Hard Magic

Book I of the Grimnoir Chronicles

By: Larry Correia

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Length: 16 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award, Paranormal, 2012

Jake Sullivan is a licensed private eye with a seriously hardboiled attitude. He also possesses raw magical talent and the ability to make objects in his vicinity light as a feather or as heavy as depleted uranium, all with a magical thought. It's no wonder the G-men turn to Jake when they need someone to go after a suspected killer who has been knocking off banks in a magic-enhanced crime spree.

Problems arise when Jake discovers the bad girl behind the robberies is an old friend, and he happens to know her magic is just as powerful as his. And the Feds have plunged Jake into a secret battle between powerful cartels of magic-users - a cartel whose ruthless leaders have decided that Jake is far too dangerous to live.

©2011 Larry Correia (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

A really fun ride

I really enjoyed the combination of magic, monsters, and guns. It is a really fun series. AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY

Good and very interesting characters

This is a very clever take on the alternate history genre. The logic behind how Magic is used and it’s affects were nicely thought out. But what I liked the most about this book was the characters. Each one has their own unique story and they seem grounded as if they’ve been around for years. It’s got action, violence and some really good lines. It’s a satisfying arch but you still want to know what the characters will get up to next. I thoroughly enjoyed the listen.

The narrator makes the story come to life!!!

I’ve loved this story since it was first released and I read the books initially, but the amazing job mr. Pinchot does for the whole series adds so much life to it.

Voices

Some characters sounded like Forest Gump. The German accent was not believable. The reading must have been difficult but he really kept up the pace.

Larry Correia did it again!!!!

Publisher's Summary is the worst kind possible!!!!
It tells facts which definitely relate to the current story
but it doesn't tell you the most important bits, so let me:

Alternate Universe 1930s
Super Powers
Secret Societies
Famous Events and Characters
Alien Variable
Interesting story

And all of it written by Larry Correia (author of MHI)

If you need any more reasons to spend your credit, listen to the sample and enjoy amazing narration by Bronson Pinchot.

I was very skeptical

I went in to this book thinking 'ok, I liked his other books, and I've no doubt heard worse', I was so surprised by this book I dont have the words to convey how flabergasted I was the more I listened.

First I will say that if you have any understanding at all of physics, even a very basic rudimentary grasp, then you wont have to suspend disbelief in this novel, it takes place on a different Earth, thats all, and the quotes from historical figures at the start of each chapter make this abundantly clear.

The characters are likeable, more than likeable, they are great, you can find yourself feeling exactly the way the author expects you to about them, that is the most masterful writing and Larry Correia does it and you dont realise it until its too late and your hooked in these peoples lives. I laughed, I feared, I hated and I sympathised, it was so much fun.

Bronson Pinchot was amazing narrating this book, I didnt realise who it was until the beginning of part two, I was floored! THIS !?!?!? Bronson Pinchot !?!?! Balki and Serge, Bronson Pinchot ?!?! Absolutely outstanding job, amazing, I cant say who is more talented in this book, author or narrator.

Give this book a try, you dont even have to go in to it with an open mind, there is no Harry Potter or Narnia or even Lyra in these pages, it is a unique and superbly crafted world populated with people that are amazingly relateable.

Good Story, Extremely Well Told

Yes Bronson Pinchot. Who'd have thought? He nails this. His voice characterizations are fantastic, and well executed. His cadence is solid. He manages to do males and females in a diversity of ages and accents without his presentation being cheesy or overcooked. I would put him on par with Jim Dale who narrated the Harry Potter series (I believe that series is not available on Audible yet, unfortunately, though other Jim Dale narrations are).

As to the story, I was very well satisfied. I was put off by the idea of the "Grimnoir" as a bit of a silly portmanteau, but I was over it immediately. It is actually quite apt. The setting is an excellent combination of alternate history and urban fantasy. It has an extremely tight magical structure that makes for interesting plot twists and challenges for the protagonists. The characters well developed especially the main two with just the right amount of backstory. No doubt, Mr. Pinchot's voices have a lot to do with this.

This book can go from quiet introspection to epic battles dialed up to 11 in very short order. It is impossible to get bored.

this book is worth listening too

This book kept coming up in my recommendation list. The cover art kind of turned me off, the brief description seemed cliche, but I read a review where another reader had felt the same initially then changed his mind.

I picked up this novel on the long weekend in May (Canada), and listened to it non-stop. While walking the dog, doing chores, and going down to the river with my puppy. The story is gripping.

This story carves out its own niche in the noir urban alternate fantasy sci-fi historical fiction scene.

Genre-bending, escapist fun

Where does Hard Magic rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I listen to A LOT of Audiobooks, so this is a really hard question to answer - in terms of pure entertainment, this was a great book. I thought the mix of characters were interesting and the world Correia builds is strangely fantastic but also believable. I only gave the book 4 stars, but I'm grading on a steep curve. Will this book change your life and make you a better person? No.

Will it provide you with hours of entertainment, make you smile, and eagerly download the next book in the series? Yep.

What did you like best about this story?

I think Correia does a great job of taking an Alt. History, and mashing it up with classic pulp genres (noir, superheros and classic science fiction) . Pinchot does a good job with the characters - I honestly think he had a lot of fun with the interactions between the characters in how he interprets the dialog.

What does Bronson Pinchot bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Like all great Narrators, Pinchot doesn't just read the book, he performs it. I didn't feel his performance was ever a distraction from the story. Some of the accents were a little thick, but I really enjoyed his reading.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

A lot of cliff-hanger moments. The bad-guys are really bad, the good guys are good - its what you expect from this kind of book.

Any additional comments?

Great book - you'll enjoy it

Keeps you on the edge of your seat!

Where does Hard Magic rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

A great "listen" though a little longer than most audiobooks I've listened to. I enjoyed Bronson Pinchot's lively narration as he made the personalities of the characters really come to life. I also enjoyed the humor that is present even in the midst of explosive action.

What other book might you compare Hard Magic to and why?

It's an action novel on steroids with super heroes and super villains, good and evil, intrigue, mystery, plots for world domination, and plans to save the world!

Have you listened to any of Bronson Pinchot’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

First time. His narration really brought the characters to life.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely.

Any additional comments?

Wow!!!