The Finisher (Vega Jane, Book 1)

By: David Baldacci

Narrated by: Nicola Barber

Length: 14 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Fourteen-year-old Vega Jane lives in the village of Wormwood, where life is nasty, brutish, and short. Villagers have been told that there is nothing outside of Wormwood except for the Quag, a foul forest filled with terrifying beasts. No one comes, no one goes, and Wormwood has stayed this way for generations. Until Vega's friend Quentin Herms disappears.

Quentin leaves Vega a secret message hinting that there's a way out of Wormwood and something extraordandinary on the other side. As Vega begins to investigate, she realizes that Wormwood is a village built on dangerous lies. And that powerful people are willing to kill in order to keep it that way. Soon Vega is careening down a path that will either lead straight to the truth...or straight into an early grave.

©2014 David Baldacci (P)2014 Scholastic Inc.

Wow! - but very unexpected

Any additional comments?

If you like Rowling and Tolkien you're going to love this book. If you love David Baldacci you may or may not like it. Baldacci demonstrates an incredible range with this book - to the extent that several times I wondered if this was by a different author named Baldacci. It's a fun plot however, shows amazing imagination and verbal skills, and sets the stage for a great sequel. I was not surprised to see some negative reviews, however, because I rarely have read a book that was so different than what I had expected.

Perfect Naration!

She was perfect, making the story come alive & exciting with her "proper" British English❣️

Excellent!

Enjoy the magic

Excellent story with continuing plot twists.
Narrator makes the emotions of the story come to life.
Well worth the listen.

Very good

This was a very well written and entertaining story. Thank you. Great job with narration also.

Mr Baldacci must have become a grandfather

While his other books are coherent mysteries or thrillers, this adventure reads like a story told to a female grandchild. The 15 year old heroine has many admirable qualities -- courage, compassion and persistence. But this reader became frustrated by detailed descriptions of situations and characters whose purpose never is explained. I would not purchase future books to find out what comes next.

A Great Author is Always A Great Author

Baldacci has written what I consider to be his contribution to the genre of Harry Potter books. A delightful, believable story that gives great pleasure.
Highly recommended.

When Harry Potter meets the Hunger Games

This is not a typical Baldacci novel. The Finisher is intriguing and entertaining in parts and boring in others. Overall, if you like all of the teenage books like Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, Divergent etc, you will probably enjoy this one too. I listened to this one because there is a sequel to this Vega Jane novel. I may eventually read the sequel, but it won't be anytime soon based on The Finisher. By the way, it starts quite slowly. Stay with it for a couple of hours and then it's entertaining.

Superb fantasy by a writer of action thrillers.

Extremely well written and produced. Simply put, very enjoyable. Vega Jane makes the perfect heroine.

I listen to a lot of books and that was one of the best audio performances I've heard yet, Nicola barber did a super job

Quite a different direction for David Baldacci and no cops, killers or evil CIA agents trying to kill you. The story was a little campy but done very well. It was a great ride I really enjoyed it. Once again I thank you David.

not bad

the narrator was great and the story has promise but I couldn't get past two things. 1) the made up wog tog quog log bog or whatever, it's a bit silly for preschool rhyming and cheapened it 2) so, which came first The Village or this book...?
other than that it's pretty good.