Audible Book Review: The Ranch (A Legacy of Violence) by Sean Liscom

This had lots of action in a continuing series.

The Ranch (A Legacy of Violence)
The Legacy Series, Book 2
By: Sean Liscom
Narrated by: Christopher Lane

Length: 12 hrs and 32 mins
Series: The Legacy Series, Book 2
Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's summary
Post-Apocalyptic Fiction by Sean Liscom
Jason Sterling had a simple life by all accounts. He had worked the same job his entire adult life, he had never married and he had no children. He was used to doing things on his own. His comfortable life was shaken to the core the day he learned of his fathers death. It was a mysterious meeting that set life altering events in motion and the allure of a new life was too great to walk away from. When an Electromagnetic Pulse brings the modern world to its knees, Jason's choice proves to be the right one.
Excerpt:
“I’d tell you boy’s good luck but you’re going to need a whole lot more than that. Divine intervention maybe. Stack your magazines deep, keep your powder dry and be ready to fight the devil himself,” It abruptly ended there. “What the hell?” I said looking up at my brother. That's what my father wrote in his journal. It was ominous, sinister, menacing.... All the words that raced through my mind when I read it. No matter which word I chose to use, they all meant the same thing. Something bad was on the horizon.
©2019 Sean Liscom (P)2020 Creative Texts Publishers, LLC

Review:
Jason Sterling has had to take over his father’s ranch to protect the survivors of an EMP strike. The ranch survived the first year with the aid of General Jackson who brought forces to save Jason at the last minute. Over the past year the Sterling ranch has created a training facility to prepare young men and women to serve under General Jackson. It is clear that there are more battles coming.

There is a ghost force traveling the roads that serves as a threat that Jackson’s troops have been unable to track. But there is a worse threat of military forces decimating the communities trying to survive and rebuild. How will the Sterling ranch and General Jackson protect the local community from the path of destruction?

I was in the mood for action and continuing in this series met the bill. There are relational issues, particularly with Jason and Jill, but others too, that fill in gaps so that it isn’t just a battle story. Some of the escapes and victories are rather contrived but it is still interesting. There is intrigue with questionable allies and some twists as this episode concludes. I will continue with more in the series. I recommend this series to fans of post-apocalyptic/dystopian.

Audio Notes: Christopher Lane does a good job with the narration. He provides sufficiently distinct voices and his delivery fits the energy of the story.

Source: 3/3/22 Audible Sale $3.74. This qualifies for 2023TBR and 2023Audiobook goal.

Audible Book Review: The Ranch: Jack Sterlings Legacy by Sean Liscom

This is an interesting beginning to a post apocalyptic series.
The Ranch: Jack Sterlings Legacy
The Legacy Series, Book 1
By: Sean Liscom
Narrated by: Christopher Lane

Length: 13 hrs and 16 mins
Release date: 01-09-20
Publisher: Creative Texts Publishers, LLC Genre: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Post-apocalyptic fiction by Sean Liscom.
Jason Sterling had a simple life by all accounts. He had worked the same job his entire adult life, he had never married, and he had no children. He was used to doing things on his own. His comfortable life was shaken to the core the day he learned of his fathers death. It was a mysterious meeting that set life-altering events in motion, and the allure of a new life was too great to walk away from. When an electromagnetic pulse brings the modern world to its knees, Jason's choice proves to be the right one.
©2019 Sean Liscomb (P)2019 Creative Texts Publishers, LLC

Review:
Jason Sterling was only an infant when his mother died, and he and his elder brother were raised by their grandparents after his father basically abandoned the young boys. He moved on after high school and became a hardworking man, having worked his way up from the stock room to management. One morning Jason arrives at work to find a lawyer who tells him that his father has died, and Jason has the chance to inherit his father’s ranch. Jason agrees to at least inspect the ranch before making a decision. What he discovers is an understaffed working ranch, with military stockpiles designed to provide a save spot for his father’s sons and his friends’ families in the event the world goes awry.

Those working on the ranch include his father’s longtime friend, Allan, the property manager, and Jill, the daughter of the lawyer, who turns out to be a top-notch security guard, among other skills. Jason quickly sees that the ranch can use young hands and specialized training classes to make it a profitable enterprise that can afford to stay up with the resources needed in the event of world chaos. Jason agrees to stay and soon the ranch begins to make money through security and preparedness training.

Things are moving along well when disaster occurs with an EMP stopping all technology. Those on the ranch hope their loved ones, including Jason’s brother and his family, can safely make it to the safety of the ranch. Meanwhile, a fired sheriff’s deputy, humiliated by Jill, is joining with other local thugs to take what they want while he plans revenge. The nearby town begins to experience uncontrolled violence driving some of the local law enforcement crew and their families to seek refuge on the ranch. Ultimately, the ranch hands, with some unexpected allies in the form of a military unit, will have to face the violent band if they want to retain their safe home and begin to rebuild the local community.

The story includes a bit of intrigue, a lot of preparedness details, a touch of romance, and, of course, thuggery and battle. Interestingly, I found the story on the low-key side but that fit the pragmatic leadership and nature of the main character. I like the ranch crew, especially Jason and his friendship and growing relationship with Jill. I am curious to see where the story goes so I will be adding the next book to my library soon. I recommend this to fans of post-apocalyptic stories.

Audio Notes: Christopher Lane does a good job with the narration. He provides distinct voices and energy that conveys the personalities of the characters. I look forward to continuing the series in audio format.

Source: 12/17/2020 Audible $5.00 Sale. This qualifies for 2021TBR and 2021Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Frankenstein: Prodigal Son by Dean Koontz

Surprisingly engaging with underlying questions.

Frankenstein: Prodigal Son

By: Dean Koontz

Narrated by: Christopher Lane

Series: Frankenstein, Book 1

Series: Frankenstein, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 12-04-17
Language: English
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Horror
My Rating: Story 4.0 of 5.0; Narration 5.0

Publisher's Summary
From the celebrated imagination of Dean Koontz comes a powerful reworking of one of the classic stories of all time. If you think you know the legend, you know only half the truth. Here is the mystery, the myth, the terror, and the magic of...
Every city has its secrets. But none as terrible as this. He is Deucalion, a tattooed man of mysterious origin, a sleight-of-reality artist who has traveled the centuries with a secret worse than death. He arrives in New Orleans as a serial killer stalks the streets, a killer who carefully selects his victims for the humanity that is missing in himself. Deucalion's path will lead him to cool, tough police detective Carson O'Connor and her devoted partner, Michael Maddison, who are tracking the slayer but will soon discover signs of something far more terrifying: an entire race of killers who are much more - and less - than human and, deadliest of all, their deranged, near-immortal maker: Victor Helios - once known as Frankenstein.
©2005 Dean Koontz (P)2017 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Review:
The story caught my interest from the start. Further in I didn't want to put it down. I was fully engaged and enjoying the characters (the good guys). The primary villain is horrible and it is fascinating to see how his creations are slowly breaking out of his planned control. I was captured by the narration and intrigued at the implications of seeking happiness and meaning in life by the created monsters. I was caught up in the protagonist's transformation .. and then the ending! Arrgh! I had forgotten this was the first in a series.

I was surprised by the imagination and depth, although perhaps I shouldn’t have been since Koontz is a well known and accomplished author. I know some of his books are off the edge horror, but this one is creepy and wonderfully strange without being really scary horror.

I found this to be a little drawn out to get where it is going. Still, the characters, including villains, are well drawn and the story moves well. I recommend this for those who enjoy the idea of a Frankenstein monster with a heart fighting a truly evil megalomaniac.

Audio Notes: I found the narration by Christopher Lane to be spot on for the tone and intent of the story. It is a great entertaining experience.

Koontz is the author of one of my favorite time travel titles: Lightning.
Source: Audible Daily Deal $3.95 6/3/2018. This qualifies for Audiobook Challenge and 2018 title for Alphabet Challenge.