Paula

There is an awful lot of the same AWFUL thinking going on this book. As if telling isn't bad enough, but telling the SAME thing over and over? Show us something happening. The real clunker is how the Dark Passenger has become an outside presence, an entity, instead of the product of a damaged mind. The switch to the supernatural rang glaringly false. I like the show a lot, and even though the whole concept is dark and twisted, the way the children are involved in this "story" arc totally offended me because it made no sense. The show is so much better, and that is hardly ever the case in my experience. This Dexter doesn't have to slice you, he can just bore you to death.

The narrator. I couldn't even listen all the way through it. I forced myself through the first two. I plan to purchase this in book for so I can complete the trilogy. She has a whining tone throughout that never changes. And I don't think her voice suits Katniss at all. I had to listen AROUND her reading before and just couldn't do it this time. The story deserves better.

The best reader I have ever heard. Every crazy character distinct and, in my opinion, performed to perfection. In fact, it started me on a whole Christopher Moore kick. But this series...oh, I just love it. Funny as hell and I'm even sick of vampires! Did I say I love Susan Bennett's performance? Excuse me! Worth repeating, though, and I RARELY give anything 5 stars.

The originality and humor. I don't think I've ever laughed so much listening to any other audiobook.

Her characterization. Every thing you could ever want in a narrator.

Wouldn't change a thing...when you find out why it's called that...again, it's worth reading (or hearing) just for that scene.

Why so hard on the narrator? I was never once confused about which character was speaking. Now, when I first heard the voice he chose for the Poisoner, I snapped off my Sansa, thinking, "Yessh. Another wasted credit. This would be better if I read it." I almost quit listening right then because it revolted me instantly and seemed pompous and stagey. But wait! The character is a slimy, arrogant, self important wretch. I grew to LOVE the NARRATOR and I'm hard on narrators in general. I'm glad I gave the book another chance. Two months after listening, I still think about some of the characters and I can't name another book that has done that to me. It was a harsh story, a pathetic roller coaster of pathos and pointless waste. The two most helpful reviews listed here speak of the varied qualities of the book already. Believe what they say. It's an awful story beautifully told. It's actually painful but still I laughed out loud a lot. I think some of the "monologues" toward the end of the story were a bit redundant, but if I reserved 5 stars for a perfect book, no one would ever get a 5 star from me. So. Yes, it induces cringes, stinging eyes, laughter, disgust, exasperation, trepidation and spoons out tiny doses of hope and redemption. Not one of those characters was all bad or all good, even the vile Poisoner. Kinda like real people, huh? I miss those guys.

I kept listening because I thought surely it couldn't be so obvious. But I was disappointed. The only way I could get through it was thinking of it as a campy soap opera. I really liked her second book, though.

The story deserves a higher rating, but the use of the word "small" sent me cringing! I didn't count how many times it was used, but trust me, it had to be over a hundred. Perhaps reading wouldn't have pointed it out so blatantly. Or maybe it was just this reader! Every "The" is pronounced with a strong long "E", every "A" the same, and if you don't mind hearing "again" prounounced "agane" out of context with a southernish accent...ugh. It was a GOOD story to keep me interested despite all these distractions. Sometimes the sample length is not long enough to get a good idea of the reader's performance. This one nearly ruined this book for me.

The first book in the series was mostly stripped of needless description and flowery passages of alliteration. Not so this one. The first hour is spent describing one scene on and underneath a pier. I laughed out loud at some of the endless verbiage(and not in a good way-the "story" never seemed to start) until I gave up counting all the times three adjectives were used when one would have been sufficient. I gave this two stars out of sentimentality toward the character and the excellent narrator. Where was the editor of this book, in Bermuda? Heaven forbid this IS the edited version.

I loved hearing him explain the genesis of this engaging story. Very casual and...well, darnit, sweet. I think I'm in love. But only in a literary way, of course.

I love Neil and I love audiobooks. However, this is the only instance when I've heard one of his stories come off flat, and it's not the narrator's fault. There's just not much there. But, of course, if you've seen the movie, it's understandable that such beautifully strange visuals don't translate well into words. It seemed like there wasn't even an attempt to describe the "dream" sequence, and it feels hollow. Not typical Gaiman Greatness. Neil is a master writer with an astounding imagination. I recommend all of his other work, especially the ones he narrates himself.