If this book were released in a print version (even without the Doctor Who tie-in), I would give it four stars and make sure my granddaughter had a co...moreIf this book were released in a print version (even without the Doctor Who tie-in), I would give it four stars and make sure my granddaughter had a copy. On the surface, it's an absolutely wonderful children's story that compares quite well to some of the best children's literature. On that level, it is pure fantasy. It completely captures what it's like to be a child. My favorite line was on page 33 of the epub edition:
Kate realised she was the only grown-up in the world?
What bright kid doesn't feel like that? At some point, they all start feeling smarter than the adults around them.
The other level it works on is the Doctor Who fan level. This "author" of this book is Amy Pond who travels through time and space with her husband Rory Williams and the Doctor. The Curator is obviously the Doctor. You can tell by the way he talks. The Doctor Who tie in is definitely there for the fans, but it's delightful even if you've never seen a single episode. (less)
Jane Jameson is getting into the routine of being a vampire. Her mom is in denial and her sister won't talk to her, but that's okay. She's not quite s...moreJane Jameson is getting into the routine of being a vampire. Her mom is in denial and her sister won't talk to her, but that's okay. She's not quite sure where she stands with her boyfriend, but she's also got more friends than she did when she was alive. She's loving her vampire superpowers.
This wasn't quite as good as Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs, but it's still entertaining. Amanda Ronconi does a really good job of narrating. My only real complaint is that Harper goes into a bit too much detail with the sex and some of the sex scenes don't really fit with the tone of the book. I guess that's what makes it paranormal romance rather than urban fantasy.(less)
What the heck is going on with me? Lately, all that's been holding my attention is frothy, romantic, humorous books. My usual reading style is gritty...moreWhat the heck is going on with me? Lately, all that's been holding my attention is frothy, romantic, humorous books. My usual reading style is gritty and thought-provoking.
Molly Harper's humor is right up my alley. It's snarky. The narration here is good too. This book is pretty light, so there's not much else I can say about it other than it kept me smiling. (less)
The Raven Boys grabbed me from the first sentence and didn't let go until the last one. It kept making twists and turns that made me say, "I should ha...moreThe Raven Boys grabbed me from the first sentence and didn't let go until the last one. It kept making twists and turns that made me say, "I should have seen that coming." Yet, I didn't see it coming. Sadly, the next book isn't coming out until September. I want more now.(less)
I made a mistake a year ago and read the third book in this series. I rated it two stars, but didn't write a review. I suspect that I gave it a low ra...moreI made a mistake a year ago and read the third book in this series. I rated it two stars, but didn't write a review. I suspect that I gave it a low rating because I came into the series late and didn't really know what was going on. (I gave it the rating before I found out it was #3.)
I actually liked Dead Witch Walking quite a lot. Urban fantasy can be hit or miss for me. I love Harry Dresden, Kitty Norville, Mercy Thompson and Felix Castor, but I haven't really liked anything else in this genre. I think I'm going to like Rachel Morgan too.
Marguerite Gavin's narration was good, except for the voice of Ivy Tamwood. She made her voice too deep and breathy. It was very annoying.(less)
In this third installment of the Monster Hunters International series, author Larry Correia takes a break from Owen Pitt's first person narrative and...moreIn this third installment of the Monster Hunters International series, author Larry Correia takes a break from Owen Pitt's first person narrative and follows to MHI leader Earl Harbinger. Frankly, the switch to a third person narrative made for a more interesting story. The tale was also much more straight-foward. Instead of big battle, Bigger Battle, BIGGEST BATTLE, the story just covers one really big battle. I really liked Earl's perspective and his journal entries that reveal his past. All in all, this is the best volume in the series.
As usual, Oliver Wyman's narration is terrific. That man could narrate the phone book and make it sound like the world's greatest novel. (less)
I really, really liked Daughter of Smoke & Bone. It ended in a cliffhanger that forced me to wait for the second book. The wait is over and I have...moreI really, really liked Daughter of Smoke & Bone. It ended in a cliffhanger that forced me to wait for the second book. The wait is over and I have now read the second installment in the series.
Days of Blood & Starlight is very different than Daughter of Smoke & Bone. It's much darker and it centers less on Karou than the first one did. It's very dark and depressing. It's a lot less romantic. It story a lot of time in stasis rather than moving forward. In the end, the characters hadn't progressed very far from where they started.
As with the first book, Khristine Hvam did a terrific job of narrating. However, since half the book was from Akiva's POV, I think it could have benefited from the addition of a male narrator. (less)
I already had The Martian Chronicles on my GoodReads shelf with a four star rating. That was nostalgia. I read all of Bradbury's work when I was in ju...moreI already had The Martian Chronicles on my GoodReads shelf with a four star rating. That was nostalgia. I read all of Bradbury's work when I was in junior high and loved it all with a love that only a 13 year-old can muster. Fast forward nearly forty years and I got a copy of the audiobook for $4.95 through one of Audible's sales. It turns out that I'd forgotten nearly the entire book. I didn't realize that it was a collection of short stories. I didn't realize that there are about 5 different kinds of aboriginal Martians. I didn't realize that the book makes very little sense. I didn't realize that Bradbury's fascination with the government burning things wasn't limited to Fahrenheit 451.
There are parts of the book that are beautiful and poetic. However, the stories are extremely dated and they are very inconsistent. My older self just couldn't muster the love for this book that my younger self had.(less)
Too dark, too violent, too hopeless. Now, I have nothing against dark, violent, and hopeless books. But, Sandman Slim just went a bit too far down tha...moreToo dark, too violent, too hopeless. Now, I have nothing against dark, violent, and hopeless books. But, Sandman Slim just went a bit too far down that path. I can't even pinpoint exactly what made me dislike this book as opposed to similar books like The Dresden Files series or The Devil You Know. I suspect it may be the total seriousness of the tale. There were parts that could have been a little funny, but they were treated with total seriousness. When a book is this dark, humor helps release some of the tension and helps you cheer on the protagonist a bit. Even Shakespeare used comic relief in his darkest dramas.
Fortunately, I got this ebook free. It took me a long time to get to it and a long time to get through it. I absolutely will not be continuing with the series.(less)
I feel like such a failure for not liking The Hobbit. I found it boring and disjointed. It took me forever to get through it. I didn't care about Bilb...moreI feel like such a failure for not liking The Hobbit. I found it boring and disjointed. It took me forever to get through it. I didn't care about Bilbo, Gandalf or the dwarves. I read this book for the Sword & Laser book group and so I could say that I read it. I fully expect that I will get dumped on and told that I'm stupid or something for not liking The Hobbit, but I can't make myself like something just because everyone else I know, including many members of my own family, loves it with a passion beyond reason.
To be fair, epic quest fantasy is just not my thing. If I were a hobbit, there would certainly be no Took in me. I would not be going on a boring year-long quest to take back gold from a dragon. If I had been Bilbo, I would have gone home the first time disaster struck. I would have let those stupid dwarves have their quest on their own.
Yes, I understand the importance of Tolkien and the huge influence he had on modern fantasy. I also understand the importance of writers like Ernest Hemingway and Herman Melville. After all, I did earn a degree in English Literature. But, just because a writer is Important and Influential, it doesn't mean that I have to enjoy their work.
I am not going to discuss the story in this review of Cold Days. The most I will say is that this is by far the best book in a series that's already h...moreI am not going to discuss the story in this review of Cold Days. The most I will say is that this is by far the best book in a series that's already had 13 great novels and a short-story collection. If you haven't entered the world of Harry Dresden, you must. You may have to give it a few installments, but stick it out through the first three and the fourth and subsequent books will knock your socks off. Usually, fantasy mega-series start losing steam around then and have completely petered out by book 14, but the Dresden Files keep getting better and better.
So, my review is now going to be about the audio production. With the exception of the previous novel, Ghost Story, and the collection Side Jobs: Stories From the Dresden Files, I have read the Dresden Files in print. I was one of the very few readers who actually liked John Glover's narration of Ghost Story because I had only listened to the short stories narrated by James Marsters. To me, Glover sounded much more like my head-Harry than Marsters did. I was quite skeptical going into this audiobook. However, Marsters won me over with his wonderful performance. He does capture Harry's snarkiness and self-deprecation quite well. Where is really shines is in the voicing of the other characters in the book. I found myself laughing myself silly when he started the dialogue with Toot and the other little fairies. Those scenes were the highlight of an already wonderful book. (less)
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