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Recommend this book:
The Tribulations of August Barton
Audio book
Jennifer LeBlanc
2019 Honorable Mention
Audio Book
Check current price
Fiction - Audiobook
Reviewed By K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
The Tribulations of August Barton is a work of mature humorous fiction penned by author Jennifer LeBlanc, and this audiobook edition was narrated by James Oliva. The plot centers around Augie, our title character, who faces a coming of age as he prepares for life at college. Threads of his life are unravelling around him as the year begins, tipping the already anxious Augie over the edge. Just when things seem impossible enough, his retired grandmother Gertie decides to make a break for it and escapes her nursing home. As a retired prostitute, Gertie’s attitude couldn’t be further from Augie’s if she tried, but their unlikely pairing provides plenty of laughter and heart as the tale spins on.
Author Jennifer LeBlanc presents a riotous novella as Augie learns how to be a man from a woman who’s been there and done it all, and now wants to do it all again. The character development gives The Tribulations of August Barton its special quality, because they are both over the top but also highly relatable and representative of so many issues that people are actually dealing with at that vulnerable going-into-college time of their lives.
In terms of audiobook quality, the editing and clarity were superb to bring this short novella-length tale to life with plenty of pace and pathos. I particularly liked James Oliva’s many voices, male and female, which he twisted and developed just slightly over the top in order to make the characters really pop from a comedic point of view. This is a highly recommended tale only enhanced further by its audiobook edition.
The Tribulations of August Barton is a work of mature humorous fiction penned by author Jennifer LeBlanc, and this audiobook edition was narrated by James Oliva. The plot centers around Augie, our title character, who faces a coming of age as he prepares for life at college. Threads of his life are unravelling around him as the year begins, tipping the already anxious Augie over the edge. Just when things seem impossible enough, his retired grandmother Gertie decides to make a break for it and escapes her nursing home. As a retired prostitute, Gertie’s attitude couldn’t be further from Augie’s if she tried, but their unlikely pairing provides plenty of laughter and heart as the tale spins on.
Author Jennifer LeBlanc presents a riotous novella as Augie learns how to be a man from a woman who’s been there and done it all, and now wants to do it all again. The character development gives The Tribulations of August Barton its special quality, because they are both over the top but also highly relatable and representative of so many issues that people are actually dealing with at that vulnerable going-into-college time of their lives.
In terms of audiobook quality, the editing and clarity were superb to bring this short novella-length tale to life with plenty of pace and pathos. I particularly liked James Oliva’s many voices, male and female, which he twisted and developed just slightly over the top in order to make the characters really pop from a comedic point of view. This is a highly recommended tale only enhanced further by its audiobook edition.
Recommend this book:
Trials & Tribulations of Modesty Greene
A Fictional Novel About Harriet Tubman's Historical Legacy
DW Plato
2019 Bronze Medal
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
Reviewed By Sarah Stuart for Readers' Favorite
Trials & Tribulations of Modesty Greene: A Fictional Novel About Harriet Tubman’s Historical Legacy by D W Plato has settings that sweep from a very third-world country to North America, and the huge cast of characters is equally detailed and vivid. The reader experiences eighteenth-century Africa and how “Little Mo” is captured by slave traders and taken to work for the cruel Maryland plantation owner, Robert Banks, chosen at the request of his spoiled lesbian daughter, Ethel. Modesty Greene is “the Massa’s” property – his to force to work by any means, and her body his to rape. How Modesty survives to grow up, marry, and give birth to a dynasty that includes Araminta Ross – Harriet – is an intriguing story.
Trials & Tribulations of Modesty Greene opens with Mo’destee Vert, a young Senegambia teenager, in love and happy. Life as she knows it ends when her beloved father fails to prevent villagers being taken as slaves and shipped to America. At first, Modesty Greene, as she is now known, appears to be lucky, befriended by Ethel, Robert Banks’ daughter, but she is hated by her fellow slaves who assume she gets special treatment. A Muslim, she is at prayer when her master first rapes her. In Trials & Tribulations of Modesty Greene, D W Plato has written a worthy tribute to the real Harriet Tubman and I recommend it to everyone interested in history, freedom, women’s rights, or all three.
Trials & Tribulations of Modesty Greene lends itself particularly well to audio, perhaps because the author employed three narrators. Tishelle Peterson, Nene Nwoko, and Machelle Williams did an incredible job bringing Modesty Greene’s story to life. They each sounded so “right” in their part, and none of them had a problem when the character in question happened to be male or a descriptive section. It held my attention one hundred percent.
Trials & Tribulations of Modesty Greene: A Fictional Novel About Harriet Tubman’s Historical Legacy by D W Plato has settings that sweep from a very third-world country to North America, and the huge cast of characters is equally detailed and vivid. The reader experiences eighteenth-century Africa and how “Little Mo” is captured by slave traders and taken to work for the cruel Maryland plantation owner, Robert Banks, chosen at the request of his spoiled lesbian daughter, Ethel. Modesty Greene is “the Massa’s” property – his to force to work by any means, and her body his to rape. How Modesty survives to grow up, marry, and give birth to a dynasty that includes Araminta Ross – Harriet – is an intriguing story.
Trials & Tribulations of Modesty Greene opens with Mo’destee Vert, a young Senegambia teenager, in love and happy. Life as she knows it ends when her beloved father fails to prevent villagers being taken as slaves and shipped to America. At first, Modesty Greene, as she is now known, appears to be lucky, befriended by Ethel, Robert Banks’ daughter, but she is hated by her fellow slaves who assume she gets special treatment. A Muslim, she is at prayer when her master first rapes her. In Trials & Tribulations of Modesty Greene, D W Plato has written a worthy tribute to the real Harriet Tubman and I recommend it to everyone interested in history, freedom, women’s rights, or all three.
Trials & Tribulations of Modesty Greene lends itself particularly well to audio, perhaps because the author employed three narrators. Tishelle Peterson, Nene Nwoko, and Machelle Williams did an incredible job bringing Modesty Greene’s story to life. They each sounded so “right” in their part, and none of them had a problem when the character in question happened to be male or a descriptive section. It held my attention one hundred percent.
Recommend this book:
The Cull - Bloodline
Eric J. Gates Narrated by Marnye Young
2019 Bronze Medal
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
Reviewed By K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
The Cull – Bloodline is a work of vampire fantasy thriller fiction penned by author Eric J. Gates and presented in audiobook format by narrator Marnye Young. Set as a genre mix between the standard FBI thriller and a paranormal fantasy novel full of vampire conspiracies, we follow two powerful female heroines into the darkness as they discover things they never thought possible. The infamous serial killer the Blood Sucker must be caught, but the means to trap this mysterious figure involve way more sacrifice than Amy and her partner could ever imagine.
Author Eric J. Gates has reinvented all things vampiric for the modern time, turning his beasts into elite killers without any of the old-fashioned shtick that often made them so laughable. What results is a passionate and powerful tale that is genuinely frightening in many parts, and an intriguing criminal plotline which keeps you turning pages right to the end. The narration presents as a crisp crime thriller with a dark, wry edge, giving those little chilling moments where it’s clear that something very bad will happen soon.
In terms of audiobook quality, the narration by Marnye Young provides much to enjoy. Editing quality and clean, crisp audio aid Young in her wry presentation, offering a slick performance that feels confidently delivered. The style adds flair to the characters themselves, lifting the novel to another level of smooth enjoyment, but with an excellent balance when the truly thrilling moments kick in. Overall, The Cull – Bloodline is a powerhouse of crime and fantasy fiction and a superb start to an engaging new series.
The Cull – Bloodline is a work of vampire fantasy thriller fiction penned by author Eric J. Gates and presented in audiobook format by narrator Marnye Young. Set as a genre mix between the standard FBI thriller and a paranormal fantasy novel full of vampire conspiracies, we follow two powerful female heroines into the darkness as they discover things they never thought possible. The infamous serial killer the Blood Sucker must be caught, but the means to trap this mysterious figure involve way more sacrifice than Amy and her partner could ever imagine.
Author Eric J. Gates has reinvented all things vampiric for the modern time, turning his beasts into elite killers without any of the old-fashioned shtick that often made them so laughable. What results is a passionate and powerful tale that is genuinely frightening in many parts, and an intriguing criminal plotline which keeps you turning pages right to the end. The narration presents as a crisp crime thriller with a dark, wry edge, giving those little chilling moments where it’s clear that something very bad will happen soon.
In terms of audiobook quality, the narration by Marnye Young provides much to enjoy. Editing quality and clean, crisp audio aid Young in her wry presentation, offering a slick performance that feels confidently delivered. The style adds flair to the characters themselves, lifting the novel to another level of smooth enjoyment, but with an excellent balance when the truly thrilling moments kick in. Overall, The Cull – Bloodline is a powerhouse of crime and fantasy fiction and a superb start to an engaging new series.
Recommend this book:
Tall Chimneys
One Woman, One House, One Hundred Years
Allie Cresswell
2019 Silver Medal
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
Reviewed By K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Tall Chimneys: One Woman, One House, One Hundred Years is a work of twentieth-century historical drama and romance, penned by author Alice Cresswell and narrated in audiobook format by Danielle Cohen. The plot centers around Evelyn Talbot, who is extracted from her family and sent to the titular stately home as penance for being troublesome. But Evelyn connects with the old gothic home, fearing its slow abandonment and demise if she does not stay to maintain it. So when the chance of a romance comes her way, Evelyn must decide between the solace in the world which Tall Chimneys provides, and the happiness that may await her elsewhere.
Author Alice Cresswell breathes life into the dark corners and gloomy fixtures of a traditional English stately home, offering a gorgeous, distanced snapshot of British history amid a kind of ethereal, removed splendor at the house itself. The emotional arc of the central character and those whom she meets along the way is powerful and well delivered, running smoothly alongside the action of the plot. A deep connection between reader and audience is achieved in the narration and the close access which we have to Evelyn’s personal feelings and reactions.
In terms of audiobook quality, narrator Danielle Cohen has an authentic Northern accent that adds atmosphere and credence to the setting of the Yorkshire moors. There’s a timeless quality to her voice which informs the action well and brings it to life, and the audio quality and editing are suitably faultless. Overall, Tall Chimneys: One Woman, One House, One Hundred Years is a fascinating and highly engaging work that will please historical drama fans everywhere.
Tall Chimneys: One Woman, One House, One Hundred Years is a work of twentieth-century historical drama and romance, penned by author Alice Cresswell and narrated in audiobook format by Danielle Cohen. The plot centers around Evelyn Talbot, who is extracted from her family and sent to the titular stately home as penance for being troublesome. But Evelyn connects with the old gothic home, fearing its slow abandonment and demise if she does not stay to maintain it. So when the chance of a romance comes her way, Evelyn must decide between the solace in the world which Tall Chimneys provides, and the happiness that may await her elsewhere.
Author Alice Cresswell breathes life into the dark corners and gloomy fixtures of a traditional English stately home, offering a gorgeous, distanced snapshot of British history amid a kind of ethereal, removed splendor at the house itself. The emotional arc of the central character and those whom she meets along the way is powerful and well delivered, running smoothly alongside the action of the plot. A deep connection between reader and audience is achieved in the narration and the close access which we have to Evelyn’s personal feelings and reactions.
In terms of audiobook quality, narrator Danielle Cohen has an authentic Northern accent that adds atmosphere and credence to the setting of the Yorkshire moors. There’s a timeless quality to her voice which informs the action well and brings it to life, and the audio quality and editing are suitably faultless. Overall, Tall Chimneys: One Woman, One House, One Hundred Years is a fascinating and highly engaging work that will please historical drama fans everywhere.
Recommend this book:
The Whip - AudioBook – Unabridged
A novel inspired by the story of Charley Parkhurst
Karen Kondazian
2019 Gold Medal
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
Reviewed By Joel R. Dennstedt for Readers' Favorite
It is amazing how visually stimulating the audio presentation of a book can be, especially a book as evocative and superbly written as The Whip by Karen Kondazian when professionally narrated by the skillful and impressive Robin Weigert. Of course, the story carries most of the weight, and this story is based on a true historical figure of immense interest. Charley Parkhurst was a strong, enduring Western woman of the 1800s, who took on the look and persona of a man in order to survive and utilize her impressive horse-handling skills as a stagecoach driver. The narrative fulfills beyond measure the storyteller’s challenging task of handling and maintaining an avid reader’s interest. And rest assured, both Kondazian and Weigert succeed terrifically in presenting Charley Parkhurst’s compelling tale.
At its heart, The Whip by Karen Kondazian is a deeply engaging, fully authentic rendering of the Old West as experienced first by one young, naive orphaned girl, Charlotte Parkhurst, then by herself as a young maturing woman, and finally as a battle-scarred widow and surviving mother in a truly hard-scrabble life, one eventually lived by necessity and temperament as an independent, solitary man in a world dictated by such men’s rather boorish ways and wants. She masters the man’s world well, but at an extraordinary cost. It is Charley Parkhurst’s payment of this cost that makes for such compelling reading, and for listening in this special audiobook edition. Both Kondazian and Weigert excel magnificently at bringing into vivid presence the historical reality of a truly amazing woman. Bravo to them all!
As to the quality of the audiobook itself, one can only admire the immense amount of effort put into making this one so masterful. Technically, the production is flawless. The audio is clear, well-defined, and precise. The narration is skilled beyond any rightful expectation. Robin Weigert obviously studied the book and its characters in depth before putting voices to them. The result is more like listening to a movie than simply having a book read out loud. This allows the listener to deeply inhabit a powerful story while also experiencing a fine piece of literature.
It is amazing how visually stimulating the audio presentation of a book can be, especially a book as evocative and superbly written as The Whip by Karen Kondazian when professionally narrated by the skillful and impressive Robin Weigert. Of course, the story carries most of the weight, and this story is based on a true historical figure of immense interest. Charley Parkhurst was a strong, enduring Western woman of the 1800s, who took on the look and persona of a man in order to survive and utilize her impressive horse-handling skills as a stagecoach driver. The narrative fulfills beyond measure the storyteller’s challenging task of handling and maintaining an avid reader’s interest. And rest assured, both Kondazian and Weigert succeed terrifically in presenting Charley Parkhurst’s compelling tale.
At its heart, The Whip by Karen Kondazian is a deeply engaging, fully authentic rendering of the Old West as experienced first by one young, naive orphaned girl, Charlotte Parkhurst, then by herself as a young maturing woman, and finally as a battle-scarred widow and surviving mother in a truly hard-scrabble life, one eventually lived by necessity and temperament as an independent, solitary man in a world dictated by such men’s rather boorish ways and wants. She masters the man’s world well, but at an extraordinary cost. It is Charley Parkhurst’s payment of this cost that makes for such compelling reading, and for listening in this special audiobook edition. Both Kondazian and Weigert excel magnificently at bringing into vivid presence the historical reality of a truly amazing woman. Bravo to them all!
As to the quality of the audiobook itself, one can only admire the immense amount of effort put into making this one so masterful. Technically, the production is flawless. The audio is clear, well-defined, and precise. The narration is skilled beyond any rightful expectation. Robin Weigert obviously studied the book and its characters in depth before putting voices to them. The result is more like listening to a movie than simply having a book read out loud. This allows the listener to deeply inhabit a powerful story while also experiencing a fine piece of literature.
Recommend this book:
Stray Magic
Jackie Bouchard
2018 Silver Medal
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
Reviewed By Francine Zane for Readers' Favorite
In Stray Magic by Jackie Bouchard, Cara Snow is perplexed when her fairy godfather, Vincent, shows up years after the ball—or in her case, the high school prom—is over. He offers her a chance at love after her marriage ends in divorce and on the heels of her daughter preparing to leave for college. You would think the fae folk would send the best of the best to rectify their mistake, but as luck will have it, Vincent’s botched spell leads to unexpected results. Jackie Bouchard brings new meaning to the word ‘stray’ with her modern day fairy tale, Stray Magic. While the second-rate fairy godfather adds an amusing touch of hilarity to a depressing situation, Cara’s own girl-next-door personality and her love of dogs are the driving forces that carry this romantic comedy into a special class of irresistible.
Aisling Gray acts as narrator for the audio version of Stray Magic. Gray does a polished job of presenting a consistent voice to the story. Her performance stands out as well balanced without interfering with the enjoyment of the star of the story—the plot. The audio book is professionally engineered with no background noise or pacing issues either. I am torn between adoring Cara for the way she bounces back time after time from romances gone astray (there is that word again) and envying her taking her rocky journey into self-discovery with such grace. Had I faced even half the complexities Cara faced, I would have done more than just blamed teenagers on the growing pile of fast food wrappers in the car. I would have curled up on the couch with a gallon of Rocky Road and a blood vow never to date again.
In Stray Magic by Jackie Bouchard, Cara Snow is perplexed when her fairy godfather, Vincent, shows up years after the ball—or in her case, the high school prom—is over. He offers her a chance at love after her marriage ends in divorce and on the heels of her daughter preparing to leave for college. You would think the fae folk would send the best of the best to rectify their mistake, but as luck will have it, Vincent’s botched spell leads to unexpected results. Jackie Bouchard brings new meaning to the word ‘stray’ with her modern day fairy tale, Stray Magic. While the second-rate fairy godfather adds an amusing touch of hilarity to a depressing situation, Cara’s own girl-next-door personality and her love of dogs are the driving forces that carry this romantic comedy into a special class of irresistible.
Aisling Gray acts as narrator for the audio version of Stray Magic. Gray does a polished job of presenting a consistent voice to the story. Her performance stands out as well balanced without interfering with the enjoyment of the star of the story—the plot. The audio book is professionally engineered with no background noise or pacing issues either. I am torn between adoring Cara for the way she bounces back time after time from romances gone astray (there is that word again) and envying her taking her rocky journey into self-discovery with such grace. Had I faced even half the complexities Cara faced, I would have done more than just blamed teenagers on the growing pile of fast food wrappers in the car. I would have curled up on the couch with a gallon of Rocky Road and a blood vow never to date again.
Recommend this book:
The Fog Seller
A San Francisco Mystery
Don Daglow
2018 Gold Medal
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
Reviewed By Benjamin Ookami for Readers' Favorite
Some crimes cannot be solved by the police alone. Don Daglow's mystery novel, The Fog Seller: A San Francisco Mystery, takes the police, for the most part, out of the equation. The murder of an actress and a man who sought to save the homes of many seniors and people with low-income jobs is quite the puzzler. The number of suspects is in high contrast with the number of answers. Captain Kreitzer aims to solve this murder in quite an unusual way: by letting the suspects do all the work for him. One of his suspects is a man named Steve Ondelle, a man who only talks in the present tense and who is "not good with questions." Only time will tell if Captain Kreitzer's plan will work.
Steve has five journals that he allows a woman (as well as the reader) to read. Steve is a shy human being who gets freaked out when people ask him certain questions. The author's portrayal of him was very believable. I liked the fact that Steve had a roommate named Liam who was his direct opposite. What makes Liam even cooler is that he can make a vial of San Francisco fog look like a delicious ice cream cone. The characters in this novel are absolutely amazing. Steve's reasons for solving the double murder are to get his friend Luis's job back and prove his innocence. The real identity of the killer isn't too obvious, so it's quite interesting to find out what the end result will be.
Some crimes cannot be solved by the police alone. Don Daglow's mystery novel, The Fog Seller: A San Francisco Mystery, takes the police, for the most part, out of the equation. The murder of an actress and a man who sought to save the homes of many seniors and people with low-income jobs is quite the puzzler. The number of suspects is in high contrast with the number of answers. Captain Kreitzer aims to solve this murder in quite an unusual way: by letting the suspects do all the work for him. One of his suspects is a man named Steve Ondelle, a man who only talks in the present tense and who is "not good with questions." Only time will tell if Captain Kreitzer's plan will work.
Steve has five journals that he allows a woman (as well as the reader) to read. Steve is a shy human being who gets freaked out when people ask him certain questions. The author's portrayal of him was very believable. I liked the fact that Steve had a roommate named Liam who was his direct opposite. What makes Liam even cooler is that he can make a vial of San Francisco fog look like a delicious ice cream cone. The characters in this novel are absolutely amazing. Steve's reasons for solving the double murder are to get his friend Luis's job back and prove his innocence. The real identity of the killer isn't too obvious, so it's quite interesting to find out what the end result will be.
Recommend this book:
Satyr's Son
A Georgian Historical Romance
Lucinda Brant
2018 Bronze Medal
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
Reviewed By Peggy Jo Wipf for Readers' Favorite
The fifth book in Lucinda Brant’s Roxton Family Saga, Satyr’s Son, is actually about the second son of the Noble Satyr. This Georgian historical romance makes a full circle as the son is now the replica of his sire many years earlier. With Lord Henri-Antoine as the second son and fourth in line as a duke, he has the freedom to marry as he wishes. Sadly, he chooses to live a life as the Satyr, a lustful and drunken Greek god. To most people, Henri-Antoine, often called Harry, flaunts his wealth and power through his extravagant clothes and multiple servants that surround him. Miss Lisa Crisp quickly sees through his façade and accepts the affliction he has managed to hide for years.
Personally, I find Lucinda Brant a very skilled writer, mastering the language and making this a very charming love story. Satyr’s Son isn’t about perfect people in a perfect setting, falling in love. It is about discretion and loyalty among friends and family members. Henri-Antoine felt he had to live as a Satyr because he couldn’t trust a woman in the upper class with his secret. Lucinda Brant also writes about love and sacrifice, making the characters come alive as they forgo their own happiness for the benefit of others. Alex Wyndham is the cherry on top of this sweet novel, bringing each character alive as he narrates Satyr’s Son. His skill as an actor is evident as he changes his voice for each person and adds drama when the scenes get intense. This is definitely an excellent combination of written novel and spoken script.
The fifth book in Lucinda Brant’s Roxton Family Saga, Satyr’s Son, is actually about the second son of the Noble Satyr. This Georgian historical romance makes a full circle as the son is now the replica of his sire many years earlier. With Lord Henri-Antoine as the second son and fourth in line as a duke, he has the freedom to marry as he wishes. Sadly, he chooses to live a life as the Satyr, a lustful and drunken Greek god. To most people, Henri-Antoine, often called Harry, flaunts his wealth and power through his extravagant clothes and multiple servants that surround him. Miss Lisa Crisp quickly sees through his façade and accepts the affliction he has managed to hide for years.
Personally, I find Lucinda Brant a very skilled writer, mastering the language and making this a very charming love story. Satyr’s Son isn’t about perfect people in a perfect setting, falling in love. It is about discretion and loyalty among friends and family members. Henri-Antoine felt he had to live as a Satyr because he couldn’t trust a woman in the upper class with his secret. Lucinda Brant also writes about love and sacrifice, making the characters come alive as they forgo their own happiness for the benefit of others. Alex Wyndham is the cherry on top of this sweet novel, bringing each character alive as he narrates Satyr’s Son. His skill as an actor is evident as he changes his voice for each person and adds drama when the scenes get intense. This is definitely an excellent combination of written novel and spoken script.
Recommend this book:
Strain of Resistance
Bixby Series, Book 1
Michelle Bryan - Marnye Young is Narrator
2018 Bronze Medal
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
Reviewed By Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite
Strain of Resistance is the first audio book in the Bixby series, an unusual tale of resistance and courage after an earth-altering tragedy. The book is written by Michelle Bryan and narrated by Marnye Young. First off, I would like to comment on the narrative — the voice is clear and arresting, coming across as neutral, and the intonation allows the reader to note a comma here, an exclamation mark there, and a pause in the narrative. I couldn’t stop listening to this gripping apocalyptic story as I drove around. That said, let me move on to some of the more interesting elements of the story.
The reader is plunged into a world that is waking up from tragedy — or is it? The narrator is Bixby, a girl who claims that the world ended when she was twelve, and now she’s lost her home, her family, and the man she loved with it. It’s been eight years since the seemingly harmless mist covered the earth and transformed it into a hellhole. The alien parasite that mutated most of the population into bloodsucking freaks is becoming smarter, evolving, and finding new forms of resistance. Follow the gritty tale of Bixby and a few survivors as they hunt and fight against the infected. Bixby is a character that readers will learn quickly to stick with, someone whose childhood hasn’t been filled with great memories, but she is someone who has learned to face reality as it is.
The story is well-paced and readers quickly become hooked on the narrative voice, wanting to know where the adventure will lead them and what will happen next. Strain of Resistance is a compelling narrative with characters that are memorable. Michelle Bryan’s work is original and I loved the fact that the apocalypse doesn’t happen in a brusque and brutal manner, as is the case with most books in this genre. I also enjoyed the pacing and the first person narrative, which is absorbing and which allows the listener to hear, see, and feel what the protagonist experiences.
Strain of Resistance is the first audio book in the Bixby series, an unusual tale of resistance and courage after an earth-altering tragedy. The book is written by Michelle Bryan and narrated by Marnye Young. First off, I would like to comment on the narrative — the voice is clear and arresting, coming across as neutral, and the intonation allows the reader to note a comma here, an exclamation mark there, and a pause in the narrative. I couldn’t stop listening to this gripping apocalyptic story as I drove around. That said, let me move on to some of the more interesting elements of the story.
The reader is plunged into a world that is waking up from tragedy — or is it? The narrator is Bixby, a girl who claims that the world ended when she was twelve, and now she’s lost her home, her family, and the man she loved with it. It’s been eight years since the seemingly harmless mist covered the earth and transformed it into a hellhole. The alien parasite that mutated most of the population into bloodsucking freaks is becoming smarter, evolving, and finding new forms of resistance. Follow the gritty tale of Bixby and a few survivors as they hunt and fight against the infected. Bixby is a character that readers will learn quickly to stick with, someone whose childhood hasn’t been filled with great memories, but she is someone who has learned to face reality as it is.
The story is well-paced and readers quickly become hooked on the narrative voice, wanting to know where the adventure will lead them and what will happen next. Strain of Resistance is a compelling narrative with characters that are memorable. Michelle Bryan’s work is original and I loved the fact that the apocalypse doesn’t happen in a brusque and brutal manner, as is the case with most books in this genre. I also enjoyed the pacing and the first person narrative, which is absorbing and which allows the listener to hear, see, and feel what the protagonist experiences.
Recommend this book:
Last Things
Betta Ferrendelli
2018 Honorable Mention
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
Reviewed By Justine Reyes for Readers' Favorite
Last Things by Betta Ferrendelli is a story about two women who have walked a similar path. We begin with Bridgette, a successful journalist who is in a seemingly perfect relationship. Of course, we soon find out it isn’t so perfect. Elliot, Bridgette’s fiance, doesn’t like the idea that the child Bridgette is carrying has Down Syndrome. He reacts repulsively, wanting her to get an abortion. On top of that, she must make a professional decision that could potentially end someone’s life. Overwhelmed and wanting to end it all, she crashes her car, but miraculously she lives. Through this incident, she meets the other woman, Alexis. Alexis is living the life Bridgette wasn’t brave enough to live. A friendship soon blossoms between the two women, but of course, life isn’t fair, especially to the good ones.
Last Things touches upon the surfaces of several sensitive matters, and Ferrendelli does a wonderful job of executing this with care. Last Things is a cozy novel, one that embraces you and doesn’t let go even when the tears start rolling. The friendship between Alexis and Bridgette was built up excellently; they kept secrets from each other, but that’s what made the story so interesting. Last Things is a novel I recommend to anyone who has ever had a “what if” moment in their life. It is well-written, heart-warming, and full of hope. Gabra Zackman narrates Last Things. I’m not too familiar with her other work, but her performance lends a vividness to Ferrendelli’s already colorful cast of characters; it felt as though I was listening to an old radio drama.
Last Things by Betta Ferrendelli is a story about two women who have walked a similar path. We begin with Bridgette, a successful journalist who is in a seemingly perfect relationship. Of course, we soon find out it isn’t so perfect. Elliot, Bridgette’s fiance, doesn’t like the idea that the child Bridgette is carrying has Down Syndrome. He reacts repulsively, wanting her to get an abortion. On top of that, she must make a professional decision that could potentially end someone’s life. Overwhelmed and wanting to end it all, she crashes her car, but miraculously she lives. Through this incident, she meets the other woman, Alexis. Alexis is living the life Bridgette wasn’t brave enough to live. A friendship soon blossoms between the two women, but of course, life isn’t fair, especially to the good ones.
Last Things touches upon the surfaces of several sensitive matters, and Ferrendelli does a wonderful job of executing this with care. Last Things is a cozy novel, one that embraces you and doesn’t let go even when the tears start rolling. The friendship between Alexis and Bridgette was built up excellently; they kept secrets from each other, but that’s what made the story so interesting. Last Things is a novel I recommend to anyone who has ever had a “what if” moment in their life. It is well-written, heart-warming, and full of hope. Gabra Zackman narrates Last Things. I’m not too familiar with her other work, but her performance lends a vividness to Ferrendelli’s already colorful cast of characters; it felt as though I was listening to an old radio drama.
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