Brightblade (2nd Edition)

UnderVerse, Book 1

By: Jez Cajiao

Narrated by: Wayne Mitchell

Length: 21 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

A realm aside from our own. The center of the realities. Home to every spectrum of magic.

From the beautiful to the terrible, it was all held in delicate balance by the Eternal Emperor and his immortal children. For 10,000 years, the empire was the bastion that protected the sentient races from the darkness, but the revolution, and the War of the Gods has changed all that . . .

Jax seems like a regular guy, except that he fights creatures from a strange place called the UnderVerse in his sleep, leaving him covered in horrific scars when he wakes up. The mysterious disappearance of his brother five years prior has forced Jax into a holding pattern, with a job he tolerates, a girl he kinda, sorta loves . . . until he's kidnapped and given a stark choice by his asshat of a father: Go to the UnderVerse in reality, travel to the capitol of that ruined realm at the center of reality, and open a portal for the Noble Houses to return home . . .

Or die, slowly.

That's the good news. The bad is that he has to survive the arena first, to prove his right to go. Twelve will enter, only one can leave . . .

©2022 R J Cajiao (P)2022 Tantor Audio

Horrendous narration

What is this accent? Sounds like a bad rendition of Russel Crowe fighting around the world from South Park. So so so bad.

Wow... Worst narator on audible?

Its unlistenable. Trully horid narator, has no clue whatsoever. If angry british drunk yelling at you is your fetish you might enjoy this. Otherwise stay away.

Fast paced, amazing adventure!

The changes made to version two are incredible! The story was always great, but you can truly see the great improvement in writing style in these new versions, I love the new content, and feel like I was even more deeply immersed into the world. Wayne rocks the narration, each character with a unique and different voice, making it easy to follow and engaging! If you've listened to the first version - totally worth listening to the new version. If you haven't listened to any of them- what are you waiting for?

Doesn't let up, narration is great!

I have listened to all the other series by Jez Cajiao and I was hesitant to start this one, mainly due to the unique narration by Wayne Mitchell. Boy, am I ever glad to have purchased and listened fully to the story and Wayne's narration.

The story is great, MC grows, has some soft heartedness, but is merciless with those who would harm others.

As you listen you get to really appreciate Wayne Mitchell's performance. The brogue of the dwarves is hilarious and really makes you listen! Jacks exclamations are intense, funny, and appropriate (at least for his character) all at the same time.

Thank you Jez Cajiao for the story and thank you Wayne Mitchell for an original and amazing narration!

Great performance and story

5 hours in:
I enjoy the story & the performance of the narrator. Some have complained about the main characters accent but most of the voices remind me of European accents & mannerisms which I enjoy.

So far I highly recommend this audiobook. I will update this review roughly every 5 hours.

10 hours in:
This audiobook was so enjoyable I stayed up til 6am or so last night to listen to it. Story & MC still great.

Rest of the book:
Was a great listen to the end, One certain female companion is annoying but other then that it is amazing.

Great Story, Narrator is SO ANNOYING

This narrator, during every fight scene, gets really excited as he acts out melee battles and taking damage. It’s almost unlistenable. The non-fight scenes are ok, just a standard British accent.

For the story itself, I found it very enjoyable. My only criticism would be during fight scenes, the main character CANNOT hang onto his weapon. He drops it when he’s hit, or it gets stuck in an enemy’s bone. I honestly can’t think of one fight where he doesn’t either fall down or drop his weapon. It’s irritating.

Other than that, great story!

I love this narrator so much.

I died laughing at all the people disliking the narrator because I came to say I love them. I'm gonna look for more books that they have narrated. maybe it just sounds better because I listen at 2x speed.

MC oversexed story

The Oracle character seems to bring nothing positive to the story and its interactions with the MC cause nothing but cringe.

this mc is so dumb it actually hurt me sometime

ok the narration is so over the top it takes away from the story big time and the mc is stupid like the story has good potential but gah

still worth a credit

the start is horrible mostly due to the bad narration making it almost unintelligible however this does improve and becomes clear that it was done on purpose to help with character development about 1/3 to halfway through it becomes much easier to understand what he is actually saying but ya I'd still recommend they re-record the first half or so as it's like they actually where drunk at the time