Richard B

Scud, it made me cry!

Reviewed: 10-30-24

You really get sucked into the characters. What happens to them, you feel. Psytonic - could explain it. I’m not going to tell what made me cry - just know it happened scudding more than once!

Loved this series. If you enjoy full emersion stories, this series is for you!

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Totally sucked into the story - for hours!

Reviewed: 01-24-23

I loved trying to work out which of the big organizations was the good and which the bad, with the main characters sandwiched between them. The science was easy to follow and not overdone but quite extensive.

I thought the main characters really worked. They certainly hooked me into the story fast and it was interesting to see how they squared away the tech changed morality of the situation by the end.

Even though this is hard sci-fi it’s also accessible to anyone that’s not a scientist and is a must read for any reader who likes to work out what might happen next. Be warned, most times you’ll be wrong!

You’ll also enjoy this if you like tech, stories of loyal friendships, and time travel - this is quite different than I’ve read before, so well worth a read/listen.

The last chapter about what was and was not real tech in Douglas E. Richard’s stories is real value added.

I giving a 5 star means I’m pretty sure I’ll be listening to this story again. Enjoy!

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A thrill ride from the beginning

Reviewed: 01-20-23

This near future thriller was easily devoured. Just the right amount of tech without over labouring the explanations about it. That’s a thing in the more realistic hard sci-fi stories that can mean you have to jump pages - but not here! It might be hard sci-fi but the characters are totally relatable.

I’m off to find another story by Douglas E. Richards. And I’m definitely going to check out his website’s newsletter too. I loved the last chapter about what was and was not real tech in this story. A very entertaining and interesting story that is for anyone that likes tech, loves working out what happens next, and enjoys a little romance thrown in for good measure.

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It works!

Reviewed: 01-09-23

The downside, (not that there really is one because it works,) you may give up listening because it’s repetitive. It needs to be. You’re a skeptic like me, push through. You won’t regret it!

I loved the later chapters on procrastination, worry, and anxiety.

I’ve always had a lot of head talk & fiction audiobooks has really helped with that. But understanding the differences between procrastination, worry, and anxiety, with suggested actions to take to control of them, is a game changer.

Oh and btw, I’ve listened to this already over three times. Remembering, taking notes of the actions is no longer enough for me. I want these actions in muscle memory.

Negative head talk is down and I’m on course to banish it. And now I’m inserting some self-praise, for a change!

Thx Mel

Warning: This book WILL change your life.

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Fantastic, amusing, impossible to put down!

Reviewed: 03-15-21

This is going in my reread list.
Need I say more?
I’m not a fan of female heroines that are beautiful—the cleverest—tall—physically idilic. However, I’ll make an exception for Ell. She’s not good at everything and incredibly down to earth—ordinary in a nerdy, but individual way. That’s what makes this different from those stereotypical stories.
I’m already wondering how I can up my two credits a month for this series. What a find. I thought I loved Vaz and Tiona—holy smokes!
I read this novel in under a day, out on a Sunday drive—it’s the beginning of the month and there’s only. Another ten novels in this series. How will I get through them when I have work this week?
Hey, who needs to sleep?
You have to try this book!
Helena

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1 person found this helpful

YA forbidden love at its best! And - in space - yes!!

Reviewed: 03-12-21

What a great job Bradley Horner made of his intense teenage main character, Axel. Darkside Earther is the fascinatical story of the overcrowding of Earth and an interesting solution to that. Set on the ring around the planet with access from the surface by space elevators the ring serves as the jump off point to space.
I loved the imaginative VR gaming and how Axel used it to compensate for his perceived downfalls. The world building was crazy but understandable. In fact, that was one of the bonuses. The tech and sci-fi was neither spoon fed nor shrouded in so much mystic that it interrupted the story flow. All in all, this story just became more and more addictive as Axel’s love for Helen became more and more forbidden.

At first I didn’t realize this was YA and I considered the voice to be young. I rechecked the blurb, and found the voice felt totally appreciate. There is a bit of a learning curve, but then I was in!

If you like first person coming of age stories combined with cool sci-fi and VR gaming this is for you.

Performance received a four because it was a lot of echo, but other than that it was read with appropriate feeling and story telling.

The story received a four because I only give a five for those stories I put in my reread pile. BUT... the story’s not over yet! I can’t wait for the next instalment.

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There I was, experiencing SPACE.

Reviewed: 01-02-21

Immediately, I was in. I was Kira. Every step of the way I wondered how can this become more intense later? How can it build more?
It did.
This was sci-fi at its best. Distant future, imaginative aliens, fantastic tech, and impossible odds. No time travel.
The pseudo family formed around Kira was my favourite interactions and I hated it when they were separated. I loved it when they were reunited. This...and this alone, made it possible to get through the massive and crushing odds of their situations. Perfect! Not horror - but dangerous and space IS dangerous.
I wait with baited breath for the next immersive space fantasy epic from Christopher Pasolini. The reading by Jennifer Hale was superb!

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1 person found this helpful

Keeps you guessing

Reviewed: 12-28-20

You’re in Jinks’ (Susan), the teenage heroine’s head throughout this fast paced adventure. Her tech savvy and survival capabilities help make this a tense thrill especially as the story moves forward.
For me the only downside was sticking with the performance. I found speeding it up really helped as the adventure speeds up the performance is a better fit for the tense situations.
Overall, I had to find out what happened and all I will say is - prepare to be surprised! I had to read this from start to finish and really enjoyed it although I found the scenario quite extreme, the story characters carried it well.
I totally recommend this book as long as teens understand weapons, and I mean guns, are dangerous! No teen or young person should mess with them! No one should mess with guns! I’m pleased to say this story sends the message that guns lead to more guns and its ideals that give hope.

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My favourite narrator to date & best story too!

Reviewed: 04-08-20

I was whisked away into this new world and kept there until the story was over. Thank heavens this is a first in series or I’d be utterly bereft. Got to go - I’m off to get the next one.

If you’re looking for a new series to get immersed in, this is A MUST READ!

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In my - ‘love to reread’ list.

Reviewed: 01-03-19

What’s not to love about a story you can become totally absorbed in?

I particularly loved the resonance of the different characters, in terms of their language differences. It was only the latter part of the story, during the heist, that I could imagine them more fully (that for me was a bit of a downside). Having said that, it’s so hard to pick a favourite character from the team - but the colourful language of Stills was some of the funniest cursing sequences I’ve ever heard. I loved them! Marie was amazing and much of her persona was given greater depth by T. Ryder Smith.

If you want pace, this is for you. If you like the idea of the Ocean’s Eleven series crossed with Mission Impossible but on a galactic stage, this is for you.

I gave this performance rating because ... T. Ryder Smith is an outstanding storyteller, reading this as the fast paced, energized story it is, but still left additional urgency for the climax. A thrill to listen to.

I gave this story rating because ... If you think hard sci-fi is emotionally barren - THINK AGAIN! It’s science, yes; be prepared to laugh out loud, frown at some worldly atrocities, embrace the weird, and sealed with a kiss. Impossible - right? No: Derek Kunsken, is, a true magician of story.

Overall, I was totally absorbed, and I can’t wait to find out if the story continues.

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94 people found this helpful