John

Wow. Was this really a book by Stephenson. I hope he goes back to his old style of writing. Trying to become Robert Ludlum is clearly a train wreck. The only thing that tops the poor story line is the narration. I actually think this was the worst attempt at narration that I have listened to. It was like finger nails on a chalkboard when he attempted any accent. His voice is more geared toward non-fiction. I will have to remember his name and stay away from any fiction books narrated by him.

Bottom line. Choose another author if you want espionage. I loved all of Stephenson's prior works. This is just not up to his level. A huge disappointment.

I have to admit, Ambler in mind just knows how to tell a story that flows with that combination of action, character development and a great description of ever changing landscapes. 8 hours seems like a 12 hour book. Always wanting to get back in the car for more each morning. I will clearly go through all of his books. Highest recommendation for any of Ambler's books. I hope more people find out. A great find. Enjoy.

The action picks up a notch and the characters are fewer, making it easier to follow. Also not as much jumping around compared to Quicksilver. Still the main focus of the book, like Quicksilver, is the rich historical period. The historical aspect of the series still seems to dominate the fictional characters and plots. Stephenson though writes extremely well and makes it come alive and interesting. Not dry historical fiction which tends to dominate the books I get. The narration continues to be top rate and probably makes this book a 5 star rather than a 4 star. Looking forward to book 3 in the series.

I didn't know what to expect with Quicksilver given some of the poor reviews. What I found was great writing paired with excellent narration. Though heavy on the historical detail and less on the fictional drama, it still was a great listen. Reminds me of a Follet book, i.e. Pillars of the Earth. Even better is that it is a series. Can't wait to listen to the rest. The only caution I would comment on is the moving back and forth in time made it a little tough to follow, especially with all of the characters.

The first half of the book was great. Then it seemed to just flatten out. Despite great narration the story bogged down in subplots and filler. Historical fiction always seems to be a risky genre because authors tend poor in all the factual detail they so painfully researched. Unfortunately that slows down the flow and the second half of the book is a good example. Overall a good book and I am not terribly disappointed. Not a bad use of a credit.

Every book by Littell has been a 5 star and this one keeps the streak alive. Great narration on this one. I have to put Littell in my top three of my espionage authors. I will definitely go through all his books. Highly recommend.

The book is well written, easy to understand and does clarify some of the concepts in the five agreement book by taking a different tact at the material. The narrator though was average. A little disappointing since I thought Coyote, who did the five agreement book, was excellent. The bland narration did make me lose focus many times in the car. I think I will have to re-listen to the book because of it. Clearly if you like the five agreement book you will like this one.

For a 32 hour book to keep me riveted and anxious to get back in the car each morning is by definition a 5 star +. And I got this on sale. Wow. Looking forward to trying more titles by this author. The narrator was top rate, a must for this type of book. If you like Stephen King books, you will like this one. This is not my favorite genre, but any book written this well is a 5 star no matter what genre. Highest recommendation.

I have listened to a lot of Goddard's books and this one is easily in the top three if not the best. You quickly get into the characters and scene of the 1800s and the twists of plot keep you wanting for more. Typically I feel Goddard's books don't have the great ending but are enjoyable for the story and characters. This one has both. The narrator should get 6 stars. Highest recommendation in my book.

I loved The Magicians, so I guess I was set up for a let down. The let down was just a little more than I thought it would be. Whereas in The Magicians i could not wait to get back to the book, The Magician King was making me wish it would just end. I think the novelty was gone. The character development was not there. The book seemed heavy on the fantasy with a sort of flight of ideas. The sarcastic tone, which I typically like in a lead character, just fell flat.

I also now realize that the author has a plan for probably several books in this series. I would not be surprised if it turned out to be seven given the Narnia like aspect of the book. When you start a book and realize that the end will only be the beginning of another book, the steam seems to come out of the climatic scenes.

Will I get the next book in the series when it comes out, probably. But if the trend in quality that this book started continues, the third will be my last.

A stab in the dark choice turned out to be a gem. Not my typical genre of books to listen to but the author does a great job with the characters, scenes and the plot flows at a good pace. Always made me want to get in the car in the morning to pick up where I left off. The narrator is perfect for the style, accenting the subtle sarcastic personalities well. A great use of a credit. Can't wait for book 2, The Magician King.