted to feel sympathy for her while also being horrified and repulsed. The killings are not fully planned and carried out which seems fitting for the youth of the characters. The tentative and twisted friendship to romance is an interesting element in the story. I attribute a lot to the author’s writing skill to keep this in the edge of bizarre and interesting rather than totally depraved. Still, it is certainly dark, not for the squeamish reader/listener and not actions to be emulated! This is listed under "Children's Audiobooks" at Audible which I think is totally inappropriate. Perhatps YA, teen or NA but physological horror is more accurate. I do recommend it to fans of horror or those, like me, who read monsters and horror for the month of October.

Audio Notes: Jenifer Krist did a fine job with the narration. She adequately provided different voices for the characters, but more importantly for this work, she conveys the twisted, teen mind which I think Ms. Paulson intended.

Source: 4/10/2020 Author Codes. This qualifies for 2020Audiobook and Author review goals and #Fraterfest.

Audible Book Review: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald

This is a fun, ironic sci fi, horror(?), short listen.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
By: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Narrated by: Scott Brick

Published March 16th 2007
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Genre: Classic, Horror, Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
F. Scott Fitzgerald makes antebellum Baltimore his setting for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a fantastical tale with some Poe-like overtones about a baby born at age 70 who then lives life in reverse, his hair turning "in the dozen years of his life from white to iron-gray, the network of wrinkles on his face becoming less pronounced". What ramifications that creates for Benjamin's relationship with his father first and then later with his wife and his own son makes for some fantastical situations.
Public Domain (P) 2007 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Benjamin Button was born as a fully grown 70-year-old man. Neither the doctors nor his parents could understand this bizarre event. Initially the public found this man-child abhorrent but soon the scandal faded. Benjamin himself didn’t understand why his parents wanted him to play with a rattle or why they placed him in a school setting to play with paper and paste.

As the years go by, Benjamin gets younger. When he was age 18 (but appeared in his 50s), he entered military service and became a successful leader. He continued to grow younger and began to mix more comfortably with the younger, social community. Although still young in age, Benjamin met a beautiful young woman who viewed him as an interesting, debonair older man. Theirs was a lovely romance except that she grew older as he continued to grow younger … and younger.

This is an old classic first published in 1922 and was made into a movie in 2008. I don’t recall that I ever read this years ago nor saw the movie although I was familiar with the theme. I am surprised that it is listed as ‘romance’ as to me that was a minimal aspect. Overall this struck me as a bizarre and almost horrific tale. I viewed it as sci fi and horror mix and recommend this to readers of those genres, rather than romance.

Audio Notes: Scott Brick is a skilled narrator and did a good job with the story and the emotions. The story is engaging, and the audio made it an easy read/listen.

Source: 2009 I think this was free at Audible. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Chase Darkness With Me by Billy Jensen

This was an interesting presentation of a determined journalist helping to find murderers and missing people.

Chase Darkness with Me
How One True Crime Writer Started Solving Murders
By: Billy Jensen, Karen Kilgariff - foreword
Narrated by: Karen Kilgariff, Billy Jensen

Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins
Release date: 04-11-19
Publisher: Audible Originals
Genre: Forensic Science, Journalist Biography
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Have you ever wanted to solve a murder? Gather the clues the police overlooked. Put together the pieces. Identify the suspect.
Journalist Billy Jensen spent 15 years investigating unsolved murders, fighting for the families of victims. Every story he wrote had one thing in common - it didn’t have an ending. The killer was still out there.
But after the sudden death of a friend, crime writer Michelle McNamara, Billy became fed up. Following a dark night, he came up with a plan. A plan to investigate past the point when the cops have given up. A plan to solve the murders himself.
In Chase Darkness with Me, you’ll ride shotgun as Billy identifies the Halloween Mask Murderer, finds a missing girl in the California Redwoods, and investigates the only other murder in New York City on 9/11. You’ll hear intimate details of the hunts for two of the most terrifying serial killers in history: his friend Michelle’s pursuit of the Golden State Killer which is chronicled in I’ll Be Gone In The Dark which Billy helped finish after Michelle’s passing, and his own quest to find the murderer of the Allenstown 4 family.
And Billy gives you the tools - and the rules - to help solve murders yourself.
Gripping, complex, unforgettable, Chase Darkness with Me is an examination of the evil forces that walk among us, illustrating a novel way to catch those killers, and a true crime narrative unlike any you’ve listened to before.
With a foreword by Karen Kilgariff of My Favorite Murder.
©2019 Billy Jensen (P)2019 Audible Originals, LLC.

Review:
Billy Jensen grew up under a father who read the newspapers and shared the news with his young son. He always talked about the big crimes and when criminals were caught. Billy determined to become a journalist and, after being assigned to report on a crime story, then he became intent on helping to find the missing victims and the killers on the loose.

Billy shares several cases of murders caught on tape where the killer walked away but the efforts of private citizens ultimately helped to capture the murderers. He also contributed to finding victims who were unidentified but identified years later after dogged determination with the help of DNA, genetic research and other online tools. Billy brought relief to family members who needed closure on their losses.

In addition to telling the reader/listener some harrowing tales of true evil (the stuff horror books could be made of), Billy shares how citizens can help law enforcement without interfering with the official investigations.

The work is presented with vivid, detailed descriptions as well as emotional frustrations, shared energy and angst. I don’t rush out for true crime but I found this engaging. The combination of technical detail and personal involvement made this interesting to listen to. I recommend this to fans of true crime, and even horror fans.

Audio Notes: Billy Jensen and Karen Kilgariff did a good job on the narration. They shared their true concerns and frustrations with voices that kept the matter interesting.

Source: 11/5/2019 Audible Daily Deal $2.95. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.

Audio Book Review: The Haunted Forest Tour by James A. Moore and Jeff Strand

This wasn't as fun as it looked. Definitely horror trick, not treat.
The Haunted Forest Tour
Written By: James A. Moore, Jeff Strand
Narrated By: Joe Hempel

Date: August 2018
Duration: 8 hours 56 minutes
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Horror
My Rating: 3.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.0; Narration 3.5.

Summary:
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Haunted Forest Tour! Sit back and enjoy a smooth ride in air-conditioned comfort as your heavily armored tram takes you through nature's most astonishing creation. The forest is packed to capacity with dangerous and terrifying creatures of all shapes, sizes, and hunger levels, and you'll get to observe these wonders in complete safety.
Howl with a werewolf! Gaze into the glowing eyes of a giant spider! Look right through a spooky ghost! See horrific monsters you couldn't even imagine, only inches away from you! Things with fangs, things with claws, things with dripping red jaws-you'll see them all!
Not thrilling enough? Well, it's Halloween, and so we're offering a very special tour through the Haunted Forest. The new route goes deeper into the woods than any civilians have ventured before, and you're guaranteed to get a good scare! Rest assured that every possible security precaution has been taken. The Haunted Forest Tour has a 100% safety record, and technical difficulties are unheard of. You will be in no danger whatsoever.
We promise.

Review:
A few years ago a strange deadly forest popped up out of nowhere devastating a small community in New Mexico. After the first days of death and terror the growth had stopped and has seemed to be contained. The owner of the land was able to send teams into the forest to build a state of the art, totally safe tour attraction. Since the initial spread, there have been no deaths, except for couple of accidents.

A select group of tourists, young and old, have gathered for a special Halloween, Haunted Forest Tour. The new Halloween route is special as it goes deeper into the forest and the guests are expecting to see all types of strange monsters. Most are excited about the adventure and everyone expects the ride to be a bit scary but fun and safe. And for half the trip all is good. Then the first tram bus stalls on the track. The monsters creep closer until the tour guide decides it might be a good idea to pass out the handful of weapons they have stowed on board…just in case.

The story begins with trauma and then moves to a theme similar to Jurassic Park. There is little development although the author presents a range of characters with different reasons and enthusiasm levels for the special tour. There is a wide assortment of monsters but after a while as they just kept coming, the descriptions became less interesting to me. I cared about some of the struggling characters but at about three quarters of the story I had just about had enough. I stuck it out, so I did learn the catalyst that brought the monsters out and a means of ending the terror was revealed. Even that was gruesome, but it was a relief that it was over.

I had hoped this would be fun but there were only a few flashes of fun that came through the horror and carnage. Also, I didn’t care for some male sexual fantasizing that got to be icky. This might be a good read for true horror fans but not for those looking for a light, monster story.

Audio Notes: Joe Hempel does a good job with the narration. There was some variety in the voices and I didn’t find confusion among the characters. The audio version helped me get to the end.

Source: 10/2020 Audiobooks.com Mystery Audiobook Club. This qualifies for 2020Audiobook goal.

Audio Book Review: The Skeletons of Scarborough House by Kitty French

I liked this easy, fun, ghostly story.

The Skeletons of Scarborough House:
(The Chapelwick Mysteries #1)
Written By: Kitty French
Narrated By: Cat Gould

Date: February 2018
Duration: 9 hours 28 minutes
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Genres: Cozy Mystery, Ghosts, Mystery
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Summary:
Welcome to Chapelwick, a leafy English town in the hills of Shropshire, where chocolate fudge cake comes served with a side of murder.
Scarborough House is haunted, and it's not doing much for Donovan Scarborough's investment portfolio. No one wants to buy a place with levitating crockery, or (the wrong kind of) rhythmic pounding throughout the night.
Luckily, Melody 'I-See-Dead-People' Bittersweet has just launched her own ghostbusting agency with best friend Marina, geeky, keen Arthur, and a one-eared pug called Lestat. They're quick to take the case, even if it has already sort of (definitely) been given to Leo Dark, Melody's rakish, despicable ex.
Melody soon discovers the resident phantoms are three brothers, one who was murdered at twenty, while the others lived to old age. But did the family exile the right person, or did the true killer get away with it?
Donovan Scarborough doesn't care who solves the case. Whoever gets rid of the ghosts gets paid.
Can Melody and her new crew untangle the mystery, and bring the brothers peace, before Leo? Or will his distracting sexiness and Melody's bonkers family cause the agency to fall at its first hurdle?

Review:
Melody is a daughter in a family with the unique ability to communicate with ghosts. Upon reaching the age of thirty, Melody has decided to break away from her mother and grandmother to set up her own “ghost busting” business. She is joined by her very supportive best friend and, on a part time basis, her family’s wizard of an executive assistant. Before the team even gets it’s first case, Melody is confronted by a ghost with a special request. He is devastated that he has to leave behind his socially ill adjusted son. He manages to convince Melody to interview his son and thus Melody ends up with a gentle giant on her team.

The first case the team sort of lands is a local haunted house, the Scarborough House. Melody soon learns that there are three ghost brothers who died at different ages who are tied up due to a family murder. Melody has to compete with the other ghost hunter in town who just happens to be her ex-boyfriend. Leo. Meanwhile Melody is trying to resist her draw to the local journalist, Fletcher, who has nothing but disdain for her skills and with whom she shares an antagonistic rapport.

I actually enjoy stories with characters who can see and talk to ghosts. The three brothers in the home are presented with distinct and interesting characters. Here the ghosthunters must solve the century old murder, with little forensic evidence, in order to send the ghosts off to their ultimate places of rest… or not.

I enjoyed how Melody and her team grew in their investigative skills and confidence. The romantic conflicts added additional tension. I will add the next book to my wish list as a future listen. I recommend this as a fun read for ghost and mystery fans.

Audio Notes: Cat Gould did a pitch perfect voice narration. Her accents capture the characters from tentative Melody to arrogant Leo to the ghostly brothers. The narration added to my enjoyment of the book.

Source: 10/2020 Audiobooks.com Mystery Book Club. This qualifies for 2020Audiobook goal.

Audible Book Review: The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt

This helps me to see and understand other views.

The Righteous Mind
Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion
By: Jonathan Haidt
Narrated by: Jonathan Haidt

Length: 11 hrs and 1 min
Release date: 07-23-12
Publisher: Gildan Media, LLC
Genre: Nonfiction, Psychology
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.75; Narration 4.75.

Publisher's Summary
Why can’t our political leaders work together as threats loom and problems mount? Why do people so readily assume the worst about the motives of their fellow citizens?
In The Righteous Mind, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt explores the origins of our divisions and points the way forward to mutual understanding. His starting point is moral intuition - the nearly instantaneous perceptions we all have about other people and the things they do. These intuitions feel like self-evident truths, making us righteously certain that those who see things differently are wrong.
Haidt shows us how these intuitions differ across cultures, including the cultures of the political left and right. He blends his own research findings with those of anthropologists, historians, and other psychologists to draw a map of the moral domain, and he explains why conservatives can navigate that map more skillfully than can liberals. He then examines the origins of morality, overturning the view that evolution made us fundamentally selfish creatures.
But rather than arguing that we are innately altruistic, he makes a more subtle claim - that we are fundamentally groupish. It is our groupishness, he explains, that leads to our greatest joys, our religious divisions, and our political affiliations. In a stunning final chapter on ideology and civility, Haidt shows what each side is right about, and why we need the insights of liberals, conservatives, and libertarians to flourish as a nation. Download the accompanying reference guide.
©2012 Jonathan Haidt (P)2012 Gildan Media LLC

Review:
I often find myself struggling to understand how others view policies and political persons with such a different view from mine. I bought this book with the hope that it might give me insight…and I am happy to say it did.

Haidt presents his material in a clear essay format. He states the point he wants to make, discusses it with examples, shares supporting and opposition views, and then summarizes the evidence that he has argued. I found this helpful particularly since it has been 40 years since I studied sociology, psychology and religion in college. It helped to have the information laid out in a manner that I could process and understand.

I was surprised to hear Haidt discuss evolutionary psychology which I didn’t know existed. I am not a proponent of evolutionary theories, but I found his arguments of moral intuition, basic foundations and adaptations very interesting.

Haidt explains that the terms “left” and “right” came from the 1700s during the French revolution. When the National Assembly met to put together a new constitution, the participants sat on either side of the table. Those who wanted more change were on the left and those who wanted to stay closer to tradition were on the right.

Haidt shares a matrix of six “foundations of morality”: 1. Care/Harm (cherishing and protecting others); 2. Liberty/Oppression; 3. Fairness/Cheating (proportionality); 4. Loyalty/Betrayal (ingroup); 5. Authority/subversion (respect); and 6. Sanctity/degradation (purity). He also argues that humans are ‘groupish’. Haidt presents sound basis to support this theory that was apparently abandoned for many years. He notes that the groupish nature of man has aided in his survival.

Haidt shares which of the moral foundations are the strongest and most relevant to American liberals, Libertarians and social conservatives. Among the points, Haidt notes that our foundations “bind and blind us”. One of the most pointed things that Haidt shared was in the last chapter where he points out that some people, who score very high on the care morality foundation, often cause damage by tearing down their group supports. The example is ‘trying to help the bees even if it means burning the hive’. Haidt makes it clear that it is important for all insights to be shared and to seek compromises. If you want to understand others better, I recommend you read this book!

This definitely helped me understand the mindset of the other views. It still doesn’t help me understand the basis for the hate and violence. I don’t always agree with other policies or views but that doesn’t mean I hate the people or want to destroy them. That to me falls in the ‘cutting off your nose’ or “burning the hive” mentality.

Audio Notes: Jonathan Haidt narrates his own work and I thought he did a great job. He clearly cares about the information and wants to make it understandable while supporting it with other psychological citations or testing and surveys. I enjoyed listening but I suspect that having the print version would allow the reader to go back and be reminded of arguments. The pdf support of the described figures is helpful for the audio listener.

Source: 10/16/19 September 2019 Audible Credit. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: The Gun: The End Time Saga Origin Short Story by Daniel Greene

This is a quick, introduction to an EOW series.
The Gun: The End Time Saga Origin Short Story
By: Daniel Greene
Narrated by: Keith Szarabajka
Series: The End Time Saga

Length: 1 hr and 33 mins
Release date: 06-18-19
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: 90 minute Short Story, Horror, Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
A new gritty origin short story in the End Time Saga universe.
A dismembered body in the park....
Grand Rapids Detective Bill DeYoung is an old-timer riding it out until retirement. A ravaged body in the park and a drunken witness are about to change his plans; so is the end of the world.
The events happen concurrently with the first novel, End Time, but it can be heard at any point in the series to get exciting additional content on the origin of a main character.
Start the award-winning series filled with duty, treachery, honor, betrayal, and grim hope today!
©2019 Daniel Greene (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Bill DeYoung is an old timer Detective with the Grand Rapids force. He has seen a lot over his years of service but the body they investigate in the park that morning is different and alarming, even to him. As he locates and begins to interview the drunken woman who was a witness, reports of similar attacks are coming in from other locations in the city, including near his precinct. Soon it becomes apparent that they are dealing with something unusual – an end of the world scenario.

This story centers on two primary characters, Detective DeYoung, a dogged pro, and the drunken witness, Tess. DeYoung’s younger, somewhat arrogant partner, Westman, is also involved. I enjoyed the brief character development and interaction. It didn’t take long to figure out the nature of the attack so then the question became who would survive and how.

I didn’t know anything about The End, the ongoing post apocalyptic series. Had I realized the true nature of the story I might have saved it to listen to as part of my Fraterfest event. I enjoyed the quick story with its ironic ending. It is enough to make me interested in the series. Lucky for me books 1 through 3 are free as part of Audible Plus! I recommend this to readers who like plague, end of the world stories.

Audio Notes: Keith Szarabajka does a good job with the narration. He provides distinct voices and seems to capture the personalities of the characters.

Source: 8/29/2020 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2020Audiobook goal.

Audible Book Review: The Tracker, Sam Callahan, Book 1, by Chad Zunker

This is good suspense.

The Tracker
Sam Callahan, Book 1
By: Chad Zunker
Narrated by: Noah Berman
Series: Sam Callahan, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 12 mins
Release date: 02-14-17
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Political Thriller, Suspense
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
Trust no one. Sam Callahan learned this lesson from a childhood spent in abusive foster care, on the streets, and locked in juvie. With the past behind him and his future staked on law school, he is moonlighting as a political tracker, paid to hide in crowds and shadow candidates, recording their missteps for use by their opponents. One night, after an anonymous text tip, Sam witnesses a congressional candidate and a mysterious blonde in a motel indiscretion that ends in murder, recording it all on his phone.
Now Sam is a target. Set up to take the fall and pursued by both assassins and the FBI, he is forced to go on the run. Using the street skills forged during his troubled youth - as well as his heightened mental abilities - Sam goes underground until he can uncover who is behind the conspiracy and how far up it goes. A taut thriller with an unforgettable young hero, The Tracker is a heart-stopping debut from an exciting new voice.
Revised edition: This edition of The Tracker includes editorial revisions.
©2017 Chad Zunker (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Review:
Sam Callahan was delivered to a hospital on a freezing night on his first birthday. He spent 15 troubled years in the foster care system suffering various degrees of abuse. He gets caught in a crime as a 15-year-old and spends some months in the juvenile system. Finally, he gets a helping hand which gets him back on the right track. At age 24, Sam is on his way to earning a law degree.

To earn money while in school, Sam works as a political “tracker”, a person who quietly follows a candidate to capture and report all actions. The information is fed each night to the tracker bosses who examine the material for negative kernels. Sam is winding down one night when he gets a text that tells him to go to a particular location at a specific time. Sam doesn’t know who sent the text but he shows up and witnesses his candidate subject with a woman who is not his wife. As he watches and records from the dark, a murder occurs. Sam races to hide in a hotel room contacting his superior to report the information.

When his boss finally arrives, he takes Sam’s phone and sends the video to a website other than the usual reporting site. Before they can determine what to do next the man is shot through the window. Sam is on the run using his hard-won street skills to barely stay ahead of the men trying to kill him. He can trust no one, not even the FBI when they begin to search for him after a third man is found dead!

This is a story that is tense and suspenseful from beginning to end. The author tells the story in first person, with background chapters, explaining Sam’s childhood and youth, in between the intense scenes. These show his struggles, his serious relationship and even his reactions upon finding his birth mother. I found this writing format to work well even though I was often ready to know the next steps that fugitive Sam would take. Fortunately, Sam has some friends to call upon who have skills to help. One is a whiz computer hacker and another is a respected legal professor. The most important person who Sam seeks to help him, is his former girl friend who is a brilliant and determined reporter.

I liked the intensity of the suspense but felt there were some gaps in reality. I couldn’t quite figure out how cash-strapped Sam kept coming up with funds along his journey. Also, it was a stretch that Sam went to certain locations and wasn’t caught there by the assassins or authorities. On the other hand, he had the help of a mysterious interloper and the whole story takes place in less than three days.

I liked Sam as a character trying to make a good life after an awful childhood. The mystery was different and interesting. I expect I will pick up the next two books. I recommend this to readers who enjoy a good murder thriller.

Audio Notes: Noah Berman does a good job with the narration. He gives the characters distinct voices and shares the story with strong energy. The narration help me stay immersed in the story and I recommend the audio version.

Source: 1/14/2018 Audible Daily Deal $1.95. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Dungeon Born by Dakota Krout

This is an interesting view of LitRPG as it is from the view of the dungeon!

Dungeon Born
By: Dakota Krout
Narrator: Vikas Adam

Series: Divine Dungeon Series, Book 1
Length: 12 hrs and 32 mins
Release date: 03-28-17
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Genre: Fantasy, LitRPG, Teen & YA, Sci Fi 

My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
A powerful dungeon. A sheep-herder turned Noble. Their path to ascendance through cultivation.
Conquering dungeons and using them to grow has long been the most efficient way to become a powerful adventurer. The only thing keeping the process from being easy is the Beasts that inhabit these places. Questions plague those entering this particular place of power: Where do the "rewards" of weapons, armor, and heavy gold coins come from? Why is a fluffy bunny charging at me? For abyss-sake, why are there so many monsters?
Cal has all of the answers to these age-old questions for a very simple reason. He is a Dungeon Core, a soul forced against his will into a magical stone. With the help of an energetic friend, Cal grows a dungeon around himself to bring in new sources of power.
When a threat he doesn't fully comprehend bares its many teeth, Cal is determined to survive the attempt on his life. Unfortunately for adventurers, the only way for him to achieve his goal is to eat anyone that enters his depths. ©2016 Dakota Krout (P)2017 Tantor

Review:
“Cal” was human before his soul was forced into a magical stone by a necromancer. When Cal wakes up, he doesn’t remember his former life except to know that he hates necromancers. Cal begins to stretch with his magic when he is able to ‘eat’ surrounding stones and moss, but he has no idea of the extent of his abilities. A senior magical source assigns a Wisp to help the young dungeon grow and level up. Wisp Dani names Cal for the calcium that surrounds his pretty gem.

Dani then begins to instruct Cal on how to eat and share the essence of his surroundings and how to build and expand the dungeon. Dani also helps Cal develop monsters, even if the first set are created from fluffy bunnies. The dungeon monsters are modified to have skills and even poisons to fight intruders. Cal learns how to pattern items of the intruders to create ‘loot’ of trinkets, coins or weapons to reward those who survive their visit in the dungeon. Occasionally Cal makes mistakes threatening his own existence, including earthquakes and uncontrolled monsters.

Dale is the sole survivor of the first treasure hunters to investigate the dungeon. Realizing the importance of this find, Dale manages to purchase the surrounding lands. Thus, begins Dale’s journey of growth towards a dungeon warrior and mage who will face Cal several times.

In LitRPGs you usually become, or follow, a hunter into the dungeon to face monsters, seek rewards and progress in levels. I was pleasantly surprised when I realized that this was a story describing how the dungeon was developed. Cal grows in ability and in strategic planning to entice hunters with enough adventure and loot to keep them coming back. I found this clever and fun. Most of the story is told of Cal and his sidekick, Dani, but bits also follow Dale and his growth. I appreciated that the battles are active but not overly graphic. The tone is light and contributes to making this entertaining. I may not rush to get the next book right now, but I have it saved to my wish list as a future choice. I do recommend this to fans of LitRPGs and Dungeon fantasy.

Audio Notes: Vikas Adam does a fine job with the narration. He is able to express the naïve wonder and eagerness of Cal and the playfulness of Dani. Adam also captures the various human characters. I enjoyed the audio and will look forward to listening to more in the series.

Source: 1/27/18 Sale for 2017 Audible Daily Deals $3.95. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Interview with the Robot by Lee Bacon

I enjoyed this quick, fun story.
Interview with the Robot
By: Lee Bacon
Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins, Ellen Archer, Josh Hurley, Eileen Stevens, Erin Mallon, Jonathan Davis, Stephen Bel Davies

Length: 3 hrs and 42 mins
Release date: 01-02-20
Publisher: Audible Originals
Categories: Children's Audiobooks, Science Fiction & Fantasy
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

About This Audible Original
Ages 10+
Fugitive. Criminal. Robot.
A sci-fi adventure for young listeners, Interview with the Robot introduces a unique heroine who seeks the truth about herself.
Eve looks like an ordinary 12-year-old girl, but there’s nothing ordinary about her. She has no last name. No parents or guardian. She’s on the run from a dangerous and secretive organization that will stop at nothing to track her down.
And most astonishing of all: she’s a robot, a product of Eden Laboratories. When Eve discovers the truth, she realizes everything she thought she knew about herself is a lie. Eve manages to escape, fleeing the lab, the only home she’s ever known.
After being arrested for shoplifting, Eve is interviewed by Petra Amis from Child Welfare Services. Her incredible story unfolds during the interrogation, with flashbacks to her life inside Eden Laboratories, which has a dark secret. Listeners follow Eve from her first consciousness to her evolution as a nearly-human companion to Emory, the son of the founder of Eden Laboratories.
Exploring a range of topics that drive our society and our lives—topics such as artificial intelligence and human nature—Interview with the Robot is a story told by a startlingly original protagonist, a story that explores the vast potential of technology and the deep complexities of humanity.
Interview with the Robot comes to life with a multicast performance including Eileen Stevens as Eve, Ellen Archer as Petra Amis, Jonathan Davis as David Sharp, Kevin T. Collins as Emory Sharp, Josh Hurley as a Boswell employee, Erin Mallon as a device/robot and female barista, and Steven Bel Davies as a store clerk, hotel employee, and office clerk.
©2019 Lee Bacon (P)2019 Audible Originals, LLC

Review:
Eve looks like a regular 12-year-old girl, but she is far from it. She is a unique humanoid robot who was caught shoplifting. Eve is in a police interrogation room being interviewed by Petra, an advocate from Child Welfare Services. How and why Eve ended up in the police station is revealed as the interview proceeds. At first her story seems outrageous, but soon visible facts begin to prove what she is saying.

When strangers begin to show up at the station expressing concern for their ‘cousin’, Petra realizes that she has a dilemma on her hands. Does Petra treat Eve as the property of a wealthy corporation with secrets to protect or should Petra try to help Eve in her efforts to escape? 

In the true nature of science fiction, this short story is full of irony and human dilemma. The author does a wonderful job of developing Eve from AI cube to near human girl. Her friendship with awkward, rather geeky Emory is rather endearing especially as it leads to one of the twists in the story. This is a quick, engaging story and can be enjoyed by adults as well as young people. 

Audio Notes: The narration is a god team effort by Kevin T. Collins, Ellen Archer, Josh Hurley, Eileen Stevens, Erin Mallon, Jonathan Davis and Stephen Bel Davies. I have no idea who played which characters but they all did a good job delivering an entertaining and seamless presentation. I am glad that I was able to listen to this quick story.

1/24/2020 Second January Free Audible Original. This qualifies for 2020Audiobook goal.

Audio Book Review: Dead Rising (The Templar Book 1) by Debra Dunbar

This is a knight story with vampires, necromancy and a twist.

Dead Rising
The Templar, Volume 1
By: Debra Dunbar
Narrated by: Elizabeth Phillips

Format: Digital Audiobook
Run Time: 8h 50min Release
Date: August 22, 2016
Publisher: Debra Dunbar
Genre: Necromancy, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Vampires
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
Solaria Ainsworth was born a Templar, destined to take up the mantle of responsibility and duty as her family's Order had done for hundreds of years. Except she refuses to take her Oath of Knighthood.
Barely making ends meet in Baltimore, Aria finds it difficult to obtain gainful employment with no work experience and skills in jousting and swordsmanship. Just before she's served an eviction notice, the Mistress of the local vampire family offers her a job - to research a magical symbol. It's an easy task for a woman who has spent every moment of her life either in armor, or with her nose in ancient manuscripts. The money's good, and the seven day deadlines should be no problem. But when her research reveals a sordid connection between the vampires and a mass murder, Aria needs to decide who is in the right and worthy of her protection. Modern Templars believe only God should judge, but Aria must do exactly that, or watch the Baltimore streets run red with blood.
©2016 Debra Dunbar (P)2016 Debra Dunbar

Review:
Solaria, known as Aria, is a daughter of the Templars who are trained to protect others. But Aria has resisted her parent’s expectations to take the Oath of Knighthood and begin her duties. Her jousting and swordsmanship skills don’t help in finding work so Aria struggles to make ends meet as a waitress. She is surprised but pleased when the Mistress of the local vampire family offers her a specialized job researching a magical symbol. Aria doesn’t realize that when she accepts the assignment it comes with an ‘escort’, handsome vampire Dario, and the threat of death if she fails.

The assignment turns out to be not so simple, especially when the research reveals a connection between a vengeful necromancer and the vampires over a mass murder many years before. Templars are taught that only God should judge, and the Templars protect those who need protection. But Aria has to decide who needs the protection as dead spirits brutally attack the vampires.

Aria is a 26 year old woman still trying to find her place in life. I wasn’t particularly pulled in by her character who often acted like a self-absorbed teen. I liked Dario’s loyalty to his family and enjoyed his bantering friendship with Aria which is a cautious relationship as there is a taboo between the vampires and Templars. In addition to Aria finding herself, the plot involves an interesting mystery, danger and action. I may not be rushing out to get the full series (although I’d snag them on sale), but I enjoyed the overall story. I recommend this to fans of urban fantasy, vampires, knights and mysteries.

Audio Notes: Elizabeth Phillips does a good job with the narration. She brings distinct voices and good energy. I enjoyed the audio presentation of the story.

Source: 7/28/2019 Chirp Deal $.99. (Hard to resist an audiobook for $.99.) This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goal.

Audible Book Review: Open Season by C. J. Box

I enjoyed the mystery and the endangered species aspects of this story.
Open Season
By: C. J. Box
Narrator: David Chandler

Series: Joe Pickett, Book 1
Length: 7 hrs and 50 mins
Release date: 02-14-11
Genre: Ecology, Mystery, Suspense
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.

Publisher's Summary
Joe Pickett is the new game warden in Twelve Sleep, Wyoming, a town where nearly everyone hunts and the game warden—especially one like Joe who won't take bribes or look the other way—is far from popular. When he finds a local hunting outfitter dead, splayed out on the woodpile behind his state-owned home, he takes it personally. There had to be a reason that the outfitter, with whom he's had run-ins before, chose his backyard, his woodpile to die in. Even after the "outfitter murders," as they have been dubbed by the local press after the discovery of the two more bodies, are solved, Joe continues to investigate, uneasy with the easy explanation offered by the local police.
As Joe digs deeper into the murders, he soon discovers that the outfitter brought more than death to his backdoor: he brought Joe an endangered species, thought to be extinct, which is now living in his woodpile. But if word of the existence of this endangered species gets out, it will destroy any chance of InterWest, a multi-national natural gas company, building an oil pipeline that would bring the company billions of dollars across Wyoming, through the mountains and forests of Twelve Sleep. The closer Joe comes to the truth behind the outfitter murders, the endangered species and InterWest, the closer he comes to losing everything he holds dear.
©2001 C.J. Box (P)2010 Recorded Books, LLC

Review:
Joe Pickett decided as a young boy that he wanted to be a game warden. It isn’t a glamorous or well paying job, but he gets to be outdoors, protecting the ecosystem. He is a new game warden struggling to make ends meet with his pregnant wife and two young daughters. Joe’s trying to do his job the right way without corruption or bribes.

Joe is surprised when his seven-year-old daughter tells him there is a man behind the woodpile. When Joe investigates, he discovers a dead local outfitter. A neighboring game warden, a local deputy and Joe go into the mountain to find the camp of the dead man’s friends. They discover more dead hunters and a survivor gets shot at the site. The local sheriff’s office is quick to declare the severely wounded survivor as the murderer and to close the case. Joe suspects there is a reason this hunter, with whom he had a prior run-in, chose his home to run to. He continues to push into the background, unknowingly stirring up trouble.

Joe doesn’t realize initially that the outfitter left something else in the woodpile as his daughter discovers the creatures and keeps them as secret pets. But someone else knows and is willing to lie, threaten and even kill to keep the secret. As Joe begins to suspect there is an endangered, maybe even thought extinct, species involved in the murders. Can Joe gather the facts he needs to show the truth before his career is ruined and his family suffers physical harm?

Joe is portrayed as a ‘regular Joe’ who sometimes feels inadequate. He plods along determined to uncover the truth. The story slowly, but steadily builds the suspense and danger to Joe and his family to the point where I was catching my breath. I enjoyed the scenes with Joe’s daughters and the critters. I appreciated the facts regarding the job of a game warden and the regulation details regarding endangered and extinct species. The author also explains the negative impact that the community will experience once an extinct species is disclosed. The dilemma between nature and man is an interesting element of the story. Meanwhile, the villains are disgusting and the corruption disturbing. There is foul language which is too bad. The writing is clearly written from a male viewpoint and it flows easily. I enjoyed the mystery and recommend this to crime suspense fans.

Source: August 23, 2017, Audible Daily Deal $2.95. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.

Audio Book Review: Hunted by Meagan Spooner

I was impressed by this creative Beauty and the Beast retelling!

Hunted
By Meagan Spooner
Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld, Will Damron

Publisher: HarperCollins
Date: March 2017
Duration: 9 hours 20 minutes
Genre: Action & Adventure, Fairy Tales & Folklore, Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Summary:
New York Times bestselling author Meagan Spooner spins a thoroughly thrilling Beauty and the Beast story for the modern age, expertly woven with spellbinding romance, intrigue, and suspense that readers won’t soon be able to forget.
Beauty knows the Beast's forest in her bones—and in her blood. After all, her father is the only hunter who’s ever come close to discovering its secrets. So when her father loses his fortune and moves Yeva and her sisters out of their comfortable home among the aristocracy and back to the outskirts of town, Yeva is secretly relieved. Out in the wilderness, there’s no pressure to make idle chatter with vapid baronessas . . . or to submit to marrying a wealthy gentleman. But Yeva’s father’s misfortune may have cost him his mind, and when he goes missing in the woods, Yeva sets her sights on one prey: the creature he’d been obsessively tracking just before his disappearance. The Beast.
Deaf to her sisters’ protests, Yeva hunts this strange creature back into his own territory—a cursed valley, a ruined castle, and a world of magical creatures that Yeva’s only heard about in fairy tales. A world that can bring her ruin, or salvation. Who will survive: the Beauty, or the Beast?

Review:
Yeva, nicknamed Beauty, has always loved the forest and hunting since her father taught her how to hunt as a child. But over the years he became a wealthy merchant and his daughters had to behave properly for society and hopefully to secure a favorable marriage. When her father is told that he has lost his fortune he moves the family back to their cottage in the forest.

Yeva is happy to be back in the forest but frustrated that her father won’t allow her to go out hunting with him. He has become obsessed with finding the rumored monster known as “The Beast”. When her father fails to come home Yeva finally sets out to find him. She goes deeper and deeper in the woods, stumbling through the snow. At the point of exhaustion, she comes to face with The Beast. The Beast believes that Beauty can save him from the curse that he can’t speak of. He shows her his cursed valley, crumbling castle and a world of creatures in the magical realm. Beauty is drawn to a magical creature from her childhood fairy tale stories. She realizes that creature has a crucial role in freeing The Beast or maybe freeing Beauty from the Beast.

I found this story wonderfully creative. It has basic similarities but is distinct from the well-known fairy-tale version. The story builds slowly but is worth getting into the depths. The tone is dark which fits the strong character of The Beast. Beauty is a strong-minded character too although there are times she is young and foolish. I enjoyed the twists and I really liked the views of The Beast that are interspersed between the story following Beauty. I will be looking to read/listen to more retellings from Ms. Spooner. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys fairy tale retellings.

Audio Notes: Saskia Maarleveld and Will Damron do a wonderful job on the narration. Saskia delivers the majority of the story with energy and emotion. Then Will steps in with the dark, growling nature of The Beast. Very well done and I found it all entertaining. I’m glad that I listened to this.

Source: March 2019 TWO FOR ONE Fairy Tale Fantasies with my February Audiobooks.com credit. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Snowflakes by Ruth Ware

I snagged this as I thought this was a good way to try Ware as a new-to-me author. It is a quick, engaging story.
Snowflakes
Hush Collection
By: Ruth Ware
Narrated by: Jess Nahikian

Series: Hush Collection
Length: 57 mins
Release date: 07-30-20
Genre: Collection, Mystery, Short Story, Thriller & Suspense
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
When a barrier between truth and illusion grows stronger, a family’s trust crumbles in this arresting short story by the number one New York Times 

bestselling author of The Woman in Cabin 10.
Leah has spent her formative years isolated on a remote island with her family. But their quiet existence, far from the devastated mainland, is cracking. Father, sensing a coming threat, demands that a wall be built. As the stone blockade rises, Father’s paranoia escalates. So does Leah’s dread that the violence the family left behind has found its way to their sanctuary.
Ruth Ware’s Snowflakes is part of Hush, a collection of six stories, ranging from political mysteries to psychological thrillers, in which deception can be a matter of life and death. Each piece can be read or listened to in one truly chilling sitting.
©2020 Ruth Ware. (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Review:
Leah has lived on a remote island with her father and siblings. Her father has insisted that they have to remain away from the war ridden mainland where their mother was shot and killed. Now Father is obsessed with building a stone blockade around their small cottage. He drives Leah and another brother to get up early and go gather the rocks needed for the wall. When they resist or don’t work hard enough he punishes them. Leah puzzles at his actions but she really becomes concerned when her father pulls their eldest brother away from work in the food gardens which is necessary for their survival.

The children are becoming more and more fearful of what is coming. When confrontation arrives they are shocked.

I picked this story up because I had not yet read anything by Ms. Ware (and the Audible was free). Ms. Ware creates a very real scene with believable, real to life characters. The development of the story and mystery is very well done, and I didn’t catch on to the truth of the situation until just before it is revealed. Although this was short, I felt the situation and characters were well developed.

Audio Notes: Jess Nahikian does a good job with the narration. She provides distinct voices and her inflection enhanced the mystery of the Story. I am glad that I had the chance to listen to this.

Source: August 2020 Free Audible Plus. This qualifies for 2020TBR goal.

Audible Book Review: Machine World, Undying Mercenaries, Book 4, by B. V. Larson

This is another good installment of this military sci-fi series.
Machine World
Undying Mercenaries, Book 4
By: B. V. Larson
Narrated by: Mark Boyett

Series: Undying Mercenaries, Book 4
Length: 13 hrs and 18 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 05-12-15
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Hard Science Fiction, Military Space Sci-Fi
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
The Galactics arrived with their battle fleet in 2052. Rather than being exterminated under a barrage of hell burners, Earth joined a vast empire that spanned the Milky Way. Our only worthwhile trade goods are our infamous mercenary legions, elite troops we sell to the highest alien bidder.
In the fourth book of the series, James McGill is up for promotion. Not everyone is happy about that, and McGill must prove he's worth his stripes. Deployed to a strange, alien planet outside the boundaries of the Galactic Empire, he's caught up in warfare and political intrigue. Earth expands, the Cephalopod Kingdom launches ships to stop us, and a grand conspiracy emerges among the upper ranks of the Hegemony military.
In Machine World McGill faces an entirely new kind of alien life, Galactic prosecution, and thousands of relentless squid troopers. He lives and dies in the falling ashes of the empire, a man of unique honor at the dawn of humanity's resurgence.
Machine World is a military science fiction novel by best-selling author B. V. Larson. (To find the first book in the series, search for Steel World by B. V. Larson.)
©2015 B. V. Larson (P)2015 Audible Inc.

Review:
James McGill is one of the ‘undying mercenaries’ in the least respected Earth troop, Legion Varus. Earth is a lowly planet on the fringe of the galaxy that is controlled by the Empire. Legion Varus is the lowly of the mercenary troops that are sent out as expendable soldiers. They are known as the ‘undying mercenaries’ because they can be regenerated as they die in the field.

McGill gained rank moving from recruit to regular to specialist all while being known for stumbling into, and remarkably out of, trouble. He has a strange relationship with highly ranked Imperator Turov. She has pulled him into more than one bad situation where they then have to keep each other’s secrets. This leaves James in an awkward situation as she could order his permanent death at any time.

As Legion Varus prepares to go to another world confrontation, McGill faces hazing and testing but gains the rank of Veteran, the highest rank for enlisted soldiers. Now McGill is in charge of troops supporting the officers in battle. Fortunately, even though McGill seems to get into bad situations, he thinks fast under stress and tends to move his troops in the right format and direction.

Once again McGill and his friends and band of superiors face a new alien force of a distant planet. In addition to the indigenous Machine creatures, the Earth mercenaries find an old enemy, the Squids (see book 2). The Earth leaders think that they can win during the initial engagement but then some other alien ships show up and things go from bad to worse.

I enjoyed the creative plotting of these stories. I might have liked a little more development of the Machine aliens but still, they were interesting and the encounter with McGill is engaging. There is power corruption, some little bad language, and female entanglements that tend to follow McGill. All of this makes for an entertaining listen. I recommend the series for fans of military sci-fi.

Audio Notes: Mark Boyett is a consistently effective narrator for this series. He helps draw the listener into another realm and provides distinct voices and emotions. I totally enjoy this listening experience.

Source: 5/12/19 Audible April Credits. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goal.

Dust World: Undying Mercenaries, Book 2 by B. V. Larson 4.5
Tech World: Undying Mercenaries, Book 3 by B.V. Laron 4.5

Audible Book Review: Agent 355 by Marie Benedict

I liked this historical short based on true events.

Agent 355
By: Marie Benedict
Narrated by: Emily Rankin

Length: 2 hrs and 7 mins
Original Recording Audiobook
Release date: 07-02-20
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Original
Genre: Historical Fiction
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

About This Audible Original
From Marie Benedict, best-selling author of The Only Woman in the Room and Lady Clementine, comes a captivating work of historical fiction about a young female spy who may have changed the course of American History.
The tide is turning against the colonists in the Revolutionary War, and 18-year-old Elizabeth Morris cannot sit by idly. Quietly disdainful of her Tory parents, who drag her along to society events and welcome a British soldier into their home during their occupation of New York City, Elizabeth decides to take matters into her own hands. She realizes that, as a young woman, no one around her believes that she can comprehend the profound implications of being a nation at war - she is, effectively, invisible. And she can use this invisibility to her advantage. Her unique access to British society leads her to a role with General George Washington's own network of spies: the Culper Ring.
Based on true events, Agent 355 combines adventure, romance, and espionage to bring to life this little-known story of a hero who risked her life to fight for freedom against all odds.
©2020 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2020 Audible Originals, LLC.

Review:
Elizabeth lives with her parents who want her to appear properly in society and seek an appropriate betrothal. But Elizabeth isn’t interested in marriage, especially not to a red-coated British soldier. When Elizabeth hears some careless talk among the soldiers, she wonders how she can share that information to the benefit of the revolutionaries. Fortunately, a local merchant recently rescued Elizabeth from a pushy soldier at one of the society dances. She decides to approach him and thus begins a secret spy ring and a developing romance. Although Elizabeth faces danger, she is intent on helping George Washington and those seeking freedom even if it risks her newfound romance.

I was not aware of the historical records about Agent 355, a female spy who helped uncover the betrayal of Benedict Arnold. This is a fictionalized story as no one knows the true identity of the female agent but the author weaves a creative and mostly believable scenario. The romance is gentle and the danger builds in an emotional plot. Ms. Benedict’s passion is showing the impact unknown heroines have had on historical events. I would gladly read more of her historical books.

Audio Notes: Emily Rankin does a fine job with the narration. She provides suitable voices and accents. The audio moves along smoothly and quickly. I am glad I had the opportunity to listen to this Audible Original.

Source: July 2020 Free Audible Original. This qualifies for 2020Audiobook goal.

Audible Book Review: Prominence by A.C. Hadfield

This is an action-packed, but disjointed, space sci-fi.
Prominence
By: A.C. Hadfield
Narrated by: Marc Vietor

Series: Blackstar Command, Book 1
Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 10-09-18
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Alien Invasion, Colonization, Military Sci-Fi
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
They tried to destroy our planets. Our way of life. They tried to send us into extinction. But we, the Coalition, fought them and won. That was a decade ago. We had assumed they were beaten for good.
We were wrong.
They’re known as the Host: a cabal of aliens seeking to dominate our sector of space. And they’re back - with help from a powerful new enemy.
Against their wrath, we must stand. We’re outnumbered and unprepared. If we lose, we lose everything.
But there is hope. An ancient race of long-dead but technologically advanced aliens called the Navigators have a ship called the Blackstar that could potentially turn the tide. That is if I, Kai Locke, a humble ship racer, can find it and learn how to harness its power in time.
If I fail, the Coalition will fall, and the Host will consign us to a distant memory. I refuse to let that happen. I will fight to my last breath for the Coalition’s survival.
For fans of Star Wars, Firefly, Battlestar, and Guardians of the Galaxy.
©2017 A.C. Hadfield & Colin F. Barnes (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Kai’s father disappeared on a secret mission to find an alien ship known as the Blackstar. Although his mother keeps trying to pull him into the military, to follow in his parent’s footsteps, Kai chose to be a ship racer pilot, seeking to make his own way. Kai struggles to win the local race, with the help of his childhood friend, half-human Senaya. They are desperate to win the money to get off the planet where illness, known as the blight, is spreading.

Kai and Senaya are pursuing a salvage ship that crashed in the wilderness. When they arrive at the site they are attacked as they discover pirates have beat them to the prize. Surprisingly, the infamous pirate leader lets Kai escape with his father’s locker and a mysterious alien artifact.

Suddenly life is disrupted again with news that the great space enemy, the Host, has returned. Kai soon learns that others are tracking the alien artifact. He realizes he has to get help from the pirate brigand and when he and Senaya find him the three have to make a rushed escape.

Kai finally consents to work with the military when they give him a mission to search for his father and the Blackstar. They are only one step ahead of pursuers as they manage to get to the hidden world. Even if Kai can return with the Blackstar will that be enough to fight the Host?

The story moves along at a good pace with plenty of action from beginning to end. Some of the scenes are initially disjointed until the reader gets accustomed to the author’s jumps from Kai’s situation to scenes of his mother. Maybe the primary character’s youth, (age 17) made him seem less compelling as a character. I did like the pirate character though. There was a bit of telling rather than showing which tends to make sections a slog. There is an ending to this book but it also springs off into a new alien world. Although I found the story to be acceptably entertaining, I didn’t find myself caught up and eager to get the next book in the series.

Audio Notes: Marc Vietor does a good job with the narration, working with the weaker writing. He provides distinct voices and some energy. I am glad that I listened to this.

Source: 4/2/19 Audible Daily Deal $2.95. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Rocky River Bridge, A Grower's War Prequel by D. J. Molles

This is a quick listen and teaser to a new series.

Rocky River Bridge
A Grower's War Prequel
By: D. J. Molles
Narrated by: Christian Rummel

Length: 29 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 02-07-17
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Sci-Fi
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
Two young boys set off for the Rocky River Bridge through their war-torn North Carolina hometown, both with something to prove - an adventure that will quickly teach them the realities of the raging world around them, in this prequel to DJ Molles' newest novel: The Purge of District 89.
©2017 D. J. Molles (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Review:
This story introduces two young brothers, 9-year-old Roy and 8-year-old Walt, who live in a war zone in North Carolina. Roy is leading his brother on a boyish summer antic although their adventure is taking them into areas patrolled by mixed troops. In this post-apocalyptic world, the Americans have teamed with Chinese and Russian soldiers in an authority known as the Coalition. The authority controls the lands and directs the growers in the community.

I didn’t get a clear picture of the events that resulted in the nuclear fallout and this new order. However, this quick read provides a teaser to pull interest into the Grower’s War series. I am already a fan of DJ Molles so I might not need this teaser, but I enjoyed the free, quick entertainment.

Audio Notes: Christian Rummel is a regular narrator for D. J. Molles and they are a really good match. Rummel captures the voices and the atmosphere. The narration enhanced the story for me.

Source: Free Plus Catalog from Audible. This qualifies for my 2020Audiobook goal.

Audio Book Review: Woof by Spencer Quinn

This is a fun listen suitable for kids and adults.
Woof
Written By: Spencer Quinn
Narrated By: James Frangione

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Date: May 2015
Duration: 7 hours 5 minutes
Genre: Animals, Kids, Middle Grade, Mystery
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Summary:
"Spencer Quinn speaks two languages--suspense and dog--fluently."--Stephen King
Bowser is a dog detective on the loose, paired with an eleven-year-old girl, Birdie. Bowser and Birdie live on the Louisiana coast with Birdie's Grammy. When a prize stuffed marlin is stolen from Grammy's bait and tackle shop, Birdie and Bowser decide to take on the case. But what looks like a straightforward break-in soon becomes as tangled as a tourist's fishing line. Was Grammy hiding a treasure map in the marlin? What's up with Old Man Straker, owner of a rival tackle shop, and his juvenile delinquent son? And most sinister of all, why does it suddenly look as if someone wants to harm Birdie? Told entirely from Bowser's hilarious dog point of view, WOOF launches a brand-new, slightly slobbery, but utterly winning detective duo.

Review:
Bowser is a dog of mixed heritage and he is thrilled when a young girl named Birdie picks him for adoption. Birdie's Granny isn’t so thrilled but Birdie and Bowser quickly become best buds. Bowser does his best to understand how to please his new friend although there are times when his natural urges just take over.

The first day Bowser goes home with Birdie they discover that a prized stuffed marlin, Black Jack, has been stolen from Granny’s bait shop. Bowser is quick to pick up on the scents of strangers (why can’t the humans do that?) in the shop and leads Birdie to find a cigar as a clue. Birdie wants to recover Black Jack and her determination to solve the mystery only increases when Birdie learns that there may be a hidden treasure involved. Fortunately for Birdie, Bowser is along to help her with smells and protection although he also adds to the risks on occasion. But the thief apparently is willing to try to kidnap Birdie and even kill if need be to get to the treasure.

The story is told from Bowser point of view and it is delightful. He is pretty much a normal dog, thrilled with food, all sorts of scents, and new experiences like riding in the truck or boat. He is also territorial and doesn’t like the fact that some other dog has been visiting the yard of his humans, which is now Bowser’s yard. The story is fun and suitable for middle graders and adults who love dogs. I will be glad to get more of these books in the future.

Audio Notes: James Frangione does a very nice job with the narration. He portrays the nature of the dog and manages the human voices too. The audio helped make this a fun ‘read’.

Source: 10/29/2019 Audiobooks.com 2 for 1 Deal. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Dodge & Twist by Tony Lee

This is a fun production listen.
Dodge & Twist
An Audible Original Drama
By: Tony Lee
Narrated by: Matt Lucas, Stephen Mangan, Michael Socha, Kara Tointon

Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins
Original Recording Audiobook
Release date: 12-12-18
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Originals
Categories: Literature & Fiction, Classics
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

It’s rumored that Dickens wanted to return to his classic novel Oliver Twist—to bring Oliver back as an older character—but never managed this before he died. If Oliver had returned, what would he have been like? Would the scars of his childhood effect the man he would become? And what of ‘Dodger,’ sent to a land halfway around the world, his friend, mentor and master dead because of Oliver?
Dodge & Twist is that story. The tale of two boys, 12 years later, returning into each other’s lives—for both good and bad.
This Audible Original production of Dodge & Twist is fully dramatized with an immersive SFX soundscape and is performed by a full cast including Stephen Mangan as Charles Dickens (Green Wing, Episodes, I'm Alan Partridge), Matt Lucas as Fagin (Little Britain, Me, Bridesmaids, Alice in Wonderland), Kara Tointon (Eastenders, Mr Selfridge, The Sound of Music Live) and Michael Socha (Being Human, This is England). Will Howard and James Joyce portray Oliver and Dodger.
©2018 Audible, Ltd (P)2018 Audible, Ltd

Review:
Oliver returns to London after twelve years. He is once again penniless and seeking the withheld funds which should be his inheritance as the adopted son of Mr. Brownlow. He doesn’t want the funds for himself, but so he can pay the servants and take care of Mr. Brownlow’s properties. Oliver is surprised to run into Dodger. Their meeting is tense since Oliver remembers this boy tried to trap him into a life of crime in Fagan’s gang. Dodger remembers that Oliver’s escape brought the death of Fagan. Dodger directs Oliver to the solicitor’s office but tells him to contact him later. When the lawyers deny his claim, Oliver is so desperate that he allows Dodger to convince him to join him in a major heist.

Although reluctant, Oliver, still rather naïve, finds himself making plans with a small team that includes Nancy’s sister and Noah, one of Fagan’s bullies. Oliver struggles with his conscience while trying to dodge abuse from Noah and slowly learning that Dodger has input from a strange voice.

Other characters from the past (original story) make appearances and some have a surprising role. Charley Bates, once a pickpocket for Fagan, is now a police officer. He is trying to save Dodger from his demons and Oliver from Dodger.

I haven’t read Oliver Twist in years but I did recognize many of the characters. I am not such a student of Dickens to be offended by Mr. Lee’s efforts to create a sequel. Mr. Lee wove the past of the characters together to help remind the reader/listener of the events of the original story. The squalor of the city continues. The ‘twists’ of plot continues. There is banter, suspense, and danger. The pacing is good and I found myself listening to find out what would happen next. I recommend this to fans of historical adventure and mystery as well as fans of Dickens.

Audio Notes: This is a full drama production which added to the enjoyment of the work. There are different voices for each character as well as background noises that enhance the scenes. I enjoyed the audio production and recommend this as a fun listen.

Source: 2/23/19 Free Audible Original. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.