Audiobook Review
By: Amanda Carlson
Narrated by: Casey Holloway
Published by: Hachette Audio 09/2012
11 hrs and 28 mins
Sample
Born the only female in an all male race, Jessica McClain isn’t just different—she’s feared.
After living under the radar for the last twenty-six years, Jessica is thrust unexpectedly into her first change, a full ten years late. She wakes up and finds she’s in the middle of a storm. Now that she’s become the only female full-blooded werewolf in town, the supernatural world is already clamoring to take a bite out of her and her new Pack must rise up and protect her.
But not everyone is on board. The werewolf Rights of Laws is missing text and the superstitious werewolves think that Jessica means an end to their race. It doesn’t help when Jessica begins to realize she’s more. She can change partway and hold her form, and speak directly to her wolf. But the biggest complication by far is that her alpha father can't control her like he can the rest of his wolves.
When a mercenary who’s been hired by the vampires shows up to extract information about the newly turned werewolf only days after her change, they find themselves smack in the middle of a war and there's no choice but to run together. When it’s up to Jessica to negotiate her release against her father’s direct orders, she chooses to take an offer for help instead. In exchange, Jessica must now swear an oath she may end up repaying with her life.
My Thoughts
Jessica MacClain has claimed a pretty secure spot among
my favorite kick ass heroines, all thanks to the fantastic work, originality
and imagination of Amanda Carlson - a new-to-me author, but one that I’m
thrilled to have discovered.
In the middle of a stormy night, Jessica MacClain is
going through what nobody thought possible..... At the age of 26, she’s
becoming a werewolf.
Besides the self discovery she has to undergo, she also
has to deal with a world of danger coming straight and completely directed at
her, being the only female werewolf in existence won't make her life easy......
Oh no, not at all, Ms. Carlson is making sure of that.
As the daughter of the pack's alpha, she has navigated the two
worlds (human and supernatural), but she has always felt as an outsider when it came to the wolves, and
this new event won’t be making their acceptance as easy as you might think, an
old prophecy and superstition will stand in her way.
Jessica’s fight for survival and acclamation to her new
existence reveals a terrific character, one that possesses all the
qualities and personality that make a heroine worthy of a
place next to Kate Daniels, Sookie,
Elena and Mercy, just to mention
a few of my favorites, and it should give you an idea of the caliber of heroine that I'm talking about here.
Yes, the author has also created swoon and delicious alpha characters that flavor
the adventure with enough sexiness, and the hint of romance it's sure to
have you asking for more and highly anticipating the next novel.
The introduction to the world and to secondary
characters are perfectly paced and
skillfully executed, and before you know it, you’re placed in the middle
of this dangerous, political, suspenseful and totally original world, all while
the entire time, you can’t help but to admire and root for the triumph of this
courageous heroine and her newly born wolf ( I loved them both)
The author has planted the seeds for what I see growing into
a phenomenal UF series.
So, to any UF fan, I highly recommend Amanda Carlson’s
full novel debut, I guarantee, you won’t be disappointed, and since misery
loves company, I want you to get as crazy as I’m to get your hands or ears on
the next novel.
Great reviews from my peeps
The Author
Amanda Carlson
Narration
Unlike other listeners, I didn’t have any problems with
the sound of Casey Holloway’s voice, in fact, I found it pleasant and fitting
for Jessica, I didn’t think she sounded too young, but my disappointment comes from her reading,
I never felt transported by her
interpretation, I felt the pauses and
reading tone were wrong, her reading
lacked emotion, and somehow it felt choppy, as consequence
I kept being dragged back to reality,
reminding of how much I wish it was some else reading the novel and
resenting the fact that this story deserved better.
It’s not that
it’s horrible; I just didn’t feel that narrator enhanced the story in any way.
Finally, after the fourth chapter, I decided just
to listen without expecting much from the performance, and after settling for
2X speed, I began to enjoy the story, that despite the average narration comes
on top as a winner, I just can’t in all honesty give it 5 star as an audio experience.
By all means, I don’t want anyone to run away from the
opportunity to experience this terrific and original world; I recommend taking a closer listen to the
sample, and then decide if you should
read or listen, who knows, it could be that I’m becoming more critical, and
expect perfection every time.
My rating for her performance: 3 stars.
I'm thrilled to hear that you loved this one (almost) as much as I did! Thanks for the link to my review. You rock! :)
ReplyDeleteOh yea Carmel, I loved the book! And maybe If I'd have read it instead of listened, I might had loved it as much as you did.
DeleteLet's just say the story was 5 stars, but the narration was only 3
Since I have said this every review I have commented on I can't not say it again, I WANT more James time.lol But I know we probably won't get it.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you liked this book though. I can't wait for the next book.
Hahaha! I loved James too, he's yummy! But if we are going to go on teams for this one, I have to go with Rorke ;)
DeleteI can't wait to see where Ms. Carlson will takes us!
Another interesting audiobook story which is voiced by a promising young professional. Fictional stories like this are getting more popular due to their mix of action and romance that most teenagers love.
ReplyDelete- BookClubShop.com