Cherry Mischievous: Stacey Glemboski

Showing posts with label Stacey Glemboski. Show all posts

Tuesday, 5 March 2024

OBSIDIAN MAGIC

Obsidian Magic by McKenzie Hunter
Book 2 of the Legacy series
Narrated by Stacey Glemboski
Genre: urban fantasy
Format: ebook & audiobook

About Obsidian Magic:

The only thing standing between me and death is my secret.

I’m a Legacy — a secret I’d planned on taking to my grave. Gareth, the enigmatic leader of the Supernatural Guild, knows it, but can I trust him to keep it? When mysterious deaths occur as a result of magic that mimics my own, I no longer have to worry about Gareth exposing me — it will be one of my own that does. Another Legacy is causing the chaos, and I’m forced to hunt my own kind. It seems simple, but we’ve existed for as long as we have because we’re better hunters than prey.

I’m forced to work with Gareth to clear my name and find the Legacy responsible. Not only is my secret about to be revealed — so is his. Gareth is much more dangerous than I expected. Is he my friend or my enemy?

Source: Info in the About Obsidian Magic was taken from GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35658025-obsidian-magic on 01/10/2019.

Buy Link(s):

My Thoughts:

This book has no beginning and no end. The story started with Double-Sided Magic and ended in a whooping big cliffhanger. So anyone reading this book on it's own, I imagine the reader to get royally confused. If not pissed off, too. Because the entire book is just a middle chapter of a bigger book. I am so not a fan of that kind of book. At all! And also, not really sure how the title relates to the story... Which is a pity because I really like the way this author tells a story. Her author's voice is easy to sink into. I also like th premise of the story, even though it is not very original. I wanted this book (this series) to work... On the bright side, the cover art kick-ass!! It is one of the things that made me buy this book to begin with. Additionally, I still like the way Stacey Glemboski reads. Kudos to the narrator!

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4
Character development = 4
Story itself = 2
Writing Style = 4
Ending = 2
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 4.5
Originality = 2
Pace = (8 hrs and 20 mins listening time)
Plot = 2
Narration = 4.5

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 cherries

Books In The Legacy Series:

Meet The Author

About McKenzie Hunter:

McKenzie, in her childhood, discovered that her life could be a whirlwind of adventures by simply opening a book. To this day, reading is still her favorite activity. She has a fondness for fantasy and mystery, which is probably why she writes urban fantasy.

When McKenzie isn’t working on her next book she is usually binge-watching paranormal and comedy shows, maintaining her title as “favorite auntie”, or trying to create a tasty low-calorie pizza.

The Narrator

About Stacey Glemboski:

Stacey is an accomplished audiobook narrator and voice actor who has recorded books for many best selling authors. Though her favorite books have been for kids and teens, many other genres of narration appeal to her.

Her acting experience has been largely experiential and has been honed through singing, plays, life, choir solos, Barbies, and eventually teaching middle school. For Stacey, narration is about having fun breathing life into characters and getting as lost as possible in the story she’s telling. Outside the studio, Stacey is compulsively addicted to tennis but is not seeking any treatment for this condition.

An experienced copy editor, proofreader, and English teacher, Stacey is adept at understanding complex texts and subtleties of plot and character.

Her home studio is a WhisperRoom sound-resistant booth, and she uses a Neumann TLM103, MBox Mini 2, and a MacBook Air.

FTC Disclosure:
The different formats of this book were purchased with private funds.
No money received for this review.

Sunday, 19 January 2020

POINT OF IMPACT

Point Of Impact by Kyla Stone
Book 1 in the Nuclear Dawn series
Narrated by Stacey Glemboski
Genre: post-apocalyptic urban fantasy
Format: ebook & audiobook

About Point Of Impact:

Surviving the blast is only the beginning…

Dakota Sloane, a tough-as-nails former foster kid, has spent her life running from the past. Her only family is her little sister, still trapped in the system.

When the news shows the bombs striking several major cities, Dakota’s first thought is to grab her sister and get the hell out of Miami.

Logan Garcia is a man haunted by secrets. His life plan is to drink himself into oblivion--until the shockwave hits, shattering the world as he knows it.

In the moments before the deadly fallout descends, Dakota offers Logan a deal. She knows a place to ride out the coming chaos, a safe house deep in the Everglades.

If he helps her rescue her sister, she’ll take him with her.

But Dakota’s past has caught up to her. Someone is hunting her through the radioactive ruins of Miami. And he won’t stop until he has her...or they’re both dead.

An electrifying post-apocalyptic survival adventure, the Nuclear Dawn series features fast-paced action combined with strong, complex characters. Perfect for fans of Logan Keys, Jacqueline Druga, Mike Kraus, and Boyd Craven.

Source: Info in the About Point Of Impact was taken from GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43288746-point-of-impact on 10/10/2019.

My Thoughts:

This is my first Kyla Stone read and I like the way she tells a story. However, I do not like the way she cuts the book in a big cliffhanger such that there isn't any story building at all! This book is just a first chapter of a bigger book. The entire book is an introduction with not much of a plot. Nuclear boom. These are the characters. The end. And that is the main reason this book would never get a 5 out of 5 with me. The premise is interesting but the story building is non-existent. I've read a lot of book serieses and the first book does not necessarily have to be this plot-less nor just merely a first-chapter-seeming. This is my second series which is narrated by Stacey Glemboski and she is growing on me.

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 3.5
Story itself = 2.5
Writing Style = 2
Ending = 1.5
World building = 3.5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (6 hrs & 19 mins listening time)
Plot = 2
Narration = 4

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 cherries

Books In The Nuclear Dawn Series:

Meet The Author

About Kyla Stone:

I spend my days writing apocalyptic and dystopian fiction novels.

I love writing stories exploring how ordinary people cope with extraordinary circumstances, especially situations where the normal comforts, conveniences, and rules are stripped away. My favorite stories to read and write deal with characters struggling with inner demons who learn to face and overcome their fears, launching their transformation into the strong, brave warrior they were meant to become.

Some of my favorite books include The Road, The Passage, Hunger Games, and Ready Player One. My favorite movies are The Lord of the Rings and Gladiator. Give me a good story in any form, and I’m happy.

Oh, and add in a cool fall evening in front of a crackling fire, nestled on the couch with a fuzzy blanket, a book in one hand and a hot moche latte in the other (or dark chocolate!): that’s my heaven.

I mean, I won’t say no to hiking to mountain waterfalls, traveling to far-flung locations, or jumping out of a plane (parachute included) either.

twitter | facebook | amazon | goodreads

The Narrator

About Stacey Glemboski:

Stacey is an accomplished audiobook narrator and voice actor who has recorded books for many best selling authors. Though her favorite books have been for kids and teens, many other genres of narration appeal to her.

Her acting experience has been largely experiential and has been honed through singing, plays, life, choir solos, Barbies, and eventually teaching middle school. For Stacey, narration is about having fun breathing life into characters and getting as lost as possible in the story she’s telling. Outside the studio, Stacey is compulsively addicted to tennis but is not seeking any treatment for this condition.

An experienced copy editor, proofreader, and English teacher, Stacey is adept at understanding complex texts and subtleties of plot and character.

Her home studio is a WhisperRoom sound-resistant booth, and she uses a Neumann TLM103, MBox Mini 2, and a MacBook Air.

FTC Disclosure:
The different formats of this book were purchased with private funds.
No money received for this review.

Saturday, 26 October 2019

DOUBLE-SIDED MAGIC

Double-Sided Magic by McKenzie Hunter
Book 1 of the Legacy series
Narrated by Stacey Glemboski
Genre: urban fantasy
Format: ebook & audiobook

About Double-Sided Magic:

I am Levy Michaels. Once my kind were the hunters — now we are the hunted

Supernaturals are out of the closet but I have to stay hidden because of the type of magic I possess. I’m a Legacy. It sounds like the title should come with reverence, a trust fund, or at the very least a cool backstory — instead it comes with a death sentence.

I have to hide in plain sight and pretend to be just human. I’m pretty good at it. I live a simple and somewhat normal life, and I work in antique acquisitions. Everything’s going fine until a dangerous and enchanted dagger that was once in my possession is stolen. I didn’t think things could get any worse until I woke up next to a dead shifter, fae, and mage, without any memory of the past twenty-four hours.

Considered guilty of murder by most of the magical community and humans, I must work with Gareth, the sexy and dangerous leader of the Supernatural Guild. If he’s as good as rumored, it’s only a matter of time until he discovers the truth about me — then being found guilty of murder is the least of my worries.

Source: Info in the About Double-Sided Magic was taken from GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35444973-double-sided-magic on 11/09/2019.

Buy Link(s):

My Thoughts:

This book reminds me awfully of the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. Same hidden bloodline heroine. Uber alpha cat hero. Solving murder and mysteries together. There are differences of course, like Kate prefers her sword. While Levy likes her twin daggers. Subtle things like that. But the mojo is the same. Originality-wise, this book does not rate very high, indeed! However, I still like the way the story is told and enjoyed this book very much! Therefore, the book still rated good for me even though it doesn't have the most original of themes.

Plot... what plot?!... Yeah, there isn't much of one. This book is mainly an introduction to Levy, our main protagonist. The murder cases they were suppose to be solving in this book was not even completely closed. And yes, it was a cliffhanger ending. And I guess we will know more in the subsequent books... Although I understand why some authors opt to write in this kind of style specially with serieses, I still don't like it when the book ends in a gaping big hole of a cliffhanger. Its a way to induce readers to buy some more into the series. However, really good authors do not have to resort to this kind of technique to sell their books because their book is just such a good read that the readers will buy them anyway. So, not a high point for this author.

This is my first Stacey Glemboski listen and I like the way she reads. The words are distinct and I agree mostly to her interpretation of the book.

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4
Character development = 4
Story itself = 2
Writing Style = 4
Ending = 2
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 4.5
Originality = 2
Pace = (7 hrs and 25 mins listening time)
Plot = 2
Narration = 4.5

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 cherries

Books In The Legacy Series:

Amazon

Meet The Author

About McKenzie Hunter:

McKenzie, in her childhood, discovered that her life could be a whirlwind of adventures by simply opening a book. To this day, reading is still her favorite activity. She has a fondness for fantasy and mystery, which is probably why she writes urban fantasy.

When McKenzie isn’t working on her next book she is usually binge-watching paranormal and comedy shows, maintaining her title as “favorite auntie”, or trying to create a tasty low-calorie pizza.

The Narrator

About Stacey Glemboski:

Stacey is an accomplished audiobook narrator and voice actor who has recorded books for many best selling authors. Though her favorite books have been for kids and teens, many other genres of narration appeal to her.

Her acting experience has been largely experiential and has been honed through singing, plays, life, choir solos, Barbies, and eventually teaching middle school. For Stacey, narration is about having fun breathing life into characters and getting as lost as possible in the story she’s telling. Outside the studio, Stacey is compulsively addicted to tennis but is not seeking any treatment for this condition.

An experienced copy editor, proofreader, and English teacher, Stacey is adept at understanding complex texts and subtleties of plot and character.

Her home studio is a WhisperRoom sound-resistant booth, and she uses a Neumann TLM103, MBox Mini 2, and a MacBook Air.