Audible Book Review: Black Sheep by Rachel Aukes

This was a satisfactory sci fi if not overwhelming.
Black Sheep
A Space Opera Adventure (Flight of the Javelin, Book 1)
By: Rachel Aukes
Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller

Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins
Release date: 06-16-20
Publisher: Aethon Audio
Genre: First Contact, Space Opera
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's summary
An alien ship. Stolen colonists. All Throttle wanted was a vacation....
Fifteen years into a 20-year voyage, war veteran Captain Throttle Reyne is looking forward to taking a break from dealing with malfunctions, glitches, and the hassles of monitoring 1,000 colonists in cryo-sleep.
But when her colony ship breaks down in the middle of nowhere, Throttle and her crew must leave the colonists behind to search for help. They find a ship that's not only missing a crew...it's clearly not from their star system.
It's the discovery of a lifetime. All they need to do is tow the mysterious vessel back to their colony ship for further study and Throttle won't ever have to work again. One problem. While they're away, the colony ship is stolen - with the colonists still on board.
Throttle gives chase to a lawless star system on the outer rim. To get their colonists back, they must take on the pirates and ganglords who will do anything - and sell anyone - to make a buck.
They play dirty. But Throttle and her crew play dirtier.
Strap on your restraints and experience the start of this new space-opera thrill ride. It's perfect for fans of Jay Allan, Jennifer Foehner Wells, and Star Wars.
©2020 Aethon Books (P)2020 Aethon Audio

Review:
Throttle and her crew have been managing to maintain 1,000 colonists in cryo-sleep while coping with malfunctions and glitches on their ship, the Gabriella, 15 years into a 20-year voyage. For a long time there have been rumors that there is a ghost or stowaway saboteur on the ship although the culprit has never been caught. Things go from troubled to disaster when the ship goes into complete services and power loss. The crew have to rush to move the colonist pods to a location to give them the best chance of survival while the crew goes out on a shuttle seeking help.

Once out in space the crew stumble across an alien ship that is apparently dead in the water. They approach with caution to find an AI that has maintained the ship for hundreds of years but needs just a little assistance to come back alive. Once they are able to get more power to the AI, dubbed “Rusty”, the AI is able to begin to give the crew help, including telling them that the Gabriella has been moved from its location.

The Gabriella has been hijacked by pirates in space and Throttle follows the ships into an unexpected and ‘gang controlled’ space station. Not only will Throttle and her team need to figure out how to get out of the clutches of the warring sibling leaders, but they must rescue the colonists before they are sold into mining slavery.

Throttle is a strong character as a paraplegic with no use of her legs without the special braces her crew helps to maintain. Her crew includes a good mix with a former pirate, a medical officer, a recalcitrant machinist, a computer hacker, and an added warrior. Throttle earned her name due to her full-on attitude and her crew gives her the best support. There is full-on action and adventure with one escapade after another needed to succeed in the survival of the team and colonists. I enjoyed the action and escapes and will look forward to reading more by this author. I recommend this to fans of fast-paced space action.

Audio Notes: Emily Woo Zeller is a really good narrator. She provides clear voices and on target energy to keep up with the pace of the story. The narration added to my enjoyment of this story.

Source: 12/27/2020 Audible Two for One Credit Sale. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook and my 2023Color goals.

Audible Book Reviews: Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

This is a wonderful fantasy. I have to get book two.

Six Crimson Cranes
Six Crimson Cranes, Book 1
By: Elizabeth Lim
Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller

Length: 12 hrs and 54 mins
Release date: 07-06-21
Publisher: Listening Library
Genre: Fairy Tale & Folklore Adaptations, Teen & Young Adult
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
A princess in exile, a shapeshifting dragon, six enchanted cranes, and an unspeakable curse....
Drawing from fairy tales and East Asian folklore, this original fantasy from the author of Spin the Dawn is perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone.
"A dazzling fairytale full of breathtaking storytelling." (Stephanie Garber, New York Times best-selling author of Caraval)
Shiori'anma, the only princess of Kiata, has a secret. Forbidden magic runs through her veins. Normally she conceals it well, but on the morning of her betrothal ceremony, Shiori loses control. At first, her mistake seems like a stroke of luck, forestalling the wedding she never wanted. But it also catches the attention of, Raikama her stepmother.
A sorceress in her own right, Raikama banishes the young princess, turning her brothers into cranes. She warns Shiori that she must speak of it to no one: for with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die.
Penniless, voiceless, and alone, Shiori searches for her brothers, and uncovers a dark conspiracy to seize the throne. Only Shiori can set the kingdom to rights, but to do so she must place her trust in a paper bird, a mercurial dragon, and the very boy she fought so hard not to marry. And she must embrace the magic she's been taught all her life to forswear - no matter what the cost.
Weaving together elements of The Wild Swans, Cinderella, the legend of Chang E, and the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, Elizabeth Lim has crafted a fantasy like no other, and one that will stay with listeners long after they've turned listened to the last minute.
"A stunning remake of a fairytale. Six Crimson Cranes is the perfect blend of whimsy and ferociousness, with twists and turns that will tug at your heartstrings." (Chloe Gong, New York Times best-selling author of These Violent Delights)
"Fast-paced excitement is balanced with a satisfyingly intricate plot that weaves in elements from Western fairy tales and East Asian folklore." (SLJ, starred review)
"A richly imagined landscape...vibrant, fast-paced." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)
©2021 Elizabeth Lim (P)2021 Listening Library

Review:
Princess Shiori hides that she has magic skills in a country where magic is forbidden. She loves her brothers, but they do not know her secret. Her only real friend is Kiki, a paper bird she has brought to life. On the morning scheduled for her to meet her betrothed, she jumps into the lake. As she is drowning, she is alarmed to fall into the hands of a dragon. She awakens to learn she was saved by the dragon. She develops a secret friendship with Seryu who offers to train her to use her magic.

Shiori suspects her stepmother, Raikama, is keeping a secret too. When Shiori discovers that Raikama is a powerful sorceress, Shiori runs to her brothers to seek their help to tell their father. Before they can get to their father, their stepmother turns the six brothers into swans. She then curses Shiori so that she will not be recognized as a princess and if she speaks, her brothers will die.

Shiori finds herself alone, miles away from home, with a bowl on her head to cover her eyes, her magic blocked, and unable to speak. She struggles to find a job, first to eat and then to escape to find her brothers. She learns of a conspiracy but cannot speak about it. After an attack, she is rescued by a young man who takes her to the kingdom of her betrothed, Takkan. She is shocked to learn the true identity of this young man.

Shiori cannot tell others the dangers that surround them. She has to rely on the help of Kiki, her dragon friend, Seryu, who has reason to be upset with her, and her betrothed who is under attack through betrayal.

Shiori isn’t particularly likeable at the beginning of the story but she begins to grow in character when she is cursed. I liked the dragon Seryu and how he interacted with her. As the story progressed, I enjoyed the sweet, protective character of Takkan and how the romance developed. There are common enemies and twists to be discovered in who is friend and who is foe.

I was pleasantly surprised by this YA story. There were myths woven into the story which added to the interest. The ending didn’t quite go where I hoped, but ended at a point that requires more danger and adventure for Shiori. Now I need to get book 2. I recommend this to fans of fairy tale adaptations.

Audio Notes: Emily Woo Zeller is a skilled narrator. The voices are distinct, and Zeller delivers a strong performance with these characters. The narration added to my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 6/17/2022 May Audible Credit. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, a2023Number, and 2023Color goals.