Mitch

Serves Me Right, I Guess

Revisado: 03-06-13

That's what I get for reading a prequel to the infamous Star Wars prequel trilogy. I usually like James Luceno, which is why I gave this book a shot, but it didn't pay off. I can't remember the last time I've been so bored while reading listening to a novel.

I was expecting some deep exploration of characters like Palpatine and Qui-Gon, but this book spent about as much time investing in characters as The Phantom Menace. Other than character development, I really just wanted a fun romp through the Star Wars universe, but I couldn't even get that. This book is bogged down in page after page of politics and at no point does it really feel like a Star Wars story.

I can't recommend this book to anybody. It isn't good science fiction or fantasy and it really isn't much of a Star Wars novel. If Star Wars is what you crave, you can do much better than this.

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One of My Favorite Audiobook Performances

Revisado: 02-25-13

Would you listen to Beautiful Creatures again? Why?

I absolutely would, if only for the amazing performance by Collins. The story is pretty good,but Collins' reading adds so much character to this story set in the South.

Have you listened to any of Kevin T. Collins’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No I haven't, but I will be searching for them. He's fantastic.

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

No, and that brings me to the one real problem I had with this book: it's just too long. It is over 17 hours long, but there's probably only 12 hours of story here.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed this book from beginning to end and I can't wait to read the sequels. The combination of great characters, an intriguing setting, and a perfect reader performance let this book be far better than it has any right to be.

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The Narrator Makes This Book Work.

Revisado: 01-26-13

What did you love best about Blood Promise?

This book really opened up the world of Vampire Academy. Readers get a glimpse into the world of Miroi and Strigoi outside the walls of St. Vladimir's. Until this point, Richelle Mead hadn't spent a lot of time world building, but this problem is resolved as Blood Promise introduces new characters, institutions, locales, and conflicts.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I always love Rose and Christian, but Sydney Sage definitely stole the show this time. Like the rest of the Vampire Academy cast, Sydney is a very complex character with a lot of baggage, but she's always fun to read. Not only is she a great character, but she introduces readers to a whole new side of the VA world: the Alchemists. She's an all-around great addition to the series.

Any additional comments?

Khristine Hvam was a wonderful narrator for the 2nd and 3rd books in the series. She brought a light-hearted innocence to the books that suited Rose's voice at that time. But everything changed at the end of Shadow Kiss. Blood Promise has a darker tone than the previous books and Rose, forced to mature, is not the same carefree girl she used to be.

Changing the narrator to Emily Shaffer was the perfect choice for this audiobook. The reader is immediately confronted with the change in Rose's character and what this will mean for the rest of the series. It's a bit jarring at first, but the change makes for a deeper, more enjoyable experience.

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This Series Keeps Getting Better

Revisado: 01-19-13

Where does Shadow Kiss rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Shadow Kiss is among the best audiobooks in its genre and is easily the best book in the series so far. The world and characters that were introduced to readers in the first two books really come to life in the third.

Who was your favorite character and why?

It's a tie between Rose Hathaway and Christian Ozera. These two have been solid throughout the series, but the bond that they share is a highlight of Shadow Kiss and helps both of their characters to grow in new and really exciting ways.

Which character – as performed by Khristine Hvam – was your favorite?

Christian Ozera. Khristine is able to perfectly capture the snark and dark wit that everyone loves about him.

Any additional comments?

Shadow Kiss is funny, action-packed, and full of great character moments, and all of this leads up to an explosive finish. The last chapters of the book will have you pulling out your hair, only to leave you dying to read the fourth book. The ending is amazing, but Vampire Academy may be left forever changed.

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The Force is with Jonathan Davis

Revisado: 01-19-13

Would you listen to Path of Destruction again? Why?

Definitely. In fact, I've already "read" it twice. I got the print edition when it was first released in paperback and absolutely loved it. But after hearing Jonathan Davis read it, I would never go back to print. He brought this story to a whole new level.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Bane. This is his story, and for good reason. He's not a good guy, but you can't help but cheer for him anyway.

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

Yes. I just finished listening to Snow Crash and Jonathan is way better in this one. His voices are far more varied and they suit each character perfectly.

Any additional comments?

Path of Destruction is the best of the Darth Bane trilogy and one of the best Star Wars books available. I can easily recommend this to any Star Wars fan, but also to anyone who would enjoy a story about a villain unleashed. The pacing is great, the story is solid, and the characters cannot be beat. This book is well worth a listen.

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Like Cookies and Milk

Revisado: 10-02-12

Would you listen to Ex-Heroes again? Why?

Without a doubt. Ex-Heroes is exciting from beginning to end. Not only is this book teeming with action, but Clines separated the story into "Now" and "Then" segments in order to break things up and keep it interesting. There isn't enough time to get bored or even catch your breath while reading.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Stealth. She's the team leader who carries the weight of the world on her shoulders. Because of this she appears cold and distant, but she just takes her job seriously.

Which character – as performed by Jay Snyder and Khristine Hvam – was your favorite?

Khristine Hvam's portrayal of Banzai really stood out. Banzai is only a minor character with a very small part to play, but Khristine brought a personality to the character that helped me to grow attached to her almost immediately, making her small role much more powerful.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The explanation for how the zombie plague began. It was so simple, but Clines wrote it well. I don't know how much I can say without spoiling a major plot reveal, but it fit perfectly within this story and challenged the way I felt about a number of different characters.

Any additional comments?

Zombies and Super-Heroes just go together. This book works.

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Great YA Urban Fantasy

Revisado: 09-26-12

What made the experience of listening to City of Bones the most enjoyable?

It told a great dark fantasy story that, despite the romance, never fell into the Paranormal Romance genre. It remained Urban Fantasy from beginning to end.

The world building probably could have been a little better, but the characters really shine.

What was one of the most memorable moments of City of Bones?

All of my favorite moments are a bit spoiler-y for a review, so I'll just say that the main character's best friend, Simon, really brings something special to the book.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Nothing in particular. The performance was fine, it just wasn't great.

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

No. There are a number of smaller storylines going on in addition to the main plot, which kept me from getting hooked. The book is great, but there are a lot of natural stopping points that let the reader walk away without feeling like s/he needs to immediately know what happens next.

Any additional comments?

As soon as I finished listening to this book I logged onto Audible.com and bought the next two books in the series. Take from that what you will.

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The Weakest Installment in a Fantastic Series

Revisado: 08-24-12

It's bittersweet when the first book in an amazing series is the weakest chapter. It's great that each book gets progressively better, exceeding readers' expectations and causing them to fall more in love with the world and characters. However, a lot of people may be turned off by that first book and will never experience how fantastic the story eventually becomes. This almost happened to me with Vampire Academy. I enjoyed the first book, but I didn't love it and I was hestitant when it came to starting the second. Luckily, though, I did.

I gave Vampire Academy 4 stars, but it probably only deserves 3.5. Richelle Mead's story and Stephanie Wolf's performance are adequate, but not spectacular. The world building is weak and the characters do not shine the way they do in later books. I highly recommend this book, but not based on it's own merit. It's requisite reading for the remainder of the series, which should not be missed.

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Definitely not Vampire Academy

Revisado: 07-26-12

I liked this book a lot, but it's not quite as good as Vampire Academy. Sydney doesn't quite match Rose as a lead character and the Alchemists aren't as interesting as the Guardians. On the bright side, Adrian shines as usual and the story really is quite fun.

Rating Emily Shaffer's performance in this title is extremely difficult. She did an excellent job telling the story and portraying the characters, but I do not think she should have narrated this book. This is not a continuation of Vampire Academy, but a completely new series, and it deserved a new reader. Sydney should have been given her own voice instead of being left with the voice of Rose Hathaway.

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Great Ending

Revisado: 07-26-12

This book provided a perfect ending to the Vampire Academy series. The characters were consistent, the plot was well-paced, and the mystery kept me guessing until the end. I loved every minute of it.

For the most part, Emily Shaffer's performance was good. I still don't like her voices for Adrian or Dimitri, but everything else sounds just about right.

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