Matt

Trumps of Doom kicks off the second five-book cycle of the Chronicles of Amber, following the exploits of Corwin's son Merlin. The choice of Wil Wheaton to pick up the narration was a fantastic one, because he endows Merlin's voice with just the right mix of youth and experience to suit this unique character. Unlike Allesandro Juliani's performance in the first five books, Wheaton doesn't spend much effort in creating distinct voices for each character, making this seem less like an audio play and more like a storyteller relating his adventures. His narration works very well, though, and it helps reinforce the idea that these are two different tales told by two different men. The story's as great as ever, and I can't wait to finish the rest up. (And if Audible decided to go after the audio rights for the short stories Zelazny left behind in preparation for the third cycle he never got to embark upon, well, that would make a perfect addition to these ten great audios.)

I've been a fan of Roger Zelazny's Amber series since I discovered it decades ago, and was delighted to discover this new, unabridged adaptation of his masterwork. Alessandro Juliani does a great job as narrator, capturing Corwin's voice and personality well, and while some of his vocal choices for the rest of the family take a moment's getting used to, he manages to imbue each character with a distinctive voice and manner that draws you into the tale. Listening to the opening volume once more, I remember again why I was so drawn to this world, and can't wait to work my way through all ten books in the series. This one's definitely a must-have if you're an Amber fan, and if you're unfamiliar with the tales of the immortal city at the heart of all things, you're in for a treat.