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Heart of the Sun Warrior
- A Novel (Celestial Kingdom)
- By: Sue Lynn Tan
- Narrated by: Natalie Naudus
- Length: 13 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 479
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 429
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 428
After winning her mother’s freedom from the Celestial Emperor, Xingyin thrives in the enchanting tranquility of her home. But her fragile peace is threatened by the discovery of a strange magic on the moon and the unsettling changes in the Celestial Kingdom as the emperor tightens his grip on power. While Xingyin is determined to keep clear of the rising danger, the discovery of a shocking truth spurs her into a perilous confrontation.
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3 out of 5 stars
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2nd review
- By Misty Harper on 04-15-23
- Heart of the Sun Warrior
- A Novel (Celestial Kingdom)
- By: Sue Lynn Tan
- Narrated by: Natalie Naudus
A pleasant surprise
Reviewed: 03-29-24
I enjoyed the first book of the series but felt like something was missing. I think the second book managed to build upon the ground the first layed down mostly succesfully. There were still some halterings and I found it a bit melodramatic at turns, but overall I got what I was promised: a fairy tale full of magic and love. I don't care much for love triangles, but I found this one pleasantly surprising in the end.
I enjoyed the mythological elements, although I found it hard to follow the descriptions sometimes, and there were a few things that bothered me - there are still some questions left in me about the rules of this magical realm and how it all works. I loved that we could explore more of the world though, and got to know charachters on a deeper level.
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Hiddensee
- A Tale of the Once and Future Nutcracker
- By: Gregory Maguire
- Narrated by: Steven Crossley
- Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 228
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 199
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Story3.5 out of 5 stars 201
Hiddensee recreates the backstory of the Nutcracker, reimaging how this entrancing creature came to be carved and how it magically guided an ailing little girl named Klara through a dreamy paradise on a snowy Christmas Eve. It also brings to life the mysterious godfather Drosselmeier - the ominous, canny, one-eyed toymaker made immortal by Petipa and Tchaikovsky's ballet - who presents the once and future Nutcracker to Klara, his goddaughter.
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2 out of 5 stars
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I wanted to love this and I tried
- By Veronica on 12-26-17
- Hiddensee
- A Tale of the Once and Future Nutcracker
- By: Gregory Maguire
- Narrated by: Steven Crossley
A classic Christmas story with a twist
Reviewed: 12-28-23
This book is a weird exception from the general rule - at least my general rule - of hooking the reader in the first 5 pages. I admit, it did not do that for me. I found it to be awkward and a bit too gloomy for my taste, but I kept reading and I am so glad I did! Because it turned out to be a magnificent experience, one that truly surprised me. It is quite philosophical and psychological but the plot and characters are also very engaging.
Hiddensee is a novel about many things: childhood (both traumatic and happy), growing up, love, hope, memory and dreams, and it digs deep into its character's souls. It is at heart a re-imagining of a classic Christmas story, just like the subtitle says: a tale of the once and future Nutcracker. Godfather Drosselmeier becomes the hero of this Bildungsroman, an origin story, if you will.
I felt like the novel followed the basic structure of a classical music piece, with themes repeating and developing over time until we reach the final the part, the Coda, where everything comes together and makes perfect sense.
Definitely worth reading!
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The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi
- A Novel
- By: Shannon Chakraborty
- Narrated by: Lameece Issaq, Amin El Gamal
- Length: 16 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 951
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 837
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 837
Amina al-Sirafi should be content. After a storied and scandalous career as one of the Indian Ocean’s most notorious pirates, she’s survived backstabbing rogues, vengeful merchant princes, several husbands, and one actual demon to retire peacefully with her family to a life of piety, motherhood, and absolutely nothing that hints of the supernatural.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Not City of Brass, A Fun Swashbuckling Adventure
- By Pele on 03-23-23
- The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi
- A Novel
- By: Shannon Chakraborty
- Narrated by: Lameece Issaq, Amin El Gamal
A truly entertaining adventure novel
Reviewed: 10-01-23
It starts really slowly, but it picks up pace over time and becomes a truly entertaining and funny adventure novel. Chakraborty is a master of world building and character dynamics and has a great sense of humor.
The performance was excellent, really bringing this beautifully crafted story to life.
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