SGTiplady

Joe Abercrombie has become tied with Patrick Rothfuss for my favorite living author. I love this series--blood, grit and swearing notwithstanding but essential--it is a story so well written and so well portrayed by the narrator that I know I will loathe its ending when I complete the last entry of the trilogy. Luckily for me, Joe has kept on writing and there are more books waiting for me.

Peter Heller writes such sweet, lyrical prose that it almost takes you out of the horror his characters are living. I loved that Hig, the story's teller, was still able to see so much natural beauty all around him even though the world had ended and been replaced with a nightmare. He also finds loveliness and a familial connection in the people he happens to meet who decide not to kill him just be cause he might be a threat to them, but wait to see if he might be worth trusting, worth saving, worth forming a bond with. He remains positive in a dark world and he finds light where it still exists, even when it might be hiding. Mark Deakins' narration was perfect. I look forward to more from this author and this narrator.

The character development is some of the best I have ever read. All the main characters are fleshed out with details that make them incredibly--and often very painfully--alive to the reader. Glockta's misery is palpable and unrelenting. Even small-role characters are given attention that makes the few lines dedicated to them seemingly speak volumes about them. This is the first book in a triology and I will definitely be getting the remaining books.

I liked Logen deciding to pick up and carry the very ill novice all the way back to the Library. That decision spoke enormously to--and beyond--his thoughts that he did not want any more deaths laid to his hand if he could help it.

Other than his slightly-off pronunciation of a few words, I thought the narrator did a good job of portraying the moods and attitudes of the central character who had suffered a brain/mind altering surgerical procedure as a young child (to correct epilepsy). The surgery left him with a limited ablility to relate to or even to empathize with others. While these ablilities (as it is shown in the story) are not missing altogether, this limited ablility to "walk in another's shoes" makes him cold and unfeeling at times, but also bewildered at his lack of understanding of and connection to others. The whole story is seemingly set up to enhance that fact. Transitions and movement in the story from scene to scene was often hard to follow. In several instances I had difficulty making the leap with the author in the "action". I like a complicated and intricate plot, but this was something else that I find, even now, hard to put my finger on often asking myself: What just happened?

Both main characters were dispicable people. The narrators were both excellent in bringing that fact to light in a very creepy way. Layer by layer. I wanted a better ending to the story but I suppose there is enough information in the rest of the story to imagine the future of this couple.

I loved Robertson Dean' s rich narrator's voice and style. The story was OK.

I didn't love this story nor am I compelled to read the rest of the trilogy. I am not attracted to "underworld" stories or characters. I admired the creativity of W. Gibson's storytelling and his writing ability. And of course I am aware of his foresight into the furture/present world.

I really like listening to Wil Wheaton. He has a pleasant, well-modulated voice and captured the essence of the characters without being intrusive into the listening experience.

I liked Wade very much. He was able to grow and change as the story went on into a more and more likeable person who just happened to be superhuman at gaming and computer skills.

Wil's characterization and presentation of all the characters was spot-on! I could listen to him all day; in fact, I practically did do that while cleaning my house one weekend while also listening to this story.

No, see final comment

Probably not.

No, the first one ends pretty definitively.

I was initially only curious about the manner in which the author would blend historical fact with fantastical fiction. That part satisfied, I continued to listen to the end, but was not thrilled with the story overall. The narrator's choice of narrative style quickly became annoying: a sing-songy, no contractions style. Approximately the first half of the story held my attention but after that point I began to lose interest. I think that the character of Henry Sturgis was the breaking point for me because even though he only "ate" the aged and sickly, he remained a monster still, taking upon himself the decision to end someone's life to save his own. *Spoiler Alert* I very much objected to the ending because Lincoln could not have been clearer about his abhorrence for "turning" one of his loved ones so I cannot help but believe he would have felt the same about being turned himself.

Nick Podehl has a wonderful speaking voice and can seemingly very easily slip into new characters' voices. It's quite fun to listen to.

None, really, this book and its prequel, The Name of the Wind, are above and beyond anything I have read or listened to. And that includes quite a few well-acclaimed books.

Too many to name, but I like all the scenes with Aury because Kvothe is so tender with her.

There are several that are sweet, smart, sexy, or brave, but there is a scene near the end that was horrific because it was so unexpected.

I loved the unpredictability of the characters and the storyline. I like being immersed in a story that takes me into new, but believeable places.

I look for books that are like themselves alone and are unique, and this one fits that standard.

Young Kvothe--warm and very likeable in characterization and performance.

Any comment here might be a major spoiler!

READ this book!