Audible Book Review: Two Necromancers, a Bureaucrat, and an Army of Golems: An Unconventional Heroes Publisher's Pack by L.G. Estrella

This is fun listening although I'm not sure I wouldn't have enjoyed it more split up.

Two Necromancers, a Bureaucrat, and an Army of Golems: An Unconventional Heroes Publisher's Pack
By: L. G. Estrella
Narrated by: Fred Berman

Series: Unconventional Heroes, Book 1-2
Length: 13 hrs and 5 mins
Release date: 05-26-20
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: Humorous Fantasy
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's summary
Contains Books 1 and 2 of the Unconventional Heroes series.
Two Necromancers, a Bureaucrat, and an Elf, book 1:
Two necromancers, a bureaucrat, and an elf - it sounds like the start of a bad joke, only the joke is on Timmy.
Timothy Walter Bolton - better known as Timmy - has spent most of his life as a necromancer. When he isn't terrorising his enemies, he's plotting inside his castle, which is built on top of lightless chasms filled with nameless horrors and beings of a generally malevolent and megalomaniacal nature. But after one of his latest creations, a zombie hydra-dragon-bear, tries to eat him, he decides that maybe it's time to find a new, less dangerous, career.
But that's easier said than done. He's a wanted criminal with no shortage of powerful (and crazy) enemies, and he has a bone or two to pick with the Everton Council of Mages.
It's a good thing that he's got some help: an obnoxious 10-year-old apprentice who thinks that pink glasses are appropriate for a budding necromancer and a bumbling bureaucrat who may or may not make it through their first real fight without puking his guts up. Wonderful.

Two Necromancers, an Army of Golems, and a Demon Lord, book 2:
Two necromancers, an army of golems, and a demon lord - it sounds like a recipe for trouble, and for Timmy, it definitely is.
To earn his pardon and avoid horrible torture and/or gruesome execution, Timmy has to complete every mission the Council throws his way, most of which seem to involve extremely scary things trying to kill him. At least he’s got help - sort of. His help consists of an apprentice with designs on his castle (and her plans may or may not involve overthrowing him), a bureaucrat whose two greatest skills are fainting in the face of trouble and using people (usually Timmy) as human shields, and an elf with the world's worst case of pyromania and enough magic to level a mountain.
Somehow, Timmy's got to get this bunch of unconventional heroes to work together. Trouble is coming, and it's trouble of the kind that only a necromancer like Timmy could possibly find himself in the middle of.
©2014 L. G. Estrella (P)2020 Podium Audio

Review:
Two Necromancers, a Bureaucrat, and an Elf, book 1:
Timmy is supposed to be a harsh Necromancer, but he is really sort of a good guy. Not that he doesn’t battle, terrorize, and kill his enemies…but they are really the bad guys. And he does live in a cursed castle with an army of created servants and a rat colony, not to mention the indescribable monsters living under the castle. And as a wizard who has to dig a lot in the dirt it is a bit alarming at first when others learn that Timmy’s weapon of choice is a magical shovel rather than a good sword. As a successful Necromancer he has learned to think on his feet and to create living - or animated dead – creatures who help him. He loves blending new creations although not all of them work out.

Timmy has taken on a 10-year-old apprentice, Katie, who was abandoned by her parents and community when she brought her dead puppy back to life. Eventually Katie will learn all that Timmy can teach her and then she will kill him and take over the castle. But that is still a long time away.

Timmy has been ousted from the wizardly community but there is a way he can have his past crimes pardoned and get back in good standing. He just has to meet certain conditions and succeed in some assigned quests as directed by the Council of Mages. What’s a Necromancer to do when his tomb raiding jobs are limited and he needs funds to maintain his experiments and his killer ninja rat colony who eat, unlike his zombie armies.

Timmy and Katie agree to work for the Mages and they set off on their first assignment with an unimpressive, bumbling bureaucrat from the Council who is apt to faint or hide when trouble comes. They must convince a powerful, malevolent, fire throwing elf to join them, or they must capture her. Either choice may prove fatal.

Two Necromancers, an Army of Golems, and a Demon Lord, book 2:
After successfully completing their first mission, Timmy and Kate, have returned to the castle accompanied by Avraniel, the still angry and fiery elf, and the bumbling bureaucrat, Gerald. Soon they are assigned the next mission which sets them off to face an army of golems controlled by a demon lord. And there is a massive dragon involved too. Golems and dragons and demons, oh my! What fun – but not without edge of death experiences for the unlikely heroes.

These stories are creative and entertaining. I will certainly want to continue the adventures. Although I appreciate getting two books included in the volumes, I may listen to one at a time as 13 hours of magical dangers and death defying escapes seemed a bit too much at one sitting. I highly recommend this to fans of fun, magical adventures.

Audio notes: Fred Berman is a skilled narrator who adds to the enjoyment of this work. He provides distinct voices and shares the humor of the characters. I enjoyed the audio presentation.

Source: March 2022 Free Audible Plus. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, and my 2023Numbers goals.

Audible Book Review: 299 Days, The Preparation, Book 1, by Glen Tate

This is an early prepper narrative – not action but preparation.

299 Days
The Preparation, Book 1
By: Glen Tate
Narrated by: Kevin Pierce

Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins
Release date: 10-26-14
Publisher: Sellerman and Sweeney, LLC
Genre: Action & Adventure, Dystopian, Prepper
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's summary
Meet Grant Matson: lawyer, father, suburbanite husband who awakens to the fragility of modern society and embarks on a personal journey that introduces him to a world of self-reliance and liberation. 299 Days: The Preparation, the first audiobook in the 299 Days series, depicts the inner struggles Grant must face as he exists in a social system he recognizes as unsustainable and on the verge of collapse, but one in which he has built his life around. What begins as a return to his roots, self-sufficiency and independence, becomes a full blown move to prepare for what may come.
Engaging, insightful, and a bit suspenseful, follow Grant's transition from a self-perceived "sheeple" to a full-blown "prepper". Will his fears come true? Is he an extremist? What if nothing happens? What if something does?
©2012 Glen Tate (P)2014 Sellerman and Sweeney, LLC

Review:
Grant was raised by a logger father who fell into alcoholism after an accident. Thereafter his youth was full of abuse and dysfunction. Grant knows his family is poor and initially he thinks he can’t get beyond his circumstances. But he manages to go to college, meet and impress the woman of his dreams, and progress to law school. Upon graduation he is glad to get a position where he can fight for justice for the little guys set upon particularly by the government or big companies. He is distressed by government policies and he begins to see behind the scenes that America will suffer an economic fall from its massive debt.

Grant recognizes that the typical city “sheeple” will not be prepared to face trouble. He learned shooting and rural skills in his childhood and now he slowly turns to his rural roots and begins to gather the supplies to survive a social system failure. It starts with collecting guns and nonperishable food stockpiles. It continues with training with former military and law enforcement officers, to identifying other like-minded friends who he can reach out to when trouble hits. Finally, he is able to acquire (with his mother’s help) a cabin that is sustainable and defensible. Most of this is done behind the back of his wife which is bound to cause trouble at some point.

This story is told from the POV of Grant as he ponders the dangers of an economic collapse and step by step prepares for the worst. The author, through his main character, shares his dislike of liberal policies especially as they have impacted Washington State. There is limited action and suspense in this first book as the biggest suspense is in wondering how he will deal with his wife when the time comes and when the collapse may occur. Still, I enjoyed the journey of awareness and preparation for a plausible event. It is not a particularly exciting book but I found it entertaining. I will likely try the next book at some time. I recommend this to fans of prepper narratives (who won’t take offense to the political views).

Audio Notes: Kevin Pierce is an experienced and good narrator for this type of story. He provides distinct voices and solemnity of the purpose. The narration enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 3-3-2022 Audible Sale Purchase $3.74; (Regular Price: $24.95). This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, and 2023Number goals.

Audible Book Review: Robinson Crusoe 2244 by E. J. Robinson

This dystopian post-apocalyptic is interesting though not gripping.

Robinson Crusoe 2244
By: E. J. Robinson
Narrated by: Malk Williams

Length: 8 hrs and 1 min
Release date: 05-27-15
Publisher: E. J. Robinson
Genre: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, Teen & Young Adult
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's summary
Two centuries after mankind drove itself to the brink of extinction, a new civilization rises from the ashes of what was once Great Britain. But when deadly strife breaks out among their ranks, the teenage son of one prominent family finds himself fleeing in the dead of night, only to wind up shipwrecked on the forbidden continent of America. Armed with only his wit and the most unexpected of allies, the teenager struggles to survive in a wasteland filled with unspeakable horrors. In the end, he must uncover the one secret that can either save his own people, or spell doom for mankind forever.
©2014 Erik Robinson (P)2015 Erik Robinson

Review:
Robinson Crusoe is a teenage son of Tiers, a prominent family in the new regime of New London a community behind the Wall that keeps out the monsters. The One People have rules that help maintain peace, health, and security by controlling the classes, prohibiting weapons, and restricting freedoms. If you violate the rules, you may be executed in public to send a message to others.

Robinson is now turning of age and graduating from school when he will be expected to apprentice under his executive father. Robinson has caused mischief all of his young life and his latest antics are causing embarrassment. But there is other trouble in the wings as some of the Tiers seem to be plotting a campaign of rebellion. Events take a tumultuous turn forcing Robinson to flee his Regen and travel to the far distant land of America. His landing isn’t secure and he soon is struggling to survive in a wasteland filled with Renders, the mutated remnants of humanity. And he suspects that he has uncovered a huge secret that concerns his own family. He latches onto an old man who teaches him how to hide and hunt. And then he learns about other monsters who show up once a month.

Robinson finds a friend in a mutated dog that is friendly rather than vicious. And when the old man disappears, Robinson rescues a caged young woman who is more of a fighter than he is.

Clearly the title and text has parallels to the original 1719 book, Robinson Crusoe. But this story veers with the dystopian world, monster beings, and political scheming. I found the story entertaining with danger, action, secrets, and intrigue. I liked how Robinson grows to survive the struggles he faces, but there were plot issues and character developments that seemed contrived to move the story forward. I might continue the story in the future, but it is a must move forward series for me. I recommend this to fans of dystopian with teen heroes, especially readers who might enjoy the tie to Robinson Crusoe.

Audio Notes: Malk Williams does a good job with the narration. The British accent fits the story and he provides distinct voices for the characters. He also gives clear intonation to the descriptions that make it visual. The narration enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 7/17/2022 I got a $7.00 credit so this book from my wish list ended up costing $.49 since I already had the Kindle copy. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, and 2023Number goals.

Audible Book Review: The Fifth Victim, The Cherokee Pointe Series, Book 1, by Beverly Barton

I liked the occult element and the suspense (but not the amount of sex).

The Fifth Victim
The Cherokee Pointe Series, Book 1
By: Beverly Barton
Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin

Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins
Release date: 09-25-18
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Mystery, Romantic Suspense
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
Some things shouldn't be seen....
Cherokee Pointe, Tennessee. Deep in the Smoky Mountains, the victim lies, sacrificed on a makeshift altar - the gruesome work of a killer who has evaded the authorities in state after state. FBI agent Dallas Sloan knows the scene all too well - just as he knows the killings won't stop until there are four more bodies.
Some warnings won't be heeded....
Genny Madoc's "sixth sense" has brought many of Cherokee Pointe's residents to her isolated log cabin, looking for help. But now it's Genny who needs help from the disturbing visions she sees - images that are getting stronger and more violent day by day.
Some fears can't be stopped....
Thrown together by necessity, drawn to each other by desire, Dallas and Genny must band together, searching the darkest heart of a town's hidden secrets before a twisted killer can complete a sinister plan that will make one of them the fifth victim.
©2018 Beverly Barton (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
FBI agent Dallas Sloan is on the tail of a gruesome killer who kills in groups of five. Sloan knows because one of the groups included his young niece. The FBI could not find a connection, but Sloan is sure there is one. Sloan is not assigned to the case but will take every free time to investigate leads. This time the lead takes him to Cherokee Pointe, in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.

Genny Madox is an unusual and isolated young woman living in a cabin in the woods above the town. Genny provides herb remedies, learned from her grandmother, and occasional readings to members of the community. There are some who call Genny a witch, but those closest to her know she has a sixth sense and sees visions of events she doesn’t necessarily want to see. Now she has seen the brutal, sacrificial killing of a young girl and called her cousin the local Sheriff, telling him where to find the victim.

By the time Sloan arrives in town, they are locating the next victim. Sloan doesn’t believe in psychics, but he is drawn to Genny and soon finds himself trying to protect her from her own nightmares. As their relationship heats up, he finds himself protecting her when they realize she may be a target of the killer.

I liked the characters, the psychic element, and enjoyed the mystery. Unfortunately for me, the sexual content (some describe as ‘soft porn’) detracted from the rest of the story. I had a vague recollection from a prior Barton novel that I didn’t care for the level of sex and now that I have confirmed this I am less likely to read/listen to any more by this author even though I have two more in the series. That’s just my tastes. I would recommend this to fans of romantic suspense who don’t mind the graphic sexual element.

Audio Notes: Marguerite Gavin is a skilled narrator who I have enjoyed in several other series. She does provide distinct voices although I am not sure she was the best narrator for this book. I was startled by the reading of chapter numbers in a breathy voice that didn’t fit. This unexpected narrative feature did disrupt the flow of the story. Still, I am generally glad to listen to stories as they move faster for me.

Source: 6/10/2021 Free from Audible Plus. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, and 2023Number goals.

Audible Book Review: One Heart to Win by Johanna Lindsey

I mostly enjoyed this western romance.
One Heart to Win
By: Johanna Lindsey
Narrated by: Meredith Mitchell

Series: Callahan-Warren, Book 1
Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins
Release date: 06-11-13
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Western
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
Johanna Lindsey, the number-one New York Times best-selling author, presents a passionate novel of hidden identities, family secrets, and love that transcends a 50-year feud set in the 1880s in the majestic ranchland of the Montana territory.
Some young ladies marry for money and social standing, a few lucky ones marry for love - but Tiffany Warren is marrying to end a feud. Honoring her mother’s promise, Tiffany reluctantly travels west to meet her estranged father and his enemy’s eldest son, rancher Hunter Callahan. Once the Warrens and the Callahans are united by marriage, both clans will stop squabbling over a disputed strip of land.
In the chaos of a train robbery Tiffany seizes a golden opportunity. By assuming the identity of her father’s new housekeeper she can live with the father she never knew and assess his true character, as well as that of the neighboring cowboy to whom she is betrothed. But, too late, Tiffany discovers that the rivalry between the Warrens and the Callahans has escalated when the Callahans steal the Warrens’ housekeeper as soon as she steps off the train!
Now, Tiffany, who is pretending to be Jennifer Fleming, finds herself living in the enemy camp, under the same roof as her fiancé. All too soon she learns her intended is a handsome, sweet-talking charmer whom she has to fight off because he can’t keep his eyes - or his hands - off Jennifer. After Tiffany’s charade is exposed she refuses to marry Hunter to end the feud. As Hunter goes about claiming his rightful bride-to-be, he knows that although he loves two women - proper, elegant Tiffany as well as spunky, passionate Jennifer - he has only one heart to win.
©2013 Johanna Lindsey (P)2013 AudioGO

Review:
Tiffany Warren was born in Montana but raised by her mother in New York. Her brothers came to visit her, but her father never did. Now that Tiffany is 18, her mother is sending her to Montana to live with her father and meet the man they arranged for her to marry years before. Her mother made the marriage arrangements right before leaving Montana as a promise to stop the feud between the Warren family and their neighbors, the Callahans. Tiffany doesn’t really want to see the father she believes abandoned her, and she isn’t too keen on marrying a cowboy. Her mother promises Tiffany that she can come home if she meets the man and decides after two months not to marry him.

As Tiffany and her maid travel west, she meets a young woman who is going to the Warrens’ household as their new housekeeper. When the train is stopped due to a robbery, the housekeeper, Jennifer, chooses to return home, and Tiffany decides to take her place so she might meet her father without him knowing. In a twist, when Tiffany and her maid arrive at the town of their destination, she is approached by two men who ask her to come to the Callahan ranch instead of the Warren ranch.

Tiffany gets to meet her handsome and charming would be husband, Hunter Callahan. As the supposed housekeeper, the senior Callahan tells Tiffany she has to cook until she can find a new cook. That is on top of trying to get more help to clean the house that has been neglected while the mistress of the house has been bedridden. Tiffany doesn’t know how to cook or clean but she has enough courage to try.

Tiffany begins a tentative friendship with Hunter while seeking to avoid his bodyguard who appears to be a dangerous gunslinger. When there is an attack on the Callahan ranch and in town against Hunter, the Callahans are quick to suspect the Warrens. Tiffany struggles to understand why the families continue to feud. Tiffany’s charade is bound to be exposed with her brothers in town hearing the rumor of a new housekeeper at the Callahan ranch. How will her family and the Callahan family react when they find out who she really is? And what about the secret that her mother has kept all these years?

I wasn’t sure at first if I would like Tiffany’s character but I learned to appreciate her perseverance and willingness to work to met her goals. Hunter is an attractive, charming, good-humored man who is hard not to like. I didn’t like that he didn’t keep his hands off the 'housekeeper' even as he anticipated the arrival of his arranged bride. Although he is also willing to do the right thing, I didn’t quite care for that sexual looseness in the story. The mother’s secrets added to the interest of the story. All in all, I enjoyed the twists, the romance, and the resolution. Readers who enjoy some sex in their historical fiction might enjoy this one.

Audio Notes: I wasn’t captured by the narration by Meredith Mitchell but it was acceptable. I was glad to listen because it moves my reading along more quickly.

Source: 9/1/2021 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, 2023Alphabet, and 2023Number goals.

Audible Book Review: Cat o' Nine Tales by Faith Hunter

This is a great collection that gives the background of several of Jane's friends.
Cat o' Nine Tales
The Jane Yellowrock Stories
By: Faith Hunter
Narrated by: Khristine Hvam

Series: Jane Yellowrock
Length: 13 hrs and 28 mins
Release date: 12-10-13
Publisher: Audible Studios
Categories: Fantasy, Paranormal, Science Fiction, Urban
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
For the first time - in one Audible-exclusive collection - it's 13 stories of Jane Yellowrock, the shape-shifting skinwalker and vampire hunter for hire whose business card reads, "Have Stakes - Will Travel". Jane carries inside her the soul of her Beast, the mountain lion's soul which merged with hers when she accidently performed black magic as a child. Now, she and her Beast stalk the dark streets of New Orleans, bringing rogue vampires true death.
In Cat o' Nine Tales, you'll discover how Jane turned into a big cat for the first time; how she and Molly became friends; how Rick LaFleur got his tattoos. You'll go along on some of Jane's early vamp hunts. You'll even hear two short tales through Bruiser's eyes.
Once you experience these stories set in the fantastic world of this New York Times best-selling series, you'll surely agree with Kim Harrison that Jane Yellowrock is "smart, sexy and ruthless".
The stories included in Cat o' Nine Tales are:
"WeSa and the Lumber King"
"The Early Years"
"Cat Tats"
"Kits"
"Haints"
"Signatures of the Dead"
"First Sight"
"Blood, Fangs and Going Furry"
"Dance Master"
"Cajun With Fangs"
"Golden Delicious"
"Beneath a Bloody Moon"
"Black Water"
©2013 Faith Hunter (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Review:
I have read a lot of Jane Yellowrock’s so I was only familiar with a few of her friends and associates. I enjoy Jane’s character – a skilled vampire hunter for hire, who happens to be a shape-shifting skinwalker. This collection provides the history of Jane’s Beast, a mountain lion, and the reader gets to see several other of her transformations.

I also enjoyed learning how about Jane’s friends. Molly is a witch who helps Jane in several situations especially after Jane saved Molly’s daughter. Jane’s sometimes boyfriend, Rick LaFleur, a former detective, got his tattoo in a situation that almost cost him his life, and brought him back into Jane’s life. Then there is Bruiser, the head enforcer for the local Vampire leader, who is drawn to Jane’s mysterious personality and assured confidence.

Having enjoyed the action, characters, and mysteries of this collection, I know that I will continue reading (listening to) more in the series. I think a new reader should read at least one or two of the Jane Yellowrock stories before enjoying this collection.

Audio Notes: Khristine Hyam does a wonderful job with all of the characters. I even enjoyed the voice of the Beast. I find the audio enhances these stories for me.

Source: April 2021 Audible Plus Catalog free audio. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, and 2023Number goals.

Audible Book Review: Forging Zero: The Legend of ZERO by Sara King

This is a good space sci fi.
Forging Zero: The Legend of ZERO
By: Sara King
Narrated by: Liam Owen

Series: Legend of ZERO, Book 1
Length: 21 hours and 54 minutes
Published: December 17, 2013 by Sara King
Genre: First Contact, Science Fiction, Space Exploration
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

The Legend of Zero begins the epic journey of 14-year-old Joe Dobbs in a post-apocalyptic universe following a massive alien invasion of Earth. The oldest of the children drafted from humanity's devastated planet, Joe is impressed into service by the alien Congressional Ground Force - and becomes the unwitting centerpiece in a millennia-long alien struggle for independence.
Once his training begins, one of the elusive and prophetic Trith appears to give Joe a spine-chilling prophecy that the universe has been anticipating for millions of years: Joe will be the one to finally shatter the vast alien government known as Congress. And the Trith cannot lie. But first Joe has to make it through bootcamp.

Review:
Joe Dobbs accidentally got impressed into service by aliens who take children to train as expendable military forces. Joe is 14 which is above the age they take but he got pulled into the ship after he attacked the aliens. Bootcamp is hard. The alien troop leaders are pretty harsh and most of them would be glad to kill Joe in training. But one supervisor has received a prophesy that makes him think that Joe is part of the future to destroy the Congress government. This creates a quandary because he isn’t sure if he wants to allow Joe to fulfill the prophesy or just kill him now.

As the oldest of the captured children, Joe tends to take care of the younger kids. His small team of kids begins to look up to him and trust him to lead them safely. But at some point they are going to find out that he has kept his prophesy a secret and some may see that as a betrayal.

I did have a little confusion early in the story trying to figure out which of the aliens were good and which bad. I enjoyed the relationships that developed between the children. The level of growth in Joe’s personality, and reluctant determination to shield his team, was intriguing. Initially this seems like a good story for young people, but then it adds suffering, sexual content, and graphic violence that might not be comfortable for all readers. I became invested in the characters and was sad when they became disillusioned and separated.

The author tells the story from Joe’s view and the reader, like Joe, is unaware of a lot of the political intrigues that are going on. The last quarter of the book rushes forward in time, skipping a lot of the time during which Joe’s character and position change. This was a bit awkward and disappointing. The end leaves the door open for more adventures but I am sorry that the books are not available in audio format. It is less likely that I will continue with the series in digital. I recommend this to fans of first contact and space exploration stories.

Audio Notes: I enjoyed the narration by Liam Owen. The voice and energy fit the characters for the most part – I’m not so sure there was strong distinction among the alien characters. I am very glad I had this on audio and wish the next in the series was available in audio format.

Source: 11/28/2016 Audible Sale. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, 2023Alphabet, and 2023Numbers goals.