Just as good as the first book!

If you could sum up Fireside in three words, what would they be?

We will survive.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Fireside?

The storytelling by Aiden

What about James Foster’s performance did you like?

I like how James Foster was able to capture each character's personality.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There are some cry worth scenes in this book. I'm still trying to get over some of the devastating parts.

Any additional comments?

A must read!

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1 person found this helpful

Characters are most appealing

This is a continuation of the story begun in the first book of this series: A Path of Ashes. I heard fewer grammatical errors in this book, although there were still a few. The compelling characters are what's most appealing about this story. And James Foster voices these characters well. His narration is excellent. .

As with the previous book, this book is brought to a satisfactory conclusion, although it's clear there's more to the story. Thankfully, it does not end in a cliffhanger.

NOTE: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

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1 person found this helpful

interesting and unique post apocalypse story

I did not listen to the first book in this series. I do not think that it would matter. Brian Parker did well to introduce the characters and the world that he has created. It is about 100 years since a nuclear war decimated the Earth. There are bands of survivors scattered throughout the wasteland. All fighting for what little resources are left. Some of the familiar animal life that we know has been mutated from the radiation and decades of evolution, to make the best of it. Including Demon Brocks that are a mutated form of the badger. Roughly the size of a human with almost a boney exoskeleton, and vicious and dangerous as all get out.

Opening with a tense action sequence. Of an invading Demon Brock. That somehow infiltrated behind the security of the wall surrounding the settlement. This was intense and made my hair stand up on end. However, some are injured and killed. Making Grampa feel like it was time to pass on the story of is family. This is where the real story begins.

The publishers summary does a pretty good job of summarizing the rest of the story. So I am not going to try.

I found the wasteland that Parker created absolutely fascinating. I wanted to know more about what exists now out there. The different creatures and different settlements.

As far as the characters go. I wanted to know more about what Traxx went through, maybe this was in the first book? Although his personality didn’t really seem like someone who was tortured for ages. He seem too upbeat. The personalities of the main players of the Vultures seemed like it was more for shock value than anything else. I found I couldn’t really connect to any of them. Making it harder to care about any of them or what they are going through.

All in all Fireside was an interesting and unique post apocalypse story. Without the use of zombies or any other sub genre crutches. It tries to be different. Not a complete success but much more appealing than many that try to go this route. I look forward to more stories by Parker and I think he has, what could be, a very intriguing world to explore.

James Foster delivered another fine performance. Everything that I have come to expect from him, he did. Decent characterizations. Pacing changes for the action scenes. Adding in a pause here and there to help the story along. Doing everything he could to keep me engaged.

Audiobook was provided for review by the narrator.

Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog

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12 people found this helpful

Loved it

Out of all Brian’s wonderful series this might be my favorite
Picks up from book one as more of the story is told to the future generations
Well narrated with excellent characters highly recommended
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review

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6 people found this helpful

This is a very satisfying read

This is the second book in a three part series.I Enjoyed this book very much, but to truly appreciate the novel I think you would probably be better off reading the first book in the series before you read this one. I am planning to go back and read the first novel so I can pick up on things that I missed in the second. The narrator was brilliant a true joy to listen to. I am actively seeking out more of his work.
I received this book at no cost to me for a honest review

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1 person found this helpful

A little long in the telling!

Book two relates the story of San Angelo through the eyes of great-grandfather Aidan to his great-granddaughter Tanya. Aeric Traxx commands a large portion of the tale as he was the main mover & shaker of the San Angelo development. The story is quite detailed and fairly interesting. Hard work, dedication, and an undying spirit finally seem to be paying off for the San Angelo folks, but the Vultures make an unwanted reappearance having other ideas. The story continues as the Vultures extend their hold on the countryside; geographically and politically. Not a bad story to be sure, but it's feeling drawn out. Steady on three.point.five.

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1 person found this helpful

It was okay.

Would you try another book from Brian Parker and/or James Foster?

Maybe

Any additional comments?

I didn't really feel a connection to any of the characters. I don't know if this was because I had not read the first book in the series. My mind kept drifting. There were some interesting parts. The narrator did a good job. I received this audiobook for free through Audiobook Boom for my unbiased review.

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One families history of survival

Any additional comments?

Even though I haven't read the first book in this series I was able to easily understand and enjoy this book.The story of one families fight to survive in a post apocalyptic world,is shared by an injured grandfather with his grandchild.While I did enjoy this book I wished the author had spent more time world building and showing more of the actual world they resided in.I wanted to know more about the genetically mutated animals etcetera.The narrator did a good job and is pleasant to listen too.I received an audiobook from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Entertaining read.

This starts with us seeing a grandfather telling a story to his grand kids about how they got their name and how they came to live where they do. He tells the story of Traxx and Tyler and their life after they escaped the Vultures and what happened in San Angelo.

Poor Traxx, he really doesn't get a break from the Vultures!! With life in San Angelo going good, but resources dwindling, Traxx has no other choice but to leave the walled safety and head to the nearest town. He has no idea though that there are traitors among him who are plotting revenge for what Traxx and Tyler did to the Vulture leader. What he learns from an odd inmate makes him decide to face the Vultures head on, but things don't go well and Traxx knows it's only a matter of time before the walls of his safe haven are breached, can he get home in time!

Traxx and Tyler make a great team, though my heart was breaking for Tyler!! I loved that he had some companionship and that he got on with his life but I was sad to see what was wrong with him. Traxx meanwhile, became a hard man. He had to make all the hard decisions and I found myself not liking him as much as I did in book 1. I am glad that he found happiness though!!

In all, this is a good read. I liked the mutated animals, though did think we needed to see them more. This is definitely a case of being more character driven than plot driven, which I did like but also found it to be a little slow at times. I wanted there to be more action in the wastelands and more action in regards mutations etc.

James Foster is quickly becoming one of my go to narrators. He is easy to listen to and always delivers a high quality recording. He puts his all into his performances and it shows!!

*I received a copy of this for review. This in no way affected my thoughts.*

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3 people found this helpful

The Vulture's are comming

Any additional comments?

This is the second book in the series. Although I did not read the first book. It was not hard to get caught up in the story.

The story is being told by a grandfather telling the story of their family history and the past to his grandchildren.
It was a nice change listening to a post-apocalyptic story that did not have zombies.
As if living in a post-apocalyptic world struggling to survive with mutated animals isn't enough you also have to survive the human animals. While this is not a new concept for this type of book, the story is told in such a way that you don't want to stop listening. You want to know what is going to happen next.

I enjoyed the world that Brian Parker created.

Although I liked the story, I don’t think I will go back and listen to the first book just because it sounds like there was a lot of violence in it. While I don’t have a problem with violence in my books some of the things that were described, like how Aeric got his nickname, were graphic enough I don’t think I want to hear them.

This is the second book that I have listened to that is narrated by James Foster. Very smooth and even voice. Nice even pace. Clear pronunciation. Great job.

Brian Parker is a new author for me and I will continue with the series and listen to the next book when it is available on Audible.

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review.

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