All Rights Reserved

Word$, Book One

By: Gregory Scott Katsoulis

Narrated by: Frankie Corzo

Length: 11 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

In a world where every word and gesture is copyrighted, patented, or trademarked, one girl elects to remain silent rather than pay to speak, and her defiant and unexpected silence threatens to unravel the very fabric of society.

Speth Jime is anxious to deliver her Last Day speech and celebrate her transition into adulthood. The moment she turns 15, Speth must pay for every word she speaks ("sorry" is a flat $10 and a legal admission of guilt), for every nod ($0.99/sec), for every scream ($0.99/sec), and even every gesture of affection. She's been raised to know the consequences of falling into debt and can't begin to imagine the pain of having her eyes shocked for speaking words that she's unable to afford.

But when Speth's friend Beecher commits suicide rather than work off his family's crippling debt, she can't express her shock and dismay without breaking her Last Day contract and sending her family into Collection. Backed into a corner, Speth finds a loophole: Rather than read her speech - rather than say anything at all - she closes her mouth and vows never to speak again. Speth's unexpected defiance of tradition sparks a media frenzy, inspiring others to follow in her footsteps, and threatens to destroy her, her family, and the entire city around them.

©2017 Gregory Scott Katsoulis (P)2017 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited.

Amazing

Loved it, never really liked audio books but now I'm hooked on them. Amazing performance

Amazing! Executed flawlessly

Wow! The plot line and subject of this book is amazing!! The title tie in at the end was everything!

Astounded that is was this deep

I was a bit hesitant ad first, as this was a recommendation by my then 18-year-old daughter who had read this novel and I went ahead and took a leap of faith listen to it got into it after about maybe chapter four or five and was ever so curious because it does closely relate to our advanced technology.

It's kind of scary to think that maybe one day it could possibly get to that hopefully not but you know anything's possible.

Mispronunciation.

Don’t they edit these things? I’ve heard several words mispronounced - some repeatedly since the narrator obviously doesn’t know the pronunciation, but also misreadings such as “stimulate” for “ simulate”. I’ve never run into this before. Anyone else bothered by this?

First Amendment in Capitalizm

Great YA read. Thought provoking look at words and their value--both monetary and in communication.

The Thinker

great listening story, and it definitly makes you think about how easily this could become the reality.

Didn’t finish

This book just seemed to drag on even though there was suspense and adventure.

The main character, Speth, has a lot of courage to do this and the right intentions but she hasn’t thought it through as well as having a plan. Although this is Speth’s way of finding herself, she doesn’t speak when others need her too. It’s surprising the Speth’s close friends and family don’t get annoyed at her and blame her for the situation.

The characters are not well thought through and have no character arcs.

It’s quite an interesting concept though.

The reader has a uninteresting voice.

Great story

This book was so good. So good! can't wait for the next one to come out so that I can find out what happens.
This was such an original idea. I've never read a book like this one before.

Favorite Book Ever

Such a unique, suspenseful, and absolutely amazing book!!! I highly recommend this to anyone of any age!