Audio Book Review: The Farseer: Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb

This fantasy aroused mixed emotions. I picked up book 2 for sale at Chirp.
The Farseer: Assassin's Apprentice
Written By: Robin Hobb
Narrated By: Paul Boehmer

Series: Farseer Trilogy, Book 1, Realms of the Elderlings, Book 1
Duration: 17 hours 21 minutes
Release Date: March 2010
Publisher: Tantor Media
Genre: Action & Adventure, Coming of Age, Epic Fantasy
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Summary
With unforgettable characters, a sweeping backdrop, and passionate storytelling, this is a fantasy debut to rival that of Robert Jordan. Filled with adventure and bloodshed, pageantry and piracy, mystery and menace, Assassin's Apprentice is the story of a royal house and the young man who is destined to chart its course through tempests of change.
Young Fitz is the bastard son of the noble Prince Chivalry, raised in the shadow of the royal household by his father's gruff stableman. An outcast whose existence has forced his father to abdicate his claim on the throne, Fitz is ignored by all royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has him secretly tutored in the arts of the assassin. For in the young man's blood is a heritage of magic, the talent called the Skill, as well as another, even more mysterious ability.
As barbarous raiders ravage the coasts and leave behind the zombie-like husks of the townspeople to prowl the countryside, Fitz is growing toward manhood. Soon he will face his first dangerous, soul-shattering mission, a mission that poses as much a threat to himself as it does for his target-for Fitz is a threat to the throne...but he may also be the key to the survival of the kingdom.

Review:
“Boy” is the bastard son of royal Prince Chivalry, the first born son of King Shrewd. He is dropped off at the keep at age six and taken to Prince Chivalry’s head stableman, Burrich. Since the boy has no name, he is dubbed “Fitz”. Burrich begins training Fitz to care for the dogs and horses in the stable, but he is alarmed when he realizes that Fitz is developing a mental bond with one of the new puppies. He scolds Fitz and takes away the dog.

Soon Fitz is moved into the royal household where he struggles in his position. Prince Verity, the second son, is kind and caring when he can take time from his busy schedule, especially after Chivalry abdicates his position. The third royal son, from a second wife, Prince Regal, wants nothing to do with this bastard child who could complicate the bloodlines. Regal is inclined to ignore Fitz or maybe kick him when he sees him. King Shrewd has his own plans for the boy. He arranges for Fitz to be secretly trained by the King’s assassin because Fitz may have the family trait of magic that allows them to Skill, or hear the thoughts of, and sometimes influence, others.

While Fitz struggles with his aloneness, he tries to find ways to please those around him. But the royals are busy dealing with horrible raiders who are ravaging the coast line and even moving into the countryside of the territories under the King. Fitz has committed to be a “king’s man” but in the process of his growth he is outcast, ostracized, abused, and used for the King’s goals. The one true talent he has must remain hidden as it is despised the by one man he thinks is his friend. And meanwhile betrayal stalks close to home.

The story is told by an older Fitz in the form of a history of the Six Duchies under the King. The author pulls at the heartstrings of the reader (listener) for the abandoned and misused boy. There is a tone of depression in the story. I did struggle with Fitz’s attitude at times but his feelings and lack of perception at times is fitting for the beleaguered boy that he is. I enjoyed the distinct secondary characters, especially Burrich, Verity, the assassin, and the fool. I hope all of them will be in the second book which I found on sale at Chirp. I recommend this to fans of epic fantasy tales of adventure with a touch of magic.

Audio Notes: Paul Boehmer does a great job with the narration. He provides clear and distinct voices that fit the characters, the settings and the tone. I am looking forward to continuing the next book on audio.

Source: 6/3/19 June VIP free selection from Audiobooks.com. This qualifies for 2023TBR and 2023Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: The Nothing Girl by Jodi Taylor

I totally enjoyed this story of a young woman finding her inner strength.

The Nothing Girl
The Frogmorton Farm Series, Book 1
By: Jodi Taylor
Narrated by: Lucy Price-Lewis

Series: The Frogmorton Farm Series, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 47 mins
Release date: 03-03-15
Publisher: Headline Publishing Group
Genre: Coming of Age, Fantasy
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
Getting a life isn't always easy. And hanging on to it is even harder....
Jodi Taylor brings all her comic writing skills to this heartwarming tale of self-discovery.
Known as The Nothing Girl because of her severe stutter and chronically low self-confidence, Jenny Dove is only just prevented from ending it all by the sudden appearance of Thomas, a mystical golden horse only she can see. Under his guidance Jenny unexpectedly acquires a husband - the charming and chaotic Russell Checkland - and for her nothing will ever be the same again.With overprotective relatives on one hand and the world's most erratic spouse on the other, Jenny needs to become someone. And fast!
Fans of Jodi Taylor's best-selling Chronicles of St. Mary's series will adore the quirky humour in this new, contemporary novel. Jodi Taylor, International Woman of Mystery, spent some time working undercover for North Yorkshire County Library Service. Heavily disguised as the world's most incompetent facilities manager, she shifted dead dogs, fell out of mobile libraries, and spent far too much time in the gents' toilets. The idea to rewrite history first came to her while studying history A level at an evening class.
Just One Damned Thing After Another is her first novel and was originally self-published as an ebook; it was downloaded by more than 60,000 readers on Amazon.
©2014 Jodi Taylor (P)2015 Audible, Ltd

Review:
Jenny Dove lost her parents and has been raised by the ‘benevolence” of her aunt and uncle. As a young teen with a bad stutter and low self-confidence, Jenny felt like a ‘nothing’. She was ready to end her existence until Thomas, a golden horse appeared to her to intervene. Jenny struggled forward with the help of Thomas and, to everyone’s surprise, including her own, Jenny gets a proposal of marriage from the charming, if chaotic Russell.

Russell is a kind heart, often rescuing strays. After being spurned by Jenny’s beautiful, outgoing and vivacious cousin, Russell lost his art muse and tried to bury himself in a bottle … or four. Russell realizing that he can’t get back the woman he thought he loved, also knows that he needs to gain financial support for his deteriorating estate. Russell sees Jenny and the oppression that she live in under the over-protective control of her aunt. He decides that he can rescue Jenny and perhaps help his own situation.

The pair gets off to a very rocky start when Russell is late and drunk to the wedding. Slowly, with the continued guidance of Thomas, and the quiet encouragement of Russell, Jenny finds her own voice and the Nothing Girl steps out to become someone.

I do like Jodi Taylor’s distinct combination of real-life personalities shared in clear characters with quirky humor. I already liked Jenny and Thomas as I had listened to the novella, Little Donkey. Russell is a harder character to like, but his rescue of Jenny, even if careless and self-motivated, sets him on a path of better growth. I listened to this at a time when I needed a lighter, engaging listen. I recommend this to fans of an imaginative, character-driven story with humor.

Audio Notes: Lucy Price-Lewis does a wonderful job with the narration. Her British accent fits the characters for who she provided distinct voices. She also captures the emotional tone and humor of the story. Her presentation enhanced my enjoyment of the work.

Source: 7/30/2021 Sale $5.00 each at Audible. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Alphabet goals.

#NetGalley Audio Book Review: Megge of Bury Down by Rebecca Kightlinger

Megge is a complex character in this engaging story of healers ("good witches") in the middle ages.
Megge of Bury Down
The Bury Down Chronicles, Book One
by Rebecca Kightlinger
Narrated by Jan Cramer

Length: 8 hrs and 38 mins
Release date: 11-09-18
Publisher: Rowan Moon
Genre: Coming of Age, Historical Fantasy
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

In thirteenth century Cornwall, young Megge has just come of age to be apprenticed to her mother, the healer of Bury Down. But first, she must accept and vow to protect The Book of Seasons, an ancient tome that holds life-sustaining power harnessed centuries earlier by Murga, the first seer of Bury Down. At her vowtaking ceremony, yearning to accept her inheritance and take her place among her family's long line of healers and seers, Megge reaches for the book. When she touches it, she feels something writhe within it and becomes convinced that the book is cursed and that she too will be cursed if she accepts it.
Despite her mother's pleas to protect the book from the one who would usurp its power, Megge refuses to even look at it. But when a Blackfriar abbot arrives in the village claiming to be under orders to root out heretics, and imprisons the healer for refusing to turn over her "demon's book," will Megge finally summon the courage to take that vow?

Review:
Megge has been born into a family of healers. One line of the family has an ancient Book of Time and the other line has an ancient Book of Seasons. The books contain healing remedies and techniques and words of celestial wisdom written down by the women over the generations. Each new daughter is trained as an apprentice and prepared to take the vow of the women of Bury Down when they reach a certain age.

When Megge goes eagerly to her vowtaking ceremony she is frightened by a sense of evil and burning from the book. She refuses to touch the book again and chooses to follow a different family member who helps to train her first in shepherding and later in weaving. She knows her mother is disappointed in her but doesn’t realize that she is still being trained to take a role in the family legacy.

But some men seek the powers of the books and are willing to challenge the women as ‘witches’ doing the devil’s work in spite of the healing help they have provided in the community. A Blackfriar abbot arrives and is told by jealous young women to hunt out Megge’s mother and aunt. The confrontation puts Megge in a stressed situation as she will have to take some action if she wants to save her family.

The author takes a good portion of the story developing Megge’s character and adding the family history through story telling times. Megge is a young girl who wants to choose her own destiny, not realizing the significance of the family legacy. I liked Megge’s conflicted character and the strong female mentors who helped shape her and give her courage.

The author does a good job of building the mysticism and tension that could easily surround skilled healers in the middle ages. The story reaches a twisted climax and conclusion but leaves open issues for the sequel, The Lady of the Cliffs. I am not a huge fan of coming of the age stories and I am glad this is much more. I enjoyed this one and hope to get the second book at NetGalley too. I recommend this story to readers who like historical dramas with a touch of ancient runes and incantations.

Audio Notes: Jan Cramer is a British born narrator who delivers the Welsh accents wonderfully. The sound is lovely and added to my being immersed in the thirteenth century world. The narration enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 2020 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2020NetGalley and 2020 NetGalley Alphabet goals.

Audible Book Review: Nation by Terry Pratchett

I found this unusual and interesting.
Nation
By: Terry Pratchett
Narrated by: Stephen Briggs


Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 09-30-08
Publisher: HarperAudio
Genre: Coming of Age, Fantasy, Sci Fi
My Rating: Story 4.0 of 5.0
Audio: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
The sea has taken everything.
Thirteen-year-old Mau is the only one left after a giant wave sweeps his island village away. But when much is taken, something is returned, and somewhere in the jungle, Daphne - a girl from the other side of the globe - is the sole survivor of a ship destroyed by the same wave.
Together, the two confront the aftermath of catastrophe. And slowly, other refugees arrive - children without parents, mothers without babies, husbands without wives - all of them hungry and all of them frightened. As Mau and Daphne struggle to keep the small band safe and fed, they defy ancestral spirits, challenge death himself, and uncover a long-hidden secret that literally turns the world upside down....
Internationally revered storyteller Terry Pratchett presents a breathtaking adventure of survival and discovery, and of the courage required to forge new beliefs.
©2008 Terry and Lyn Pratchett (P)2008 HarperCollins Publishers

Review:
Mau is a young boy of The Nation, a tribe on a distant, island which rarely sees the white people from the main continents. Mau has just completed the canoe test which will move him into manhood when he returns to the main island. However, the island has just been stripped by a mighty tidal wave. When Mau returns he finds no other survivors and is faced with the terrible task of moving all of the dead to the waves for a proper burial.

Mau discovers a young white girl, a “ghost”, who is the sole survivor of a British ship wreck. The two are from totally different societies and initially cannot understand each other’s language. They begin with hand signals and drawings. After a few days more survivors drift ashore and one of the Nation has been exposed to the English so he helps breach the language difficulties.

Mau hears the voices of “the Grandfathers” in his head as he goes from questioning the Nation’s Gods to raging and fighting them. As the survivors slowly rebuild they must grapple with the concepts of nation, religion, culture, personal responsibilities and, of course, good and evil.

Daphne, the young girl, shows Mau attributes of bravery and kindness. She helps other survivors and is willing to learn ways of the Nation quickly. A surviving elder/priest objects to Mau challenging the Gods and tries to keep hidden old secrets of the anchor stones which represent the Gods. Mau and Daphne won’t let him stop them from searching and learning the history of the stones.

This is a fantasy which appears to be aimed at a younger audience. It deals with social and religious issues which I think would be difficult for young people to understand unless they read this with an adult. I believe it would be appropriate for education value to young adults.

There are many raving reviews for this book but I just didn’t have that strong response. Perhaps I was seeking simple entertainment and not a philosophical fantasy. I enjoyed the story as it develops although I found it slow moving at times. I did like how Mau and Daphne grew in their understandings of the worlds nearby and far away. I found it interesting how the author deftly handled their sweet friendship in light of the divides of their worlds.

I have had this on my Audible shelf for a long time and it is the first book by Prachett that I have read/listened to. The writing was strikingly beautiful and rich which added to my enjoyment. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy a philosophical discussion in a coming of age story.

Audio Notes: Stephen Briggs provides excellent narration for the story. He gives personality and fitting voices to each of the characters. His melodious voice enhanced the reading for me.

Source: Audible 2012 January Credit Purchase. This qualifies for 2018TBR, and Audiobook Challenges.

Book Review:Lost Coast Rocket (Mare Tranquillitatis Series Book 1) by Joel Horn

This is a fun and engaging coming of age, YA, Science Fiction.

Lost Coast Rocket (Mare Tranquillitatis Series Book 1)

by Joel Horn

File Size: 3036 KB
Print Length: 259 pages
Publication Date: July 5, 2016
ASIN: B01I27IR2A
Genre: Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Plausible Science Fiction, Adventure, Mystery, Love, Danger...
This story has it all!
Rockets are in Ken's DNA. At an early age, he develops a friendship with Akira, a boy who shares his passion for astronautics. While both are child prodigies, Akira does well in private school but Ken rebels against structured education. The unlikely duo draws together a small group of rocketeers, meeting in the shop behind Ken's house.
A tragic event at eight years of age haunts Ken through his growing-up years and shapes his destiny. As fate would have it, the girl at the center of the traumatic experience joins Ken's rocket club, unaware of their shared history. Will Ken tell Dawn that he is the boy she seeks?
As the group reaches their teen years, their rocket designs start pushing legal boundaries, culminating in an event that puts them in the crosshairs of an FBI investigator. To protect his friends and seek refuge from his past, Ken devises an escape plan that confounds the authorities and the world.
˃˃˃ Lost Coast Rocket is Book 1 in the Mare Tranquillitatis Series
The adventures continue in Hatching the Phoenix Egg and underlying mysteries are resolved.

Review:
Ken’s Grandfather was a NASA engineer and rocket builder. Even as a two-year-old Ken was fascinated helping Grandpa in his workshop. As toddlers Ken and Akira, another astronautic prodigy, meet in the park and become fast friends. Ken and Akira allow a handful of select friends in their ‘rocket’ building club: Carol, Ed, Jose, Kate and later, as teens, Dawn. Ken first met Dawn when he was eight and suffered through a tragic catastrophe. Ken feels guilty and refuses to tell Dawn that he is the boy that she has been seeking for years.

The activities of the teens exceed the legal requirements of the local rocket club but that doesn’t stop their efforts. Ultimately, they launch an unauthorized rocket to test the engine, based upon Ken’s Grandfather’s original design, and built in secret by Ken, Akira and their friends. The young rocketeers narrowly escape the FBI and begin to move off to college and their own dreams.

Ken is stressed and wandering but soon recognizes another key discovery. He makes arrangements to continue to protect himself and his friends. The group meet again for Akira and Carol’s wedding and this is the first time in several years that Dawn and Ken have been in touch. None of his friends really know what Ken has been up to although Akira and Carol soon learn the truth. Still, Ken refuses to tell Dawn and they separate again after misunderstandings which result in a terrible consequence.

Although some might think a story about young people and rockets would be boring, it is not at all. I was pulled in by the first chapters and the adventure held my interest. The science and technical details are explained sufficiently to follow implications even if I don’t understand quantum physics. The launch was exciting, just like a real rocket launch. The characters are interesting and the story is engaging and fun. There are some relationship messages that were presented well. Surprisingly I found the entire package captivating.

I received this title from the author.

Book Review: Second Chances - A "Chosen" Short Story by Jeff Altabef and Erynn Altabef

I felt this story raised more questions than it answered.
Second Chances - A "Chosen" Short Story
by Jeff Altabef and Erynn Altabef

File Size: 2734 KB
Print Length: 73 pages
Publisher: Evolved Publishing LLC; 1st edition (September 7, 2015)
ASIN: B0153VNHSM
Genre: Coming of Age, Supernatural
My Rating: 3.5 of 5.0

Precious and rare, second chances must be earned, but has Ayden done enough to win his?
[Short Story, Teen & Young Adult, Mystery and Thriller, Fantasy and Supernatural, American Indian Culture]
One night changes everything.
One chance meeting forces a young man to make a choice.
Will he do what’s right?
Or what’s easy?
Ayden is forced to remember old secrets he’d rather not reveal when his daughter returns home with questions about his shadowy past and dangerous legacy. Will she understand when he tells her about the night mysterious strangers came to his sleepy Arizona town looking for a local medicine man?
As his tale unfolds, Ayden pieces together the mystery that connected a recent murder, the strangers, and the medicine man’s bizarre behavior.
Will he allow old demons to rule him, or will he get a second chance?

Review:
Juliet is a teen who has always wondered about her father. Her mother refused to give any information but she has finally met him and demands that he explain his absence from her life.

Ayden had a rough childhood and ended up as a part of a gang. He had every intention of giving up his past and going straight so he could marry the girl he loved, the daughter of a rich man in town. Ayden hears strangers in town asking about a local medicine man and about his girl’s father. When he races off to warn them he stumbles onto a dark man with evil powers. Unexpected events that no one will believe, especially with his history, put Ayden in jail and out of his daughter's life for many years.

Her father’s tale of events helps Juliet to understand more about herself. Now she has to face a future knowing she has special abilities and enemies to find.

I am not sure if this is a ‘prequel’ or a short story between full books in the series. It is short at 74 pages and barely introduces the primary characters and mysterious legend, supernatural powers and evils that are involved. I felt sorry for Ayden who made some bad choices and got trapped by outside powers. I didn’t care for Juliet’s attitude of rebellion and disobedience. I liked the suspense and Native American mystery elements.

Although this serves as an introduction, I felt it was incomplete on its own. I didn’t feel I understood what was to happen when I finished the short story. I suspect it would make sense once the reader moves on to the first full book in the series but I really was left puzzling whether this had pulled me in enough to want to continue. I might be willing to read the next book if it was offered for review but I can’t say I was engaged enough to want to run out and buy it.

I received this book from the author in exchange for signing up for the newsletter. No review was required although encouraged.

Book Review: Dear Emma by Katie Heaney

This is rather charming and sweet – recommended for those who enjoy YA/coming of age.

Dear Emma
by Katie Heaney

File Size: 2151 KB
Print Length: 320 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (March 1, 2016)
Sold by: Hachette Book Group
ASIN: B0112T4ZLW
Genre: Coming of Age
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Harriet, the author of her college newspaper's pseudonymous student advice column "Dear Emma," is great at telling others what to do, dispensing wisdom for the lovelorn and lonely on her Midwestern campus. Somehow, though, she can't take her own advice, especially after Keith, the guy she's dating, blows her off completely. When Harriet discovers that Keith has started seeing the beautiful and intimidating Remy, she wants to hate her. But she can't help warming to Remy, who soon writes to "Dear Emma" asking for romantic advice.

Now Harriet has the perfect opportunity to take revenge on the person who broke her heart. But as she begins to doubt her own motivations and presumably faultless guidance, she's forced to question how much she really knows about love, friendship and well-meaning advice.

Review:
Emma is the pseudonym for Harriet, a sophomore at college. The advice she gives in the college newspaper is direct, logical and mostly fair. In spite of her skill on the articles, Harriet can't give, or take, the same smart advice for issues in her own life.

Harriet shares an apartment with two other sophomores, Mel and Logan. They share studying, partying, fashion tips and, of course, romantic support and advise.

Harriet meets Keith in a class and they begin to "hangout". Things seem to be going well until he stops texting and calling and pretty much ignores her in class. This turn of events is hard enough to deal with but then Harriet sees him out with Remy, a beautiful girl who is now working beside Harriet at the library. Should she warn her? Should she seek some type of revenge? Would she take Keith back if she could?

The writing is clear, crisp and the tone appropriate for college students. I did not immediately get the connection between Harriet and Emma but had to chuckle when I did. There are moments I smiled, although there were more moments that I shook my head and winced. It has been many years and I don’t think I relate well to high school or college romance anymore.

I think when I accepted this title for review I was hoping for more than teen or young adult dating angst. Unfortunately, my hopes were not realized. The best parts of this novel for me were the “Dear Emma” letters and replies. I also liked the ending that develops for Harriet and Remy. While going through the book I really wanted to get to the end and I didn’t like that attitude. It clearly reminds me why I don’t usually read coming of age or YA stories. They just don’t hold my attention.

In retrospect, as I am thinking of the story, I am thinking kind thoughts for a sweet book. I do think this is a good read for younger readers or those who do enjoy YA/coming of age stories.

I received this from Grand Central/Hachette through NetGalley for an honest review. This qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge and Alphabet Soup.