Showing posts with label ebook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ebook. Show all posts

Thursday, 5 December 2024

THE RISE OF MAGICKS



The Rise of Magicks by Nora Roberts
Book 3 of the Chronicles of The One
Narrated by Julia Whelan
Genre: dystopian urban fantasy
Format: ebook & audiobookAudiobook



After the sickness known as the Doom destroyed civilization, magick has become commonplace, and Fallon Swift has spent her young years learning its ways. Fallon cannot live in peace until she frees those who have been preyed upon by the government or the fanatical Purity Warriors, endlessly hunted or locked up in laboratories, brutalized for years on end. She is determined to save even those who have been complicit with this evil out of fear or weakness — if, indeed, they can be saved.

Strengthened by the bond she shares with her fellow warrior, Duncan, Fallon has already succeeded in rescuing countless shifters and elves and ordinary humans. Now she must help them heal — and rediscover the light and faith within themselves. For although from the time of her birth, she has been The One, she is still only one. And as she faces down an old nemesis, sets her sights on the enemy’s stronghold, and pursues her destiny — to finally restore the mystical shield that once protected them all — she will need an army behind her…
Source: Info in the "About The Rise of Magicks" was taken from GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43263398-the-rise-of-magicks on 08/07/2020.


Buy Link(s):
  Audible Books


My Thoughts:
The conclusion of a fantastic trilogy! Or so it is supposed to be... It did conclude the trilogy. However, the epic bang that I was expecting kind of fizzled out.

Everything I have to say about this book, I have probably said in my reviews of previous books in this series, except the non-existent bang. However, this is a Nora Roberts book, that means the story telling quality is still compelling so can't really give this book a low rating. It wasn't the great book I was expecting, but it was still an enjoyable read.

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 5
Writing Style = 3.5
Ending = 3
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 4.5
Pace = (14 hrs & 3 mins listening time)
Plot = 3.5
Narration = 4.5


Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 cherries


Books In The Chronicles of The One Series:


Meet The Author

About Nora Roberts:
Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 — The Becoming — the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.


The Narrator

About Julia Whelan:
Julia Whelan is a screenwriter, lifelong actor, and award-winning audiobook narrator of over 500 titles. Her performance of her own debut novel, the internationally bestselling My Oxford Year, garnered a Society of Voice Arts award. She is also a Grammy-nominated audiobook director, a former writing tutor, a half-decent amateur baker, and a certified tea sommelier.




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

Saturday, 30 November 2024

DEADLY GAMES


Deadly Games by Sally Rigby
Book 1 in the Cavendish & Walker series
Narrated by Clare Corbett
Genre: crime fiction
Format: ebook & audiobookAudiobook


A killer is playing deadly games with local students… and the only prize is murder. Detective Chief Inspector Whitney Walker has worked hard to get where she is. A single mother, she joined the police force when she was eighteen and never looked back… until one wrong move put her in jeopardy of losing her job. So when a serial killer starts murdering female students at a nearby university, she knows this is it: her chance to stop a killer and redeem her career… or blow it and say goodbye to the job she loves.

Aided (and sometimes impeded) by Dr Georgina Cavendish, a lecturer who steps out of the isolated world of academia when one of her students is murdered, Walker soon arrests the obvious culprit. Everything seems to have worked out…

… until another girl is murdered while Cavendish and Walker’s prime suspect is still behind bars.

Now, Walker is being removed from the case, replaced by someone a bit more “suitable.” But when Cavendish persuades her to continue working the case, the two women join forces to discover the truth and solve the mystery behind the killings… before Walker’s own daughter becomes the next victim of a serial killer’s Deadly Games.
Source: Info in the "About Deadly Games" was taken from GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44297767-deadly-games on 31/07/2023.


Buy Link(s):
  Audible Books


My Thoughts:
This is my second series by Sally Rigby. I wasn't too impressed by the first one that I stopped following the series by book two. This time around this series sounds promising.

There is a few moments in the story that I was not very convinced about. Like Walker's abrupt turn around about accepting help. It could happen, I guess. But the way the story was told, I was not convinced that Walker would do such abrupt 90 degrees. However, I am willfully ignoring it for the wonderful reading time I got with this book!

This is my first Clare Corbett audiobook listen and I would buy audiobooks by her again.


Quantitative Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 3.5
Story itself = 4
Writing Style = 4
Ending = 4.5
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (7 hrs and 3 mins listening time)
Plot = 4
Narration = 5


Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 cherries


Books In The Cavendish & Walker Series:
Book 0.5: THE NIGHT SHIFT Book 1: DEADLY GAMES Book 2: FATAL JUSTICE Book 3: DEATH TRACK Book 4: LETHAL SECRET Book 5: LAST BREATH Book 6: FINAL VERDICT Book 7: RITUAL DEMISE Book 8: MORTAL REMAINS Book 9: SILENT GRAVES Book 10: KILL SHOT Book 11: DARK SECRET Book 12: BROKEN SCREAMS Book 13: DEATH'S SHADOW


 
Meet The Author

About Sally Rigby:
Sally Rigby was born in Northampton, UK. After leaving university she worked in magazines and radio, before finally embarking on a career lecturing in both further and higher education. Sally has always had the travel bug and after living in Manchester and London moved overseas. From 2001 she has lived with her family in New Zealand (apart from five years in Australia), which she considers to be the most beautiful place in the world.

Sally is the author of the acclaimed Cavendish and Walker series, and the more recent Detective Sebastian Clifford series. In collaboration with another author, she also writes psychological thrillers for Boldwood Books.

Sally has always loved crime fiction books, films and TV programmes. She has a particular fascination with the psychology of serial killers.


The Narrator

About Clare Corbett:
Clare Corbett has appeared in television shows such as Casualty, Eastenders and Doctors, as well as numerous radio plays and video games. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actor/Actress in the BBC Audio Drama Awards, and is a winner of the prestigious Carleton Hobbs Radio Award.



FTC Disclosure:
The ebook and audiobook were bought with private funds.
No money received for this review.

Monday, 25 November 2024

SOUTHPAW


Southpaw by JD Kirk
Book 2 in the Robert Hoon Thriller series
Narrated by Angus King
Genre: crime fiction
Format: ebook & audiobookAudiobook


About Southpaw:
Ex-Police Scotland detective, Bob Hoon, has made himself some powerful enemies.

Following his brutal search for the missing daughter of an old army colleague, Hoon is being hunted by the Loop, a secretive criminal cabal with members in very high places and a tendency to eliminate all those who stand against it.

Unfortunately for them, Hoon has never been one to back down from a fight, and he isn’t about to start now. Instead, he’s going to burn their whole damn organisation to the ground.

But first, he’s going to have to get inside.

He may be a foul-mouthed, hard-drinking psychopath with a death wish, but Bob Hoon is about to do something he hasn’t done in years.

He’s going undercover.
Source: Info in the "About Southpaw" was taken from GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60155307-southpaw on 17/09/2023.


Buy Link(s):
  Audible Books


Hoon
My Thoughts:
The author said that he envisions Bob Hoon as somebody like Graham McTavish. So Graham McTavish it is!

This is the first series that I've read of this author. Of course, by now, I know he also have other books, like the DCI Jack Logan thrillers, which is an even older series than this. I just hope that I didn't miss anything by reading the Bob Hoon thrillers first instead of reading the Jack Logan one instead.

This book has the same masterful story telling quality, beautiful world building, relateable characters, and wonderful story that the first book had. I am now a Bob Hoon die-hard fan!


I like the way Angus King gives Hoon a gravely voice! Kudos to the narration!


Quantitative Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 4
Ending = 5
World building = 5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (12 hrs and 31 mins listening time)
Plot = 4
Narration = 5


Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 cherries


Books In The Robert Hoon Thriller Series:
Book 1: NORTHWIND Book 2: SOUTHPAW Book 3: WESTWARD Book 4: EASTGATE Book 5: STATESIDE Book 6: (TBC)


 
Meet The Author

About JD Kirk:
JD Kirk is the pen name of multi-award-winning author, screenwriter, and writer of comics, Barry Hutchison.

JD Kirk lives in the Highlands of Scotland with his wife, two children, and a number of sturdy umbrellas. Despite writing from a young age, 'A Litter of Bones' is his first novel, and combines his love of the Highlands, crime thrillers, and cats.


The Narrator

About Angus King:
#Actor #Audiobook narrator including Booker Prize Winner 2020 #Shuggiebain.

Angus King is a Scottish actor based in London & Glasgow. He trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and works regularly on television, Motion Capture and the West End and his voice can be heard in audiobooks, political campaigns, radio drama, corporate videos, computer games, ADR and much more.



FTC Disclosure:
The ebook and audiobook were bought with private funds.
No money received for this review.