Bookworm

Bookworm Series, Book 1

By: Christopher Nuttall

Narrated by: Zehra Jane Naqvi

Length: 13 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

Elaine is an orphan girl who has grown up in a world where magical ability brings power. Her limited talent was enough to ensure a magical training, but she's very inexperienced and was lucky to get a position working in the Great Library. Now, the Grand Sorcerer - the most powerful magician of them all - is dying, although initially that makes little difference to Elaine; she certainly doesn't have the power to compete for higher status in the Golden City. But all that changes when she triggers a magical trap and ends up with all the knowledge from the Great Library stuffed inside her head. The knowledge locked away in the Great Library was meant to remain permanently sealed and letting it out could mean a repeat of the catastrophic Necromantic Wars of 500 years earlier. Elaine is forced to struggle with the terrors and temptations represented by her newfound knowledge, all the while trying to stay out of sight of those she fears.

But a darkly powerful figure has been drawing up a plan to take the power of the Grand Sorcerer for himself; and Elaine, unknowingly, is vital to his scheme. Unless she can unlock the mysteries behind her new knowledge, there is no hope for those she loves, the Golden City, or her entire world.

©2013 Christopher Nuttall (P)2017 Tantor

Good feel to this story

This book was a pleasant surprise I believe that it had a great feel to it, the characters were engaging, and the story kept the listener’s interest, a must buy. If there was one criticism regarding this book, in my opinion I wish that the writer would stick to one designation when comes to magic users. Let’s put this way if there were different kinds of magic users I would understand the use of different kinds of names. However, in this book and in this genre, Christopher Nuttall tends to go from magician, to sorcerer, to wizard or even druid. Its so many names talking about the same thing, I think it just confuses the reader, however with that said still buy the book.

Well-written not the most shocking storyline

Nicely detailed universe, interesting characters and well-written unfortunately it did not most interesting story line

Undeveloped copy of the artist's own works

Reading this book was weird since I just finished reading the Schooled in Magic series and was looking for other works by the same artist. Listening to this book, was like listening to a cheap, less detailed, unrefined version of the Schooled in Magic series to a point that it felt like they could be taking place in the same world, if written by a different, less detailed, less caring author. Just a really weird, unsatisfying feeling after completing this book.

disappointed

Preformance was good but it is R rated, normally I listen to audio books while doing things around the house but this story and I couldn't because I have a child. It is basically a bunch of sexual fantasy mixed with an bland story. I prefer the schooled in magic series by this author and will wait for the next book in that series rather than listening to the next in this one.

good storyline

I almost stopped listening a few times because of the narrator, but aside from that it was a pretty good book, it starts slow, but gradually picks up.

Story is interesting, gratuitous sex is awkward

I enjoyed the story. The narrator's accent is pretty strong. The juvenile male reference to sexual encounters is awkward, without nuance and comes off as silly and inappropriate.

Wow! Great read.

This seems to be more geared towards women, but it was an interesting magic/wizard/sorceress type story.

Good book that has a slightly confused identity

This book feels like a young adult novel but also contains some content that is not very child friendly.
.
I do not think of my self as being too old fashioned but I think the bits about oral sex and sexual assault are too much for anyone younger than 16.
.
With a bit of minor editing this book would have been great for teenagers and younger kids who are mature for their age. It would not have damaged the story any to be a bit more vague about some of those details. The author kept all the workings of magic very vague and did not explain how any of it worked so I know he is capable of describing things well without being specific.
.
There are no complex characters or situations that a child would have trouble understanding so I do not see why it could not be edited to fit.

I wanted to love this book

What did you like best about Bookworm? What did you like least?

I loved the idea, i loved the voice actor. But half way through the book i had to make myself stay. the last 30 minutes were painful. The story just... dropped.
over use of "Existence" and having Elaine find strength she didn't know she had became cringe worthy.
The sexual experience seemed forced and Elaine's wondering about love afterwards was awkward. I believed her relationship to her tormentor more then the relation ship to Bee.

The voice actor was very good, but i will not be returning to this author.

Has Bookworm turned you off from other books in this genre?

i loved the idea, the idea was great and i would like to read another book LIKE this, but not by this author.

Was Bookworm worth the listening time?

no

Non fairytale, but satisfying conclusion.

It was slow to start, but worth reading to the end. Climactic, but not neat.