Christina

Absolutely Wonderful

Revisado: 06-13-14

Maia is the disregarded half-goblin son of the Elvin emperor. The emperor and his three eldest sons die in an accident, leaving the unprepared Maia to assume the throne. He faces many challenges in court-whom to trust, the resentment of his father and brother's widows, learning court politics, choosing a bride, and making the right choices for himself and his empire. This is a wonderful story filled with intrigue and politics with a hint of romance. The protagonist Maia is very well developed and he makes mistakes without appearing stupid. The supporting characters are three dimensional and have interesting personalities and back stories. Kyle McCarley makes each person come alive with his or her own voice. Even without the explanatory text, the listener knows who is speaking based upon McCarley's narration alone. Though the synopsis places this book in the young adult category, the writing, character development, and story are very mature and adult. Maia is young and naïve and new to court but he faces his situation with remarkable courage and self awareness.

The setting is highly developed and the dialogue realistic and engaging. Addison's world contains some magic, some of which is spiritual. The goblins aren't the typical short treasure-hoarding little monsters usually found in fantasy. They are more civilized and have their own culture. Though the goblins and elves are separate species, Addison depicts them more as different ethnicities. I can't compliment this book enough. I've been recommending it to everyone I know who has even the slightest interest in fantasy. My only complaint is that The Goblin Emperor is a stand-alone title. At this time, Addison doesn't plan to write a sequel. The story ends very neatly; however, I am disappointed no further adventures are forthcoming.

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Need More Time with these Characters!

Revisado: 05-08-14

This book starts off with an action sequence and throws us right in to the midst of the characters' struggles-Adamat seeking to rescue his wife and children, Taniel's attempts to forget what he's done, and Tamas' efforts to bring his piece of the army to Adro. We see other familiar characters as well. (No spoilers) I have only two complaints about this book. It is the second book in the trilogy so, while some problems are overcome, many situations remain unresolved. Given the author's attention to detail and character development, I am certain everything will be wrapped up nicely in the third book. My second complaint is that this book is too short and too good. I want more in this series and I want it now.

This book contains sleuthing; military campaigning; characters sinking to greater depths or rising to heights of heroism, understanding, and bravery; a bit of romance, intrigue, treachery, and humor. Fans of Promise of Blood are sure to love The Crimson Campaign. I also recommend the Audible short stories set in the same universe-The Girl of Hrush Avenue, Forsworn, and Hope's End.

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Interesting Premise and Engaging Characters

Revisado: 03-19-13

If you could sum up Six Heirs in three words, what would they be?

Fun, Unusual, too-short

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed learning about the different characters, watching them interact with one another, and seeing some of them grow.

What does Michael Page bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Michael Page does an excellent job with different voices and accents. I can tell which character is speaking by his portrayal alone and without any other clues from the text.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It is highly engrossing.

Any additional comments?

More than a century before the story begins, several emessaries were given a secret. Now, assassins are killing the decendants. The remaining heirs must survive and work together long enough to discover why they are being targeted.
This book is too short. It isn't the whole story by far. Not all of the characters are as developed as others. I suspect this will occur later on in the series; this first book focused on two of the several main characters. The characters are different ages, have different and sometimes clashing personalities, and come from varied backgrounds. Grimbert's world is extensively developed and well-described. I can't wait to read the next installment of this adventure.

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Flawed Hero

Revisado: 02-15-13

Would you consider the audio edition of The Stormcaller to be better than the print version?

Yes. Rintoul brings life to the characters.

What other book might you compare The Stormcaller to and why?

The Dragon's Path by Daniel Abraham. Both books contain battles, political maneuvering, and less-than-perfect main characters.

Have you listened to any of David Rintoul’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

Isak is a White-Eye-a race of people who are extraordinarily strong, violent, and short-tempered. He struggles to control his weaknesses and grow into his strengths while learning to navigate court life in his new position as heir to the lord of the Fahlan. He is aided and opposed by an interesting and diverse set of characters. The setting and the plot make this anything but a typical epic fantasy. Fans of Joe Abercrombie and Scott Lynch will find The Stormcaller just as enjoyable.
Rintoul's narration fits the characters and tone of the book perfectly.
The only disappointment is that the subsequent four books in the series aren't yet on audio. If you feel likewise, you can visit Tom Lloyd's website and let him know.

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Magic Slays (Unabridged)

Revisado: 11-18-11

This was an enjoyable read but an over all disappointment when compared to this author???s other works. The interactions between Kate and the other main characters such as Julie, Andrea, and Curran were interesting and amusing. The romance was present but not overdone, new, distinctive characters were introduced, and the setting possessed its usual flare. The book fell short, however, in its plot. The subplot concerning what Kate learned about her background was not only unexpected, but unwelcome and out of place. The main plot of the story was more predictable and stereotypical than readers of Ilona Andrews have come to expect. While the plot was uninspired, Kate???s personal interactions, the setting, and Raudman's always-stellar performance made this a good book and one I plan to reread.

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Another Great Book from Ilona Andrews

Revisado: 04-20-11

When I read a book, I hope for interesting and well-developed characters, a good plot, witty, realistic dialogue, and romance. Bayou Moon has all of these. The world and the way magic works are interesting without taking over the entire story. The descriptions are enough to take you there but don't go on too long. The plot is a bit predictable at times, especially since I have read all of Ilona Andrews' other books. I recognized some of her patterns from before but she writes them well enough that I'm happy to read more. The romance had the appropriate levels of tension and interest without becoming ridiculous.

My favorite aspect of Andrews' work is her characters. That is no less true for this book. I've found that, in many books, one of the characters, usually the heroine, desperately needs help and the hero is the only one who can provide it. She starts off asking for help and remains lesser for the duration of the novel. William and Cerise are both tough, capable, and smart and the author does a nice job of having them remain equals while giving them both moments in which to shine. They each need something from the other and they have complementary skill sets. They both also have issues which, over all, they are proactive about resolving.

The narrator Renee Raudman only adds to the experience of reading this book. Some of her accents aren't to my liking but that is a very minor point against her. She reads like I think. When the characters have humorous or frustrated thoughts or dialogue, Raudman's voice communicates not only the words but the mood of the character. There is a brain behind the voice and, because she uses tone and inflection so well, she brings the characters to life in a way that simply reading the print copy never could.

I eagerly await the third book in this series. If you enjoy Bayou Moon, you will likely love the Kate Daniels series which is also by Andrews.

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