Samyann's Blog, page 43
February 8, 2015
Souls of Astraeus by Jeramy Goble – Review
This story is over three hundred pages long in written format and just under seven hours of listening in audiobook format. Unusual for the self-published book, Souls of Astraeus is available in all formats, hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook. This reader took advantage of the ebook and audiobook options. The reason I included the audiobook, is that, also unusual, Souls of Astraeus is read by the author. How better to grasp the nuance of the written word than as interpreted by the author? An example is Bag of Bones … written, and read, by Stephen King, a wonderful story. Personally, I’m of the opinion that a new author approaches writing with truly serious intent if his first published work is available in all formats.
Back to Souls of Astraeus. The story begins in a dystopian world wonderfully described. The human race has pretty much wiped itself out, with the exception of a fractional number of people who have defined a strict set of guidelines to insure the survival of humanity. About seven hundred years further into the future, the lead character, Akal, is thrown into circumstances of rebellion. His wife is banished from the safety of the collective group, simply because she gets angry about population control rules … she’s not able to have a baby unless they say so, well … she sort of pitches a fit. An angry Akal winds up getting himself killed. These events are the catalysts for Akal to rescue his wife from unknown fate and stop the life restrictive rules of this society.
Throw into the mix the fact that Akal has lived a few billion previous lives, and not all of them on earth, and not all of them human! You’ll also witness Akal emotionally and mentally grow and mature. Of particular creative genius are amazing perceptions … the processes we have all wondered about death and possible reincarnation. Has anyone never asked themselves, ‘What happens when I die?’. Well, Souls of Astraeus will surely present more ideas to ponder.
If you enjoy Sci-Fi, a future of unimaginable thrills and inventive artistry, click the book cover below to go directly to Amazon. You’ll be glad you did. Enjoy!
February 7, 2015
Another review for Yesterday – London reader!!
If you are looking for a good romance with an interesting ‘time travel twist’ then this is for you. The scenes are nicely described and the writing is gentle and warm.You are actually getting two stories in one – and you’ll see why as you sink deeper into this charming love story.Worth a look!
By
Amazon Customer “‘The DJC’” (London UK)
February 4, 2015
The Bad Place by Dean Koontz – Audiobook Review
Read by Carol Cowan and Michael Hanson, The Bad Place is just over fifteen hours of listening.
There are actually two simultaneous stories and you’ll wonder how Koontz will be bringing these to journeys together.
First, the story begins with Frank Pollard waking in an alley. Frank knows his name but nothing else. Why or how he wound up in an alley, what he does for a living, where he lives, if there is a family … all is unknown. No car, only a duffle bag. He knows absolutely nothing other than the fact that he is running or hiding from ‘something’, and it is evil and scary. Frank also is plagued with what the reader will assume to be sleep-walking in that he wakes in hotel rooms with blood on his hands and clothes, or jewels in his pocket … and always bags of cash. Frank seeks out the services of a married team of private investigators … Julie and Bobby Dakota. Add to this duo Julie’s brother, Thomas, a gentle soul living in a shelter as a down-syndrome victim. Thomas is also gifted with extraordinary extra sensory perception; he just ‘knows’ things.
The second tale is the grizzly and macabre; we’re talkin’ Dean Koontz, here. Candy is a guy who murders people and animals when he’s hungry, drinks blood, has sisters who do the same, has a mother buried in his back yard, etc. You know the type.
No spoilers, but the stories merge with delightful hide-under-the-covers terror. Keep the lights on when you listen!
The narrators do a great job, particularly Carol Cowan. Have you have listened to any Nevada Barr books read by Barbara Rosenblat? If so, Carol Cowan is very similar. She certainly had me thinking of Anna Pigeon 
. Enjoyed.
Foehammer by Duncan Campbell – eBook Review
Foehammer is close to three hundred pages long, written by author Duncan Campbell. In an extraordinarily original world, Campbell weaves an intriguing story that defies a single genrè. Foehammer is a mystery, SciFi, paranormal, horror, and more. Well defined characters traverse through a story that will grab your interest immediately and be prepared to hang on for a whirlwind ride; it only gets better.
Futuristic in substance, Foehammer brings together a quirky group of characters, a virus, mind control, The White House, and much, much more! This all sounds a little disparate, but what a treat. The story is twenty years in the future and I found it interesting that the author makes a note of the fact that “TV voting is at an all time high” … personally, I hope it is more common place by then. We have the technology now. Anyway, throw in unexpected twists, good, evil, the scary stuff, and stir it all up in a soup of delightful reading. Don’t start Foehammer before bedtime. You’ll be up too late! Enjoy…
February 2, 2015
Audible.com Review for Yesterday – A Novel of Reincarnation
The narration by Darlene Allen was spectacular. This narrator becomes the characters and you can visualize the characters by the voice that she uses.
What did you like best about this story?
The historical fiction. Civil war era. I enjoyed the reincarnation segments. They were done appropriately and in good taste. This writer handled this very well. The flow of the story from present day to reincarnation travel is done very well.
Have you listened to any of Darlene Allen’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
Yes. Every book I listen to by this narrator is excellent! It is hard to compare one excellent narration to another excellent narration. I can visualize Mary because of the narration.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes, I would have sat and listened in all one setting if I could have. I carried my phone or iPad all over with me so I could continue with the story.
Any additional comments?
Great book, well written, excellent narration. I am going to look for other books by this author and narrator.
Overall – 5-star!
Performance – 5-star!
Story – 5-star!
Review by “Grateful”
Click picture below and go directly to Audible!!
January 31, 2015
24 Hours by Greg Iles – Audiobook Review
Close to eleven hours of listening, narrated by Dick Hill. 24 Hours is a kidnapping for ransom thriller. This version was released in July of 2008. The story centers around Will, a doctor, and his wife and their five year old daughter. The nightmare begins with the abduction of the child by a mentally deficient man. His controlling brother, Joey, the mastermind, has control over the wife, and Will is initially clueless, at a convention. Will is approached by what he assumes is a hooker, a woman who is actually the third partner in the kidnapping scheme.
The character of Huey, the mentally challenged brother, will bring to mind the character of Karl in the movie Sling Blade. Huey has a child-like innocence and treats the little girl well. But, like Karl, violence could erupt instantly, including the death of the little girl.
There are several female voices in 24 Hours, and if you’ve listened to Dick Hill, well…female voices are not exactly his fortè. The female characters are aways breathless and moronic. Hill does a good job with the voice of the five year old little girl, however. If you can get past this picadillo, Dick Hill’s narration is wonderful, as usual.
The story is tense, a page turner, twist abound … and pretty formulaic for a kidnapping for ransom yarn. If you’re a fan of Iles, you’ll enjoy.
January 28, 2015
Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer – Audiobook Review
At close to thirteen hours of listening, Only Tine Will Tell is read by Roger Allam and Emilia Fox. The reading did not distract from the disjointed story, so with that faint praise, it was fine. Emilia Fox is relegated to the point-of-view and voice of one or two female characters, however Roger Allam is the primary narrator. Being that Jeffrey Archer is British, as is the prose, the reading is with a British accent.
Having listened audiobooks and read many paperbacks Jeffery Archer has authored, i.e., Kane & Abel, Sons of Fortune, The Sins of the Father, Shall We Tell the President, etc., too many to list, my opinion is that this story is far from his best. Scenes are repeated several times from the unique perspectives of the players. You’ll listen to the same scene from multiple angles, and rather than this moving the story forward you’ll be tempted to fast-forward…often. This, in my opinion, is a cheap shot on the part of the author. Why? Just to burn up word count, maybe? The approach adds little, if anything, to the story arc. It’s almost as if Archer created drafts of the same scene from the view of each character and decided to simply include them all. Jarring.
As point of view changes regularly, the plot inches forward. The story opens with a promiscuous one-night-stand liaison in the early 1900s. The young lady in question is about to be married and, I guess, wants an experience. This results in a boy-child with unknown heritage and thus is the thrust of Only Tim Will Tell.
The story, as expected in that the subtitle is a clear cue to subsequent volumes, ends with a buy-the-next-book cliff hanger. The repetitive point-of-view-head-hopping style of this story is sufficient for this reader to take a pass. Given the reviews and ratings, this reader is in a minority being disappointed. Ergo, if you are a die-hard Jeffrey Archer fan, you may have an entirely different take.
January 26, 2015
Suspicion by Joseph Finder – Audiobook Review
Suspicion is just over ten hours of listening, read by Steven Kearney. The story begins with a struggling single father, a writer named Danny Goodman. Fun that Joseph Finder would create a writer-character. Anyone who has walked in those shoes will easily grasp the nuances of a writer’s life conveyed in these pages. Agent pressure, deadlines, life stepping into the path of productivity. Writing is work, a job.
To the story, however … typical of teenagers, Danny’s daughter, Abby, is self-absorbed. Mr. Finder is likely a father because this character portrayal pretty accurate. Danny does his absolute best to make the girl’s life the best he can. This involves keeping up with the Jones at an expensive school the poor guy can’t afford. Tuition, a European trip, etc., is killing him, and Abby’s best friend’s father comes to a financial rescue.
Thus is the thrust of a web Finder masterfully weaves. No spoilers here, you’ll get this quickly … but, you’ll come to learn this philanthropic guy is connected to a Mexican drug cartel, and the DEA blackmails Danny into cooperation. Who can Danny trust? Who is really a good guy? Suspicion is aptly titled, because as a listener, I was suspect of everybody. Thrills abound and all of the characters come to life. You’ll think you have the mystery figured out, then Finder artfully makes you pause and think again.
Steven Kearney does an excellent job. The many voices are distinctive and you’ll easily grasp who-is-talking-to-who. I searched for other readings by Kearney on Audible and was disappointed to find none. He has an excellent future in audiobook narration so I hope he continues down this career path.
I’ve listened to many Joseph Finder novels and Suspicion ranks right up there with his best. Enjoy!
January 24, 2015
Pines Series by Blake Crouch – Audiobook Reviews
Pines is close to nine hours of listening, and begins this series with a foundation of hide-behind-the-couch terror.
Wayward Pines, book two, is of similar length, and is a continuation of the story, with a clear ‘to be continued’ ending that will raise the hair on the back of your neck.
The third installment, in audiobook format just over six hours, and clearly not the last book in the series, is The Last Town. Be prepared for a wonderful surprise ending that will convince you that the author is not quite finished with the people of this Idaho town.
The books should be part of a Sci-Fi listing, because although thrillers, the tales involve time leaps and the macabre. Any lovers of Dean Koontz or Stephen King out there? The Wayward Pines series is in the same vein. The story begins with people innocently traveling to or through the town, for one reason or another. Initially, an FBI agent is dispatched to the town because fellow agents have disappeared. In another, a couple is on a honeymoon, another guy is simply selling encyclopedias, etc. Little do they know, that they will have an accident and simply be awakened from a long stasis. Interesting to note is exactly how the human race has become extinct is left to reader imagination, but apparently we only have a couple of thousand years left. All that is relevant to the story is that the earth has survived. A mad scientist has built Wayward Pines and engineered survival with the best of intentions; he truly believes he has created a ‘paradise’, and that he is a benevolent ‘god’. The entire human race consists of a few hundred people, most completely clueless as to how they got there, why the rest of their world is simply gone, or why they are there. In the new world, there are monsters, lots of monsters, millions, which our mad scientist didn’t count on, but has built an electrified fence around Wayward Pines for security. How he accomplished building the fence is a bit of a plot hole, considering the monsters, but hey … who cares? The circumstances are creative! Some residents believe they are actually dead, and they are in hell. The old television series, The Twilight Zone, possibly The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin, or maybe The Outer Limits might come to mind. Most of the residents have blindly accepted their new lot. But, not everyone acquiesces … and therein is the story. Page turning thrills ahead!
Paul Michael Garcia does a great job, good narration throughout the entire series.
Don’t expect a Tom Clancy/Vince Flynn type thrillers or a Tami Hoag crime procedurals – Wayward Pines is thrilling Sci-Fi, through and through. But, good Sci-Fi! Enjoyed! Read in sequence, you’ll enjoy, too!
The Eighteenth of November by Clodagh Phelan – eBook Review
The Eighteenth of November is just under 200 pages, ergo easily read in an evening. The story is intriguing and will grab your interest right away. The title is based on the actual events of November 18, 1987, at the King’s Cross underground tube station in London, England. Thirty-one people died and scores were injured. Use of an actual historical event makes for novel creation with a ‘what-if’ sense that makes a story a fun read. Fabriel, the lead character, finds himself in the role of rescuer of Alice. Troubled with a mysterious spirit and visions, Fabriel struggles through the pages of this novel on a quest of his identity and understanding the meaning of love.
The description of the tube fire will evoke visceral reaction, the fear and horror of the event unimaginable. I think you’ll find this story a refreshing debut. Enjoyed!
