The premise was pretty good ... an alternative history/mil-scifi/space opera where Nazi Germany wins WWII in an alternate universe ... and I thought tThe premise was pretty good ... an alternative history/mil-scifi/space opera where Nazi Germany wins WWII in an alternate universe ... and I thought the narration was pretty decent given the material he had to work with ... but this book just don't work for me. First ... way too much passive descriptive blocks and not nearly enough doing. This is aggravated by an obvious disconnect to many of the topics so described ... speaking as a former naval pilot and engineer ... very little of the story made sense to me, making the required suspension of disbelief all the more difficult. Even more so was the feeling that most of the story was just deus ex machina. But I can usually gut through that ... what made this a DNF was the excessive focus on the bad guy Nazis where the almost ghoulish treatment of their thoughts and behavior seemed specifically designed to induce complete disgust on the part of the reader ... It worked :-(
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
First and foremost I really liked the paired narration by PoV (John Watson aPerformance: **** Story: ***
Another Fantastic Addition to the [Pseudo]Canon
First and foremost I really liked the paired narration by PoV (John Watson and Lucy). The over all performance was fantastic and makes a good mystery adventure story much better (you can also get the book on kindle unlimited and have Alexa read it, but I think the audible narration is worth the premium). This is my 5th Lucy Mystery, so I am obviously a fan of the series ...
The story builds on the idea that a gathering of elites for the Queen’s Jubilee celebration makes a very tempting target for international intrigue (with a presumed nod to Guy Fox and the Gun Power Plot). Rather than just stumbling into the mystery this time, Lucy, as Sherlocks previously unknown daughter, is recruited by the powers that be to help with uncovering the plot. Like many of the Lucy stories, there is a mystery man along with the expected misdirections and betrayals. While you could read these little adventures in any order, there are some developing themes that work better when read in order … not the least of which is the developing relationship of Lucy with Jack and Becky that was surprisingly sweet. However, the mystery portion may not work for hard core Sherlock fans as he as his prodigious perceptions stay pretty much in the background (so this is actually similar to the Enola Holmes movies that I also find very enjoyable).
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
First and foremost I really liked the paired narration by PoV (John Watson and Lucy). The over all performance was fantastic and makes a good mystery adventure story much better (you can also get the book on kindle unlimited and have Alexa read it, but I think the audible narration is worth the premium). This is my 5th Lucy Mystery, so I am obviously a fan of the series ...
The story builds on the idea that a gathering of elites for the Queen’s Jubilee celebration makes a very tempting target for international intrigue (with a presumed nod to Guy Fox and the Gun Power Plot). Rather than just stumbling into the mystery this time, Lucy, as Sherlocks previously unknown daughter, is recruited by the powers that be to help with uncovering the plot. Like many of the Lucy stories, there is a mystery man along with the expected misdirections and betrayals. While you could read these little adventures in any order, there are some developing themes that work better when read in order … not the least of which is the developing relationship of Lucy with Jack and Becky that was surprisingly sweet. However, the mystery portion may not work for hard core Sherlock fans as he as his prodigious perceptions stay pretty much in the background (so this is actually similar to the Enola Holmes movies that I also find very enjoyable).
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
1) I love mysteries stories (+1) and Agatha Christie writes some of the best classic in the genre (+1) where all the characters are interestiOkay ...
1) I love mysteries stories (+1) and Agatha Christie writes some of the best classic in the genre (+1) where all the characters are interesting and intelligent (+1)
2) The performance is one of the best I have encountered (+1) ... making this book a 7 out of 5
Over the course of 8+ hrs you are treated to an evolving mystery that will keep you fully engaged and constantly guessing about what is really going on all the way to the end with an mysterious crime boss vs scotland yard and a dashing hero that nobody really knows ... it's a fun ride!
I was given this free advance listener copy (ALC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#TheSecretOfChimneys #AudibookFree
Merged review:
Okay ...
1) I love mysteries stories (+1) and Agatha Christie writes some of the best classic in the genre (+1) where all the characters are interesting and intelligent (+1)
2) The performance is one of the best I have encountered (+1) ... making this book a 7 out of 5
Over the course of 8+ hrs you are treated to an evolving mystery that will keep you fully engaged and constantly guessing about what is really going on all the way to the end with an mysterious crime boss vs scotland yard and a dashing hero that nobody really knows ... it's a fun ride!
I was given this free advance listener copy (ALC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
A young woman grows up with tales of dragon readers from her Nanna while everyone else knows they Book: *** Performance: ****
A Simple YA Dragon Fantasy
A young woman grows up with tales of dragon readers from her Nanna while everyone else knows they are just a myth. That is until Cora meets a dragon face to face and is surprised that she can understand them … sort of. The story is a YA that is fairly par for the genre, so there is little nuance or complexity to the characters; even the plot is pretty straight forward and predictable. And like many teens, Cora can be overly dramatic, whiney and stubborn … traits that lead to several remarkably questionably decisions with consequences most of us could see coming. However, this is the first of the series, so our heroine has a lot of room to grow, World building is solid if somewhat basic. Character development is limited to the MC more or less, with almost basic caricatures of villains (from a teenager perspective at least). Although it follows nearly every dragon rider storyline that I have previously encountered in the broad strokes, there are still a few purposes and interesting twists that combined with a solid narration make this a little better that it would be on its own … and wholesome enough to maybe retain its relative feel good aspect throughout the series. I enjoyed it enough to look at the sequel.
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
A young woman grows up with tales of dragon readers from her Nanna while everyone else knows they are just a myth. That is until Cora meets a dragon face to face and is surprised that she can understand them … sort of. The story is a YA that is fairly par for the genre, so there is little nuance or complexity to the characters; even the plot is pretty straight forward and predictable. And like many teens, Cora can be overly dramatic, whiney and stubborn … traits that lead to several remarkably questionably decisions with consequences most of us could see coming. However, this is the first of the series, so our heroine has a lot of room to grow, World building is solid if somewhat basic. Character development is limited to the MC more or less, with almost basic caricatures of villains (from a teenager perspective at least). Although it follows nearly every dragon rider storyline that I have previously encountered in the broad strokes, there are still a few purposes and interesting twists that combined with a solid narration make this a little better that it would be on its own … and wholesome enough to maybe retain its relative feel good aspect throughout the series. I enjoyed it enough to look at the sequel.
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 CoBook: ***** Performance: ***
The Evolution of Christian Love
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor 13:13)
This is a review on how the understanding of the Command to Love as a Christian vocation has evolved since the founding of the faith centuries past. The other begins with how love is portrayed in the Hebrew scriptures (aka Old Testament), focusing on the aspects of ahab (broadly between persons) and hesed (compassion and mercy). Examples are taken from Ruth, Tobit and Song of Solomon among others. Dr Brady follows that up with another two (2) part chapter on Agape (Greek) and Caritas (Latin) in the New Testament (the latter coming from a Latin translation of the Greek). From there, we start to consider the various theologians and philosophers who were the thought leaders of their time, such as St Augustine (another two part chapter), three (3) medieval mystics (Bernard of Clairvaux, Julian of Norwich and Hadewijch), Courtly Love poets such as Andreas Capellanus in response to the mystical love movement … eventually bring us to the present time after considering St Thomas Aquinas and Martin Luther. Our modern understanding was greatly influenced by 19th century theologians such as Søren Kierkegaard, Anders Nygren, Reinhold Niebuhr; and 20th century activists such as Martin Luther King Jr, Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II; to finish with Jules Toner and Gene Outka.
Dr Brady skillfully weaves in all of these sources to come to three (3) general propositions about Christian Love.
1) God Is Love 2) Humans Love 3) The Full meaning of human love is found within the full participation in God’s Love.
In other words, we have the Lover, the Beloved and the Love shared between them (one of the concepts frequently used to explain the concept of the Christian Trinity).
The chapters and sections in this work are: Preface 0.1 - I Love Therefore I Am (7m) Chapter 1.2 - Love In the Old Testament (70m) Chapter 1.3 - Romantic Love (72m) Chapter 2.4 - Love in the New Testament (73m) Chapter 3.5 - St Augustine (106m) Chapter 3.6 - Ordered Love (94m) Chapter 4.7 - Mystical Love (74m) Chapter 5.8 - Troubadours and Troubled Romance (39m) Chapter 6.9 - St Thomas Aquinas (50m) Chapter 7.10 - Martin Luther (40m) Chapter 8.11 - Christian Love is Sacrificial Love (43m) Chapter 9.12 - Love Activists (84m) Chapter 10.13 - Self Regard, Other Regard and Mutuality (70m) Chapter 11.14 - Reflections on Christian Love (29m)
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#ChristianLove #FreeAudiobookCodes
Merged review:
Book: ***** Performance: ***
The Evolution of Christian Love
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor 13:13)
This is a review on how the understanding of the Command to Love as a Christian vocation has evolved since the founding of the faith centuries past. The other begins with how love is portrayed in the Hebrew scriptures (aka Old Testament), focusing on the aspects of ahab (broadly between persons) and hesed (compassion and mercy). Examples are taken from Ruth, Tobit and Song of Solomon among others. Dr Brady follows that up with another two (2) part chapter on Agape (Greek) and Caritas (Latin) in the New Testament (the latter coming from a Latin translation of the Greek). From there, we start to consider the various theologians and philosophers who were the thought leaders of their time, such as St Augustine (another two part chapter), three (3) medieval mystics (Bernard of Clairvaux, Julian of Norwich and Hadewijch), Courtly Love poets such as Andreas Capellanus in response to the mystical love movement … eventually bring us to the present time after considering St Thomas Aquinas and Martin Luther. Our modern understanding was greatly influenced by 19th century theologians such as Søren Kierkegaard, Anders Nygren, Reinhold Niebuhr; and 20th century activists such as Martin Luther King Jr, Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II; to finish with Jules Toner and Gene Outka.
Dr Brady skillfully weaves in all of these sources to come to three (3) general propositions about Christian Love.
1) God Is Love 2) Humans Love 3) The Full meaning of human love is found within the full participation in God’s Love.
In other words, we have the Lover, the Beloved and the Love shared between them (one of the concepts frequently used to explain the concept of the Christian Trinity).
The chapters and sections in this work are: Preface 0.1 - I Love Therefore I Am (7m) Chapter 1.2 - Love In the Old Testament (70m) Chapter 1.3 - Romantic Love (72m) Chapter 2.4 - Love in the New Testament (73m) Chapter 3.5 - St Augustine (106m) Chapter 3.6 - Ordered Love (94m) Chapter 4.7 - Mystical Love (74m) Chapter 5.8 - Troubadours and Troubled Romance (39m) Chapter 6.9 - St Thomas Aquinas (50m) Chapter 7.10 - Martin Luther (40m) Chapter 8.11 - Christian Love is Sacrificial Love (43m) Chapter 9.12 - Love Activists (84m) Chapter 10.13 - Self Regard, Other Regard and Mutuality (70m) Chapter 11.14 - Reflections on Christian Love (29m)
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
With a solid [academic] narration, this book explores the Biblical foundations for confession and how it evolved into what we see today. The primary eWith a solid [academic] narration, this book explores the Biblical foundations for confession and how it evolved into what we see today. The primary emphasis is within the Protestant Reformation (specifically the Anglican tradition) and how it contrasts with the Sacrament of Reconciliation within the Catholic tradition. In particular, he takes exception with the idea that auricular confession to a priest should be common/routine and the function of the priest (rejecting the idea that the priest is functioning en persona christi). What was surprising to me was the call to restore "private" confession to the individual against whom the trespass/sin was committed ...
I was given this free review copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#ConfessYourSins #AudibookFree
Merged review:
With a solid [academic] narration, this book explores the Biblical foundations for confession and how it evolved into what we see today. The primary emphasis is within the Protestant Reformation (specifically the Anglican tradition) and how it contrasts with the Sacrament of Reconciliation within the Catholic tradition. In particular, he takes exception with the idea that auricular confession to a priest should be common/routine and the function of the priest (rejecting the idea that the priest is functioning en persona christi). What was surprising to me was the call to restore "private" confession to the individual against whom the trespass/sin was committed ...
I was given this free review copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
I generally don’t care much for short stories; however, in audiobook form, these becomBook: *** Performance: *****
A Great Collection of Quick Mysteries
I generally don’t care much for short stories; however, in audiobook form, these become fun to listen to when taking a quick break (almost like listening to old time radio programs) … and my enjoyment was increased dramatically by the excellent narration through out. And of course this is from one of the masters in noir/mysteries, so what’s not to like here. As might be expected, there are a mixed bag of adventures, but over all I would give the work 4 stars and a recommendation for all fans of classic mysteries.
1. The Adventure of “The Western Star” **** 2. The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor **** 3. The Adventure of the Cheap Flat ** 4. The Mystery of Hunter’s Lodge *** 5. The Million Dollar Bond Robbery **** 6. The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb *** 7. The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan **** 8. The Kidnapped Prime Minister ** 9. The Disappearance of Mr Davenheim **** 10 The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman **** 11. The Case of the Missing Will **
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#PoirotInvestigates #FreeAudiobookCodes
Merged review:
Book: *** Performance: *****
A Great Collection of Quick Mysteries
I generally don’t care much for short stories; however, in audiobook form, these become fun to listen to when taking a quick break (almost like listening to old time radio programs) … and my enjoyment was increased dramatically by the excellent narration through out. And of course this is from one of the masters in noir/mysteries, so what’s not to like here. As might be expected, there are a mixed bag of adventures, but over all I would give the work 4 stars and a recommendation for all fans of classic mysteries.
1. The Adventure of “The Western Star” **** 2. The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor **** 3. The Adventure of the Cheap Flat ** 4. The Mystery of Hunter’s Lodge *** 5. The Million Dollar Bond Robbery **** 6. The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb *** 7. The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan **** 8. The Kidnapped Prime Minister ** 9. The Disappearance of Mr Davenheim **** 10 The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman **** 11. The Case of the Missing Will **
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
It’s a space opera, so the normal science rules do not apply (except where convenient). The Book: *** Performance: ****
A Simple [Christian] Space Opera
It’s a space opera, so the normal science rules do not apply (except where convenient). The story really revolves around a few [earth] warships out by Titan and a mysterious girl at the center of a conspiracy that strains credulity … but it’s an opera, so that is ok. In fact, this is really a mash-up with the Christian fantasy genre, and it you judge it strictly on that, it was actually a pretty good story. The good guys are really good and the bad guys are really bad and there are a handful of traitors just in it for the 30 silver. While there is a little preaching here, it is generally not forced and logically fits in the storyline … so kudos for that; however, like many in the genre, there really isn’t a lot of constancy here (or if there was, I missed it). The warships are armed with cannons … which seem to actually be mass projectors (eg. canon balls?) with segregated gun decks (one side for women and one side for men … and not patty fingers if you please, at least without a chaperone. Acceleration and maneuver are done via magic hand waving and comms are instantaneous using EM tech.
Basically think "Master and Commander" in space and you get the feel. Of course the whole watch bells was way off with a bell system that was totally incomprehensible even after it was explained. For the record, in naval terms a watch would generally be 4 hrs with one bell each 30 mins (so 8 bells is the change of watch). A dog watch is designed to sift the watch rotation … and is half a normal watch (you could also go the other way a lengthen the watch (sometimes know as a Swedish watch rotation). Of course the is a limited cast of characters driving these capital ships, so when one character is assigned as the cook for the entire crew, she whips up burgers and fries in a fry pan all by herself … learning how to do this from scratch in a little less than 2 hrs. Refer to rule 1 … it’s a space opera … learn to let go (still working on that myself).
The audio production is actually pretty good … with sound effects and good voice differential. In fact, it is the narration that pulls this book up from a slightly subpar feel good story filled with mary sues into the realm of being a fun, if fairly silly, listen. The background music can get a little over dramatic and annoying at times, but it does help take you mind of the speechifying and moralizing goin’ on (sure … I have a quirky sense of humor and this just tickled it all the time … no sure if that was intentional so YMMV). It was really only a problem during the long stretch where the hero catches up on family emails that droned on so long I almost started skipping sections until it got better. Over all, I enjoyed it enough to round up a star.
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#ADiplomatOfMars #FreeAudiobkFacebkGrp
Merged review:
Book: *** Performance: ****
A Simple [Christian] Space Opera
It’s a space opera, so the normal science rules do not apply (except where convenient). The story really revolves around a few [earth] warships out by Titan and a mysterious girl at the center of a conspiracy that strains credulity … but it’s an opera, so that is ok. In fact, this is really a mash-up with the Christian fantasy genre, and it you judge it strictly on that, it was actually a pretty good story. The good guys are really good and the bad guys are really bad and there are a handful of traitors just in it for the 30 silver. While there is a little preaching here, it is generally not forced and logically fits in the storyline … so kudos for that; however, like many in the genre, there really isn’t a lot of constancy here (or if there was, I missed it). The warships are armed with cannons … which seem to actually be mass projectors (eg. canon balls?) with segregated gun decks (one side for women and one side for men … and not patty fingers if you please, at least without a chaperone. Acceleration and maneuver are done via magic hand waving and comms are instantaneous using EM tech.
Basically think "Master and Commander" in space and you get the feel. Of course the whole watch bells was way off with a bell system that was totally incomprehensible even after it was explained. For the record, in naval terms a watch would generally be 4 hrs with one bell each 30 mins (so 8 bells is the change of watch). A dog watch is designed to sift the watch rotation … and is half a normal watch (you could also go the other way a lengthen the watch (sometimes know as a Swedish watch rotation). Of course the is a limited cast of characters driving these capital ships, so when one character is assigned as the cook for the entire crew, she whips up burgers and fries in a fry pan all by herself … learning how to do this from scratch in a little less than 2 hrs. Refer to rule 1 … it’s a space opera … learn to let go (still working on that myself).
The audio production is actually pretty good … with sound effects and good voice differential. In fact, it is the narration that pulls this book up from a slightly subpar feel good story filled with mary sues into the realm of being a fun, if fairly silly, listen. The background music can get a little over dramatic and annoying at times, but it does help take you mind of the speechifying and moralizing goin’ on (sure … I have a quirky sense of humor and this just tickled it all the time … no sure if that was intentional so YMMV). It was really only a problem during the long stretch where the hero catches up on family emails that droned on so long I almost started skipping sections until it got better. Over all, I enjoyed it enough to round up a star.
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
The final installment of The Impossible trilogy where our dynamic duo of besties make there way to the rebel camp/high school where we finally get to the big reveal of the entire point of the 3 books. All previously noted problems with the series remain; however, if you are here for the drama, you are in the right place. The story unfolds in a fairly predictable manner ... until you finally get to the hero's end (after completely ignoring the rebel context in favor of an obstructionist element to just pass the time). Ultimately I am sure this series will work for some, but the lack of any realistic world building and/or consistant context was definitely an issue for me, so despite the descent narration, the overall score for this and the entire series remains at a 3 (rounded up) and therefore recommended for casual entertainment when you find yourself bored and looking for a distraction.
The final installment of The Impossible trilogy where our dynamic duo of besties make there way to the rebel camp/high school where we finally get to the big reveal of the entire point of the 3 books. All previously noted problems with the series remain; however, if you are here for the drama, you are in the right place. The story unfolds in a fairly predictable manner ... until you finally get to the hero's end (after completely ignoring the rebel context in favor of an obstructionist element to just pass the time). Ultimately I am sure this series will work for some, but the lack of any realistic world building and/or consistant context was definitely an issue for me, so despite the descent narration, the overall score for this and the entire series remains at a 3 (rounded up) and therefore recommended for casual entertainment when you find yourself bored and looking for a distraction.
It’s a Space Opera … so a certain level of silliness is expected … however, theBook: ** Performance: ***
The [Force of] Non-belief is Strong In This One
It’s a Space Opera … so a certain level of silliness is expected … however, there is a point of diminishing returns and that point is in the rear view for this story. The classic elements (tropes) of a good story are there but are so mechanically stitched together that it never really takes on a life of its own. So we get a human stellar union (republic) that comes under threat from mysterious (Aternien) super-humans, aka post-humans (Sith anybody?). Their only hope is a couple of augmented humans (Jedi) wielding plasma swords (light sabers), their AI gopher bots (droids) and their former weapons platform (aka long sword spaceship) that was scuttled and abandoned (but apparently just needs a few patches and an OS to be good to go) after the previous war ended in an armistice (that being the perfect time to forget how to actually fight a stellar war). The one (damsel) human intelligence officer on the team is apparently there to serve as a foil to show just how much the augmented humans are over the top “Mary Sue(s)” … a fact that the reader is constantly reminded of ad nauseam … oh and the obvious shipping potential. So we have a team of three (3) good guys vs a handful of Uber bad guys in which was intended to be an Epic story, but there is not a single minion or supporting character in sight … and that is as good as it gets.
The character voices are pretty good and captured the witty banter well; however, the (overly dramatic) narrative text between that didn’t work for me. Still … it was good enough to improve my enjoyment of the story (at least a little) and enabled me to ignore some of the over explanation of the obvious as well as basic errors that would otherwise make no sense … such as a statement that ballistic rounds were unable to penetrate skin that was as solid as lead (which actually can be cut with a butter knife) … of shattered glass from a space shuttle cockpit … directing a massive warship (that maneuvers like a craft with a fraction of its mass) in a space battle with just three people … a rank of Major in a space Admiralty … nanites are basically magic plot armor … et al.
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#TheBigFour #FreeAudiobookCodes #KindleUnlimited
Merged review:
Book: ** Performance: ***
The [Force of] Non-belief is Strong In This One
It’s a Space Opera … so a certain level of silliness is expected … however, there is a point of diminishing returns and that point is in the rear view for this story. The classic elements (tropes) of a good story are there but are so mechanically stitched together that it never really takes on a life of its own. So we get a human stellar union (republic) that comes under threat from mysterious (Aternien) super-humans, aka post-humans (Sith anybody?). Their only hope is a couple of augmented humans (Jedi) wielding plasma swords (light sabers), their AI gopher bots (droids) and their former weapons platform (aka long sword spaceship) that was scuttled and abandoned (but apparently just needs a few patches and an OS to be good to go) after the previous war ended in an armistice (that being the perfect time to forget how to actually fight a stellar war). The one (damsel) human intelligence officer on the team is apparently there to serve as a foil to show just how much the augmented humans are over the top “Mary Sue(s)” … a fact that the reader is constantly reminded of ad nauseam … oh and the obvious shipping potential. So we have a team of three (3) good guys vs a handful of Uber bad guys in which was intended to be an Epic story, but there is not a single minion or supporting character in sight … and that is as good as it gets.
The character voices are pretty good and captured the witty banter well; however, the (overly dramatic) narrative text between that didn’t work for me. Still … it was good enough to improve my enjoyment of the story (at least a little) and enabled me to ignore some of the over explanation of the obvious as well as basic errors that would otherwise make no sense … such as a statement that ballistic rounds were unable to penetrate skin that was as solid as lead (which actually can be cut with a butter knife) … of shattered glass from a space shuttle cockpit … directing a massive warship (that maneuvers like a craft with a fraction of its mass) in a space battle with just three people … a rank of Major in a space Admiralty … nanites are basically magic plot armor … et al.
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
What happens if 7 of the most critical metals suddenly “rust” into nothing but “ash?” It was aBook: ** Performance: ****
An Apocalyptic Military Fantasy
What happens if 7 of the most critical metals suddenly “rust” into nothing but “ash?” It was an interesting premise and the author infers that the story is based upon actual science … so let get this out of the way up front. The science doesn’t work like that; but it is the details of the science that trip up the plot, so it was relatively easy to give it a pass. What remains is a fairly decent military fantasy as the MC drives the almost non-stop action toward overcoming the contagion unleashed by a bioterrorist looking to “reset” humanity. The the primary plot is to figure out what the disease actually are (with a few head fakes thrown in) and then engineer a solution to save a world that has already burned down around them? Don't think about that too hard, you'll get a cramp. There is of course the requisite “hot” female spec ops character that drives this rather typical male fantasy, along with a few supporting characters to make this a character driven story … which also means we get a fair amount of navel gazing by the MC … but not enough to actually derail the fun. Unfortunately for me the low brow humor and 'good ole boy' euphemisms does get a bit old by the end. Still, with 14 hours of near nonstop action it’s worth a listen.
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#Metal #FreeAudiobookCodes
Merged review:
Book: ** Performance: ****
An Apocalyptic Military Fantasy
What happens if 7 of the most critical metals suddenly “rust” into nothing but “ash?” It was an interesting premise and the author infers that the story is based upon actual science … so let get this out of the way up front. The science doesn’t work like that; but it is the details of the science that trip up the plot, so it was relatively easy to give it a pass. What remains is a fairly decent military fantasy as the MC drives the almost non-stop action toward overcoming the contagion unleashed by a bioterrorist looking to “reset” humanity. The the primary plot is to figure out what the disease actually are (with a few head fakes thrown in) and then engineer a solution to save a world that has already burned down around them? Don't think about that too hard, you'll get a cramp. There is of course the requisite “hot” female spec ops character that drives this rather typical male fantasy, along with a few supporting characters to make this a character driven story … which also means we get a fair amount of navel gazing by the MC … but not enough to actually derail the fun. Unfortunately for me the low brow humor and 'good ole boy' euphemisms does get a bit old by the end. Still, with 14 hours of near nonstop action it’s worth a listen.
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
This is a difficult book to review. The initial publisher’s blurb was very interesting; hoBook: *** Performance: ***
An interesting if confusing fantasy
This is a difficult book to review. The initial publisher’s blurb was very interesting; however, the book struggled to deliver on that promise in several areas. Perhaps the most significant critique would the the overwhelming tendency to describe verse show that made it story something akin to reading an encyclopedia. There were long sections of data dumps that, while vaguely interesting, were also boring. The undifferentiated voices in the narration didn’t help with that as each chapter seemed to bleed into each other. There were for PoV hijinx as well where for some reason the storyline following the witch Danika was told by her bard companion where Edgar told his own story and Thaddeus had more of an anonymous narrator. Not a big deal … but when you title your chapters on the character PoV and then not tell it from their perspective … I found it to be a tad disorientating. Then there is the execution. The basic idea is that science stopped working, but the way that was actually done was extremely inconsistent and also confusing. It was not until the end that it started to makes sense and frankly my wife had already given up on the book by then. I did manage to stick it out until the end though and I found that the story does get better as it evolves.
The basic plot revolves around three (3) characters as they try to figure out their “post-science” world. Edgar is the science guy and has to totally reinvent himself after everything he knows no longer governs how the world works. For the most part, he drifts around the Washington DC area until he eventually aligns with the anti-magic (formerly known as science) faction and slowly corrects and adds nuance to the idea that science has failed. Along the way, we see a third faction that also seems to be opposed to the new world order … religion … and as expected, it was not portrayed in the best light. Danika is an earth witch in the Connecticut/NYC area and is basically on a quest (accompanied by her companion bard/narrator Jaskier wannabe) to make sure the evils of science don’t come back (as can be imagined, there is a lot of overly simplified pontificating by both sides). Thaddeus is the last character and arguable the most interesting … since he is over 1000 years old and a survivor from the original fall of magic to modernity. For this book, he adds a few interesting side quests but no real help in advances the plot … of which there is a minor resolution at the end as well as a huge epilogue and setup for the sequel. Over all it was a super light, if mildly entertaining, story that struggles to rise above the standard fantasy tropes.
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#RiseTheQuantamancer #FreeAudiobookCodes
Merged review:
Book: *** Performance: ***
An interesting if confusing fantasy
This is a difficult book to review. The initial publisher’s blurb was very interesting; however, the book struggled to deliver on that promise in several areas. Perhaps the most significant critique would the the overwhelming tendency to describe verse show that made it story something akin to reading an encyclopedia. There were long sections of data dumps that, while vaguely interesting, were also boring. The undifferentiated voices in the narration didn’t help with that as each chapter seemed to bleed into each other. There were for PoV hijinx as well where for some reason the storyline following the witch Danika was told by her bard companion where Edgar told his own story and Thaddeus had more of an anonymous narrator. Not a big deal … but when you title your chapters on the character PoV and then not tell it from their perspective … I found it to be a tad disorientating. Then there is the execution. The basic idea is that science stopped working, but the way that was actually done was extremely inconsistent and also confusing. It was not until the end that it started to makes sense and frankly my wife had already given up on the book by then. I did manage to stick it out until the end though and I found that the story does get better as it evolves.
The basic plot revolves around three (3) characters as they try to figure out their “post-science” world. Edgar is the science guy and has to totally reinvent himself after everything he knows no longer governs how the world works. For the most part, he drifts around the Washington DC area until he eventually aligns with the anti-magic (formerly known as science) faction and slowly corrects and adds nuance to the idea that science has failed. Along the way, we see a third faction that also seems to be opposed to the new world order … religion … and as expected, it was not portrayed in the best light. Danika is an earth witch in the Connecticut/NYC area and is basically on a quest (accompanied by her companion bard/narrator Jaskier wannabe) to make sure the evils of science don’t come back (as can be imagined, there is a lot of overly simplified pontificating by both sides). Thaddeus is the last character and arguable the most interesting … since he is over 1000 years old and a survivor from the original fall of magic to modernity. For this book, he adds a few interesting side quests but no real help in advances the plot … of which there is a minor resolution at the end as well as a huge epilogue and setup for the sequel. Over all it was a super light, if mildly entertaining, story that struggles to rise above the standard fantasy tropes.
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
My Name is Mayhem: * (78m) They Sent a Boy: *** (56m) The Burning Man: *** (53m)
Here we get the first three (3) shoClassic Pulp Fiction Performance: ***
My Name is Mayhem: * (78m) They Sent a Boy: *** (56m) The Burning Man: *** (53m)
Here we get the first three (3) short stories from the Johnny Mayhem pulp sci-fi sage originally published in Amazing Stories in the mid 1950s. As might be expected, the science has not aged well and the short story format doesn’t allow for much world building and/or character development … so the focus of the first story is basically our introduction to who is Johnny Mayhem … and after listening, I find it almost impossible to see how such an inept operative ever became a “legend.” Sure … there is the obvious mystery of a body hopping assassin (a la quantum leap) working to bring law and order to galactic chaos, all while fighting against a mysterious mind controlling alien (and yes … I see the oxymoronic plot here and yes, I understand this is pulp fiction, so it is supposed to be ridiculous). As a fan of old radio theatre broadcasts … there was so much nostalgia potential here that I jumped at the opportunity to preview the audible ...
I was disappointed. While the narration was decent/okay, it was not anywhere close to the quality of the old-timey radio shows; which quite frankly is the primary reason to listen to them. Missing that, the problems with the stories themselves were often difficult to overlook. After the first story … this was almost a DNF. Fortunately the new story was much better and more inline with what I was expecting when Mayhem jumps into the body of a young boy (complicating his assignment). The final short takes Mayhem into a prison on Mercury and was also fun and taken with the second, saved this book.
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
My Name is Mayhem: * (78m) They Sent a Boy: *** (56m) The Burning Man: *** (53m)
Here we get the first three (3) short stories from the Johnny Mayhem pulp sci-fi sage originally published in Amazing Stories in the mid 1950s. As might be expected, the science has not aged well and the short story format doesn’t allow for much world building and/or character development … so the focus of the first story is basically our introduction to who is Johnny Mayhem … and after listening, I find it almost impossible to see how such an inept operative ever became a “legend.” Sure … there is the obvious mystery of a body hopping assassin (a la quantum leap) working to bring law and order to galactic chaos, all while fighting against a mysterious mind controlling alien (and yes … I see the oxymoronic plot here and yes, I understand this is pulp fiction, so it is supposed to be ridiculous). As a fan of old radio theatre broadcasts … there was so much nostalgia potential here that I jumped at the opportunity to preview the audible ...
I was disappointed. While the narration was decent/okay, it was not anywhere close to the quality of the old-timey radio shows; which quite frankly is the primary reason to listen to them. Missing that, the problems with the stories themselves were often difficult to overlook. After the first story … this was almost a DNF. Fortunately the new story was much better and more inline with what I was expecting when Mayhem jumps into the body of a young boy (complicating his assignment). The final short takes Mayhem into a prison on Mercury and was also fun and taken with the second, saved this book.
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
By the author’s own admission, this story was inspired by Taylor’s Bobiverse series … in fact, it waBook: *** Performance: ****
Welcome to the Ryanverse
By the author’s own admission, this story was inspired by Taylor’s Bobiverse series … in fact, it was perhaps too derivative to stand on its own merits. Instead of a human consciousness downloaded into a virtual environment … the author keeps the meat sack and adds a rather irritating AI whose sarcastic humor was generally hit or miss for me. Add in a few nanites and the ability to clone so that you can ignore the inherent human frailties and you are ready to pilot your very own von Neumann probe that gives us our very own Theseus Boat debate … which seems silly when you consider how often cells replicate and die within the human body.
Regardless, the story opens in a quasi-dystopian future after an apocalyptic AI war where the MC (Ryan) basically sells himself to one of three (3) interstellar colony projects headed to Tau Ceti. Apparently, as a result of his previous stint as a medical experimental subject perfecting the cryofreeze tech, his nanites (controlled by his secondhand AI riding shotgun in his head) are super effective in regenerating damaged tissue (aka regeneration factor), making him a near perfect candidate to be a “failsafe” or backup crew member, despite his lowly status, young age and humble beginnings (because picking on the underdog is a tried and true method of building an empathic connection to the MC). What follows is a virtual torture fantasy i(aka training simulations) that is primary designed to show how tough Ryan is (and slowly “upgrade” his human parts until he becomes the Borg and foreshadow his future) making the first half a very slow start.
We come back to the Bobiverse plot in the second half and Murphy makes sure Ryan must pick up his role as a failsafe … and some of the science inconsistencies become more obvious … but as the action ramps if it is also easier to ignore them. This is also where we reintroduce the bad guy … a rogue/insane AI (come on … you had to see this coming right? ref the Ai war and the Bobiverse? There are a few interesting twists as the story follows what by now should be a fairly predictable plot so it was the narration that actually kept it entertaining (and where the frat boy AI … called AL … calmed down enough to be less aggravating). Of course … the emotional drama ramps up as well in order to make the finale pull on heartstrings … and hide the plot holes that would otherwise had be large enough to drive a truck through. For those who miss the Bobiverse, this is a fun diversion.
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
By the author’s own admission, this story was inspired by Taylor’s Bobiverse series … in fact, it was perhaps too derivative to stand on its own merits. Instead of a human consciousness downloaded into a virtual environment … the author keeps the meat sack and adds a rather irritating AI whose sarcastic humor was generally hit or miss for me. Add in a few nanites and the ability to clone so that you can ignore the inherent human frailties and you are ready to pilot your very own von Neumann probe that gives us our very own Theseus Boat debate … which seems silly when you consider how often cells replicate and die within the human body.
Regardless, the story opens in a quasi-dystopian future after an apocalyptic AI war where the MC (Ryan) basically sells himself to one of three (3) interstellar colony projects headed to Tau Ceti. Apparently, as a result of his previous stint as a medical experimental subject perfecting the cryofreeze tech, his nanites (controlled by his secondhand AI riding shotgun in his head) are super effective in regenerating damaged tissue (aka regeneration factor), making him a near perfect candidate to be a “failsafe” or backup crew member, despite his lowly status, young age and humble beginnings (because picking on the underdog is a tried and true method of building an empathic connection to the MC). What follows is a virtual torture fantasy i(aka training simulations) that is primary designed to show how tough Ryan is (and slowly “upgrade” his human parts until he becomes the Borg and foreshadow his future) making the first half a very slow start.
We come back to the Bobiverse plot in the second half and Murphy makes sure Ryan must pick up his role as a failsafe … and some of the science inconsistencies become more obvious … but as the action ramps if it is also easier to ignore them. This is also where we reintroduce the bad guy … a rogue/insane AI (come on … you had to see this coming right? ref the Ai war and the Bobiverse? There are a few interesting twists as the story follows what by now should be a fairly predictable plot so it was the narration that actually kept it entertaining (and where the frat boy AI … called AL … calmed down enough to be less aggravating). Of course … the emotional drama ramps up as well in order to make the finale pull on heartstrings … and hide the plot holes that would otherwise had be large enough to drive a truck through. For those who miss the Bobiverse, this is a fun diversion.
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
This is the third of a series following Negative Zero and Baktu (neither of which I have read). While the series revolves around the vPerformance: ***
This is the third of a series following Negative Zero and Baktu (neither of which I have read). While the series revolves around the vigilante Tomek (aka Negative Zero), that character doesn’t have a lot to do in this installment, so this can easily be a stand alone read. At just under 7 hours of solid narration for 227 pages, this is a quick story and it moves fast, jumping years in the beginning to reach a surprising climax. Claymore, the MC, is a well known and accomplished alien [Navino] lawyer from a light [gravity] world that makes him physically brittle. For me he has a sort of Perry Mason in spade feel. He is also relatively (and sometimes brutally) honest (which is an interesting take on the lawyer trope) and it often works to his own detriment as he investigates, and then works against, a shadowy criminal organization that is trafficking other aliens. The dialog is very direct and simple, but that actually works to give the MC an other or alien feel. Overall it was a good story that I enjoyed much more than I thought I would and that gives it a +1 star over the quality of the story and performance.
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#Claymore #Tomek #FreeAudiobookCodes
Merged review:
Performance: ***
This is the third of a series following Negative Zero and Baktu (neither of which I have read). While the series revolves around the vigilante Tomek (aka Negative Zero), that character doesn’t have a lot to do in this installment, so this can easily be a stand alone read. At just under 7 hours of solid narration for 227 pages, this is a quick story and it moves fast, jumping years in the beginning to reach a surprising climax. Claymore, the MC, is a well known and accomplished alien [Navino] lawyer from a light [gravity] world that makes him physically brittle. For me he has a sort of Perry Mason in spade feel. He is also relatively (and sometimes brutally) honest (which is an interesting take on the lawyer trope) and it often works to his own detriment as he investigates, and then works against, a shadowy criminal organization that is trafficking other aliens. The dialog is very direct and simple, but that actually works to give the MC an other or alien feel. Overall it was a good story that I enjoyed much more than I thought I would and that gives it a +1 star over the quality of the story and performance.
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Solid Narration by two voices that was a lot of fun. Set on Mars, the last refuge humanity and inBook: **** Performance: ****
SF Noir/Mystery done right
Solid Narration by two voices that was a lot of fun. Set on Mars, the last refuge humanity and in the hands of the terraforming efforts of indifferent aliens bent on mind control. A society with an oppressed android population just waiting to rebel (an obvious riff from Blade Runner). An authoritarian church in the middle of a power drama. Denver is a PI one the outside looking in and barely making it following the tragic events detailed in the first book (recommend reading that first) when she takes a case to infiltrate the rebel cause with the head of her android friend Nigel and her AI enhanced handgun. There is plenty of action and betrayal in this classic mystery drama about the first living saint of mars.
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#TheSaintOfMars #DenverMoon #FreeAudiobookCodes
Merged review:
Book: **** Performance: ****
SF Noir/Mystery done right
Solid Narration by two voices that was a lot of fun. Set on Mars, the last refuge humanity and in the hands of the terraforming efforts of indifferent aliens bent on mind control. A society with an oppressed android population just waiting to rebel (an obvious riff from Blade Runner). An authoritarian church in the middle of a power drama. Denver is a PI one the outside looking in and barely making it following the tragic events detailed in the first book (recommend reading that first) when she takes a case to infiltrate the rebel cause with the head of her android friend Nigel and her AI enhanced handgun. There is plenty of action and betrayal in this classic mystery drama about the first living saint of mars.
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
You get a good idea of the genre just from the title and the book delivers what that title promised withBook: *** Performance: ***
A Frat Party in Space
You get a good idea of the genre just from the title and the book delivers what that title promised with a descent narration (that struggles a bit with the female roles). However, despite the sexual innuendoes and occasional body function humor (eg fart cats), the story is fairly clean and doesn’t really focus on that aspect much (which is a plus for me). Likewise there is the expected drama between the six (6) beautiful “girls” traveling with the everyman hero and freight jockey Johnny, one of which is his jealous co-pilot. There are a few basic plot twists, however, most of the story is fairly predictable … and you can see the obvious inspirations from the various sci-fi and fantasy sources such as the Shannara series (so yeah … expect flying boats that hunt flying whales to be a significant part of the plot). Ultimately there is nothing about this story that should be taken seriously … and if you can manage that, I think you might enjoy it.
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
You get a good idea of the genre just from the title and the book delivers what that title promised with a descent narration (that struggles a bit with the female roles). However, despite the sexual innuendoes and occasional body function humor (eg fart cats), the story is fairly clean and doesn’t really focus on that aspect much (which is a plus for me). Likewise there is the expected drama between the six (6) beautiful “girls” traveling with the everyman hero and freight jockey Johnny, one of which is his jealous co-pilot. There are a few basic plot twists, however, most of the story is fairly predictable … and you can see the obvious inspirations from the various sci-fi and fantasy sources such as the Shannara series (so yeah … expect flying boats that hunt flying whales to be a significant part of the plot). Ultimately there is nothing about this story that should be taken seriously … and if you can manage that, I think you might enjoy it.
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
This was pretty much as expected ... and if you are interested at all in the early Christian Church it is well worth a listen (+1 star on the strengthThis was pretty much as expected ... and if you are interested at all in the early Christian Church it is well worth a listen (+1 star on the strength of the narration); however, this is an old translation, so the 15th Century English thees and thous et al. was a bit of a struggle. I think this would be better with some form of commentary or general review of each section so it wouldn't take so much thinking to just figure out what he is actually saying ... so I recommend finding that on your own before tackling this text.
I was given this free review copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. #TheConfessionsOfSaintAugustine #TheSecretAudiobookClub
Merged review:
This was pretty much as expected ... and if you are interested at all in the early Christian Church it is well worth a listen (+1 star on the strength of the narration); however, this is an old translation, so the 15th Century English thees and thous et al. was a bit of a struggle. I think this would be better with some form of commentary or general review of each section so it wouldn't take so much thinking to just figure out what he is actually saying ... so I recommend finding that on your own before tackling this text.
I was given this free review copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. #TheConfessionsOfSaintAugustine #TheSecretAudiobookClub...more
To start … and I am fan of westerns and I would place the story firmly in the middle of thaStory: **** Performance: ****
A Different Sort of Western ...
To start … and I am fan of westerns and I would place the story firmly in the middle of that genre (note there is an extremely wide variance here). If that were all, there really wouldn’t be much to make it standout from the crowd, but this story added a steampunk flare and zombies to make a fusion genre that is just fun to read/listen to (and would be right at home in the tabletop strategy game known as Malifaux by Word Games (which I also play) … which is a round about way of saying that I am probably the target audience to this series (ad why it scores as well as it does). The world-building is pretty basic and even a tad silly, supporting a storyline where a resurrected lawman investigates the illegal used of the “tech” that keeps him alive and is centered in Southern California (Frisco and south) where we have corrupt police and politicians that facilitate and take advance of, the human trafficking of Chinese prostitute … where one such anchors the plot of this specific story as Creed tries to find justify for the woman who died in his arms while also possessing the “magic mechanicals” (the same tech Creed himself has) that both enslave and enhance the Blossoms … the euphemism for indentured prostitutes. As might be expected, there is a Chinese criminal underground that protects this practice, so Creed has his work cut out for him as he tried to get the answers he needs.
The narration is a mixed bag … the individual voices were excellent, but the pacing and enunciation was often awkward and felt unnatural … however, that didn’t really take away much from the enjoyment of the total performance, which was still very fun to listen to.
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
To start … and I am fan of westerns and I would place the story firmly in the middle of that genre (note there is an extremely wide variance here). If that were all, there really wouldn’t be much to make it standout from the crowd, but this story added a steampunk flare and zombies to make a fusion genre that is just fun to read/listen to (and would be right at home in the tabletop strategy game known as Malifaux by Word Games (which I also play) … which is a round about way of saying that I am probably the target audience to this series (ad why it scores as well as it does). The world-building is pretty basic and even a tad silly, supporting a storyline where a resurrected lawman investigates the illegal used of the “tech” that keeps him alive and is centered in Southern California (Frisco and south) where we have corrupt police and politicians that facilitate and take advance of, the human trafficking of Chinese prostitute … where one such anchors the plot of this specific story as Creed tries to find justify for the woman who died in his arms while also possessing the “magic mechanicals” (the same tech Creed himself has) that both enslave and enhance the Blossoms … the euphemism for indentured prostitutes. As might be expected, there is a Chinese criminal underground that protects this practice, so Creed has his work cut out for him as he tried to get the answers he needs.
The narration is a mixed bag … the individual voices were excellent, but the pacing and enunciation was often awkward and felt unnatural … however, that didn’t really take away much from the enjoyment of the total performance, which was still very fun to listen to.
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.