Category sci fi

Apr 28 2016

AudioBook Review – The Terran Gambit

I had been scouring around for something else to tickle my fancy and I went for another nosey over at Nick Webb and Greg Tremblay (cant help it if I like already proven writers and narrators haha… 🙂 so I took another look at this series. Below are my thoughts as per usual. Took me a while to get into this one, but started to enjoy it a lot.
You can pick up the Audio from here –
http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Sci-Fi-Fantasy/The-Terran-Gambit-Audiobook/B00RW0TXFO
: )

“Great SF!”

I first listened to a sample of this series, (before buying the other one) and wasn’t 100% sold on the beginning I have to admit. It started off a little slow for me, and I didn’t think I liked Jake at all. (and it’s my fav character name ever)

But I do love Nick’s other series, and thought it deserved a chance. So, I dived in. After getting over the beginning and the backstory behind the Pax Humana and the world he’d created, I did start to like the story and Jake, even though he’s a bit of an idiot.

Nick weaves a pretty solid world here, but it does take some focus to understand all the different worlds, and how they’ve come to be where they are, with the resistance. Perhaps it was the depth of the world that just didn’t quite flow as well for me as the previous audiobook’s I’ve delved into, or it could just be, that this was his first, and he was finding his feet a bit more 🙂 either way, it’s still a very enjoyable story and one that I will listen to again and pass on the ‘amazon kindle’ versions to my mum, I know she’ll love them, haha.

There were a great number of characters in here, and Greg always delivers a fab performance, his voices and acting is a pleasure to listen to and suits this genre very well. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Military SO and Sci Fi.

Some of the more distinct ones, have to be Po and Ben, considering what they all go through, they form a great team and as characters they really do grow, I can’t help but feel for them, in their situation and in their pain. It’s a really harsh world they’re in. And lots of people die, for all the wrong and right reasons. Some really hard decisions for Jake, and though they’re the better ones, it’s a tough call to do it still, he’s got some huge kahonas doing it.

So, on to the next, I’ve already gotten about an hour into it, 🙂 and I also bought the third. thanks both to Nick and Greg for the entertainment, it makes my life so much more interesting.

Apr 20 2016

AudioBook Review – Broken Skies Book 1

Getting through my Audio list, haha but it’s tough, so so many good books to choose from. And the last couple of days I’ve had the pleasure of listening to Broken Skies by Therresa Kay and narrated by Andrea Emmes. I’m a fan already of Andrea and this was a must listen to in my book because of the premise, I just adored it.

So review as follows, and I admit, this is the first one in a series I’m totally disappointed that there’s not a second narration for me to buy. boo hooo….

🙂 you can pick up the book here – http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Young-Adults/Broken-Skies-Audiobook/B00LSYXFZY

and my review is –

—————–

“Very cool!”

There were several things I really loved about this story, and a few I wasn’t so keen on.

I did receive a code from the narrator for one of her books in return for an honest opinion, but I can’t remember if it was this one or the last one I listened to, so I’m saying this one, and either way all reviews off me are honest wether they be gifted or not.

Jaz-Jasmine was a good character for the most part, but her panic attacks and personal weakness grated on me quite a bit. I have to admit I loved the story line and most of what she’s been through, but there were moments when I really think especially towards the end of the book that she would just get a grip and start to process things and move forwards as her own person. She was almost there when she first faced her brother, but she almost insisted with real conviction that things were the same, and they really weren’t. I had hoped she really knew and understood that before that moment.

The whole Lir storyline was very interesting and well written. (I do wish that Jax was a little more grown up with it, but she’s a young, and love struck teen who knows nothing about the aliens or their love/bonding rituals, so I can kinda forgive the writer for some of these things.

For the most part this story kept me on edge and I wanted to know what happened. I can’t believe the Author hasn’t had the narrator back to do the second book, I’m just gutted, so much so I had to buy the book, and I don’t often do that. I don’t have the time to read a real book. So I do hope that the author will have this on the cards next.

The narrator brings such an abundance of life, joy, love and heartache to Jax, that you just can’t stop listening even though sometimes, or most of the time she’s a pain in the butt and really can’t see the wood for the tress, silly girl.

So yeah, I was left with a book/narrator hangover. and I’m not used to that. You both make the best combination. And I do hope you’ll work together again.

~ Dawn

 

Apr 18 2016

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#free #scifi #RT – For a short time only – no payment required for our members only section. http://www.thesecretking.com

You’ll get access to the Lacria searchable dictionary and other goodies! just come and be nosey, if you like something leave a message! we love to hear from you.

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Apr 17 2016

Time is zipping on!

 

So this last few weeks have really been a whirlwind of things. I’ve been so busy with listening to Audio for TSK, and in catching up with things for the team on scrib, I’ve barely had time to think about anything other than get up, work, sleep…

This weeks not going to get any better, we’ve a couple of people down in work and that makes for much harder for us to get in, and booked in like the usual. I love my job, but sometimes I really wish I could go part time. That is my main goal, to write like this as the day job in the end, so all the things I am striving and working so hard for are working towards that goal. For me, and for everyone on the team.

As a company we made some decisions last weekend. Which we’re putting into fruition over the next few weeks. These are good things 🙂

AudioBook for TSK’s Lethao is almost ready! squee. I’m very excited about this.

AudioBook shorts from Holly are also nearly there, with a few tweaks to our cover design, they’re now so fab it’s unreal!

http://www.thesecretking.com/membership

Our membership only section is FREE so register and get in NOW, there you’ll all have access to the Lacria dictionary and Time App, with all other goodies as we post them.

TSK’s first short – The Truth Hurts is also in there as a  free read 🙂 so get in and check it out, we’re starting our promo campaign for this in the next few days. And so far so good, response on that is amazing!

TSK’s second book is on target and set for release in Sept.

The shorts anthology also will be set for release as soon as we’ve proofed it over 🙂 Excited for this the art work by Andrew is just amazing!

Ugggh – on a personal level, I think I really just make everything so much harder for myself, and I don’t know why I do it.. haha. Started out with a sore ankle, and now I’ve a very sore leg and knee, Hubby says I should go the docs, but I never have time! so naughty…. I actually think I’m getting out my van wrong in work or something I’m doing during the day is making it bad. shrugs…

So, I’ve yet again addressed a few things, and hopefully, I can sort those out. I am running out of time for myself, and taking a day off is now going to be part of my routine. I’ve got to do it. I need some me time. And my me time, should be getting out the house to do something I enjoy…. mmm I need to think on that one a little more.

Onwards and upwards everyone, never give up on your dreams, with determination anything is possible.

hugs,

Dawn

 

 

Apr 2 2016

Listening to your own work as an audiobook!

 

Well it kinda says it all really. The last few weeks and well the whole of this year so far almost seem a blur, from one thing to another, ups and downs as with life always…

Yet today I had plans, I woke early and couldn’t focus, back on the good ole plan (lipotrim) to get me in the healthy zone in the docs. I did so fab last year, but I’m still at the top end of the weight I want to be, and what is healthy for me, so almost 2 weeks in and feeling the pain of it all haha, the second time is so much harder. But the benefits are worth it, I know they are.

So yeah, no focus and you know when you really need it and it’s just not there yeah. So, ibuprofen, some paracetamol and lots of coffee and I just about started to come around.

I have always so much to do, that never ends, write up crits for the team on Scribophile, (which I’m near done on) and continue with a script I’m working on, I did sign up for camp nano and my cabin is awesome, yesterday I hit the ground running with a few wordwars after work to write 3.5k on my futuristic SO with my fav female character, Sarah Mendoza. I have to warn everyone this is a little out of my comfort zone, space battles and hardship I can handle, but she’s leaning towards a slightly erotic tone of content, haha, I love her but boy she’s opening my eyes.

But, I had an email late last night… A good one, squeeee and cue all excited jumps etc. I had the go ahead to go over the first section of audio for both TSK’s book 1 – Lethao narrated by Greg Tremblay and for our Shorts, The Truth Hurts narrated by Holly Adams.

I’ve only just got into listening to AudioBooks, so the experience of living inside the world someone else created for a few hours is just settling into my mind.

It’s a whole different ball game when someone else is narrating your world, your characters and their story.

It’s not like I write it and forget the story, no, but it’s like experiencing it all for the very first time.

I still haven’t done as much as I’d like, a house to clean and stuff to do here, but I listened to Holly’s work twice (loved it) and then moved onto the first book which I’m now up to chapter 4 on. This might take me all weekend. Haha, but I’m loving it. Kinda here thinking, I didn’t write this did I? but yes, I did. I’m very proud of the team where we’ve come from and where I hope we’ll go.

Thanks for being there with me @TeamSecretKing you brought to life what was only in my head. Now it’s free for everyone else to enjoy or hate, hehehe

Hugs –

 

Dawn