Narrated by: Jennifer O’Donnell
Run Time: 11 hrs and 19 mins
Summary:
Jack and Jill get mysterious calls from Clare (their mother, trainer, task master, etc). When they rush over to her off-the-grid house, it explodes. The trail weaves in and out as a oddball cat and mouse game where they’re not sure who to trust and what to believe.
Additional Comments:
- Characters 3.5/5: The characters are realistic in some senses and not in others. They’re also mostly annoying. The feuding and one-upmanship thing between Jack and Jill gets old. That makes it hard to like them. Holden’s okay. Clare’s complicated. Bad guy is suitably bad guy-y. I even liked Frank. Robert was just annoying too. Poor guy. Was kinda rooting for somebody to off him.
- Plot 4/5: Fun but it occasionally gets bogged down in history. It’s simple really. If you get rid of the flashbacks, I’m not sure this book would top 150 pages.
- Action 4.5/5: The fight scenes are well-described and thrilling.
- Closure 4/5: The way Clare chooses to end things with the bad guy is kinda awesome and makes her a heck of a lot more likable in my book. It’s definitely open for more. So, I guess if you want the whole family saga you’d have to read book 2 as well.
- Performance 4/5: Jennifer O’Donnell does a solid job with a performance. I played it faster than normal, so I’m not sure if all the male voices sounded fully distinct, but they were distinct enough.
- Unlike the Munroe series, the main characters don’t do much traveling in the present. In the past, sure, but not the present, so the reader misses out a bit on the authentic feel of unique culture immerse-ment that the Informationist had in spades. It’s been a while since I read a Taylor Steven’s book. Mostly, I listen to her podcast with Steve Campbell. She’d got a lot of great insights into the traditional publishing world.
- There are a LOT of flashbacks. Some are necessary, some probably not. It slowed things down quite a bit.
- Content Warnings: Pervasive swearing. Adult situations implied without being really described. Lots of violence.
- Cover is okay. A tad cheesy but fits the genre.
- Favorite part: Clare’s solution.
Conclusion:
A meandering, history filled, yet still satisfying action-packed thriller.
Audiobook Promotions …
Many of my 50 audible titles are listed on Audiobooks Unleashed.
Whether you’re looking for mystery or suspense or fantasy, I’ve got a title for you. Free codes are probably on audiobooks unleashed.
Normal links go to audible. *The Amazon labeled links are affiliate links. That means I get a very small payment from Amazon if you go through with a purchase.*
Note: Filter by US if you’re looking for those codes as many titles are out.
Ones I think may still have US codes: Reshner’s Royal Ranger, Never Again, Innova, The Golden City Captives, The Holy War, Reclaim the Darklands, Eagle Eyes, Treachery Makes it Tense, Ashlynn’s Dreams Shorts, The Dark Side of Science, Ashlynn’s Dreams, Nadia’s Tears, Malia’s Miracles, and Varick’s Quest
There are plenty of UK codes, but not many US ones left.
Redeemer Chronicles (Fantasy)
Awakening – Redeemer Chronicles Book 1, MG fantasy (Amazon) (free codes)
The Holy War – Redeemer Chronicles Book 2, MG fantasy (Amazon) (free codes)
Reclaim the Darklands – Redeemer Chronicles Book 3, MG fantasy (Amazon) (free codes)
River’s Edge Ransom – Prequel to Redeemer Chronicles (Amazon) (email devyaschildren @ gmail.com for free codes)
Devya’s Children Series Links:
Ashlynn’s Dreams Shorts – short stories featuring Jillian. (Amazon) (free codes)
The Dark Side of Science – official prequel to Devya’s Children; Genetically altered kids fight for the right to live. (Amazon) (Please email devyaschildren @ gmail.com for free codes)
Ashlynn’s Dreams – Genetically altered Dream Shaper learns her gift. (Amazon) (free codes)
Nadia’s Tears – Jillian tries to awaken her sister, Nadia, from a coma. (Amazon) (free codes)
Malia’s Miracles – Jillian and her siblings try to save a friend’s mother. (Amazon) (free codes)
Varick’s Quest – Jillian and Danielle get kidnapped. Nadia’s also in trouble. (Amazon) (free codes)
More Scifi:
Reshner’s Royal Ranger (epic sci-fi) just made it there. (Amazon) (free codes)
Guardian Angel Files:
Spirit’s Bane – Allister and Mina are training to be Guardians. Satan’s out to get them. (Amazon) (free codes)
Kindred Spirits – Mina’s exiled to Earth. Allister’s stuck in the Heavens. (Amazon) (free codes)
