audiobooks

Audiobook Review: Neon Gods by Katee Roberts

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Neon Gods (Dark Olympus, #1)
Paperback, 380 pages
Published June 1st 2021 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

This was a wonderful audiobook! I absolutely loved the power dynamic and characterization of the main romantic couple as well as the author’s clever world building. The overlay of Greek gods and goddesses in an urban or contemporary setting lends itself well to exploring deeper emotions as the reader already feels some connection to familiarity of the world.

I can’t get over the juxtaposition of harmful relationships with healthy ones, and am utterly transfixed with the idea that graphic sex scenes can be an exploration of intimacy and of the self. Anyone who thinks they are included for pure erotica couldn’t be more wrong. It makes me want to pursue this series and the author for my new research project once I get to that stage.

Summary:

He was supposed to be a myth. But from the moment I crossed the River Styx and fell under his dark spell… he was, quite simply, mine.

Society darling Persephone Dimitriou plans to flee the ultra-modern city of Olympus and start over far from the backstabbing politics of the Thirteen Houses. But all that’s ripped away when her mother ambushes her with an engagement to Zeus, the dangerous power behind their glittering city’s dark facade.

With no options left, Persephone flees to the forbidden undercity and makes a devil’s bargain with a man she once believed a myth… a man who awakens her to a world she never knew existed.

Hades has spent his life in the shadows, and he has no intention of stepping into the light. But when he finds that Persephone can offer a little slice of the revenge he’s spent years craving, it’s all the excuse he needs to help her—for a price. Yet every breathless night spent tangled together has given Hades a taste for Persephone, and he’ll go to war with Olympus itself to keep her close…

A modern retelling of Hades and Persephone that’s as sinful as it is sweet.

Audiobook Review: With Dagger and Song by Helen Scheuerer

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With Dagger and Song (Curse of the Cyren Queen, #2)
Kindle Edition, 378 pages
Published November 13th 2021

I was so excited to receive a digital arc to read and review for this second book as I had just finished the first book and was in love with the characters and the world. Unfortunately for me, my anxiety left me unable to read words on a page with enough attention to enjoy the story before me, and so I was unable to provide a review at the time of publication. So I did the next best thing to support the author, which was to buy a paperback and the audiobook when it released.

The audiobook helped pull me out of a book funk at the start of 2022, and I owe that to both the narrator’s performance and also the writer’s skill to convey characterization and world building. We learn so much more backstory and political structure as well as addressing emotional depth and consequences throughout the entire book. And I loved every second of it. This was my first 5 star read of the new year, and I couldn’t have chosen a better one. I’m very much looking forward to book 3 later this year!

Summary:

An empty crown. A perilous journey.
Will she answer when darkness calls?

Against all odds, Roh survived the harrowing Queen’s Tournament, but now something far deadlier awaits her: a formidable quest for the three magic birthstones of Saddoriel.

The gems have been scattered across the realms – and only when Roh retrieves them can she take her place as queen. But surrounded by hostile companions and tormented by the dangerous secret she carries, Roh begins to realise that the pursuit of power may prove more destructive than she ever imagined.

Nothing can prepare her for the nightmares that fester in the shadows of Akoris, a fanatical cyren territory, or the twisted games of its cunning leader…

Can Roh win the first birthstone without sacrificing everything she holds dear – and without losing herself?

Packed with heart-pounding action and layers of intrigue, With Dagger and Song is the second epic installment in Helen Scheuerer’s Curse of the Cyren Queen quartet.

Throwback Thursday: White Stag by Kara Barbieri

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White Stag (Permafrost, #1)
Hardcover, 368 pages
Published January 8th 2019 by Wednesday Books

This book tackled several difficult subjects (rape, abuse, survivor’s guilt, and surviving) without being derogatory, demeaning, or belittling. I think the author did a great job channeling her personal journey into a fantasy story that readers who have suffered will likely connect with on a personal level. For those with triggers, there is a content warning on the audiobook right at the beginning where the author speaks a bit about her personal trauma.

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Audiobook Review: Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean

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Tokyo Ever After
Hardcover, 336 pages
Expected publication: May 18th 2021 by Flatiron Books

I was super excited to see this as an ALC in Libro.fm’s program this month as it sounds amazing! I just finished the audiobook version last night and am very happy with the story and the narrator. Having loved The Princess Diaries movie and being fascinated by Japanese culture, I can confirm that this hit all the right notes of the secret princess trope for me. I can’t speak to the realism of the Japanese culture explored since I have no Japanese heritage myself, but I do believe I read somewhere that the author did her research and is part Japanese herself, so I will trust that it is as authentic as fiction can be.

The same can be said for the Japanese language and pronunciation by the narrator. It sounded lovely to me but I can’t speak to its accuracy. I can say that I loved that it was included as much as it was. This was such a great story that I hope everyone who reads the blurb and likes what they hear will give it a try. I will be happily recommending it to my real life and internet friends (even though it’s technically contemporary and I’m all about fantasy). Also, do you see that gorgeous papercraft cover? It definitely got my attention!

Also, there will apparently be a sequel, so I’m excited for that even though the author wraps up the story very well in this book.

Summary:

Izumi Tanaka has never really felt like she fit in—it isn’t easy being Japanese American in her small, mostly white, northern California town. Raised by a single mother, it’s always been Izumi—or Izzy, because “It’s easier this way”—and her mom against the world. But then Izzy discovers a clue to her previously unknown father’s identity… and he’s none other than the Crown Prince of Japan. Which means outspoken, irreverent Izzy is literally a princess.

In a whirlwind, Izzy travels to Japan to meet the father she never knew and discover the country she always dreamed of. But being a princess isn’t all ball gowns and tiaras. There are conniving cousins, a hungry press, a scowling but handsome bodyguard who just might be her soulmate, and thousands of years of tradition and customs to learn practically overnight.

Izzy soon finds herself caught between worlds, and between versions of herself—back home, she was never “American” enough, and in Japan, she must prove she’s “Japanese” enough. Will Izumi crumble under the weight of the crown, or will she live out her fairytale, happily ever after?

Audiobook Review: The Bone Maker by Sarah Beth Durst

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The Bone Maker
Paperback, 496 pages
Published March 9th 2021 by Harper Voyager

I received a free copy of the audiobook from the publisher through the Libro.fm ALC program, which did not affect my honest opinion that this book was fantastic!

Having read and enjoyed The Queen of Blood, I was excited to see this author release a standalone fantasy that sounds fascinating. And I was not wrong in my assessment. I really enjoyed that the author showcased older MCs (I don’t think their exact ages were mentioned but they are around 40) and included all the conflicting emotions that adults face while making decisions. It was refreshing to see what happens after the heroes save the world.

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Audiobook Review: The Dragon Oath by Megan Linski

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The Dragon Oath (Hidden Legends: University of Sorcery, #2)
Kindle Edition
Published June 23rd 2020

Having listened to and reviewed the first audiobook in this series, I was approached by the author to do the same with book two. I can honestly say that I enjoyed this one more than book one! The author, Megan, does an excellent job developing the POV narrators as well as secondary characters. We learn a bit more about the history and lore of the fae, which is becoming increasingly important as the ensemble moves toward their fate.

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Audiobook Review: The Cup and the Prince by Day Leitao

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The Cup and The Prince (Kingdom of Curses and Shadows #1)
Paperback, 256 pages
Published October 15th 2020 by Sparkly Wave

I received a copy of the audiobook from the author in exchange for an honest review!

I already had this one on my TBR and had purchased a physical book that I hadn’t made time to read yet when the author offered codes through one of the Facebook groups I’m in. As I was almost finished with my current audiobook, I jumped on the chance to listen to this one. It was a relatively short listen at just over six hours, and I thought the narrator did a fabulous job adding inflection and tone to each POV.

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