Audio Book Review: Marked by Kim Richardson

Marked by Kim Richardson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I've seen completely opposite and mixed reviews of this book. When I read a terrible review, I had to check it out. lol.

So which reviews do I think are right....
I'd say it falls somewhere in between.

The main character is 16 years old. Maybe if she was a little older it would be easier to accept the potential budding relationship, the forbidden relationship, in Horizon. But, if she was a little older the story wouldn't get away with not asking questions. She's got innocents going for her in that token.

Kara dies early in the book as the book takes place with her becoming a Guardian Angle in Horizon. She's learning how to save people and if can't save them, then their soul. Her and her petty officer are finding demons are arriving way sooner than expected as they work to save people. There becomes a whole thing on the demons fighting them for souls....but how are they finding them so fast?

Then, there comes a big case. One of a special child, and Rookie Kara is picked as one of the six to work to save the child. This is where where I struggled. Why is Kara special? Why was she the ONLY rookie chosen for this dangerous mission? There's no reasons given before or during the events. The only thing said is the Chief picks the people for the case. The Chief is left to be implied that he's...God. So if so, that's why no one questions that Kara was picked for this. So, my guess, he knows something we don't know. Yet.

They are picked for their strengths. Kara doesn't even ask what her strength is so she can play to it. She just goes right along with it...

I do like the ending. It answers some questions we have through the book.

I may give book 2 a try to see if the series picks up better for me. It wasn't a book that I couldn't wait to get back to. It was okay, but not wowing for me. However it does have some really nice elements to it.

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Audio Book Review: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

We follow Celaena as she travels to a new continent that has fae and magic. She has a job to do, but will she do it? She's found by Rowan, one of Maeve's warriors that's bound to her, and taken to see Maeve. Celaena's aunt wants to see what Celaena can do. She must train and show her powers to Queen Maeve to get into the Fae city and learn what she can of the Word Keys to save her home land.

Celaena has a knack for finding tough people who don't like her and she feels the same for them, and becoming the best of friends over time. Celaena does that with Rowan, like she did with Chaol. Rowan works with her to come into her fae form and powers. Lots of training. All while facing her past.

There's something on these lands killing demi-fae, the half fae. Rowan is investigating and has Celaena help him.

Celaena is one that comes up with amazing ideas. She's far smarter than her years. Being an assassin has helped her with this. Yet, she still has a young, naive reaction to things and does like to joke and dance.

I really enjoyed Celaena's adventures here. Though, I'm probably in the minority with the rest of the book.... I know all the characters are out on their own doing important things that will explain and lead to a lot. We even see new characters. But... I was bored with their sections of the book. Until the end. Which left me wanting to see what they all do next.

It's good to see the characters moving forward and stepping into adulthood. They are all young adults, 18-20 years old. The events happening are pushing them to make adult decisions and crossing lines to follow their beliefs. I do like that. I remember being that age and the tough decisions in love and life that happen.

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Audio Book Review: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sarah is great at creating characters we are invested in. We grow attached to them. I feel like she enjoys pulling my heart strings.

Celaena is the King's champion. She now is sent on missions to eliminate people on his list. Celaena has been doing things a little...differently with her missions. And she builds her relationships with Dorian, Chaol, and Nehemia.

Things aren't exactly what they seem. Celaena has been doing her own thing as are others.

I have mixed feelings with this book. There's something in the works. There's more happening behind the scenes than we are aware of. I'm not sure who's pulling the strings yet, but someone is. And there's powerful keys in the world that the King can't get...but he has at least one already.

So my mixed feelings come to Celaena and her feeling with one person who doesn't tell her something, that she could have prevented a terrible event. Something that hits me with this is because she was hiding information too. She didn't tell everything. She was playing her own agenda and keeping things secret. But she holds all that against another and looses that deep bond. They are still friends.

Celaena's hidden past is starting to surface. Oh the things that could come with this information...

I'm curious where life is taking Celaena next. Even if my heart is partly broken.

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Book Review: A Song to Wake a Thousand Sorrows: The Song Duology by Michelle Manus

A Song to Wake a Thousand Sorrows: The Song Duology: Book One by Michelle Manus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Michelle is masterful with her word choices. To have song weaving as magic and describe in words how people react without us hearing the music is wonderful.

The time pacing in this fantasy book is wonderful. It doesn't feel like fast time wise in the actions, but there's time passing. We are fully in the moments that are important. We grow bonds between the characters in the ways they are to be, friendships, potential more than friends, irritation, dislike, and more.

Clare is a special person. She carries the song with her. Though, the Song is more than she ever knew it was. She's afraid to let the Song out of the prison she's built inside her as it will want more than she wants to give.

Clare has ambitions. She has goals for what she wants to do. And those goals grow as she meets those in the city with the palace and the Jackal king. Clare has crafty ways to reach her goals. The way she plays music when put on the spot, the way she plans on breaking the guild, and even more. She's a brilliant woman.

There's a friendship that grows into a bond that Clare has never had before. To watch this friendship form and grow... it's beautiful. They accept each other for who they are and help each other through the days in the palace full of self centered men and ladies.

Then things change. And Clare and the Song make their choice on no longer hiding.

The things that Clare does and can do. Wow. I couldn't read this book fast enough to take it all in at the same time. I loved the actions. I love what we see of the world. I love the potential and the threat to this world. Clare is a damaged character that takes it all in, and has to do things that are...wowing.

I can't wait for the next book to come out to see where we go next and what Clare will do.

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Audio Book Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After being left heartbroken from the novellas leading up to the series, and Celeana's past, I finally jumped into to the first full length book. This book was great. I loved the potential threads here.

Celeana is broken, which we knew from before she was sent to the salt mines. (The previous novellas.) She had a different upbringing. This book takes her from the salt mines that were to be her death and puts her in the hope of winning her way to the King's Champion for her freedom in four years. There is a line Celeana has to walk and cross as the King is one she's not a fan of.

She will compete against other men who want this position as well. But while the competition is happening, there's another danger that is attacking the competitors. A very old danger that lingers in the shadows. And Celeana is drawn into it. She must survive not only the challenges to become the Champion but also the ancient beast set to destroy the potential champions.

As she goes through, Celeana makes new friends. I love the bonds she creates with her wit and charm. Her guard and who she trains with, Chaol, is a huge part of the story as he's always at her side...to make sure she doesn't kill the prince. The prince has other plans and enjoys spending time with Celeana. And we have a princess visiting who befriends Celeana. I love Nehemia. She is a strong woman with her country, training, and opinions. There is much, much more to her and we start to see that.

I have really enjoyed all the potential threads set in motion here in this book as we fight the evil here and see Celeana strengthen again in the challenges. I'm looking forward to listening to the rest of them


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Audio Book Review: Vials and Tribulations by S.L. Rowland

Vials and Tribulations by S.L. Rowland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Esil had no desire to compete in another tournament. He did not want to be in the spotlight again. But when he goes to the orphanage he grew up in to talk to the kids about hope, he saw what he remembered feeling in their eyes. One kid wasn't as receptive at first, and Esil shared what he knows and experienced. In helping the kids, he becomes closer to this kid, Dean. And when no one else will take a chance to work with a kid from the Boxes, Esil steps in to help him see there's more and to give Dean a chance.

I liked seeing Esil stand up for what he believes in with the Boxes and needing a chance for better living, homes, and so much more. I loved that Esil stepped out of his comfort zone to help Dean. And they really become a team.

I did find at times the story slowed for me and I was thankful I was listening to the audio book. The changes in voices with having 2 narrators was great and kept me interested. I was hoping for a little more with the emersion world Esil worked in for book 2, but we didn't get much there. We did see a glimpse of it. And at the end we heard there was more happening. So...I guess Esil's okay with it and they do remember him.

I like the theme of the story. Friends and family. Esil has created his own family with his friends. And he's determined to help them.

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Audio Book Review: Magic and Mayhem by S.L. Rowland

Magic and Mayhem by S.L. Rowland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

We return to the world with Esil as he starts his new job and has moved out of the boxes to the town with so much more to offer.

Esil sees how many here live and how everyone he knows lives in the boxes. He wants to help them all. He does start saying things to people, hoping and wanting to make a difference for so many. He starts to see that he can't help the masses at once. He starts with those he knows and can move from there to help everyone as he learns more.

This is a book where we are in the gaming world. Esil's new job is a new set up for gaming... He's in a tank of nanites and gel/liquid to make a full emersion experience in a new world. Esil can feel things in the world like real. When he gets hit, he feels that pain. The world is directed by his actions and the AI adapts to his responses and action, creating the world, quests, and events around him. The NPCs he meets feel like friends and he wants to help them as thing change in the world.

The way the story is written, it feels like Esil does see them as friends, and they to him.

I listened to the audio of this book. I really enjoyed it. There are 3 voices to add depth and life to different characters. We also have light sound effects when things happen. They add to the story and I really like that they are light in the background, that way they don't distract from the story telling. Well done! And fun! The audio brings the story and characters to life for us.

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