Monthly Archives: June 2016

Jun 29 2016

AudioBook Review – Half Share

 

Excellent to be back with this very different Space Opera : ) written by Nathan Lowell and narrated by Jeffery Kafer.

You can pick the book up here –

 

http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Sci-Fi-Fantasy/Half-Share-Audiobook/B01GEWKMH8?

 

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“Great book 2! ”

It was nice to be back with Ismail and the crew of the Lowis and I really did enjoy everything that happened here.

Jeffrey Kafer, does an outstanding job with the character voices and emotion he puts in. He’s a joy to listen to, (so much so I have the complete Exodus trilogy on at the moment now too haha)

I must admit though, I wanted this book/listen to be a bit longer, or in this one something to go wrong, even if it were an environmental problem, but it didn’t and I honestly think that was the only thing letting it down here. Just not quite enough conflict. Of course, that being said, this series really isn’t like anything I’ve ever read/listened to before. It’s not the gun toting action packed Sci Fi SO where aliens invade and everything goes wrong, so it was kind of nice for there to be all internal character developments here.

Contains Spoilers ——

One of the many great things about listening to Ismail is the facts that we’re watching and learning more about him with every episode, shocked to hear he wasn’t a virgin, as I thought he would have been for sure, but I was okay with it.

This book focussed on his new job, the people around him which we really get to know a lot better here and in his own developments. There’s a new crew member on board, and Ismail’s caring nature brings the very hurt Sarah into her own. I’m glad of this, but again I think there was just a little bit to much of a ‘good thing’ here, most people who are battered, used and abused carry a fair few more demons than the author lets rip here, and either she’s going to blow up in the next book or she really should have had an episode to counteract all the good that goes on.

The trip to the tailor was very interesting, they went in as friends but came out as more. I can see that. 3 young eligible women cooing over an 18 years old in his underwear… lol must have been a sight to see either way, but there’s lots of growth here, and it fits for their relationship.

I do wonder though if Ish, is actually really sorry that he and Big B can’t get together, or one of the others, or is he just not sure at all what he wants… there’s still so much room for him to grow and do things, I wonder.

The fact he’s questioning his own life here, is also very good and I’m glad he’s also the people around him who care about him to make him question himself. I think he is destined for more, and having not read the books, I’m only guessing. But the mention of the academy and becoming an officer… ooooo squee. I can totally see Ismail Wong a Captain of a great ship! go Ishmail!

Anyway, just those two little cravats. But can’t wait for more 🙂

Jun 26 2016

AudioBook Review – The Damaged

Written by Simon Law and narrated by Rob Goll.

I saw this on AudioBook Boom and asked to review this. I was glad I did because I found it to be one of the most well written and chilling books I’ve had the pleasure of reading/listening to in a long time.

You can pick it up here – http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Crime-Thrillers/The-Damaged-Audiobook/B01FHOX3ZM

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“Wow! Fantastically thrilling.”

There is so much I really enjoyed about this book. So, so much. From the storm itself, being reminded of all the things I love back in 87 I was 10 years of age then and Thundercats, and plugging in and shooting aliens was totally my life! I love this kid.

But, it soon turns really nasty and his parents are murdered. The storm itself is horriffic. The descriptions and emotions evoked through this are very real, and disturbing. This then does throw Matthew into the next years of his life as the damaged soul he is.

The writing and research that the author has done to get so deep into the psychological problems of such trauma is sheer amazing. From experience and my own pain, there was nothing here that struck out to me as being ‘wrong’ I could clearly identify with both Matthew and Tammy.

Tammy is as much as Matthew a very disturbed woman with a past almost as worrying. Almost killing her daughter, and drinking far too much for her own health. She’s supposed to be Matthews carer, but she’s hurt and suffers with illness as well. Not too sure that’s a combination that would be allowed. With my mental illness I was refused to go into the caring community job wise. A blessing in disguise I’m sure, for what they actually see.

So, yes, this book/narration is very real, very deep and hauntingly disturbing. And actually quite triggering, but don’t worry. It was good and good to see someone put so much effort both into the narration and the story.

This is the first British narrator I’ve actually listened to, and I did find that although Rob had a lovely tone for his characters, his actual narration could bring me out of the story just a few times. But, enough that I needed to mention. I do think that together both the author and narrator make a great team, the husky voice of Rob and the smooth flow… to the upward climb of tension towards the novel’s climax. Excellent working AudioBook.

If you regularly love horror, thriller and disturbing stories, then this is right up your street.

Jun 25 2016

AudioBook Review – Victory

It’s been nice to be back in work! honest… but to pick back up and carry on with my reviews, and the series I’ve been following.

I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one and it didn’t disappoint at all! Victory, written by Nick Webb and narrated by Greg Tremblay!

You can find it here. –

http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Sci-Fi-Fantasy/Victory-Audiobook/B01F7S5T14/ref=a_listener__cco_1_1_i

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There are so many great things about this book. I am sure I’m going to forget something. But, I wanted first to say what a nightmare it was waiting for it to finally hit the UK… I could see it on my US account… but nope wouldn’t show or download for weeks, I wonder why?

Kinda glad I was on holiday as well, or I’d have been going more crazy waiting on this one.

Anyway, so worth the wait, and I’m really floored by the outcome.

SPOILERS ———– Don’t read till later.

Here are some of my fav and most emotional moments. (not in any given order)

The dreadnoughts’s first destruction, fantastic moment. But then…

Granger’s negotiation with the Sclura (sp) and learning about the billions of deaths he caused. Because they carry so many ’embryos’ inside.

Malakof’s death, and then of course Isaacson’s haha, brilliant.

The fact that the Swarm isn’t the Swarm they thought it was.

The CAG committing suicide.

Ballsy’s promotion and subsequent obsession still with Fishtail. I’m still not totally understanding the why’s here, and that’s freaked me out more than anything, why he was so obsessed, etc. But, it was still emotional, and I really wanted some romantic element here, or maybe that’s for their future. Who knows.

I did find there was a good bit of science from Shelby in here, which was very well presented, even all the science. I’m not a hard sci fi gal, but I thought there was a lot of thought gone into this, be it true or not I don’t think I’ll know but it didn’t detract form the story at all and brought all the puzzling pieces about the swarm together. So that really helps us understand.

Granger meeting himself, as the sick old man that went through the singularity was cool. Even Fishtail and Ballsy’s story arch there, where ballsy shoots his own down in order that the ‘enemy don’t get him’ believing that the Granger in that zone is evil controlled by the swarm. Such a brilliant turn with the writing. We know it’s happened, we saw it form all angles earlier, but finally understanding it as the characters do. Brilliant writing.

With the injured Matriarch and the Sclura helping Granger, despite their pain. As she died I’d tears… so so sad, all those babies inside her 😦 I wished there was a way to get them out before they were lost. I hoped they might save a few, but it was too late. Bummer.

And of course, Granger’s sacrifice. To send himself back to start the process again, or has it all changed. The timeline so weird and the fact no one understands it… don’t think I ever will.
But again, so very well written. Even the good bye scene for Tim and Shelby… uggh you were killing me here guys.

I did wonder what the trial was for and the aftermath, but the crew wanting Shelby as their Captain was a great ending to it, open of course. And there was the part with the president and malakof… so open ended. I know there is more coming. 🙂

As for the performance. OUTSTANDING of course. I’m a big fan of Greg’s… (biased, maybe) but if it wasn’t for the Nick Webb and Greg Tremblay Team… I wouldn’t be as much of a fan.

Keep on working together, and I’ll keep on buying, between this and promises of more spin offs. I’m hooked. 🙂

Jun 25 2016

A month to catch up on…

It’s been a horrid month and a bit, and I’ve stayed away from posting because it’s not been good at all. My husband lost his job, and financially we took a severe hit. A really bad hit. Over a month with no wage…. and yeah I freaked out. I smiled and pretended things were all okay, when inside, everything horrid was going on. Suffering with depression and a severe lack of self worth once, makes those evil voices in your head, say even worse things to you, and all the coping behaviours that I used to use, wanted to come back. In the end, I had to just use what I could to survive, which now, I need a good kick up the backside from and to pull my head out my ass.

Everything that could go wrong just did, and it all came at once, my car’s exhaust fell off, and we were also due to go on holiday… and yeah it really sucked beyond just sucking… I was low, and very unsure of what was going to happen for us… (and being low the diet went out the window, I drank far too much, also I injured myself falling over the day he got sacked. haha)

But we dug in, tightened our belts and with the support of my friends and family we got through it. We’re back on the up, hubby started a new job and fingers crossed in a month or so we’ll be back to fighting fit 🙂

Our holiday away, was amazing, and I love Devon for being the best place ever.

But, then you come home, and you have to go back to work. Sigh…

The first week back in work is always the hardest and yeah it was. But I won’t go into all that. haha.

Moving onwards we’ve still loads of exciting things for TSK and us.

I will keep you posted. 🙂

 

Jun 17 2016

Think You Couldn’t Possibly Lose Your Amazon Publishing Account? Think Again.

Oh gosh. This is sad news. I got the AudioBook back in feb and it was one of my first few that I reviewed, and it was a good book… there’s no reason they should be thinking this of the writer… this is sad news for us all…. and I just signed up again for KU eeek

The Active Voice

There’s this indie author I know a little bit from the Kboards.com forum. Her name is Pauline Creeden, and she’s an ordinary midlister, like so many of us. I remember PMing her some time ago and gushing about how particularly beautiful one of her book covers is — the one for Chronicles of Steele: Raven.collection Here, I’ll include an image. Gorgeous, eh?

Anyway, today I tuned in to Kboards and noticed that Pauline had started a thread. It contained what’s surely the worst news possible for an indie author: Amazon had closed her publishing account. All her ebooks had been taken off sale. Permanently. Here’s the email she got from Amazon:

We are reaching out to you because we have detected that borrows for your books are originating from systematically generated accounts. While we support the legitimate efforts of our publishers to promote their books, attempting to manipulate…

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