DAWN OF WONDER: THE WAKENING

Dawn Of Wonder: The Awakening by Jonathan Renshaw
Book 1 of The Wakening series
Read by Tim Gerard Reynolds
Genre: epic fantasy
Format: ebook & audiobook

About Dawn Of Wonder: The Wakening:

When a high-ranking officer gallops into the quiet Mistyvales, he brings a warning that shakes the countryfolk to their roots. But for Aedan, a scruffy young adventurer with veins full of fire and a head full of ideas, this officer is not what he seems.

The events that follow propel Aedan on a journey that only the foolhardy or desperate would risk, leading him to the gates of the nation’s royal academy – a whole world of secrets in itself.

But this is only the beginning of his discoveries. Something is stirring in the land, something more ominous than the rising threat of hostile nations. Fearful travellers whisper of an ancient power breathing over Thirna, changing it, waking it. In the very heart of these stirrings, Aedan encounters that which defies belief, leaving him speechless with terror – and wonder.

Source: Info in the About Dawn Of Wonder: The Wakening was taken from GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25451852-dawn-of-wonder on 06/02/2017.

My Thoughts:

This is a fantastic epic fantasy! And maybe the most that I have come across in a long time. I couldn't wait to read book2! Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be coming soon. Maybe in a few years time. I hope it is still coming though... Anyway, Jonathan Renshaw gained a new fan in me with this book!

This is the first time I have ever listened to Tim Gerard Reynolds and I'm not a fan of his reading style. Maybe it'll grow on me with book 2... maybe. Anyway, I consequently and mostly "read" this book as oppose to "listen" to it. I feel that reading it is more satisfying than listening to it.

And on to my nitpicking issues: I am just glad that the author did not call the being in the lightning a "god" but the "Ancient" instead, because it was just a little bit overdramatic already as it was. But other than that, I really love the story!

But here is the bummer, it ends in a cliffhanger :( And this is primarily the reason why this book gained a 4.5 rating instead of a 5. Otherwise, I would have given this book a 6.

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 5
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 3.5
World building = 5
Cover art = 5
Pace = 4.5
Plot = 4.5
Narration = 3

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 cherries

The Author
	Jonathan Renshaw is a former high school English teacher and music producer who now writes full time. He is currently working on the epic fantasy series, The Wakening, launched in May 2015. Connect with him at www.jrenshaw.com.
www.jrenshaw.com | facebook | twitter | goodreads | amazon | google+

FTC Disclosure:
This book was purchased with private funds.
No money received for this review.

Review: HELL'S BELLS

Hell's Bells (UK title)
The Infernals (US title)
by John Connolly
Read by Tim Gerard Reynolds
Book 2 of Samuel Johnson series
Genre: middle grade urban fantasy
Format: paperback & audiobook

About Hell's Bells:

Samuel Johnson - with a little help from his dachshund Boswell and a very unlucky demon named Nurd - has sent the demons back to Hell. But the diabolical Mrs Abernathy is not one to take defeat lying down. When she reopens the portal and sucks Samuel and Boswell down into the underworld, she brings an ice-cream van full of dwarfs as well. And two policemen. Can this eccentric gang defeat the forces of Evil? And is there life after Hell for Nurd?

Source: Info in the About Hell's Bells was taken from GoodReads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11274410-hell-s-bells on 06/12/2012.

Review:

As with Book 1, this book is also told in a starical tone. Now, I am not much of a fan of satarical books or shows, so this took a lot of getting used to, even though this is already Book 2 in the series. However, I remind myself that this is a middlegrade book therefore requires more patience of the readers than usual, i.e., to suspend disbelief. And because of the satarical style, the story telling quality rating is less than the usual high score that I would usually give to this author. However Tim Gerard Reynolds compensated a lot for that and he made listening to a satarical narration enjoyable! Which I believe is evidence of this narrator's professionalism and talent in making me enjoy a satire! At the end of it, this book wasn't so bad, satire and all. But it's not John Connolly's best work either.

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 3.5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4.5
Ending = 4
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 3.5
Pace = N/A (8 hrs and 58 mins listening time)
Plot = 4
Narrator = 5

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 cherries