The Last Town by Blake Crouch

Book #3 

Wayward PinesTrilogy

๏ ๏ ๏  Highlights ๏ ๏ ๏ 

Dystopian

Monsters

Horror-if-ic

Uniquely Different Concept

Existentially Thought-Provoking

๏ ๏ ๏  My Thoughts ๏ ๏ ๏ 

A very mysterious, uniquely done creepy-scary scenario with scy-fy and dystopian-ish elements, this trilogy is a must-read. I loved it, despite certain aspects confusing the heck out of me…I'm inclined to believe that's on me, more than the writing, though. And geez-louise, what an ending...

If you don't know much about this series…you should keep it that way…and dive in. Seriously, just do it. The narration is excellently done for one-person narration.

๏ ๏ ๏  MY RATING ๏ ๏ ๏ 

☆4.7☆STARS - GRADE=A

๏ Breakdown of Ratings ๏ 

Plot⇝ 4.7/5

Main Characters⇝ 4.7/5

Secondary Characters⇝ 4.5/5

The Feels⇝ 4.5/5

Pacing⇝ 4.5/5

Addictiveness⇝ 5/5

Theme or Tone⇝ 5/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇝ 4.5/5

Backdrop (World Building)⇝ 5/5

Originality⇝ 5/5

Ending⇝ 4.5/5 Cliffhanger⇝ Well…

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Book Cover⇝ Meh...

Narration⇝ ☆4.5☆ for Paul Garcia

Series⇝ Wayward Pines #3

Setting⇝ Wayward Pines

Source⇝ I Own Audible Audiobook

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Pack by Mike Bockoven

๏ ๏ ๏  Highlights ๏ ๏ ๏ 

Stand-Alone

Werewolves

Horror-if-ic

Family Dynamic

Splash of Paranormal

๏ ๏ ๏ Links ๏ ๏ ๏

Add to Goodreads | Add to Booklikes 

๏ ๏ ๏  My Thoughts ๏ ๏ ๏ 

I don't like most of the Shifters novels out there, but this one is different. I like that it was different. This felt like it came from the real-world with a supplement of paranormal elements…rather than coming from the paranormal world supplemented with real-world elements. If that makes sense…it's also very graphic, especially the shifting scenes.

Overall though, I felt like it lacked heart, or maybe it just needed a tad less testosterone…I'm not really sure. Also, there are a few plot inconsistencies where things didn't get fully explained. Other than that, while not as terrific as Fantasticland, Pack is still a mostly enjoyable listen. The dialogue was easily digestible and well done in Audio format, but it would have been even better with additional narrators. Oh yeah, there is also a shout-out to Metallica...gotta love that.

๏ ๏ ๏  MY RATING ๏ ๏ ๏ 

☆3.3☆STARS - GRADE=B-

๏ Breakdown of Ratings ๏ 

Plot⇝ 3/5
Narration Performance⇝ 4/5
Characters⇝ 3.3/5

The Feels⇝ 3/5

Pacing⇝ 3.2/5

Addictiveness⇝ 3.5/5

Theme or Tone⇝ 3.5/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇝ 3.7/5

Backdrop (World Building)⇝ 4/5

Originality⇝ 4/5

Ending⇝ 3.2/5 Cliffhanger⇝ hmmm...sort of.

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Book Cover⇝ Love it!

Setting⇝ Cherry, Nebraska

Source⇝ I Own Audible Audiobook
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Wayward by Blake Crouch

Book #2 Wayward Pines Trilogy

๏ ๏ ๏  Highlights ๏ ๏ ๏ 

Horror-if-ic

The Actual Truth Can Be Scarier Than The Supposed Truth

Dystopian-ish

Small Town Creepiness

Thriller

๏ ๏ ๏ Links ๏ ๏ ๏

Add to Goodreads | Add to Booklikes 

๏ ๏ ๏  My Thoughts ๏ ๏ ๏ 

This is the type of story that you should go into blind…or at least semi-blind. So I won't say anything about the plot itself. I was completely absorbed in this audiobook, other than the beginning where I struggled to remember what happened at the end of Pines, I eventually fell into the story and started remembering. If you decide to read this series...don't watch the TV show, after finishing the first book, I watched about an episode and a half and it has differences in how things play out, that only confused me when I started this book. What a crazy-scary AF atmosphere that Blake Crouch has masterminded here in this series. I cannot wait to listen to the third and final book in this series.

๏ ๏ ๏  MY RATING ๏ ๏ ๏ 

☆4.7☆STARS - GRADE=A

๏ Breakdown of Ratings ๏ 

Plot⇝ 4.5/5
Narration Performance⇝ 5/5

Characters⇝ 4.3/5

The Feels⇝ 5/5

Pacing⇝ 4.7/5

Addictiveness⇝ 5/5

Theme or Tone⇝ 5/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇝ 4.5/5

Backdrop (World Building)⇝ 4.7/5

Originality⇝ 5/5

Ending⇝ 4.3/5 Cliffhanger⇝ Yeah, you could say that.

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Book Cover⇝ It's fitting…

Setting⇝ Wayward Pines

Source⇝ I own Audible Audiobook
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Archangel's Consort by Nalini Singh

Guild Hunter #3

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Angels & Demons & Vampires

Urban Fantasy

Romance 

Sex-plicit

Too Much Sex Not Enough Plot

With Audio Performed by Justine Eyre

๏ ๏ ๏  My Thoughts ๏ ๏ ๏ 

I keep finding reasons (reading challenges) to continue reading this series…even though I'm on the fence about whether I like it or not, and want to continue it.  I'm not saying it's bad…it’s actually well written, with steamy sex scenes and a decent paranormal storyline, but for me personally, I'm just not that into it.  I wonder if my apathetic feelings towards this series as a whole are because of the narration…she seems to imbue this particular series with this sexy, breathy voice that I'm not sure I like.  I have listened to samples of other books she has narrated and she doesn't always sound like that, she actually has a wide range of voice inflections.

๏ ๏ ๏  MY RATING ๏ ๏ ๏ 

☆3.5☆STARS - GRADE=B-

๏ Breakdown of Ratings ๏ 

Plot⇝  3.7/5
Narration Performance⇝  3.5/5

Main Characters⇝  4/5

Secondary Characters⇝  3.7/5

The Feels⇝  3/5

Pacing⇝ 3/5

Addictiveness⇝  3/5

Theme or Tone⇝  3.5/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇝  3.5/5

Backdrop (World Building)⇝  3.8/5

Originality⇝  3/5

Ending⇝  3.5/5 Cliffhanger⇝ Not really...

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Book Cover⇝ This cover is cool…but the actual cover for Audio Version is kind of ugly.

Setting⇝ Mostly New York

Source⇝ Audiobook (Library)
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Winterblaze by Kristen Callihan

Darkest London #3

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Gothic London

Historical

Paranormal Romance

Sex-plicit

Wolves

Demons

With Audio Performed by Moira Quirk

๏ ๏ ๏  My Thoughts ๏ ๏ ๏ 

I liked this so much more on Audio…with it, the slow sections are so much easier to get through.  I've previously read this series in eBook format, and I've struggled through the first two books. But now that I've found the audio version on Scribd...this has become a much more enjoyable read/listen.  Once you get to the meat of the story, it really is quite awesome…even for paranormal (just to clarify, I haven't been feeling the paranormal stories lately).  The dark, historic London paired with Kristen Callihan's superb writing makes the paranormal aspects, and let's not forget the sizzling sex scenes either, come to life.

๏ ๏ ๏  MY RATING ๏ ๏ ๏ 

☆4☆STARS - GRADE=B+

๏ Breakdown of Ratings ๏ 

Plot⇝ 4/5
Narration Performance⇝ 4/5

Characters⇝ 4.3/5

The Feels⇝ 4/5

Pacing⇝ 3.7/5

Addictiveness⇝ 3.5/5

Theme or Tone⇝ 3.8/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇝ 3.8/5

Backdrop (World Building)⇝ 4/5

Originality⇝ 4/5

Ending⇝  4/5 Cliffhanger⇝ "to be continued"

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Book Cover⇝ I like newer one better...

Setting⇝ London

Source⇝ Audiobook (Scribd)
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An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

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Ethics & Morality

Psychological Thriller

Mystery 

Suspense

Twisty

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This was slow-building psychological suspense…that didn't have me hooked until the last 1/3 of the book.  At that point, everything starting clicking together and then...the sh*t hit-the-fan.  I have to say…I thought this was going to disappoint me just like The Wife Between Us did, but by the end, I was pleasantly surprised.

An Anonymous Girl is a smartly written and cleverly plotted novel.  With decidedly flawed characters and an interesting storyline.  I recommend to anyone who likes a slow build-up to an intense ending.

๏ ๏ ๏  MY RATING ๏ ๏ ๏ 

☆4.5☆STARS - GRADE=A-

๏ Breakdown of Ratings ๏ 

Plot⇝ 4.5/5
Main Characters⇝ 4.5/5

Secondary Characters⇝ 4/5

The Feels⇝ 4.3/5

Pacing⇝ 4.3/5

Addictiveness⇝  4/5

Theme or Tone⇝  5/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇝  4.2/5

Backdrop (World Building)⇝  4/5

Originality⇝  5/5

Ending⇝  4.7/5

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Book Cover⇝ It's nothing special...

Setting⇝ New York City

Source⇝ I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
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Evertrue by Brodi Ashton

Everneath #3

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Magic

Mythology

Young Adult

Tween Romance

Final Book in Trilogy

Series Rating: ☆3.7☆ 

With Audio Performed by Amy Rubinate

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I didn't know if I was ever going to read/listen to this final book.  But, hey Halloween Bingo gave me the push to finally get this series off my tbr.  I was initially drawn in by the beautiful covers this series has…especially the first one.  While not my favorite Young Adult series, which is most likely due to the fact that this is more Y(oung) and less A(dult), I still found it moderately good.  Other readers have found this ending to the series unsatisfactory, but I thought it ended just the way it should have.  Plus…Amy Rubinate's voice is always a pleasant voice to listen too.

๏ ๏ ๏  MY RATING ๏ ๏ ๏ 

☆3.5☆STARS - GRADE=B-

๏ Breakdown of Ratings ๏ 

Plot⇝ 3.7/5
Narration Performance⇝ 4.5/5

Main Characters⇝ 3.5/5

The Feels⇝ 3/5

Pacing⇝ 3/5

Addictiveness⇝ 3/5

Theme or Tone⇝ 3.5/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇝ 3.7/5

Backdrop (World Building)⇝ 4/5

Originality⇝ 3/5

Ending⇝ 4/5

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Book Cover⇝ Quite striking…not as much as the first one, though.

Setting⇝ Park City, UT & The Everneath

Source⇝ Audiobook (Library)
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Alice by Christina Henry

The Chronicles of Alice #1

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Fairytale Retelling

Darkly Atmospheric

Horror-if-ic

Sex-plicit

Magic

With Narration Performed by Jenny Sterlin

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A very dark, twisted and decidedly adult twist on Alice in Wonderland.  It really reminds me of the TV show Gotham.  All, or at least some, of the usual suspects, were there including the Jabberwocky.  Some of them have variations of names like Hatcher instead of Hatter.   While I didn't like this as much as The Mermaid or Lostboy, it was a decent story, except for that anti-climatic ending.  The most disappointing aspect of this was the narrator, most of the voices she did for other characters were sadly pathetic.  The narrator is supposed to put you in the story...not take you out of it.

๏ ๏ ๏  MY RATING ๏ ๏ ๏ 

☆3.5☆STARS - GRADE=B-

๏ Breakdown of Ratings ๏ 

Plot⇝ 3.8/5
Narration Performance⇝ 2/5

Main Characters⇝ 3.7/5

Secondary Characters⇝ 3.2/5

The Feels⇝ 3/5

Pacing⇝ 3.7/5

Addictiveness⇝ 3.5/5

Theme or Tone⇝ 3/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇝ 3.7/5

Backdrop (World Building)⇝ 3.7/5

Originality⇝ 4/5

Ending⇝ 3/5 Cliffhanger⇝ It has closure, but it does end sort of abruptly.

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Book Cover⇝ Meh...

Setting⇝ The Old City

Source⇝ Audiobook (Scribd)
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A Killer's Mind by Mike Omer

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Inside A Serial Killer's Mind

Crime Mystery

Profiler

Suspense Thriller

Kidnapping

KU Read & Listen

With Audio Performed by Brittany Pressley

๏ ๏ ๏  My Thoughts ๏ ๏ ๏ 

A Killer's Mind is morbidly fascinating and generally creepy.  Compulsively readable, or listenable, I couldn't put it down.  I had some issues with the way some elements played out and some minor believability issues, but nothing too major.  I got this book as a Kindle First and bought the narration and it was totally worth it.  I really like stories about Profilers, I find the whole process quite intriguing.  Narration by Brittany Pressley was very well done…I liked the way she did Zoe's accent, making it more pronounced when she was agitated.

๏ ๏ ๏  MY RATING ๏ ๏ ๏ 

☆4.3☆STARS - GRADE=A-

๏ Breakdown of Ratings ๏ 

Plot⇝ 4.3/5
Narration Performance⇝ 4.5/5

Main Characters⇝ 4.3/5

Secondary Characters⇝ 4/5

The Feels⇝ 5/5

Pacing⇝ 5/5

Addictiveness⇝ 5/5

Theme or Tone⇝ 4.5/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇝ 4.5/5

Backdrop (World Building)⇝ 4/5

Originality⇝ 4/5

Ending⇝ 4.3/5 Cliffhanger⇝ Sort of...

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Book Cover⇝ It's eye-catching…

Setting⇝ Chicago, IL, Dale City, VA, & Maynard MA

Source⇝ Audible Audiobook
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Mud Vein by Tarryn Fisher

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Psychological

Romantic Suspense-ish

Locked In Survival

Mystery

Fav Author

With Audio Performed by Simone Lewis

๏ ๏ ๏  My Thoughts ๏ ๏ ๏ 

I have loved some of Tarryn Fisher's Stories because they are not like anything else you've ever read.  I'm not sure I was able to grasp all the subtle nuances of this complex story, not enough for me to love it, at least, but that's not to say that I wasn't moved by it.  I have read somewhere that this story means a lot to Fisher and I am curious as to the why especially now that I've read/listened to it. 

I will say that this was nothing like I thought it was going to be…I thought I had it pegged from the cover and from reading other posted reviews.  But, no.  I was wrong.  Senna is not so much unlikable, as she is distant.  She is an anomaly and she has been taken by someone…this is her story about love and survival. 

๏ ๏ ๏  MY RATING ๏ ๏ ๏ 

☆4☆STARS - GRADE=B+

๏ Breakdown of Ratings ๏ 

Plot⇝ 4/5
Narration Performance⇝ 5/5

Main Characters⇝ 4/5

Secondary Characters⇝ 4.3/5

The Feels⇝ 4/5

Pacing⇝ 3.5/5

Addictiveness⇝ 3.7/5

Theme or Tone⇝ 3.8/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇝ 4.5/5

Backdrop (World Building)⇝ 5/5

Originality⇝ 5/5

Ending⇝ 4/5 Cliffhanger⇝ No…definitely not

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Book Cover⇝ a little risqué…but it goes well with the story.

Setting⇝ Seattle and Alaska

Source⇝ I own Audible Audiobook
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In A Handful of Dust by Mindy McGinnis

Not A Drop to Drink #2

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Dystopian

Survival

Fav Series

Duology

Series Rating:  ☆4.3☆

With Audio Performed by Allyson Ryan

๏ ๏ ๏  My Thoughts ๏ ๏ ๏ 

An interesting follow-up to Not A Drop to Drink, while I didn't like it as much as the first installment, I did like it…I'm just not completely on-board with that ending.  Overall, a sadness hangs over the whole book…that never really dissipates with the ending, like the Author set out to make a series that puts the dis in dystopian.  She did have some interesting developments in this journey from Ohio to California…some I've never seen the likes of before.  One, in particular, was jaw-dropping.

This second book is from Lucy's pov instead of Lynn's, as it is in the first book.  I was sad that Cassandra Campbell wasn't the narrator, I really liked her, but a different narrator was the best way to keep a distinction between their voices.

๏ ๏ ๏  MY RATING ๏ ๏ ๏ 

☆4☆STARS - GRADE=B+

๏ Breakdown of Ratings ๏ 

Plot⇝ 4/5
Narration Performance⇝ 3.7/5

Characters⇝ 4/5

The Feels⇝ 3.8/5

Pacing⇝ 4.3/5

Addictiveness⇝ 4/5

Theme or Tone⇝ 4/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇝ 5/5

Backdrop (World Building)⇝ 4.5/5

Originality⇝ 4/5

Ending⇝ 4/5 Cliffhanger⇝ Not really...

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Book Cover⇝ I like it...

Setting⇝ From Ohio to California

Source⇝ Audiobook (Library)
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The Lost Codex by Heather Lyons

The Collector's Society #4

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Fairytale Retellings

Fascinating Premise

Parallels

Sex-Plicit

Dark Fantasy

Fav Series

Series Rating: ☆4.3☆

๏ ๏ ๏  My Thoughts ๏ ๏ ๏ 

I wanted to love this…I have loved the first three books in The Collector's Society.  This has always been a uniquely told book series, but this one was just too out there in left field and left me feeling confused and sadly disappointed.  It felt like it dragged a lot of the time and was the longest 411 pages ever.  I've adored these characters and I have been fascinated with the premise, so I tried to let that reflect in my rating.  I guess, overall I just wanted this play out differently…and that ending…well, I guess ultimately that ending left an opening for this story to play out differently...

I actually finished the last half or so of this book with the Audio version, because I was being plagued by migraines and couldn't continue reading.  I did not care for the narration of this at all, though.  Heather Lyons, in my opinion, this series could have benefitted from a different narrator, in fact adding a male voice would have been worked much better for Finn's parts and for the print version, you really need to have someone proofread it.

๏ ๏ ๏  MY RATING ๏ ๏ ๏ 

☆3.5☆STARS - GRADE=B-

๏ Breakdown of Ratings ๏ 

Plot⇝ 3.2/5
Narration Performance⇝ 3.5/5

Main Characters⇝ 5/5

Secondary Characters⇝ 3.8/5

The Feels⇝ 3.7/5

Pacing⇝ 3/5

Addictiveness⇝ 3/5

Theme or Tone⇝ 4/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇝ 3.7/5

Backdrop (World Building)⇝ 4.3/5

Originality⇝ 4/5

Ending⇝ 4/5 Cliffhanger⇝ This is supposed to be the last one…but it could be continued…with the way it ended.

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Book Cover⇝ It's somewhat cool...

Setting⇝ The Institute, Antarctica, Wonderland

Source⇝ I own Kindle eBook 
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AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ● CONTAGION ●

BY ERIN BOWMAN

NARRATED BY AMY MCFADDEN

●SYNOPSIS & BUY LINKS ON AUTHORS WEBSITE●

THE DETAILS●●●

● CONTAGION #1 OF 2

● DEEP IN SPACE

● ZOMBIE-ISH VIRUS

● YA 

● HINT OF ROMANCE

● LENGTH OF AUDIO - 9 HOURS, 37 MINUTES
● I LISTENED ON LIBBYTHROUGH MY LIBRARY

MY THOUGHTS●●●

I wasn't sure what to expect with this…the only other books by Erin Bowman that I've read have been YA Westerns.  This is way different than those books.  I'll admit, early on, I thought she was jumping on the bandwagon, so to speak, with this deep space horror/thriller based on a crazy virus.  It felt an awful lot like Illuminae.  Within no time though, that thought was out of my head, because I was hooked on this compelling story.  With zombie-like symptoms, this mysterious virus is seriously frightening.  It does end on a total cliffhanger, but I'm not even upset about that because I cannot wait to listen to the second book which is set to come out in July of 2019.

 

MY RATING●●● 5 STARS

BREAKDOWN●●●

● Narration Rating ⇢ 4.25 STARS

● Plot ⇢ 5/5

● Characters ⇢ 5/5

● The Feels ⇢ 4.8/5

● Pacing ⇢ 5/5

● Addictiveness ⇢ 4.8/5

● Theme, Tone or Intensity ⇢ 5/5

● Originality/Believability ⇢ 4.8/5

● Flow (Writing Style/Ease of Listening) ⇢ 5/5

● World-Building ⇢ 4.5/5

● Ending ⇢ 5/5

● Summation ⇢ 5 STARS

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW LIKE NEVER AND ALWAYS

BY ANN AGUIRRE

NARRATED BY EMILY BAUER

On a hot summer night, a screech of brakes and shattering glass changes two lives forever.

Liv wakes in the hospital, confused when they call her Morgan. She assumes it’s a case of mistaken identity, yet when the bandages come off, it’s not her face in the mirror anymore. It’s her best friend Morgan’s.

Morgan always seemed to have the perfect life, yet Liv must navigate endlessly disturbing secrets of the criminal and murderous variety—and a romance that feels like a betrayal. Torn between the boy she loved as Liv and the boy she’s grown to love as Morgan, Liv still has to survive Morgan’s last request.

❯ YA MYSTERY

❯ DARKISH

❯ MIND F*CKINGLY WEIRD

❯ ODD LOVE TRIANGLE

❯ LENGTH OF AUDIO ➸ 10 HOURS, 29 MINUTES

❯ I LISTENED ON OVERDRIVE THROUGH MY LIBRARY

The cover is brilliantly done, and the blurb for it seems like a fantastic idea, but the execution…was off.  I wanted this perfect explanation for what was going on, even if it was something that dipped into the supernatural, but it just kind of fizzled. Also, sometimes the odd love triangle this had at play felt seriously awkward.  While it had its suspenseful moments, and the characters were mostly likable (especially Clay), the story ultimately left me confused and let down.  There was this tidbit of a plot twist thrown in at the end of the story that just leaves you feeling like…wtf was that all about?

Emily Bauer's pleasant voice for sure influenced my rating.

MY RATING➼ 2¾ STARS

BREAKDOWN

Narration ➸ 4½ STARS

Plot ➸ 3.2/5

Characters ➸ 3.7/5

The Feels ➸ 2/5

Pacing ➸ 3.8/5

Addictiveness ➸ 3/5

Theme, Tone or Intensity ➸ 3.3/5

Originality/Believability ➸ 3.5/5

Flow (Writing Style/Ease of Listening) ➸ 3/5

Twisty-ness/Mystery ➸ 3.5/5

Steaminess to Story Ratio ➸ ?/?

Ending ➸ 2.5/5

SUMMATION ➸ 2¾ STARS