Ian
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Swing Shift
- By: William D. Arand
- Narrated by: Andrea Parsneau
- Length: 14 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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Reports to write, forms to fill, coffee to drink, leads to run down. Gus’s life was a tedium and boredom he’d grown comfortable with. One that he sought out after he’d come back from his tour of duty. A detective in the paranormal investigations department. A job he could work day in and day out in relative peace. One cold and forgotten cup of coffee at a time. It was an environment that made some sense to him. At least in comparison to civilian life where almost nothing did. On top of that, it gave him a chance to hide what he was from the rest of the world.
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Mixed feelings about this book
- By Joey on 09-30-19
- Swing Shift
- By: William D. Arand
- Narrated by: Andrea Parsneau
A knock out urban fantasy thriller.
Reviewed: 02-11-20
I have become a cynic when it comes to urban fantasy. I'm very picky with what gets me invested into a world of monsters living among us. The Dresden Files I love for Harry Dresden and the way the stubborn wizard doesn't quit on people and elevates his friends. The Iron Druid Chronicles got me with Atticus O'Sullivan and the way he coped with immortality and the worlds of the gods. Other Series have struggled to grip me in such ways, especially when a series splashes in Erotica. When done well, erotica is such a wonderful genre and can add amazing things to a book that doesn't strictly deal with romance or sensuality. When executed poorly...it turns a good mystery with strong characters into a backdrop for mediocre porn.
Swing Shift has given me what I love in Urban Fantasy along with a delicate sprinkling of what I love in smut. The world feels believable even though the book seems to that the DC comics route of using fictional cities and never quite stating countries or states. The world building is solid and the exposition doesn't feel ham fisted. The characters are wonderful, each one having a vibrant personality and each possessing their own goals, motivations and unique ways of handling both internal and external conflicts. The quality of the characters leads to quality romance among them and allows the relationships formed to be believable. The mystery at the core of the book is well constructed as well, with seeds of the conspiracy at large sprinkled through out the chapters starting from the very first point of action.
I love this book and while it's by no means a perfect read I will happily give it five stars because to me it was worth my time to listen and enjoy the book and the narrators performance. I will easily be picking up the next book and noting how the story develops.
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The Valens Legacy: Publisher's Pack 1
- The Valens Legacy, Books 1-2
- By: Jan Stryvant
- Narrated by: Leland King
- Length: 11 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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In his junior year at college, the only things on Sean's mind are doing his homework and getting out of college to get a real job. A gamer and a bit of a nerd, Sean's philosophy in life has been to keep his head down and get his work done. But when a failed kidnapping attempt leaves him with a gaping hole in his memory, his oldest friend dead, and his mother missing, Sean suddenly finds his whole world turned upside down as he's thrust into the hidden world of magic and the supernatural.
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Sumtime' s you just want to have fun!
- By Joel Cagle on 03-22-18
- The Valens Legacy: Publisher's Pack 1
- The Valens Legacy, Books 1-2
- By: Jan Stryvant
- Narrated by: Leland King
Fans of Lycanthropes and Harem Anime rejoice
Reviewed: 10-10-18
I personally love the absurdity of this book bundle In execution. At face the concept of the book is not hard to grasp: A revenge story centered on a young hero tossed into uncharted waters with a mystery at its core. It's the details that really make the story interesting and cause it to stand out.
The main character is dragged into a world he was blissfully unaware of, the antagonists have made a terrible mistake though and have unwittingly empowered him. This alone makes the story a little more interesting to me because it's clear the arrogance of the antagonists is ultimately what will be their downfall and our main character and his friends are an unlikely resistance that they could have never forseen.
The book definitely falls into the "Supernatural Harem" sub genre of urban fantasy but I find that all the characters are interesting and engaging in their own ways. If you are a fan of Harem Anime or Harem Romance then this is a good addition to your library. However if monogamous romance is more your style maybe listen to this at your own risk.
Perhaps also listen to this one with headphones because this book gets a little raunchy. Sex is a big part of the book with some mild furry leanings as it deals with sex between hybrid-form Lycanthropes and sex between humans and hybrid-form Lycanthropes so listener beware. If you can have fun with some kinky beasty romance than this is the book for you, if you like your supernatural smut to be on the more Fairy or Vampire side then perhaps not.
Finally this book is also pretty violent. Any fan of good monster movies will enjoy detailed descriptions of hapless idiots being torn apart by beastmen. Claws and Fangs get lots of play in the story and the people that get killed certainly had it coming. Action and Horror fans will get a kick of it and while I'm certain most fans in the Urban Fantasy genre love some good monster movie blood and guts I would suggest fans with weak stomachs tread lightly into this book.
The audio is great with Leland King offering a good range of voices all with unique deliveries and flexibility. I'm always intrigued to listen to a Male performer voicing female parts in a smut heavy piece but I think Leland does a great job in this case. Each of the characters have distinctive voices and for the cases of the Lycanthropes he gives the human and hybrid forms unique voices so one can tell when a character is changed.
All in all I would recommend this book to the niche crowd that enjoys Lycanthrope-centric- Supernatural-Kitchen-Sink-Harems but I would also recommend this book to fans of fun and wacky concepts and stories that are a little more lively and lighthearted. This book has a compelling and interesting plot but I can say that it's mainly the absurdity of the situation that drives the story forward. While it tackles subjects like Slave Rebellions and the abuse of power it's more set dressing for a schlocky powerfantasy than a thoughtful essay on the imbalance of power and systematic oppression.
I'm gonna continue to listen because it's a story I have fun with and I hope others have fun with it too.
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Delvers LLC: Adventure Capital
- By: Blaise Corvin
- Narrated by: Jeff Hays
- Length: 13 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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By working together, Henry Sato and Jason Booth have managed to survive their unwanted trip to Ludus, an experiment planet. However, Delvers LLC has made some enemies...if monsters, bandits, mages, criminals, bounty hunters, and even dark cults can be called, "some enemies." After their latest battle, the two have been separated and must adapt or die. Henry in particular faces a trial by fire - perhaps literally - that may be impossible for him to overcome. The two American men will face their greatest challenges yet while working as conscripted Berber Intelligence agents. But even while outnumbered, and most likely outgunned, the former veteran EMT and resilient IT programmer will be armed with modern Earth know-how.
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Stand out Adventure!
- By Jay T on 11-08-17
- Delvers LLC: Adventure Capital
- By: Blaise Corvin
- Narrated by: Jeff Hays
incredible voice talent
Reviewed: 07-15-18
Jeff Hayes and the production on this book brings the story to life. The payoff from the first two books setting up the growth and power of the Delvers and friends comes to life in this book and let's just say. Shit. Gets. Real.
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The Aeronaut's Windlass
- The Cinder Spires, Book 1
- By: Jim Butcher
- Narrated by: Euan Morton
- Length: 21 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Since time immemorial the Spires have sheltered humanity, towering for miles over the mist-shrouded surface of the world. Within their halls aristocratic houses have ruled for generations, developing scientific marvels, fostering trade alliances, and building fleets of airships to keep the peace. Captain Grimm commands the merchant ship Predator. Fiercely loyal to Spire Albion, he has taken their side in the cold war with Spire Aurora, disrupting the enemy's shipping lines by attacking their cargo vessels.
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A Brave New World
- By Don Gilbert on 10-02-15
- The Aeronaut's Windlass
- The Cinder Spires, Book 1
- By: Jim Butcher
- Narrated by: Euan Morton
This book got me to love steampunk
Reviewed: 04-24-18
Jim Butcher knocks it out of the park with an amazing story about growing up and learning ones purpose during the start of a war years in the making.
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Delvers LLC
- Welcome to Ludus
- By: Blaise Corvin
- Narrated by: Jeff Hays
- Length: 13 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Henry and Jason led normal lives in Seattle before they were abducted to another world. Their kidnapper, the vain, self-styled god Dolos, refuses to send them back unless they can accomplish an impossible task. Oddly, Dolos doesn't seem to care if they succeed or not. Luckily, Henry and Jason studied Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) on Earth. Unfortunately, a Japanese American EMT and a geeky IT programmer don't have many other useful skills on a sword-and-sorcery world like Ludus.
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Like an R-rated Dungeons and Dragons cartoon
- By C.T. on 02-25-17
- Delvers LLC
- Welcome to Ludus
- By: Blaise Corvin
- Narrated by: Jeff Hays
I went in skeptical but was blown away
Reviewed: 02-19-18
The story was an excellent tale of friendship cut with dark fantasy genre deconstruction. I went in fearing it was going to be a shlocky mess but i couldnt have been more wrong. The characters were strong and relatable if flawed and at times tropey. What this book does great though is turn a trope on its head and let a character have their own agency and moments of unique development.
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Skin Game
- A Novel of the Dresden Files, Book 15
- By: Jim Butcher
- Narrated by: James Marsters
- Length: 15 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard, is about to have a very bad day.… Because as Winter Knight to the Queen of Air and Darkness, Harry never knows what the scheming Mab might want him to do. Usually, it’s something awful. He doesn’t know the half of it… Mab has just traded Harry’s skills to pay off one of her debts. And now he must help a group of supernatural villains - led by one of Harry’s most dreaded and despised enemies, Nicodemus Archleone - to break into the highest-security vault in town, so that they can then access the highest-security vault in the Nevernever.
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Hold onto your staff; Harry’s back.
- By Don Gilbert on 05-29-14
- Skin Game
- A Novel of the Dresden Files, Book 15
- By: Jim Butcher
- Narrated by: James Marsters
Another great book by Butcher
Reviewed: 10-11-17
I love all of Mr. Butcher's work and Skin Game is the latest of his triumphs. Great action, edge of your seat mystery and deceit, and wonderful emotional motions made this one Hell of a book.
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Hounded
- The Iron Druid Chronicles, Book 1
- By: Kevin Hearne
- Narrated by: Luke Daniels
- Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Atticus O’Sullivan, last of the Druids, lives peacefully in Arizona, running an occult bookshop and shape-shifting in his spare time to hunt with his Irish wolfhound. His neighbors and customers think that this handsome, tattooed Irish dude is about twenty-one years old - when in actuality, he’s twenty-one centuries old. Not to mention: He draws his power from the earth, possesses a sharp wit, and wields an even sharper magical sword known as Fragarach, the Answerer. Unfortunately, a very angry Celtic god wants that sword, and he’s hounded Atticus for centuries....
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cute
- By David on 07-30-12
- Hounded
- The Iron Druid Chronicles, Book 1
- By: Kevin Hearne
- Narrated by: Luke Daniels
Fantastic
Reviewed: 01-21-16
A ride from start to finish, great lead, good comedy, lots of provocative historical allusion. looking forward to the next book, fans of urban fantasy should consider this required listening
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