Audible Book Review - The Adventures of Tom Stranger, Interdimensional Insurance Agent by Larry Correia

As is well known by now, I really enjoy Larry Corriea's writing. There are a couple of short stories and a novella that I haven't read/listened to yet, but I've read/own everything else of his. The Adventures of Tom Stranger are one of his funniest yet, particularly if you read his blog or follow him on social media. This is in large part because he incorporates a lot of inside jokes into the text. Now, many may feel that if you don't get the inside jokes it's not going to be funny, but my mother and wife, who don't read a Larry's blog or even his books, both found it very humorous. There is something about a manatee who is also a CFO and a call center from Hell that are inherently funny. The story could be pre-ordered for free, and will remain free until June 21 (2016). It is certainly worth the price. Even if it would cost you a couple of bucks, I would still recommend you pick it up. I've already decided that it will always have a place on my device, just like Night of Blacker Darkness and for the same reason. If you want to get a taste of what the story is like, you can read the original basis for the character on Larry's blog here - just scroll down to the Tom Stranger section. The story was narrated by Adam Baldwin - yes, the same Adam Baldwin that is referenced in the story - and he does an excellent job. This shouldn't be surprising as Larry wrote this production knowing that he would be the narrator. All in all, this is a hilarious short story that I have already listened to three times and that has made me laugh every time.

Plot: When a rift opens and creatures from another dimension start trying to take over, who are you going to call? TOM STRANGER!! Voted number one in customer service three years running, Tom takes his clients' needs very seriously. Sporting the greatest tech in the multiverse, bio- and cybernetic enhancements, and an intern that has the survivibility of  a standard earth chicken, Tom.... Wait. What was that about an unsuitable intern? There has clearly been a mix up with Tom's new intern. The question is will Jimmy the Intern live through "filing claims" long enough for Tom to sort out what's going on.

My favorite parts: All of it. Really, I loved the pop culture references, I loved the tongue in cheek political commentary, I loved the making fun of conventions. It was a funny book written to be funny.

Considerations: There is just a little strong language (no f-bombs) and there is plenty making fun of liberal politics, so you've been warned. Really, I think Larry wrote this section better, so if you would like to see Tom Stranger's response to all of the 1 star reviews (58 as of this writing) you can read Tom Stranger:Customer Service Response Panel on Larry's blog - Monsterhunternation.com.

As I said, this one is staying on my device. It's a great story to work out to and is just fun when you need a break. The total length was just over two hours.

Audible Book Review - Into the Wild by Larry Correia, The Malcontents book 2

This is the problem with reviewing a Larry Correia book. I go to find a picture and end up getting sucked into his blog for longer than anticipated. I was excited to learn that the last Dead Six novel is approaching final edits which will mean we should get it in about a year. I'm sure I'll be able to wait until then. Probably. Anyway, enough about future books. Into the Wild was a fun ride featuring the great cast of characters that we got to know in Into the Storm. The Malcontents are more respectable now, but still known as a rough and tumble bunch. Ray Porter narrates the book and does a great job even though some of the characters don't sound the same way as before. Here is a link to the Audible page for the book. We get to see more character growth from many of the characters and it's fun to see the Malcontents in an environment that we haven't seen them in before. All in all it was very enjoyable.

Plot: Royal Sygnaran Storm Knights have to put up with a lot. As the Kingdom's heavy infantry they get thrown into some of the roughest battles against some of the most dangerous foes. Armed with insulated armor and weapons that channel and shoot light lightning there is very little that they can't kill. And now one squad of the infamous Sixth Platton, "Madigan's Malcontents," has been tasked with "babysitting some academics" on a research trip in the wild mountains deep inside Cygnar's own borders. Kelvan Cleasby has not been an officer long but he knows better than to ask "what's the worst that can happen." The academics may be surprised when Cleasby has their heavy war jack, Headhunter, packed up and brought with them but in the end they're glad. What leaves Ironhead station as a camping trip in the mountains rapidly turns into a fight for survival that even the Malcontents may not be up to winning. Good thing they meet an old "friend" before the trouble starts. But then, Savio Montero Acosta is always looking for trouble and he has yet to be disappointed.

My personal favorites: As always, Correia does a great job and blending action with story. I cared about the characters and wanted to see them succeed. I was even cheering for the villain at one point, and not because one I wanted one of the good guys to die because he annoyed me. (I'm looking at you Dr. Burrows from Closer). Larry does a good job of making the villain sympathetic and still engaging. For those that are unfamiliar with Warmachine gaming world the book shows us more and helps us feel connected without treating us like children. We also get a glance at more world wide conflicts. And of course, who doesn't love a commanding officer who doesn't hesitate to order his men to shoot him.

Considerations: Just as in Into the Storm the language is low and there is no sensuality. This book had more gore and descriptive violence as the foes they fought were bestial berserkers who followed rites of blood sacrifice. Nothing I haven't come across in other young adult books. I make this special note of it as it is more than in the last book.

From city to mountains, from fortress to the top of train cars the Malcontents continue to deliver. I kept wondering what was going to happen next and Correia didn't leave me wanting. The only thing I don't like about Correia's writing is that I listen to it too quickly. One of the best things about it though is that I can listen to it over and over and still find it entertaining. The total length of Into the Wild was nine hours and forty-five minutes.

Audible Book Review - The Hollow Boy: Lockwood & Co., book 3 by Jonathan Stroud

And since I've already reviewed one book, I might as well get as caught up as I can. I think I've actually got two more to do, but I'm not sure why I'm dragging my feet on them. Maybe it's because these other review are more gripping. That is certainly the case with The Hollow Boy. With Ghost Story, and Death Weavers this makes the third story involving ghosts in as many months. Out of those three I think this one is the most well written when it comes to making ghosts creepy and terrifying. Both of the other two books do a good job with what they are writing. Their limitations are they are introductions to ghostly aspects of the established world where Lockwood & Co. is a world of ghosts and Stroud is not adding to the world but rather is adding details to that world that make it even more vivid and lurid. While I enjoyed all of the ghost stories I recently listened to, The Hollow Boy is the one that is a true ghost story. Stroud's writing does an awesome job of building tension and portraying the situations our characters find themselves in as genuinely frightening. His style lends well to audio and I think would translate well to film. Here is a link to the Audible page for the book. This book was narrated by Emily Bevan who is new to the series. It took a bit to get into her version of the characters' voices, but by the end I was good with it and it didn't distract from the performance. All in all, the book was gripping, exciting, and intriguing throughout.

Plot: London's ghost problem is accelerating. That is good for business for the various firms that handle ghosts, but bad for survival rates. Lockwood, Lucy, and George and so busy that it's been ages since they went on a case together. Moral is suffering the effects of fatigue and what's worse (for Lockwood anyway), they haven't been asked to participate on the giant outbreak that has all the big firms tied up in the Chelsea district of London. In an attempt to make their life easier, Lockwood hires an office assistant. However, it doesn't make Lucy's life easier as she and Holly do not get a long. At all. While they keep things civil (barely) it just might boil over at the worst time. What's more, Lucy's talent of listening to ghosts might be more powerful then originally thought, but in order to employ it she has to leave herself completely defenseless. At what point does exploration and a desire to help become suicide? She might not know until it's too late.

My personal favorites: As always, Lucy, George, and Lockwood are fantastic. Holly is a fun addition as well, particularly as it throws a wrench in Lucy's mindset. In many a less well written young adult novel this addition of a character like Holly would through the characters into an emotional well of soppy and "woe is me" self-dialog that would turn the novel into a mushy YA romance. However, Stroud is a really good writer and Lucy is too stubborn to let her emotions get the better of her - or so she thinks. One conflict didn't remove tension from the others. The climatic scene was well done and we start to see more intrigue on a large scale. Stroud is good as paying off promises he made in earlier books all the while leading into new ones that are leading us where he wants to take us. Really, just needs to say: My personal favorites: all of it.

Considerations: Like the other books, the considerations for this have nothing to do with violence, sensuality, gore, or anything else. Some strong language, but nothing else in that regard. The climax is intense and might be frightening for young readers, but nothing YA readers would find too much.

These are some of Angel's favorite books. In fact she had read this book from the library but still wanted the audio version for her private collection. I also enjoy the books, which is surprising as I don't normally go for ghost stories. However, Stroud has done a great job writing a ghost intrigue/suspense story and THAT is something I can get into. The total length for the book was just under 12 hours.

Audible Book Review - Death Weavers by Brandon Mull, Five Kingdoms book four

As my new credit is coming today (can't wait) I should review the book I got with my last one. I've enjoyed the Five Kingdom books by Mull. I re-listened to Crystal Keepers in preparation to getting Death Weavers and enjoyed getting back into the world (or worlds). Death Weavers was a good read and I like the way that Mull is weaving his worlds together. Here is a link to Audible page for the book. We learn more about The Outskirts in this book then we ever did in any of the others. It sets up the challenges of the final conflict we'll see in the last book. Keith Nobbs continues to narrate the series and continues to do a good job. I'm looking forward to the last book.

Plot: Cole, Mira, and the rest of the crew has entered Necronum in search of two of Mira's sisters who have come under duress there. Necronum's shaping is centered on death and all of the mysteries associated with it. In Necronum ghosts, called echos, can be seen and can even act in certain situations. Their search takes them from caves where memories dwell to literally the other side of death. Cole is forced to make some hard decisions and he embarks on a journey across the lands of the hereafter. There he will meet new allies and enemies and learns what must be done if he is ever to return home to stay. You can expect nothing less when you set out to find Destiny.

My personal favorites: The question of destiny was a great one. I loved the questions that faced the characters and the decisions they had to make. The new and newly re-acquainted companions were a lot of fun. As previously mentioned, I like how Mull is weaving together his worlds of his books.

Considerations: Like the others, there was nothing of concern for young adults in this book. Non-graphic violence, no sensuality of any kind. Mull writes to his audience's level very well.

It's always hard to review a book in the middle of the series without giving away spoilers. It makes for short reviews. I enjoyed Death Weavers and am awaiting the final book, curious to see what Mull has in mind. The total length was 13 and half hours.

Audible Book Review - Manners and Mutiny by Gail Carriger Finishing School book the Fourth

And I'm still struggling keeping up but here it is. The last of the Finishing School series by Gail Carriger. When we cancelled our Audible Account both Angel and I were sad that we wouldn't have ready access to this book when it came out. Luckily my new job enabled us to renew our account just in time. There was no question that this book (which had come out late last year) was getting picked up. Here is the link to the Audbile page for the book. The series is now complete and, from what I understand, ends with everything in place for Carriger's 1st book Soulless to start up. Muscles has told us that while she enjoyed the Parasol Protectorate books she recommends them sparingly, the same way I recommend the Monster Hunter and Dead Six series. I don't know that we'll pick up any of those books we we've enjoyed the Finishing School books. The last book was narrated by Moira Quirk, like the others, and like the others she did a great job.

Plot: Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy Young Ladies of Quality is in more danger than ever. With the Picklemen maneuvering to take over mechanicals all over the kingdom something most be done. And the most capable people of doing anything about it tend to be the first targets. Sophronia is determined to make sure that those who are seeking control don't get it, but that's hard to do when you don't know how they intend to take control. With Agatha and Dimnity, Sophronia tries to figure out what is the Picklemen's ultimate goal. However, can she survive finding out?

My personal favorites: The story is great and the characters are a lot of fun, as before. The action was good and suspense was well done. I liked part where Sophronia was "behind enemy lines" and had to find ways to handle herself with danger all around her. I thought the ending was satisfying. I didn't mind Sophronia and Soap's relationships and I thought the interactions were fun.

Considerations: There is more violence in this book as well as more sensuality, but I still consider it appropriate for young adults. There were no graphic descriptions or language to worry about. The book was on par with the others.

I was glad to listen to this series and enjoyed the presentation very much. As I said, we probably won't pick up the Parasol Protectorate, but I am curious about the Custard Protocol. The total length of Manners and Mutiny was just under 10 hours.

Audible Book Review - The Dresden Files books 3-12 by Jim Butcher

So I haven't posted a book review in a while because I wanted to get through all the books I had in the series. Thanks to my cousin I was able to get audible versions of the bulk of the Dresden Files that I started reading a could of years ago. SO, you can consider this a review of Grave Peril, Summer Knight, Death Masks, Blood Rites, Dead Beat, Proven Guilty, White Knight, Small Favor, Turn Coat, Changes, and Ghost Story. It was a lot of listening, about 154 hours, give or take a hour or two. They were all narrated by James Marsters who was marvelous. I really like Butcher's writing and despite listening to a adventure/thriller series for almost three months straight I rarely tired of hearing either about the story or James Marsters' voice. There were a couple of times when I would feel annoyed with an attitude or action that the Dresden had decided to take, but without fail the next time I started listening had me back in the story and loving the characters in a matter of minutes. This says a lot about an author. It took me twice to get through Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix because I was so annoyed with Potter's attitude but when I got annoyed with Dresden I just had to give it a minute and I knew that Butcher would suck me right back in. I'm not going to try to provide a plot summery for each book, but, in Butcher's own words, Grave Peril is where the much larger story arch gets started and, while it is still moving forward at the end of Ghost Story it does wrap up a pretty big part of it. Harry Dresden is far from done. As of this writing there are two books and an anthology that are past this. I'm going to see a friend next month who has promised to help me get the next couple of books, so I'll review those when I get done with them. It may be a bit. Despite enjoying Dresden, I may need a bit more time before getting back into his story. It's pretty intense and a change of pace and palate is nice every once in a while. Can I just say I really don't like the way Blogger arranges pictures?

Plot: Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard private investigator, is not known for holding back when innocents are in danger. Luckily he is not alone. Through his contacts in the supernatural world Harry has met righteous knights (complete with swords and shining armor), a pack of young werewolves, small time practitioners, necromancers (complete with zombies) gangsters, demons, ghosts, vampires, the Fae (Matrons, Queens, Kings, Ladies, and Knights - all worthy of the capitol letter), shades, fallen angles, mercenaries, oracles, and, or course, fellow wizards. All of whom want him to work for them, kill him, or are willing to help him. His job is to know which is which. When war breaks out and Harry starts to lose friends and allies, he finds himself stretching and pushing himself more and more. With every victory he finds himself losing something. The question is how far can he go before he bets too big and loses it all.

My personal favorites: Butcher has created a cast of heroes, villains, gods, and demons that are anything but two dimensional. and are all intriguing. Whether it's the polka loving Butters, the mysterious gangster Markon, the relentless Warden Morgan, or the good intentioned Molly - and these are predominately side characters - the cast is well envisioned and well developed. It's incredible to see each character go through their own story arc and experience their own triumphs and failures. Karen Murphy, Dresden's closest friend, is a delight in and of herself. Unfailing in her loyalty and stalwart in her duty she backs Dresden to the hilt (literally on occasion) and reaps the rewards and the consequences. Butcher does an incredible job of showing us exactly what Harry's actions lead to and many of them are not pretty. The action is very well written and the story arc is both vast and intimate. All in all, fantastic writing.

Considerations: The books do have occasional strong language. I would be surprised to be reminded of that fact, but did not find it used inappropriately. There is also sensuality, some books don't have much, others more so. The most blatant sexual references were in Death Masks which was a little intense with some brief, limited, graphic descriptions, Despite all the violence and the supernatural aspects there aren't a lot of graphic descriptions of violence. On par or less than Corriea's books. I probably wouldn't recommend these books for young adults, even older ones. For anybody else, go for it.

Going through these books was quite a ride. They were a big help in handling the stress of job searching and starting my new job. I've recently finished another new book and the audible version of an old favorite that I need to review. I'm also re-listening to Crystal Keepers as I'm anticipating getting the new Five Kingdoms book next week. My wife is thinking about picking up the latest Lockwood & Co. even though she's already read it. She really likes the productions on Audible and I have been encouraging her because I have not read it yet. So, yeah, lots of stuff on my plate - reading wise. The Dresden books were great and I will finish the series. It's just a matter of time.

Audible Book Review - Son of the Black Sword by Larry Correia, Saga of the Forgotten Warrior book 1

This is my last Audible review for a time. We are already trying to figure out how to get the means to support our audio book addiction, but for now, this is the last book I got from them. I preordered it a while ago and, clearly have been looking forward to it ever since. While Corriea is known for his "gun" fiction, this is his first shot (pun intended) at epic fantasy. You might think that Into the Storm would be his first shot, but remember that he was given a world to work with and got to write a great story within that world. Even his other books are based on worlds that already existed (for the most part) that he just tweaked. His tweaking is really, really good in my mind but Son of the Black Sword is 100% his own creation. And he does great. It feels different from his other books. There are some similarities, but I didn't feel that I was rereading anything. You could argue that Jake Sullivan, Agent Franks, and Ashok Vadal are the same person, but I say no. They act in similar ways but for very different reasons. And the difference in those reasons produces different people. Here is a link to the Audible page for the book. It was strange to listen to a book by Correia that was not narrated by Bronson Pinchot or Oliver Wyman, but Tim Gerard Reynolds who did a fantastic job. All in all I was very pleased with the story and am looking forward to the next in the series.

Plot: Lok is a continent surrounded by Hell. Demons possess the oceans and water is considered impure. Yet, water is necessary for life. This is just one of the contradictions that exist in Lok. There is no king, there is no ruler, there is only The Law that dictates all. But the law only applies to people and, due to a brutal caste system, there are hundreds of thousands of Untouchables - people that have no caste - that are treated as less than property. When ranked in order of importance cattle rank higher than the caste-less. Everyone has a place, except for them.

Ashok, of house Vadal's, place is that of enforcer of The Law. A member of the order of Protectors, he is sent to fight demons, kill criminals, end house wars, and fulfill the commands of those that oversee The Law. Ashok is known throughout Lok as "the Blackheart" because he is merciless and unflinching in his duty to The Law. To him, The Law is everything.

So when he learns that he is not who he things he is, that he is, in fact, the result of criminal activity, his world starts to collapse. Driven almost mad with the discovery he turns on those responsible and then turns himself in. While this would normally be seen as a good thing, Ashok holds one of the legendary ancestor blades - swords that can remember every person, every battle, every cut, slash, and parry and passes that information on to it's barer. They are swords that turn their bearers into men capable of defeating armies. But the swords are picky about who they choose. Anyone unworthy of wielding one of the black steel blades will find the sword unmerciful - usually by removing valuable body parts when they pick it up. A bearer of one of these swords is a force of nature and cannot be treated as a common criminal. So Ashok sits in his jail cell, confined only by his unwavering duty to The Law while those in power plot not only his demise but also that of hundreds of thousands. While The Law may be perfect, those that uphold it may not be so pure.

My personal favorites: One, the picture I have here. It was the original cover art, but the publisher included it as an art plate when they decided to go with the simpler cover. As usual, Correia shows great skill and establishing the world his characters inhabit. In this case he has created this world and I could believe it. From the politics to the castes to the magic and the time scale I got it. The characters were great as well. They have some good complexity and aren't just one sided. There are some great contradictions that provide some good conflict and intrigue. The book reads like a classic fantasy but with Larry's flair for action. I look forward to seeing where the story and characters go.

Considerations: Despite his other books, Son of the Black Sword does not have as much language as may be expected. Rather, I should say that Larry does a good job of creating in-world language. As water is considered evil most of their curses invoke it. "Oceans!" and "Fish eater" are some examples. While there is some gore, he does not dwell on it, nor is it gratuitous or visceral. There is plenty of violence - this is a Larry Correia book after all - but again, it does not dwell on the gruesome parts of it. It read like many of the classic fantasy books I read as a young adult. As usual there are no sex scenes and no real instances of sensuality or sexuality.

The book did not feel as long as it was and that was because I got sucked in pretty quick. It was a very enjoyable listen and I look forward to the future books. The total length was just under 16 and half hours.

Audible Book Review - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin

Pride and Prejudice is one of the most well known stories in the world. Written just over 200 years ago, it still strikes a chord in audiences today. I've read the story (both the original and the one with zombies), seen two period versions of the movie, one contemporary version, and one movie based on it. In fact, just this week my wife and I had a getaway and watched the five hour version while we were gone. While we were watching it, I wondered at the how the story has continued on for so long and been so universally received. When you look at the particulars, I would wager that most modern readers don't understand the significance of the Bennett's position. For instances Lady Catherine de Bourgh rants about Elizabeth's uncles and aunts and other relations, and her lack of "connections." I don't know if even I fully appreciate what that meant when Austin wrote it. The intricate social nuances that were a part of that era's manners and such are not the same as the more causal social norms we have now. With that said, I think that Austin's content, the details of which may be unfamiliar to modern readers, is such that it speaks to universal concepts of love, shame, pride, and, well, prejudice. The other Austin books that I've read and own videos of, Sense and Sensibility and Persuasion, are similar in this application of universal themes. Here is a link to the Audible page for the book. It was narrated with great skill by Carolyn Seymour.

Plot: The Bennett sisters (five in all) are varied in their differences. Jane, the eldest, is kind, tender, and very beautiful. Elizabeth is witty, if cynical, but also considered a local beauty. Mary is sever, introverted, and a tad plain. Kitty and Lydia are both impulsive, rather silly and delight in society. Lydia, although being the younger, tends to be the one that directs their paths. Their mother is anxious to get them all married off, particularly since their father's estate will, upon his death, revert to a distant cousin. The action begins when a single young man of independent wealth moves into the neighborhood. He brings with him a friend who is also single and far more wealthy. What's more, Mr. Bennett's cousin seeks to "heal the breach" between himself and his fair cousins from whom he will inherit. To top it off, the militia is in the area and officers make very dashing husbands. With all of the choices available is there any way this can go wrong?

My personal favorites: Mr. Bennett is my favorite character. I can see myself in him a bit - and that is not always a good thing. The character interactions are fantastic and their personalities feel real and unique. While considered the epitome of "chick lit" I know of several men who enjoy the story as the character drama it is.

Considerations: As I mentioned above, some details may not be as significant to modern readers, particularly younger ones, so I would suggest this as a mid young adult read. Beyond that there is nothing promiscuous or of questionable content.

It was a great listen and I'm glad to have it in my audio library. The total length was 11 and half hours.

Audible Book Review - Dune by Frank Herbert

I'm getting caught up on book reviews, as you can probably tell. I'm also in the middle of a series and am waiting until the end to review it. If I followed my past model (reviewing each book as it comes out) I would have to write two more book reviews. Dune is the second to last Audible review I will do for the present. I have one more book I pre-ordered coming at the end of October so I'll get to that one when I can. Dune is one of my favorite books. Considered one of the outstanding landmarks in the sci-fi genre, my father suggested it to me when I was in high school. There are a lot of books in the series, but I have only read the first book, and I'm okay with that. The book had a full cast, but did not always use it. The chief narrator was Scott Brick, who read the sections that were none dialog and limited dialog. The full cast was utilized for sections that had excessive dialog, particularly those without dialog tags, where two people are talking rapidly back and forth. There were also sound and music cues that were very effective at providing atmosphere and ambiance. I'm not surprised the production won a Audie award in 2008. I liked the different voices cast for the characters. Baron Harkonnen was particularly good.

Plot: Arrakis, Dune, is a planet of sands and Spice. The chemical Melange, known as Spice, is critical for interstellar travel. It is beyond important. It is essential to the present and future of the empire. But any Spice mining draws the justifiably feared Makers, sand worms so large they can eat factories whole. What's more, Dune is so dry that water of all kinds is richly cherished, so much so that when someone dies the water is reclaimed from their bodies prior to burial. Paul Atredies, the son and heir of Duke Leto, comes to Dune as a young man when the emperor grants his family the fiefdom of Dune. The previous rulers, House Harkonnen, House Atredies' rival, nemesis, and greatest threat, sought to subjugate the natives through force and violence. But Leto seeks to alley himself with the natives - the Fremen. These desert nomads grow up in the most harsh conditions in the galaxy. If he is successful, he will have the finest worriers imaginable - more fierce than the Emperor's terror troops. So it is no surprise that there is a trap waiting for Paul and his family, set to wipe them out. However, Paul and his father know that the first step of defeating a trap is knowing that it's there...

My personal favorites: Dune has got all the hallmarks of sci-fi, inventive technologies, strange cultures, intriguing alien creatures, new societies, and then it throws in a chunk of political and religious intrigue. One of Dune's motto's is "plans within plans, within plans, and it's important to remember than as you listen to it. The character's are great and the depth of the conflicts is captivating. The book is over 20 hours long, but it didn't feel like it. There are moments of reflection as well as moments of action. And let's face it, the idea of riding a sand worm is just awesome.

Considerations: In terms of descriptions there is nothing that I would object to a young teen reading. There is nothing graphic or gratuitous in the writing. The only consideration is the steep learning curve and the more adult level intrigue and themes. As I stated at the beginning, I was in high school when I read the book.

I try to re-read this book every couple of years, but because it's a great story with good intrigue and characters that I love. I'm glad to have it as part of my audio library now as well, particularly since the production is very good. The total length was just over 20 hours.

Audible book review - The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley

Due to changes in our finances Angel and I have suspended our Audible subscription . Before doing so, however, I was faced with the choice of three credits and how to spend them. I wanted books that I would enjoy listening to multiple times. Nor did I want to take a risk on an unfamiliar author. In the end, I pre-ordered the latest Larry Correia book (as I have re-read and re-listened, multiple times, to every one of his books that I own), Dune by Frank Herbert (one of my favorite books), and The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley (another all time favorite). With Blue Sword, I wanted something that Angel might enjoy as well. Turns out she's read the book, but is enjoying listening to it now. The Blue Sword was narrated by Diane Warren who did a decent job when all was said and done. At first, it seemed like she put pauses in at strange times - it would sound like a chapter break, but then the scene would continue. Either she stopped doing it after a while or I got used to it because I only noticed it at the beginning. I didn't think the narration detracted from the story and she had a nice voice.

Plot: The Homelanders came to Damar decades ago, but Harry Crewe is a new addition to the desert country. When her father died in the Homland across the sea her brother, Richard "Dicky", arragned for her to live with the local government representative. Harry is a young lady who prefers to be on horseback and loves being active, traits that, while not unacceptable, are not often encouraged. Life appears to be set on a fairly boring, but satisfying track when Harry is dragged into international politics and war. Kidnapped by the king of the mysterious Hill Folk, Corlath, after his appeal for aid is refused, Harry doesn't know why she has been taken. But then, neither does Corlath, only that she must.

My personal favorites: I love the world that McKinley sets up. I totally eat up the scenes where Harry learns the language, customs, and skills of the Hill Folk. I wish I could wear a sash and complete in the Laprun trials. I don't know how accurate the information is about horsemanship, but I like the detail and time spent on it. I like the characters as well.

Considerations: This book won the Newberry Medal for children so you would expect it to be good for kids of almost any age - And it is. The only consideration I've heard against it is that it seems to be an example of Stockholm Syndrome - where a person who is kidnapped sides with the kidnappers. I don't see that as as a mark against the book - I only mention it because the argument has been made. I don't see it that way.

I'm glad to have this story in my Audible Library and I know there will come a time when my family will listen to this story as we travel. Perhaps we will be in the desert, headed for the mountains, much like Harry does on her first trip on a hill horse. The total time was a little over 12 hours.

Audible Book Review - The Powder Mage Trilogy by Brain McClellan: Promise of Blood, The Crimson Campaign, & The Autumn Republic

This is what I've been listening to for the last couple of months. I figured that I would review the whole series together so as not to give spoilers with each review. I first heard about this series from Howard Taylor who said,:"I've read several debut novels over the years, most by authors who've gone on to do quite well for themselves, and I can confidently state that Promise of Blood, by Brian McClellan, is the best of them." (A link to his spoiler free review here). That caught my interest and then a good friend of mine mentioned it out of the blue with instructions to read it. Cliff, I've read it, and thanks for the recommendation. I was excited to see them on Audible, as it would make it easier to get and finish. Here is the Audible link for the whole trilogy (because you will want all three). The whole trilogy was narrated by Christian Rodska, the same person who did Mr. Midshipman Hornblower, who did a really, really good job. I grew up with David Eddings and consequently have always considered fantasy of being comprised of heroic warriors, powerful wizards (men and women), Gods (wrathful and benevolent), and battles both big and small. The Powder Mage Trilogy has all of this plus muskets, canon, and intrigue. This is a classic fantasy story set in era of muzzle loaders and it is awesome!

Plot: Field Marshal Tamas is tired of kings who only care about their wealth and power, who bleed the people for pleasure, and who are not loyal to their own country. So he stages a coup and washes the city with the blood of the nobility. But now he has to forge a government and continue to fight the people's battles against enemies. However, it appears that there are enemies among his own ranks. Regardless of the challenges before him, Tamas is hell-bent that this new country and government will survive. And he might just be able to do it.

Inspector Adamat is a man who a perfect memory and a history of getting the job done. Brought in on the recommendation of an old friend, Tamas hires Adamat to discover the meaning of the last words of the slaughtered Royal Cabal's Privileged (powerful sorcerers who worked for the king). This places Adamat in a position of power, the Field Marshal's pet terrier, but it also places him in danger. More important, it places his family in danger.

Nila first learns of the coup when soldiers storm the noble house that she works in as a laundress. Out of love for the noble family's son, she hides him from the soldiers and goes on the run. Scooped up by a royalist faction she finds herself being used by everyone she meets for their own ends. Needless to say, she begins to tire of this and soon learns to fight back.

Taniel Two-Shot, who is rarely seen without the mysterious "savage girl" Kapoel, is a returning war hero who is just in time to enter the fray of Tamas' coup. First, sent after a rouge Privileged, his running battle with his prey destroys whole city blocks before it's resolved. And then he gets an even messier task. Moving from conflict to conflict, ever increasing the notches on his rifle, Taniel and Kapoel go from frying pan to fire and from fire to inferno as they battle every enemy of Adro, ultimately earning the personal attention of a mad god.

My personal favorites: The characters are amazing! The four mentioned above lead the narrative and we get the most from their points of view, but they are only a small part of the whole cast. What's amazing is that, despite the sheer number of people in the story it was fairly easy to follow who was who. I cheered, I mourned, I raged, and I laughed with them. Every POV change was frustrating and yet exciting. The pacing of the story was well done with both introspection and excitement for all the characters. There was drama and intrigue as well as action and humor. I also loved the magic involved. Even though McClellan does not explain much about how it works we understand limitations and abilities and it was just plain cool. What's more, there were at least three different types, not including the various strengths and weaknesses of characters in their receptive magic. The writing clean and very well done with plenty of show and not a lot of boring tell. The whole series was a wild ride through the birth of a republic and the personal strength of the individuals that are trying to make it.

Considerations: There is some strong language, but no "f bombs." The vast majority of curse words were "in world," meaning the words they use related to the world's pantheon and religious beliefs. There was little in the way of sensual material, although there were references to sexual intercourse. There were no gratuitous and few graphic descriptions of violence. I wouldn't have any difficulty referring the trilogy to an older young adult audience. For comparison, with the exception of the occasional strong language I would compare the level of sex and violence to the Sparhawk books by David Eddings.

I think this may be my longest review yet and I could go on about how much I enjoyed the story of the characters involved in forming a nation, but I don't want to spoil anything. The books are great and the narration brought them alive. It would not be unlikely for hardbacks of these books to show up on my bookshelves someday. Promise of Blood was just over 19 hours. The Crimson Campaign was just over 20 hours. And The Autumn Republic was just shy of 19 and a half hours.

Audible Book Review: Legion by Brandon Standerson

Angel and I were able to get a $10 reward credit at the end of April and so I scooped up the first Legion book, since I had already listened to the second one. Once again, Sanderson, the king of epic fantasy, proves that he can write short fiction as well. I hope that he continues to do so, as he does such a good job at it. I would enjoying seeing more of Steven Leeds a.k.a. Legion. Here is a link to Audible's page for the book. It was narrated by Oliver Wyman who is very good.

Plot: Steven Leeds is not many things. He is not a genius. He is not insane. And he is not cheap. Working as a free-lance consultant and problem solver (think corporate detective) he charges a lot for his services because it costs a lot to house several dozen separate aspects of your personality. Again, he is not crazy - his aspects are. When a company comes to him with a case to find a camera that takes pictures of the past he first wants to turn them down, but ends up being drawn into the case. This leads (pun intended) him down a path that will require much from him and his aspects. In fact, he might uncover more questions about himself than he answers.

My personal favorites: I really liked the ending. Since that would be a bit of a spoiler, I'll talk about the other things I liked. All of Leeds' aspects are a lot of fun. I like the way that Sanderson tells Leeds' story so cleanly and incorporating the different personalities of his aspects. I can only imagine what Leeds would be like in person - but I think that's the idea.

Considerations: As per the norm, Sanderson is a clean write and the only thing that would discourage me from reading this from my children would be the understanding necessary to follow along with Leeds' condition. But give my 7 year old a couple of years and she'll be good.

I have yet to read something from Sanderson that I did not like and this keeps with the current trend. It's a great introduction to his writing and a short journey into a pretty cool character's head. The total length was just over two hours.

Audible Book Review: Sky Raiders, Rogue Knight, and Crystal Keepers, by Brandon Mull; the Five Kingdoms, books 1-3

Fablehaven, and Beyonders are two excellent young adult series. Brandon Mull does a good job of putting his characters in incredible situations and taking the reader for a ride. Five Kingdoms doesn't disappoint. Which similar to the other books in that our main character is experiences a "fish out of water" experience, the world (or worlds) of the five kingdoms gives Mull a chance to really tell different kinds of stories with each book. Here are links to the Audible pages for Sky Raiders, Rogue Knight and Crystal Keepers. They are all ready by Keith Nobbs who does a good job of it.

Plot: Cole is your normal Arizona teenager who likes to hang out with his best friend, Dalton, and has a worked his long time crush, Jenna, into a good friend (but he DOESN'T have a crush on her). Life is normal, but normal lives make boring stories. Halloween night sees them checking out a local haunted house when nightmares become real. Captured by slavers from a strange world called The Outskirts Cole, Dalton, Jenna, and a couple dozen of their classmates are hauled off to a place out of dreams. Their dream, however, is more of a nightmare. The Outskirts consists of five kingdoms, each with its own kind of magic - called shaping, and its own cultures. It turns out that people from our world tend to have extraordinary shaping abilities and the High King has a big interest in collecting those with power. Cole, however, will not meet the High King because he is bought by a representative for the Sky Raiders, a group of wild individuals that scout out and ransack floating sky castles on the edge of the world. The job is dangerous - Seriously. Cole is nearly killed in his first mission and they say it only gets worse from there.

But Cole is not only determined to survive but to find a way to free his friends. While with the sky raiders he learns of the nefarious deeds that the High King perpetrated on member of his own family that enabled him to seize control of the five kingdoms. Cole joins forces with the rebellion in an attempt to help establish a government that will stop the slavery of outsiders and free his friends. As he and his new friends travel the five kingdoms in search of those with the power to challenge the High King they uncover a hidden layer of power that is more threatening then the High King. Along the way Cole catches hints of where his friends may be and despite the challenges he is determined to free them and find a way home.

My personal favorites: Sometimes it's hard to put my finger on exactly what I like about Brandon Mull's books. His characters are good, his world building is fantastic, and his magic if fun. the same can be said of many other authors as well. As I ponder on Mull's writing I come to the conclusion that he is one of the few authors that can really pull off "surprising, yet inevitable." That is, the art of plotting a twist that comes at you sideways but leaves you saying, "I should have seen that coming." I'm never sure what to expect when our heroes come to a tight spot. He writes young adult, but is not afraid to throw more mature concepts and conflicts into his writing, while keeping the books age appropriate. He writes in an unapologetic style, meaning you may not like the ending but your desires are not going to interfere with his story. With that said, I like the direction his stories go and while Beyonders tends to garner the most ire from readers, I personally really liked it.

Considerations: Nothing in the writing itself is questionable or objectionable to young adult readers. Some of the themes of loss, death, being unable to return home, and slavery may be lost on younger readers (older middle grade). The characters don't always act their age - a common issue I have with the vast majority of young adult. But let's face it, an honest portrayal of teenagers would be hard to get through. For evidence I submit Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - It took me three tries to get into that one.

Brandon Mull has another great series with Five Kingdoms. I was a little hesitant at first, I think because it sounded too much like Beyonders, but I was pleasantly surprised. I'm looking forward to the last two books (Mull has mentioned that there will be five books). The first book was just over 12 and half hours, the 2nd was just over 13 and a half hours, and the third was just over 13 hours.

Audible Book Review - William Shakespeare's Star Wars: The Jedi Doth Return by Ian Doescher

A long, long time ago, in a playhouse far, far away.... And we have the conclusion to the original trilogy of Star Wars by William Shakespeare (as written by Ian Doescher). The Jedi Doth Return was a lot of fun and, like the other two books, does a great job of mixing 15th century with sci-fi. Here is a link to Audible's page for the book. The usual cast returns and continues to do a great job. Ian Doescher tries to make each book bring something new to the story. I liked the way he did Jabba and the ewokes. I also like the depth he gives us into the characters, as dramatic as it is. All it all, I enjoyed the production.

Plot: Luke and his friend have two missions. First, to rescue Han from the nefarious gangster Jabba the Hutt, a task made difficult by Jabba's cunning and resources. Second, thwart the empire in completing their second, more powerful Death Star. Along the way Luke comes to embrace his heritage and seeks his father's redemption. Everything hinges on the actions and success of a few brave souls and their drive to see evil destroyed.

My personal favorites: Jedi continues the excellence in the performance, giving us heroic heroes and dastardly villains - all portrayed as if on stage. I like trying to identify the different styles that Doescher uses for the different cultures and characters. The battle of the fools is great as well - using the Shakespearean understanding of "fool." This is a fitting conclusion to the trilogy and I appreciate the commentary at the end.

Considerations: There is nothing in this production that I consider questionable or offensive. However, if you don't like Shakespearean language, you might have a problem with it.

This was a great listen and while I have seen the books, I will probably keep to the audio. Shakespeare wrote for a performance, and even I struggle to read him. The total production, with afterwards, was just over 3 and a half hours.

Audible Book Review - Dracula by Bram Stocker (Audible Edition)

I haven't read a lot of classics. It's a major failing. However, one of them was Jane Erye, by Charlotte Bronte. When I asked my mother if it was considered a Gothic novel her reply was, "It's what Gothic novels aspired to be." With that said, one of the other classics I've read was Dracula by Bram Stocker. It may be considered the epitome of the Gothic novel. I know it wasn't the first story about vampires, but it was a rather defining one. I read it for a class in college and while I was hesitant I came to love it. With my over active imagination I never read it after 3:00 pm (yes, I was a 20+ year old college students), but I loved it. I've re-read it a couple of times since then. This last time I found a free copy on the kindle store, and said, why not? Come to find out, with some books, if you own the kindle version, Audible (which is owned by Amazon as you probably know) will give you a deal on the audio version. I scooped it up for 99 cents and while I didn't listen to it at once, I enjoyed it when I did. Here is a  link to the Audible page for the book. There are several versions of the book on Audible - let's face it, it's a classic and has been done several times. The version I got was a multi-cast recording, with each character having their own unique voice which helped add to the story. Led by Alan Cummings and Tim Curry (who doesn't have many lines), the other narrators were: Simon Vance, Katherine Kellgren, Susan Duerden, John Lee, Graeme Malcolm, Steve Crossley, Simon Prebble, James Adams, Nicola Barber, Victor Villar, Mare Vietor, and John Lee. They all did a great job and I really enjoyed the production.

Plot: Johnathan Harker is a new solicitor in his firm and has been sent to Transylvania (a mountainous region of Romania) to meet with Count Dracula. The Count wants to come to London and experience modern 19th century life. However, Johnathan begins to believe that the Count is going to imprison and eventually kill him as a way of keeping some deep secret. Anxious to see his fiancee, Mina Murray, Johnathan chances a daring escape. Mina herself is having difficulties with her best friend, Lucy Westenra. Lucy, always a restless sleeper, has wandered from her bed several nights now and appears to have caught a disease that leaves her pale and weak. Three men who have all courted her and loved her have donated their own blood to help her, yet it does not appear to be enough. Something is afoot and Mina is worried because she has not heard from Johnathan for a while as well.

My personal favorites: It is important to remember that the people who first read this book probably had little idea of vampire lore like we do today. Putting aside the current romantic idea of the vampire, Dracula is an awesome force of nature whose tells and give-a-ways. The first time I read the book I was screaming at Johnathan to pay attention to what was happening and to run, but of course the characters have no idea the danger they are in. I also find the character of Renfield interesting. The production was well done as well.

Considerations: This is a story about blood and death. There are some disturbing scenes but nothing related is over the top. As the story is written in the forms of letters and journal entries the descriptions are those of someone reflecting on the situation. I wouldn't have a problem recommending it to anyone who feels comfortable with Gothic novels or the idea of vampires.

I look forward to re-listening to this during Halloween or other times when the mood takes me. the production was well done and the story is still one of my favorites. The total length was just under 15 and a half hours.

Audible Book Review - The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

It's amazing how different semesters can take your time over. In the past I was able to successfully blog every week, but this week is certainly taking a lot of time. I've got two other books I need to review, plus I'm almost done with one more in the same series. Well, as the semester winds down I can finally get to this. While I may not have read everything Sanderson's written, I've enjoyed everything I've read. The Rithmatist is no exception. Sanderson has a way with magic. He creates some of the most interesting and diverse magic systems there are. And the awesome thing is that he uses the rules of the magic to make it cooler. I recently bought Warbound, which was the first Sandrson book I read which uses the idea of breath and color in magic. The Alcatraz books use magic sand, lenses, and innate "talents" to great effect. Stormlight Archives uses spirits tied to ideas and gems. And don't get me started on Legion, The Emporer's Soul, and Mistborn. Each system is unique and intriguing. What's more, Sanderson immerses the reader in the world. I love the cussing in his books. That may sound strange, but it's amazing how strong "Colors!", "Shattering Glass!" and "Dusts!" can be. Here is a link to Audible's page for the book. For anyone listening to the book, there are quite a few illustrations that help. They can be found on Sanderson's home page here. The spoken descriptions are very good, so they not be necessary. Michael Kramer narrated it and did a fantastic job. He also narrates Sanderson's Stormlight Archives and the only thing that threw me was that one of the characters sounded a bit like Sadeas, but the syntax and other contexts rapidly established Nalizar as his own character.

Plot: Rithmatics is the ability to draw chalk lines and figures and make them come to life. Such skill is needed as the American Isles are constantly under threat from wild chalklings, two dimensional chalk creatures that will kill without mercy. Rithmatics is the only thing, short of a bucket of acid, that can hold them back. Joel has always wanted to be a rithmatist. The fact that he studies at one of the top rithmatic schools in the Isles doesn't help his chances though. A rithmatist is something that you are or aren't - no amount of studying will change that. Joel is not a rithmatist. But he knows rithmatics better than many of them and is doing everything he can to try to learn more. However, non-rithmatists are discouraged from studying rithmatics. Joel is determined however, and finds his opportunity when rithmatic students begin disappearing from their homes without a trace of where they went. Perhaps a non-rithmatist is just what is needed to solve the mystery. However, can a non-rithmatist survive the solution?

My personal favorites: Like I mentioned, Sanderson is fantastic with magic. Rithmatics is a simple, yet rich science that was fun to think about while listening to the book. The mystery was well done to boot. I loved the Characters and as Howard Taylor says there were some "stand up and cheer" moments. The young characters behaved believably, which is always a plus. I look forward to seeing what else Sanderson does with this world.

Considerations: This book is suitable for young adults and didn't have anything I objected to. There are some great suspenseful parts that might frighten middle grade readers, but overall it is a appropriate for young teens.

I loved The Rithmatist and will probably return to it several times in the future. Sanderson's world building is almost unmatched (with Frank Herbert being the only contender) and it was a fantastic listen. The total length was just shy of 10 and half hours.

Audible Book Review - The Heroes Guide to Storming the Castle and the Hero's Guide to Being an Outlaw by Christopher Healy, The League of Princes, books 2 and 3)

Angel did end up picking up the second book in the League of Princes books with her credit and we both dove into the book quickly. Once again I'm behind on my reviewing of books. In fact, I just finished the third book yesterday, so I figured I would write the two together. Storming the Castle was a fun read that was part adventure, part heist, and part romance. The princes continue to develop and we get to come to understand them more and more. The villains are certainly villainous and it pulls some some twists and turns as it goes. Here's a link for the Audible page for Storming. Being an Outlaw continued the plot of Storming, albeit without our hero's knowledge, and carries the series to fun conclusion. It is full of our favorite characters and even introduces some new ones. It can seem a little overstuffed at times, but I enjoyed it quite a bit. Here's a link for the Audible page for Outlaw. As per the first, Bronson Pinchot reads the book and does a wonderful (amazing, fantastic, marvelous, incredible) job. It is worth noting that series does a great job of giving us characters - no Heroes - of all kinds, shapes, interests, and strengths of both genders. It's worth saying that the books are not entitled "the League of Princes guide" but simply, "the Hero's guide" because the princes in the story are not the only heroes.

Plot: After the League of Princes (Charming) were hailed as heroes they were almost immediately discredited by the infamous Bandit King (a.k.a. Deeb Rauber) who then went on to bigger and badder things, like forming his own kingdom. The princes tried to settle down but Gustav still hates to live with his brothers and Liam couldn't go home for fear of being forced to marry Briar Rose. Liam shacks up with Frederic and Elle and soon makes enemies with Frederic's father who doesn't like Liam's attempt to teach them swordplay. Luckily for Frederic's father Liam is kidnapped and dragged to his own wedding. It's time to get the band back together for a grand rescue, but what starts out as a rescue of their friends turns into an attack on the Bandit King's fortress. Unfortunately for them, Deeb has made some new friends and they are far nastier than he is. Even after the League deals with Deeb and his friends, they are not done. But they don't know that until they are declared outlaws. Now just to clear their name, find out what's going on, and beat the
bad guys. All the while trying to dodge the bounty hunters on their tail. Oh, and did we mention that the ladies were framed as well?

My personal favorites: I really enjoy how competent each of of the characters are in their own way and the way they interact. Christopher Healy does a really great job of bouncing the different personalities and people off each other. I felt that each of the characters were able to grow, develop, succeed, and fail in their own way. Even Duncan and Snow had their highs and lows. Duncan's speech at the end of Outlaw was great. It felt natural to me and yet was a surprise. I should point out that while characters (particularly the couples) had traits in common, I felt like everyone was their own person. I have to say that one of my favorite things about these books is Bronson Pinchot's narration. It's no wonder that Outlaw was nominated for the Audie.

Considerations: Like the first, these are well written middle grade books that do a great job of writing to their audience. There was nothing that I felt was inappropriate for the age group.

I ripped through these two books pretty quickly and enjoyed every minute of them. The narration was a big interest, but the stories were well done. There are lots of things you can look find in these books that could come up in an English class, but they are also very entertaining. That's a rare combination. The total length of Storm was just shy of 10 and half hours and Outlaw was just over 10 and a half hours.

Audible Book Review - The Hero's Guide to Saving your Kingdom by Bhristopher Healy, League of Princes, book 1

Having wrapped up the available Finishing School books I was trying to find something to get with my credit that Angel might like. It just so happened that the Audie Awards nominees were up. As I was perusing them I came across The Hero's Guide to Being an Outlaw, read by a favorite narrator of mine, Bronson Pinchot. I read the description, then went and looked at the first and second books in the series and thought it look interesting. I am here to say that not only was it interesting but it is fantastic! Bronson Pinchot is an amazing reader and does a fantastic job with each of the characters, even narrating goblins correctly (i.e. goblins sound like they have a mouth full of gelatin and that sounded about right). Angel hasn't used her credit yet and I'm trying to convince her to pick up the second book in the series with it, but I've been unsuccessful so far. Here is a link to the Audible page for the book. I'm looking forward to sharing Bronson's Pinchot's performance with my kids when they get just a little older.

Plot: You've heard how Prince Charming rescued Snow White, kissed Sleeping Beauty, saved Rapunzel, and won the heart of Cinderella. What you may not know is that Prince Charming is just what those idiot bards called the four separate princes who actually did those things. Prince Frederic, Prince Gustav, Prince Liam, and Prince Duncan all rather dislike being a Prince Charming. They all have their different reasons, but the fact of the matter is that they have this in common. It's those blasted bards' fault that no one knows the real them. However, when someone begins kidnapping the bards with horrible and malicious murder on their mind someone has to save the day. So, it is up to the imperfect but determined League of Princes [Charming] to do it.

My personal favorites: Hands down one of the best performances I have ever heard. In addition to the great voice the story was a lot of fun. It felt like a middle grade book with twenty-something year old characters (with the exception of the bandit king), but it didn't feel awkward or out of place. The writing was clean and pacing was great. I liked the way the princes were able to get their differing abilities in order and the pay off. There were funny parts and stand up and cheer parts. The princesses were awesome as well. They were strong without the men being week. Everyone was competent in their own way, even Duncan and Fredric.

Considerations: I have no difficulty in recommending this book to anyone. I think my seven-year old would enjoy listening to it, but I might be a little over eager.

I'm already planning on re-listening to it soon (probably while waiting for my next credit). I also can't wait for my own "princes charming" (ages five years and six months) can listen to it. It was fantstic and I can't wait to listen to the others. The total length was just over nine hours.

Audible Book Review - Waistcoats and Weaponry by Gail Carrier, Finishing School Book the Third

This is the most recent of the Finishing school books to come out, so we have a wait for the fourth. That is I think there is going to be a fourth - or rather there better be. Again, I finished this a while ago, but haven't reviewed it due to classes and work. I'm learning how this series is fitting into the Gail's others and this book seems to have some key information about The Custard Protocol, her latest new story line. At least from what I could tell from reading some book summaries. Here is a link to Audible's page for the book. A fun thing about this performance, it uses music from "the official music video" for the series and even has the whole song availalbe as the last "chapter" in the audio file. I like the video so I've include it here. The series continues to be narrated by Moira Quirk who is an utter delight to listen to.

Plot: Sophronia has been at finishing school for about eighteen months now, well into her second year, and is learning all kinds of fun things. For one, they are learning seduction now and Sophronia is curious how she can apply it. Things are certainly more interesting between her, Lord Mersey and Soap. Especially when she and her Dimnity plan on attending her brother's engagement ball. However, she is very worried when Sidhaeg gets word from home that things have gone upside-down in her werewolf pack. What results is a wild chase involving a train, vampire drones, picklemen, a dirigible, the Queen's own wolf - the Dewan. Things are about to change for Sophronia and she has some important decisions to make.

My personal favorites: This book had much for of an adventure feel, particularly the parts with the train. I continued to like the characters and their personalities. Soap was delightful, as always, and I even could sympathize with Felix. Sidhaeg's troubles were relate-able and her determination was inspiring. Overall this book opens several questions, probably more than it answered, and it certainly left me ready for more.

Considerations: There are a few more references to sensuality than the last two books, but still within what I consider appropriate. There was nothing graphic and I don't have a problem recommending this book to anyone.

I don't know how long we will need to wait until the next book comes out. The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger, but it was satisfactory to me. I talked to my sister about the other books by Gail Carrier and while I may not get into those, I heartily recommend these books. The total length was just shy of nine hours.

Audible Book Review - 1634: The Baltic War by Eric Flint and David Weber, Ring of Fire book 3

I actually finished this book a while ago and have just now sat down to write the review. This is mainly due to starting back into my Master's program (only three classes left). It was a good think I finished the book prior to starting or I would find myself trying to listen to alternate history fiction while reading student development theory. Not a good idea. Eric and David continue to excite in book three and they fulfill a number of promises left in book two. I continue to enjoy the world Eric has made and I like the approach they use. The book is not just about the uptimers, but the downtimers as well. It looks at the difficulties in warfare, politics, economics, and social aspects. It's easy to cheer for the good guys, but Dave and Eric put "good guys" on both sides. Here is a link to Audible's page for the book. It is narrated by George Guidall, just like the second one, and continues to do a great job.

Plot: As the United States of Europe closed down the year 1633 it was at war with the League of Ostend. The Uptime technology that the USE possesses does help them in many ways, but it still has it's limitations. And they aren't the only ones with bright ideas and clever people. What's more, there are some important people still trapped in unfavorable circumstances. Rita Stearns and her delegation have been locked in the Tower of London for months. Rebecca Stearns is still besieged in Amsterdam, and Eddie Contrell is at the mercy of the Danish royal family. However, the country is holding it's collective breath to see if Admiral Simpson's iron- and timberclad ships will break the blockade. First they have to get there though.

My personal favorites: The action was well done. I could see David's influences in some of the scenes, particularly the naval ones. The characters were still delightful. While there is some character creep (you get to meet a whole lot of people), it wasn't too difficulty to get a hold of who was who. They did a good job of setting up the settings with the characters to make it easier to move between the groups. I did find the idea that everyone fall in love at first sight a little excessive, but it made for some fun situations.

Considerations: I'm sorry to say that this book hit about the same point as Red Shirts with me. I found myself wondering why characters were swearing - it didn't seemed appropriate. I'll grant them that some of the characters were just "those kind of people," but it did get tiring. I also need to point out that this book had a bit more sensuality then the last. While there was no "on page" interactions there were more references to sexual intercourse than previous. There was also a scene, towards the very end, where a soldier is being dressed down and the commander feels the need to be specific in his questioning of the man's behavior with a young lady. The scene is intended to be humorous, and is so, and the descriptions are very clinical and of nothing unusual. The interaction in question is also consensual.

I'm not sure that I'll continue the series. This is in no way a reflection on the writing or even the content. It just seemed like a nice place to stop without losing track of everybody. The series takes a huge split here and I'm not sure where I would go with it. I still enjoyed the books I've read emensly and I may pick them up at a later time,  For now, I think I'm going to take a break. The total length of the book was just under 26 and a half hour.