Category sci fi

May 19 2016

AudioBook Review – Flaming Skies, Atomic Sea Pt 5

 

I was so happy to be back listening to this series! As I love it!

—————-

“Gimme More! “

It was really nice to be back inside this world. I really enjoyed this because it brought to a head a lot of things.

There were some really defining character moments. From Fredrick, to Sheridon…. The gang have been through so much, getting on an air ship even if it is a pleasure house, and then chasing after the over city. What a horrific world they inherit. Jack still amazes me with the horrific creatures in this. And this other place, and other ‘heart’ like creature that seems to be eating other weird creature, eeghhh had me shivering.

The best part to this of course is the ending. It’s just so action packed, that I struggled to actually listen to it when in work because I have to keep putting it down and wanted to listen all in one go. The fact Sheridon hadn’t poisoned Annie was so touching, I kinda felt so sorry for her, with all the stuff that had happened I actually think she really did love Francis. And now she’s gone. Layanne losing Fredrick was also pretty hard, just after losing his father too.

I think Fredrick made the biggest arc in this part because he didn’t want to help them and then he really did and he really meant it, where we thought he never would that he hated his mother, and what she did. But he can’t have.

For Janx of course killing Oothua and his friend, Muir Blog, hard. Finding Hildebrand, excellent, and of course the reuniting of Francis and Annie. They’re all real deep moments, these characters are so real, so fully dimensional this is one of the biggest, epic series I’ve listened to, I wonder what Jack is going to do next 🙂

The narration from Ray is amazing, these characters are just so alive because of him. Just loved it, and really didn’t want it to end. sigh. Fab job by both. More please is all I can say!

May 16 2016

AudioBook Review – Quarter Share

Great Sci Fi – written by Nathan Lowell narrated by the fab Jeffrey Kafer –

The best thing about audio books is that I can listen to so many! I’ve had the fab pleasure of listening to a very different story this last couple of days. 🙂 and I really enjoyed it. It’s a new series and I defo want more –

If you’re like to check it out, here’s the link – http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Sci-Fi-Fantasy/Quarter-Share-Audiobook/B01ETN1KCA/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1463419678&sr=1-1#publisher-summary

Review is as follows – (spoilers) ————–

“Different, but amazing. “

When I like someone, I kinda follow them, so when I saw that Jeffrey Kafer posted about a new sci fi. I was like, Oh, yes please!

I did learn that it wasn’t the usual kinda sci fi I read or have started to listen to, but that didn’t mean I did not enjoy this.

The author Nathan Lowell has really done something different here. This is a very character driven book with people you can soon fall in love with. The main character Ish, has just lost his mum in a tragic accident, and with no parents and no job he’s about to be forced off planet, so he takes the first thing offered to him because he’s no choice.

The kid finds himself on the Lowis, (sp) and embarks on a very different way of looking at things, something no one on the ship has seen before.

Ish soon makes friends with the people in his department, Cookie and Pip. Even though he shows Pip up, he finds time to actually help the other youngster, and they become not only friends but partners in crime too, getting up to all kinds of trading adventures.

Pip, however, isn’t having much fun, after losing everything he had in a trade gone wrong, it’s the captain and Ish that help him here, and they begin to form a co-op with the ships best interests at heart.

The narration from Jeffrey is great, he’s perfect in first person POV and the inner mind of a youngster finding his feet, not only with the fleet, but amongst other people is interesting and very well done. Jeffrey delivers a lot of emotion with hardly any effort and all the characters come alive. I was especially fond of Bev and Dianne. 🙂 even Francis and Cookie. 🙂

I do think that there should have been a little more conflict for Ish on the ship. Although he’s never been off planet before, the people he meets, all seem a little too nice. Maybe that’s because Ish himself is just so nice, he never seems to fire up over much, doesn’t really grieve for his mum, and I think I’d really like that, even if it wasn’t in the first section of the book, but defo towards the end. The closest we get to that is when he remembers packing up on the planet, and moving to his new quarters, (but I’m not sure if that was actually in the second piece, as there was a few chapters in there for free.)

I am really interested in seeing what the gang does now though with their trading empire. I wonder what can go wrong, and what other relationships are going to form. It seemed Ish was starting to become attracted to some of his female friends on a different level, he kinda doesn’t mention that from the planet. about his other friends, or any potential girlfriends.

Thanks for an awesome new series to follow, and I look forward to more! 🙂

 

 

May 8 2016

AudioBook Review – Into the Void

I don’t know what I’m gonna do now, not being able to listen to the next in the Pax Humana series! sigh. But I’ve really enjoyed these 3 audiobooks, so well worth it… Please check them out starting with –

http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Sci-Fi-Fantasy/The-Terran-Gambit-Audiobook/B00RW0TXFO/ref=a_search_c4_1_3_srTtl?qid=1462694859&sr=1-3

My review is as follows –

“Fab 3rd book”

So I have to admit, I was kinda disappointed in the length of this, but only because there were plot lines not tied in. I am guessing with a huge world like this it’s always going to be the case, where we’re all waiting on the next one. Now I totally know what being a fan is like, haha thanks guys. I’m defo hooked and can’t wait for the next.

Story and some spoilers!

The audio, kicks off after their escape from Admiral Trajan, and lands them out of one fire into another. At least this one goes down well and it seems they backed the right side too. Always a bonus.

Greg does a wonderful job here of playing the Oberon, their accents are just awesome and it greatly enhances the sheer vastness of this series and the scope that Nick Webb has at his writing disposal.

What I really do love about a series like this is seeing the characters change and grow, and there were some fabulous moments in here. Not in any order as that is how I remember them.

The biggest moments for me in here, were – knowing something was going to happen at the opera house. Seeing those bikes, feeling Jake’s gut instinct. And of course it had to be Po this time, can’t leave her out of all the trouble and mess can ya. So my hero gal’s been kidnapped and it’s like all hell breaks loose as heading back to the ship the 51st brigade have taken over the ship! omg… what a nightmare.

Captain Brand is also really in the thick of it against the Vikeron, thank goodness he had Al on the ship to work out how to break down their defences! good on him, what a genius!

Jake, Ben, and Anya do a great job in working together with Captain Brand, and his merry band of fighters. Alongside the internal workings from Lt, Aialla (sp) they manage to get on board and meet up and talk their way into the bridge.

I am so so glad that Senator Galba was found out, and totally can see why Jake needs him alive for the next few books. 🙂

Another moment that got me was at the end. Ben going nuts was always going to happen and I am very glad that at least it wasn’t aimed at Jake totally even if his thoughts had him dead and twisted into pieces.

I did feel so sorry for the 51st brigade on the bridge, what a way to go out… but yeah it was coming.

Ben’s admittance to Jake over the PekoBots, almost had me in tears. What he went through so horrific, I’ve been screaming at him to tell the Doc and Genius Al so that they can re-program the darned things!

All in all, a very excellent job…. just hurry with the next few guys, I’m waiting with abaited breath! 🙂 heheh

I have to know if they can rescue Po and Admiral Pritchard! and how they can fight the good fight and free Earth!

May 8 2016

TSK- and Catching up!

You can still sign up for FREE for our website… http://www.thesecretking.com it won’t be free for ever, so if you want in… (we also now have a forum) you gotta be quick!

Personally though it’s been one heck of a month through April and the start of May hasn’t begun with the best of intentions for me.

I had some pretty nasty computer issues when my Mac’s trackpad just decided to go off on one and like a demon started moving things around and freaking out, clicking on anything it wanted. It took me 3 weeks to sort out the computer, go buy a Mac Desktop and get things back to a semi even keel. There was no way of me doing anything the last few weeks of April, with campnano – It just put me so far behind in my daily tasks that I’ve struggled like a crazy woman to even catch anything up what so ever, and yeah I’m still behind. I seem to get somewhere near back to normal and then something else just throws itself in the mix.

The joy of life and it revolving around writing and computers….

I can say the work side of computers has settled down and that is making things much less stressful there, thank goodness. I don’t think I could have coped at all with all of them going wrong at the same time. I would have just had a breakdown! and not a mental one, I’m talking about just throwing them out the window! lol

Seriously though, things are moving along in many different and good ways. We’re headed to retail with our first Audiobook TSK-Lethao, with the 28th May as our personal Launch date (fingers crossed everything is all good to go for then) we’re having an online party and if anyone wished to come, keep an eye on our facebook fan page –

https://www.facebook.com/TheSecretKing/

And by that time, I’m away for two weeks rest and recoup! going down to Devon again this year, and I can’t wait. My co writer has been working on a novel for TSK from our scripted 13 EP TV series – SPOILERS….. no I can’t it really is a secret, but I get to read the first draft and I’m so so excited to see what he’s written.

So as you guys can see there is much is on going, so much is coming together, I know it will be worth it, I’m hanging in there for it! And I know you are too!

Thanks for sticking with and me, you guys are awesome 🙂

 

~ Dawn

May 4 2016

AudioBook Review – Chains of Destiny

 

Chains of Destiny – Episode 2 – The Pax Humana Saga written by Nick Webb and narrated by Greg Tremblay.

This AudioBook had a little break in-between because of the UK bank holiday and I have to admit it killed me to leave it alone for the 3 days, but it’s the way it goes.

I was very glad to get back to it, and 100% loved this one. It’s by far one of the most interesting and character driven books I’ve had the pleasure of listening to. Because of this I actually will put it on my ‘listen to again’ list…. although I really enjoyed the other series of Nick’s this one has exceeded that.. and I think I’m going to have to really think about which one I like the most, or which characters, haha.

Anyway, you can of course find the AudioBook here – UK of course…

http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Sci-Fi-Fantasy/Chains-of-Destiny-Audiobook/B00UXIP2MK

and my review will be posted soon. (depends on if Audible are being nice to me) haha

 

 

“I loved it! 100% “

Okay, thoughts as follows.

After the first Audio, I still admit I wasn’t totally sold on this series. But, this second Ep, totally blew me away. (I listened to the first 6 hours last week, and because of the break at work. UK may bank holiday I had some time away from it) and I was very eager to finish off as soon as I was back behind the wheel.

I was totally blown away by the depth of character to this episode. The MC’s Megan Po, Ben Hemez, (sp) and Jake Mercer were almost alive in my head!… I felt everything they were going through, and the story just kept on and on surprising me and making my head hurt all at the same time. Great job to both writer and narrator here 🙂

Some of the best moments for me – SPOILERS

Jake – We all know he’s making the biggest ‘daft decision’ of this book in going down to the planets surface with the pirates. The little altercation with the November family is very interesting though… a hint for book 3 there and that of course, Pritchard is alive. Hope on a different level.

But even though Jake has now been captured along side Alexandro and Ben, (plus two guards) he still never gives up in thinking and plotting to escape. This kinda of punishment and place would break so many and I do kinda wish that there were a few more destitute thoughts from him, but still with Ben elsewhere they have a plan, and a good plan. Not many of the decisions down in the mines are Jakes, some are just circumstantial and to me for this episode he does play a more downsized role.

LOVED LOVED LOVED – Megan leading the fight against Admiral Trajan. What a woman! what an absolute star and fighter she is. They all kinda question what Jake did for them in the previous book, but here she is and she’s doing death defying moves under the ocean to prolong their time to prepare to kick the Admirals’ behind.

I really enjoyed her story, as a character she’s such compassion, and yet such depth to her decisions. Maybe just as much reckless as Jake, but fab job and good on her!

The scenes with Ben, were just awful. I cringed, I hated it, but it was brilliant writing and just as brilliant in the narration department. Greg really delved in deep I think to become this crazy psychopathic doctor, as he scared me so much, I kinda wanted to skip those parts, but couldn’t because I wanted to know what would happen to Ben. I felt everything that they did in that room, and ugggh so so glad that Six eventually helped him to get out.

So on the whole this Ep really came alive for me. I am being honest though as I did have a couple of moments where I was jarred out of the story by a couple of repetitive words and phrasings. I do think that comes part and parcel of listening to something as opposed to reading it, reading it takes much longer, so anything that can be perceived as a crutch word/phrase is easier spotted and makes me want to avoid them myself. It’s just an observation, that’s all.

This book written by Nick and read by Greg is one of my fav so far, it has all the elements of an epic space opera and characters that you just can’t help but feel for and love.

PS I already started on the next… 🙂 Thank you both for an amazing ride.