SHAWN

I will read (listen to) books more directed to kids from time to time just to give myself a break from some of the more serious topics, and this is a great listen if you might do the same, or just enjoy a well written series without wanting to listen to something too long..

Right now, the 39 Clues books seem to be my go to when I'm taking one of my breaks..

They are well written, well narrated, and are overall great books for kids or adults. Think of an Indiana Jones adventure from a kids point of view.. Well rounded characters, plot twists that aren't too obvious, etc..

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book (and this series) if you aren't looking for something good and an ongoing story you can follow from time to time.. This is book 2 but I think I'm up to #5 now & have enjoyed every one so far (even bought the next because I was wanting to hear the next step in the adventure)... It will probably take me a few years before I get up to the last book, but I'm in no hurry..

Give the series a try (but start at Book 1)...

I set my alarm last night and started this book the instant it was available for download..

I'm well into the 2nd file, (about 10 hours) and it was WELL worth the wait. Another FANTASTIC Dresden book...

The only thing wrong???? That it'll be over sooner than later...

THANK YOU Jim Butcher..!!!

I originally purchased this series after reading opinions that "if you like The Dresden Files books, you'll like these"... I agree and disagree simultaneously with that opinion though, mainly because of the difference of the writing style of different authors I suppose..

These are good audiobooks.. Don't get me wrong... There are interesting characters (what you know about them at least), the narrator does a good job, and the world created by the author is full of some interesting people/creatures/gods/etc.

HOWEVER, after the first hour of listening to the first book, I almost felt like I was listening to the 2nd book of the series, and that I had missed all of the character development that would happen on the first book of a series..

I guess I would liken it to going to a party full of strangers where your date knows everybody and is walking around laughing at inside jokes and secrets, and you are just standing around stumbling into conversations trying to learn names and how she knows everyone... BY YOURSELF.

I just felt thrown into the world abruptly and left to figure things out on my own instead of being introduced to it and guided into their lives.. The character development just didn't exist.

Just don't expect Jim Butcher's style and James Marsters' narration on these like The Dresden Files series... In comparison, there really isn't one in my opinion..

HOWEVER (again), these books will stand on their own just fine.. I suppose my love for Dresden Files books made my expectation of this series a bit out of reach.

All in all though, good series, w/ good narration... Just lacking in character development in my opinion..

I originally purchased this series after reading opinions that "if you like The Dresden Files books, you'll like these"... I agree and disagree simultaneously with that opinion though, mainly because of the difference of the writing style of different authors I suppose..

These are good audiobooks.. Don't get me wrong... There are interesting characters (what you know about them at least), the narrator does a good job, and the world created by the author is full of some interesting people/creatures/gods/etc.

HOWEVER, after the first hour of listening to the first book, I almost felt like I was listening to the 2nd book of the series, and that I had missed all of the character development that would happen on the first book of a series..

I guess I would liken it to going to a party full of strangers where your date knows everybody and is walking around laughing at inside jokes and secrets, and you are just standing around stumbling into conversations trying to learn names and how she knows everyone... BY YOURSELF.

I just felt thrown into the world abruptly and left to figure things out on my own instead of being introduced to it and guided into their lives.. The character development just didn't exist.

Just don't expect Jim Butcher's style and James Marsters' narration on these like The Dresden Files series... In comparison, there really isn't one in my opinion..

HOWEVER (again), these books will stand on their own just fine.. I suppose my love for Dresden Files books made my expectation of this series a bit out of reach.

All in all though, good series, w/ good narration... Just lacking in character development in my opinion..

ABOUT THE SERIES: "THE DRESDEN FILES"

I was originally introduced to Dresden's world by the fairly entertaining show on SyFy, and thought I'd give the books a try since the show had potential (and books are ALWAYS better than the show/movie).. I also hadn't read much "Urban Fiction" up to that point and wanted to see if I liked it..

BEST DECISION OF MY LIFE.. (in reference to books at least)

Without giving anything away, the series is about the case files of a wizard/detective named Harry Dresden living in Chicago, IL during modern times.. Each book covers a different case while simultaneoulsy building the life of the main character and a variety of other people in Harry's life.

The main character is funny, tragic, likeable, and somewhat unlucky at times, but is always interesting and never boring... All supporting characters are developed PERFECTLY as well, and there are a few that I even love more than Harry (I'd love to be Michael for example)..

Jim Butcher is by far one of the best authors of our time, and is I feel THE BEST in the urban fiction genre.. He has a way of telling a story that not many can match in my opinion and deserves a place alongside greats like Stephen King (comparing to his Dark Tower series)

Read the synopsis, and if you think it would interest you, give it a try.. Anyone I've introduced these books to have loved them from the very beginning.. Here's hoping that this will help a few more take the plunge into the world of the Dresden Files..

A Tip: If you start the first book and like it, go back and purchase "Side Jobs", which is a collection of short stories that take place in-between the books... Then listen to each short story from "Side Jobs" in it's correct place in the timeline.. This makes the books even better honestly since these short stories are mentioned throughout the main books.. There is even the original short story that started it all that the author wrote while still in college.. Listen to it even before you continue "Storm Front"..

Supposedly, the author has 20 Dresden Files books planned and then an "apocolyptic trilogy" to end everything so the series is far from over.. We are on #13 and #14 should be out sometime in 2013.. Ask anyone that has read these and they will agree with me that they too "can't wait until the next one"..

ABOUT THE BOOK: "STORM FRONT"

An excellent first book that helps create and build our hero and the world he lives in. I don't think this is the BEST book in the series, but it's certainly better than most books by other authors.. It's just not the best when compared to the other books of the series.

Bottom line, you have to listen to this one or you'll miss some pretty big points of Harry's life... You'll even enjoy it when you do..

There's wizards, damsels in distress, evil sorcerers, the Fae, white counsels, Chicago police, etc.. How can you go wrong?

Also, James Marster's is probably one of the best narrators of all time, and I've listened to A LOT of books over the years.. FANTASTIC job reading this series.. He brings Harry to life..

Give it a try.. You will be in the minority if you don't love it..

I originally purchased this series after reading opinions that "if you like The Dresden Files books, you'll like these"... I agree and disagree simultaneously with that opinion though, mainly because of the difference of the writing style of different authors I suppose..

These are good audiobooks.. Don't get me wrong... There are interesting characters (what you know about them at least), the narrator does a good job, and the world created by the author is full of some interesting people/creatures/gods/etc.

HOWEVER, after the first hour of listening to the first book, I almost felt like I was listening to the 2nd book of the series, and that I had missed all of the character development that would happen on the first book of a series..

I guess I would liken it to going to a party full of strangers where your date knows everybody and is walking around laughing at inside jokes and secrets, and you are just standing around stumbling into conversations trying to learn names and how she knows everyone... BY YOURSELF.

I just felt thrown into the world abruptly and left to figure things out on my own instead of being introduced to it and guided into their lives.. The character development just didn't exist.

Just don't expect Jim Butcher's style and James Marsters' narration on these like The Dresden Files series... In comparison, there really isn't one in my opinion..

HOWEVER (again), these books will stand on their own just fine.. I suppose my love for Dresden Files books made my expectation of this series a bit out of reach.

All in all though, good series, w/ good narration... Just lacking in character development in my opinion..

I originally purchased this series after reading opinions that "if you like The Dresden Files books, you'll like these"... I agree and disagree simultaneously with that opinion though, mainly because of the difference of the writing style of different authors I suppose..

These are good audiobooks.. Don't get me wrong... There are interesting characters (what you know about them at least), the narrator does a good job, and the world created by the author is full of some interesting people/creatures/gods/etc.

HOWEVER, after the first hour of listening to the first book, I almost felt like I was listening to the 2nd book of the series, and that I had missed all of the character development that would happen on the first book of a series..

I guess I would liken it to going to a party full of strangers where your date knows everybody and is walking around laughing at inside jokes and secrets, and you are just standing around stumbling into conversations trying to learn names and how she knows everyone... BY YOURSELF.

I just felt thrown into the world abruptly and left to figure things out on my own instead of being introduced to it and guided into their lives.. The character development just didn't exist.

Just don't expect Jim Butcher's style and James Marsters' narration on these like The Dresden Files series... In comparison, there really isn't one in my opinion..

HOWEVER (again), these books will stand on their own just fine.. I suppose my love for Dresden Files books made my expectation of this series a bit out of reach.

All in all though, good series, w/ good narration... Just lacking in character development in my opinion..

I'm not really a huge biography reader/listener, but I've always been interested in Einstein's life...

When I saw that Walter Isaacson wrote a biography on him, (my first biography by him was Steve Jobs) I downloaded it immediately and was not disappointed for even a second...

The author catches Einstein's life in interesting ways and tells a good story about the good and bad of his life.. Enjoyed every second..

If you are looking for a good listen about a great man, give it a try..

I was SO excited to hear that Mr. King had written another chapter in The Dark Tower series (you can arrange this one in your library as book number 4.5) and was not disappointed.

It tells a story inside another story inside another story so it doesn't add much to journey of Roland, Jake, Eddie & Suzanna, but gives you more of Roland's background and life before his journey to the tower really began..

The only thing I missed were the previous narrators of the other books (George Guidall & Frank Muller) but Mr. King did a good job.. I didn't notice after about 20 minutes in so it certainly didn't ruin the experience for me..

EVERYTHING about it was fantastic... If you love The Dark Tower, GET IT...

This book was my introduction to this author (my doctor told me about Frank Peretti and called him the "Christian Steven King") and I was NOT disappointed... Wow, what a great book...

This is not one of his horror titles (look at some of his other works for that) but more of a Sci-Fi book that runs the gambit of human emotions... I was nervous, laughing, had tears in my eyes, and every feeling in-between by the time I finished this one..

If you just want an EXCELLENT read, you will not be disappointed..