Feb 4 2017

AudioBook Review – Synthetic Uprising

This being the start of a very A.I kinda week, was a great book to kick it off. 🙂

“Interesting”

I received this book without obligation from the narrator.

What I enjoyed about this book was the get in late scenario, there was no messing about with this storyline and it was very easy to follow and unfolded really well. The plot revolved around some great 3d characters who each had so much depth and backstory that it affected the outcome of the book and really made you feel for them. Great job on the suspense and mystery surrounding this story. I did think maybe it could have been longer, because I enjoyed it a lot, and I hope that this isn’t going to be the only book with these characters, it seems there’s so much scope that it would be a shame if so. The world building and ideas in here support most A.I stories, that I’ve had the pleasure of reading or listening to, yet it didn’t seem over-worked or contrived.

The narrator has a great tone to his voice for this genre, deep and gritty, which suited the MC and I found myself getting lost within the world. The different character voices were unique enough that I didn’t need tags to know who was doing the talking, great job.

I look forward to more from both writer and narrator, thank you for letting me listen in.

Jan 30 2017

The Fab Jeff Hays :) – live read

I had the great pleasure of being included again last night in Jeff’s twitch reading.

This piece was co -written with my writing partner in crime Steven Kogan,

And although I missed it, and am sad about that, it was a great reading to go back and watch.

Take a listen and just watch those faces he does when doing Gavinu’s dialogue, love it. https://www.twitch.tv/videos/118348053

click across to – 35:05 – “Tales from the Secret King: The Summit” by Dawn Chapman and Steven Kogan.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SciFanTM-Magazine-Feb…/…/B01MUD7CE

Jan 27 2017

AudioBook Review – The Game

I am sure I was pointed to this one, probably by Steve Caldwell. I just can’t remember.. lol anyway, it was an enjoyable book.

Review as follows –

“Very interesting”

I can’t quite remember who or what made me pick this up. But I’m glad that I did.

From an audio point of view this was an entertaining listen, there were some really cool ideas that melded in with our own world. The natural world that the species live on, we don’t actually know if they’re human or not, we just presume that they are is called Tygon. Their whole civilisation is built around ‘the game’ and they now live their lives entertained, and enjoying the whole process. Each person can follow a specific avatar and then those avatars make more money depending on followers.

I think the story line just resonates with so many religious aspects that it kinda makes you look around and go… ‘oh, what if I ‘m actually in a game’ haha

But of course, we’re not. They are though and their journey really is full of ups and downs.

The two MC’s Danielle and True inside the game are interesting and their lives really do just seem to entwine without the ‘luck of spending credits’ and we really connect with them and their lives, from the first time they meet at 8 till much later in life.

The interconnecting narrative from the outside world is also really great. The whole complex process of the game is understood some more as the story develops, but there are some good unanswered questions, maybe because it’s a series, that they’re answered in later books. I’m interested to find out the ins and outs of why the game was really considered for development and use, and other than that, what it really does to prepare people for life on the outside?

Nice job and I’ve found someone else to follow. I will have to come back for book 2 and 3 though, I’ve some more to listen to first. but I’ll defo pick them up. 🙂

Jan 26 2017

AudioBook Review – Roak

AudioBook Boom was exciting this week, as there were 3 SciFi which I was alotted 🙂

If anyone wishes to sign up, in exchange for some honest reviews this is the best way ever to discover new talent both in authors and narrators.

https://audiobookboom.com/

So, the last couple of days I’ve been listening to Roak.

Here’s my review.

— — — — — —

“Dark, moody and brilliant.”

I have to admit I was a little nervous coming into this one right from the start. It promised a lot of action and tension!

There were some great descriptions of the setting and of Roak. His character was blatant. Pay me or you’ll suffer. But, when he was the one left suffering I was unsure as to what he was physically capable of.

Roak, is one of those characters you love to hate. He lives by simple rules and he does everything he can to keep on, keeping on. It takes a while to realise that he’s not actually a bad man, he’s just set in his ways, and does his job. Along his journey to get ‘paid’ Roak comes across some really cool characters. Some that you’ll feel so sorry for and others you’ll love to get their comeuppance.

Andrew, has just the right tone for this novel, deep, gritty and he totally has the right voices to pull off the different aliens along the way too. In his performance there was such humour, and I really enjoyed both the writing and acting. Great job.

I think my only quibble was I just wanted more, haha so I went to look for more work by Jake, 🙂 and I do hope that Andrew gets to narrate some more.

I was given this book by the author/narrator without obligation for review via audiobook boom.

Jan 20 2017

Joanna’s Journey – Review

After reading ‘The Secret Will Out’ by Karen J Mossman in print. I looked up and found she had several other books out, and this was the latest release.

Here’s my review of this lovely heartfelt book –

Amazon review –
There are a couple of things I really enjoyed with Karen’s writing, from the detail of the worlds she’s created, (and the facts that around that, the story was built into a local city that I visited quite often) to the depth of the characters. Each novel, has had it’s own unique and outstandingly natural storyline. They’re almost so believable that you’d mistake her for your flawed best friend, who can be both amazing and yet stupid and frustrating all at the same time. I found her just so relatable, that of course I wanted the best for her in her love life, falling for two guys has to be the hardest thing to go through, not knowing if you’ll ever make the right decision or not.

A heartfelt journey that will make you laugh, cringe and cry with all it’s intricate character traits and plot turns. Karen is an excellent writer to follow. I’m so glad she’s almost a local lass 🙂

Blurb –

Escaping a broken romance, Joanna runs headlong into another, and then another.

Managing two long distance relationships at the same time is complicated and made even more so when her best friend is a good looking guy who knows her better than most.

Set in the 1980s, Joanna and her sister, Sandie are two very beautiful women. After a cruel upbringing, both girls have their scars, but deal with things differently and as with most sisters, they clash.

When the unthinkable happens and Joanna’s world implodes, she finds herself alone to face what she can’t and won’t accept.

It is times like these you find out who your friends are and who you can trust, or more importantly, who you can’t.

Karen’s Bio

Karen J Mossman married the boy next door in 1980 and they had two children, both born on the same day, two years apart. She and her husband live on the Isle of Anglesey, a small island off the North Wales coast. Joanna’s Journey was her first published novel.