Jennifer

Having read a number of Pratchett's non-Discworld books before, and enjoyed them, I was looking forward to this one. Even so, I was pleasantly surprised. It turns out that Dickensian London and the squallid, aromatic streets of Ank-Morpork have a lot in common, and this story could have taken place in either.

The story itself is enthralling. Not actually Pratchett's best, which is the only reason I gave it a 4 instead of a 5, but still great, and Briggs performance is just as good as it always is.

If you're considering getting this, but don't know if you'll enjoy a non-Discworld book, I'd encourage you to give in and do it. It's either a credit, or money, well spent.

First of all, the story is great. I actually prefer this to Belgareth, but then, Polgara was always a favoured character of mine. And I have to say, the narrator did a perfect job with her, did a great job of adding some emotions to her voice (especially the dry and sardonic aspects) and got some great accents, especially the Wacite peasant brogue.

That being said, there are two gripes. One big, one small. As others have said, she constantly mispronounced place names. It wasn't enough to ruin the book, but I did cringe every time she said "Mallorea".

The second is what she did to Ce'nedra. If she'd had a bigger part in the book, I'm not sure I could have kept going. It was the kind of voice I might have been alright with for, say, Queen Leila... but not our favourite tiny dryad.

For me, though, those were minor and unlike most, I really liked her voice. But those mistakes did lower my rating to a 3, instead of a 4.

Yes, I would, and have. Kevin Hearne's books are wonderfully witty, and literally make me laugh out loud, which many books don't. His word play is brilliant.

That... is a hard question to answer. In short, it does a superb job of bridging story arcs.

Only to the first three Iron Druid Chronicles books, but his performance is, as ever, kicking butt. His voice for Oberon never fails to crack me up.

Yes, and I more or less have. :)

While the wait wasn't too long, as I only discovered this brilliant author a few months ago, it seemed interminable. I'm relieved the wait for the fifth book, Trapped, is only until November.

I should also note that I do not often write reviews, but this is a new author that I am deeply impressed with. If you like Neil Gaimen and Jim Butcher, you should like Kevin Hearne. Yes, he's that good.