Beverly

One of the best Middle Grade reads.

Larger than life characters. All of them.

His narration serves Egg's dry wit.

No extreme reation, but very funny in places.

It's a little dark, but the characters are so exaggerated that the darkness adds to the caricature.
Fast moving book with lots of action and adventure.

I would listen to this novel again, because the story is good but also there are gems of dialogue that inspire.

When Ferrin wonders if he can be trusted. He wonders if he is completely corrupt.

Deliver was clear and enthusiastic without being corny.

When Jason wonders what role he should play and if his work isn't finished. He asks this through out the book and it becomes an internal quest.

Thanks to Brandon Mull for a good read.

Maybe if they were searching for something and had read and liked Graceling.

Probably not. I would and have recommended Graceling, but this book needed about three more edits before being published.

Oddly I can't remember any.

I think Fire needs to be tightened and re-written. Having the graceling in the book didn't add much and I found it especially cheap to throw in his point of view. Fire is an interesting character, but she is never fully fleshed out. She is not truly a monster and seldom much more than a ditzy gal. I'd like to care much more for her than I did in the end.The world Cashore creates and the affinity of mankind to monsters is an interesting theme and possibly another great book, but as for Fire herself, I'm done with her.

The author hammers home some personal views regarding sex and women's liberties that truly interfere with the actual story and I thing the characters would actually be more real to me if the author let them have true relationships. Again many of the men are weak and silly, and the women overbearing and tyrannical though I don't believe that is what the author intends. As for motherhood, I was disappointed but thought it probably character appropriate in Graceling, but with Fire, I think she would have had children by her prince and forcing the liberated woman's POV on Fire is disingenuous.

The characters were complex and well drawn. The book is clean, no foul language or gratuitous sex. The fantasy idea is fresh and delightful and the world building seamless.

When Katsa stands up to her uncle the king.

The narrator's voice was clear and easy to follow. This was the first full cast book I've listened to and though Bitterblue's voice was a little jarring at first the overall listen made the book come to life.

When Katsa realized she was Bitterblue's protector.

Overall good YA fantasy read.