AUDIOBOOK NOVELLA REVIEW ➯ THE ORIGINAL

 

BY BRANDON SANDERSON & MARY ROBINETTE KOWAL

NARRATED BY JULIA WHELAN

❐SYNOPSIS FROM GOODREADS❐

❐ Overall Rating 3½ | Narration 4¼

❐ Novella/Short Story

❐ Futuristic-Techy

❐ Science Fiction/Murder Mystery

❐ Single POV

❐ Received ALC for free in exchange for an honest review

  

The Original drops you in this futuristic world full of nano-tech...in fact, nano-tech or nanites are everyday words.  Nanites are capable of so many things, including provisional replica's of actual people, theming your world view by just thinking it into existence, and keeping yourself from aging...or at least looking like you've aged to name a few.  

It was a little mind-blowing to think about...and ultimately for me, the story itself lacked depth.  I felt unfulfilled by the shortness of the story and the super abrupt ending.  The mystery at work in this was basically left hanging.  Overall an interesting concept that felt like it was only scratched at...and left me with an itch for something more.  

I have really liked Tavia Gilbert's narration (Partials Sequence Trilogy) and I have loathed her narration (most everything else), more so the latter.  In this though, I have to say...she felt...not bad, slightly improved even, and definitely okay.

❐ Netgalley ALC Listen (the app still needs improvement)

❐ Length ➯ 3H 30M

❐ Plot ➯ 3.5/5
❐ Characters ➯ 3.7/5
❐ The Feels ➯ 3/5
❐ World-Building ➯ 4.3/5
❐ Ending ➯ 2.5/5

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ➯ THE DEEP

BY RIVERS SOLOMON, DAVEED DIGGS, WILLIAM HUTSON & JONATHON SNIPES 

NARRATED BY DAVEED DIGGS

❐SYNOPSIS & BUY LINKS ON AUTHORS WEBSITE❐

MY RATING➯ 3¾ STARS

❐ Overall Rating 3¾ | Narration 3½

❐ Novella Length

❐ Inspired from a song & more

❐ Fantasy inspired by history

❐ Water-breathing, merfolk-like beings

❐ LGBTQIA

PREFACE TO SYNOPSIS ➯ The water-breathing descendants of African slave women tossed overboard have built their own underwater society—and must reclaim the memories of their past to shape their future in this brilliantly imaginative novella inspired by the Hugo Award-nominated song “The Deep” from Daveed Diggs’s rap group clipping.

The idea behind this is intriguing, inspiring, awe-inducing even.  The execution left me perplexed and distracted, I want to say that it should've had a female narrator...but I believe (and I could be wrong or confused) that the merfolk-like being is non-gender specific or binary.  So, maybe if it had been voiced by someone who doesn't have such a deep masculine voice, it would have felt more right for this story and the character of Yetu in general.  But, I don't know...I could be wrong.

The writing style is hard to follow with prose that feels like it's meant to distract more than to tell a story.  It actually sort of felt like it was half story and half poetry; and it switched between the two often...and my attention along with it.  I was totally there for the story and for Yetu...but poetry and/or poetic prose has never really been my thing.

Overall, The Deep is deep...down in the murky depths kind of deep and sometimes even a little too deep. Also, the cover is a work of art...absolutely stunning.  There is a song that inspired the story by the same name, The Deep by clipping it is definitely not my style of music...I found it to be quite weird and it's mostly without music.  I'll leave you with a few quotes that sum up this confusing but inspiring creation...to call it a story doesn't feel quite right...

“One can only go for so long without asking ‘who am I?’, ‘where do I come from?’, ‘what does all this mean?’, ‘what is being?’, ‘what came before me and what might come after?’. Without answers, there is only a hole. A hole where a history should be that takes the shape of an endless longing. We are cavities.”

“The deep will be our sibling, our parent, our relief from endless solitude. Down here, we are wrapped up. Down here, we can pretend the dark is the black embrace of another.”

and from the afterword...

“The audiobook that you are currently listening to and are likely upset that you listened to too quickly. Were you at double speed? I know you were.”  

I listened at 1.75...so almost double.

❐ Libby Listen

❐ Length ➯ 4H 2M

QUICKIE MINI NOVELLA REVIEW⇢ THE WINTER QUEEN

BY SHERRY D. FICKLIN

MY REVIEW IN BOOK TAGS⇣

⤏ MINI NOVELLA LENGTH
⤏ AN INTRODUCTION TO HOLLOW QUEEN
⤏ PREQUEL TO SOPHIE/CATHERINE'S STORY...AT LEAST I THINK IT WAS...???
⤏ STORY FELT RUSHED
⤏ WRITING COULD HAVE USED POLISHING UP
⤏ MAYBE I'LL CONTINUE THE SERIES...
⤏ ROUNDED UP SINCE I DID LIKE THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES

MY RATING⇢ 2½✰STARS✰

OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES...

Rolling In The Deep by Mira Grant

ROLLING IN THE DEEP #0.5

FEATURING⇢

Killer Mermaids
Cruise Ship Ride From Hell

They All Die In The End
Novella Prequel
For Into The Drowning Deep

With Audio Performed by Teri Schnaubelt

LINK TO SYNOPSIS (GOODREADS)

MY RATING⇢ 4 STARS | GRADE B+

MY THOUGHTS⇢

Killer mermaids for the win...I listened to this after already having listened to Into the Drowning Deep...so I knew the deal with the mermaids but it was still ultimately a diabolical foray into the deep waters of the Mariana Trench. The characters are rather unlikeable, so I wasn't sad to see them come to their dastardly end (not really a spoiler).

A super quick listen that I enjoyed immensely.  The Audio was also fantastically performed, I do believe I liked this narrator more than the girl who narrated Into the Drowning Deep, even.  These two books could be listened to in any order, I think either way will work.

THE BREAKDOWN⇢  

Plot⇢ 4.2/5

Narration Performance⇢ 5/5

Characters⇢ 3/5

The Feels⇢ 4/5

Pacing⇢ 4/5

Addictiveness⇢ 4/5

Theme or Tone⇢ 4/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇢ /5

Backdrop (World Building)⇢ 4.5/5

Originality⇢ 5/5

Ending⇢ 4/5 

_____

Book Cover⇢ Way cool...book edition (pictured above) is better than the audio version.

Setting⇢ Mariana Trench

Source⇢ Audible Audiobook

Length⇢ 3 hours, 6 minutes. 

Forward Collection Curated by Blake Crouch

FORWARD COLLECTION

FEATURING⇢

Science Fiction
Thought-Provoking
End Of The World Shit
6 Novella Collection

Blake Crouch
Veronica Roth
Amor Towles

Paul Tremblay
Andy Weir
N.K. Jemisin

LINK TO AMAZON PAGE OF FORWARD COLLECTION

MY RATING FOR THE ENTIRE COLLECTION⇢
3.3  STARS | GRADE B-

A SHORT THOUGHT ABOUT EACH SHORT STORY⇢

EMERGENCY SKIN BY N.K. JEMISIN⇢ 3.5 STARS | GRADE B-

A thought-provoking short story about the what if's...the possibilities and whats going to happen if the world keeps thinking and doing what they are...I wanted more, though because overall, with how short it is, it only confused me.

NARRATION PERFORMED BY JASON ISAACS --I personally found him a tad annoying, but it could be just the way it's written.  1 hour, 4 minutes

ARK BY VERONICA ROTH⇢ 3 STARS | GRADE C

An interesting premise of the end of the world, unfortunately, the story focused entirely on flowers and horticulture and I personally found it boring, even for a short story.  There was so much that could have been explored with this scenario.  Also, the ending was rather abrupt.

NARRATION PERFORMED BY EVAN RACHEL WOOD --She was pretty decent and I liked her.  I could definitely listen to something longer narrated by her.  1 hour, 22 minutes.

THE LAST CONVERSATION BY PAUL TREMBLAY⇢ 4 STARS | GRADE B+

I was leaning towards two stars for most of the way through this, right up until the end...and well, you can see I upped it to four.  This one has an actual ending to it, even though it was left hanging in a way it still totally worked.  If you listened to it, you'll get what I mean.

NARRATION PERFORMED BY STEVEN STRAIGHT --He was perfect for the story...really well performed.  1 hour, 45 minutes.

RANDOMIZE BY ANDY WEIR⇢ 3 STARS | GRADE C

This could have been better.  The quantum physics & entanglements stuff went right over my head.  The ending was sort of interesting.  Honestly, most of these stars are for the excellent narration.

NARRATION PERFORMED BY JANINA GAVANKAR --Phenomenal narration.  She needs to narrate more books.  50 minutes.

YOU HAVE ARRIVED AT YOUR DESTINATION BY AMOR TOWLES⇢ 2 STARS | GRADE D 

I was really looking forward to this one because Hopper from Stranger Things narrates it...sadly, I don't think he was very good.  Storywise, I really wasn't feeling this one...it kind of felt like it was all over the place.  And that ending, it completely lost me.

NARRATION PERFORMED BY DAVID HARBOUR --He could have been better...1 hour, 22 minutes.

SUMMER FROST BY BLAKE CROUCH⇢ 4.5 STARS | GRADE A-

The best of the entire collection, by far.  The longest story and the one with the most character development and plotline.  This makes you wonder what kind of AI they are creating and nurturing at this very moment, like in real-world possibilities.  Didn't we learn anything from Terminator?

NARRATION PERFORMED BY ROSA SALAZAR --Very well performed.  She is an actress also, but I was hoping to find other Audiobooks narrated by her but this story is only Audio performance that I could find by her...but she should do more.  2 hours, 19 minutes.

Book Cover⇢ The book covers are great!

Setting⇢ The world we live in...or might one day live in.

Source⇢ Audible Audiobook (KU)

Length⇢ 8 hours, 24 minutes

The Whispering Hollows by Lisa Unger

 ๏ ๏ ๏  Highlights ๏ ๏ ๏ 

The Whispers - Novella 1

The Burning Girl - Novella 2

The Three Sisters - Novella 3

Psychic Powers

Some Mystery

With Audio Performed by January LaVoy

๏ ๏ ๏  My Thoughts ๏ ๏ ๏ 

Collectively in eBook format these three novella's are available as a set with this cover:

I listened to each one separately, but consecutively on Audio, which was performed by one of my favorite narrators, January LaVoy.  I listened to this mainly so I would be up to speed for Ink & Bone by Lisa Unger.  These short novellas are sort of a prequel to that story.  These were each very short, quick listens and while I didn't find them overly special...I'm certainly not upset with spending my day with them.

๏ ๏ ๏  MY RATING ๏ ๏ ๏ 

☆3☆STARS - GRADE=C

๏ Breakdown of Ratings ๏ 

Plot⇝ 2.7/5
Narration Performance⇝ 4.5/5

Characters⇝ 3.7/5

The Feels⇝ 3/5

Pacing⇝ 2.5/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇝ 2.5/5

Ending⇝ 2.7/5

๏ ๏ ๏

Setting⇝ The Hollows

Source⇝ Audiobook (Library & Scribd)
๏ ๏ ๏

The Test by Sylvain Neuvel

๏ ๏ ๏  Highlights ๏ ๏ ๏ 

Novella/Short Story

Thought-Provoking

A Possible Future

With Audio Performed by Neil Shah

๏ ๏ ๏  My Thoughts ๏ ๏ ๏ 

Wow, this one digs deep in short amount of time...and leaves you reeling.  It's only two and a half hours long...so a real quick listen.  One I hope never becomes a reality.   The Audio is actually quite superbly performed too.  

๏ ๏ ๏  MY RATING ๏ ๏ ๏ 

☆4☆STARS - GRADE=B+

๏ Breakdown of Ratings ๏ 

Plot⇝  3.8/5
Narration Performance⇝  4.5/5

Characters⇝  4/5

The Feels⇝  4/5

Theme or Tone⇝  4.5/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇝  4.5/5

Ending⇝  5/5

๏ ๏ ๏

Book Cover⇝ Sure...why not...

Setting⇝ UK

Source⇝ Audiobook (Library)
๏ ๏ ๏

All Systems Red by Martha Wells

Please tell me if this gets better as the series goes on???

๏ ๏ ๏  Book Blurb ๏ ๏ ๏ 

In a corporate-dominated spacefaring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. Exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids, for their own safety.

But in a society where contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder, safety isn’t a primary concern.

On a distant planet, a team of scientists are conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied ‘droid — a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module, and refers to itself (though never out loud) as “Murderbot.” Scornful of humans, all it really wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is.

But when a neighboring mission goes dark, it's up to the scientists and their Murderbot to get to the truth.

๏ ๏ ๏  My Review ๏ ๏ ๏ 

I've seen this series all over my feeds and I thought, I might as well try it, people seem to like it.  Well...I'm afraid that I didn't love and I'm not sure I even liked it.  Maybe it was due to the overly bland voice for the narration...I just couldn't stay focused on the story for anything.  It was too easy to tune it out, unfortunately.  I did have some moments where I almost kind of liked Murderbot, though...he was developing a sense of humor at least.  I just need to know, does it get better with the next book?

๏ ๏ ๏  MY RATING ๏ ๏ ๏ 

☆2.5☆STARS - GRADE=D+

๏ Breakdown of Ratings ๏ 

Plot⇝ 2.5/5

Main Characters⇝ 3/5

Secondary Characters⇝ 2/5

The Feels⇝ 2.5/5

Pacing⇝ 2/5

Addictiveness⇝2/5

Theme or Tone⇝ 2.7/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇝ 2.5/5

Backdrop (World Building)⇝ 2.5/5

Originality⇝ 2/5

Ending⇝ 2.5/5 Cliffhanger⇝

๏ ๏ ๏

Book Cover⇝ Meh...it's fine, I guess.

Narration⇝ ☆2☆ for Kevin R. Free

Series⇝ The Murderbot Diaries #1

Setting⇝ Deep Space ???

Source⇝ Audiobook (Scribd)
๏ ๏ ๏
Goodreads
Amazon
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