The Thirteen Hallows

The Thirteen Hallows was quite a disappointment. From the abstract and the preview I got the impression it could be an entertaining audiobook. Unfortunately it didn't take long to get bored and quite annoyed with the story. Michael Scott has written a couple of children's books that received quite good ratings from listeners here on Audible. Maybe he should have stuck to writing for children.

The Thirteen Hallows is filled with clichés and flat characters and the style is that of a poorly written children's book... except that it's riddled with graphic sex scenes and bloody violence. Apart from that it's repetitive: I stopped counting the number of times the phrase "the metallic smell of blood" reoccurred, but it definitely got on my nerves after the sixth time I heard it. I was expecting it to reappear in every mutilate-and-murder scene that followed and yes: as an unwelcome, annoying guest it came knocking again and again. On top of that an awful lot of the adjectives used seem to come right out of the pulp fiction & horror genre, making the story sound cheap and unimaginative.

Compliments to Kate Reading who did a good job in trying to bring the characters to life, using different accents and tones of voice, but it was not enough to make me interested in the one-dimensional cardboardy characters or really caring about what would happen to them. I was determined to listen all the way to the end of the book, but it was a huge effort. As far as I was concerned it was the second-to-worst audiobook I ever purchased from Audible.

It's all a matter of taste I guess, so don't take my word for it. But I've read a lot of pulp fiction & horror books and I still enjoy a well-written children's book, as long as the story is imaginative, original and entertaining. Unfortunately, I just wasted my money on an audio book that it none of these things.

I am a big fan of Michael Scott's Alchemist series...when I saw this book I was very excited. But...it is as if I were reading a work by a completely different author.

His alchemist books are witty and well thought out and developed--This book is dull and lifeless in comparison. I chose not to write a review when I originally rated this book because I thought I might have had unreasonable expectations because of his YA novels--The alchemist series has vegetarian vampires, historical figures like Shakespeare as elders who are hundreds of years old and still going strong, and the pivotal characters travel from Europe to Alcatraz in search of elders who can teach 'elemental magic' ...

This book has graphic scenes that I was not expecting, lifeless characters I did not like nor dislike, and I never got lost in the story. I did like the final conclusion and recall thinking at the end--if the entire book had been this good I would have given it 5 stars.

If you have started this and put it down...it is worth seeing it thru as the end of the book is by far the best part. The end leaves room for a sequel but I will have to think long and hard before I purchase the next installment.

Kate Reading is phenomenal. SOOOO good at creating the characters voices - bravo. As for the story, I liked the fast pace, different characters and overall story. Good read, but not exceptional.

This story would be a good referral if it had a second or third book (which I would purchase). Some more story depth and character development would bring it more to life.

Sara

Yes

yes and I have.

just a real good story

very real.

The whole book.

a good read or listen

Characters are compelling, the story engaging and the narrator is excellent.

I liked the characters and story line.

Kate Reading is one of my favorite narrators.

I am torn on wethere I will listen to this book again or not. Though it is not written for younger audiences I find that the added adult themes are a bit overly present. The writing and story telling are high quality but tend to dwell to much on the dreggs of society.

I found the underlying story of the book very intreeging and intereesting. I enjoy it when authors include history in the story they tell even when the history is myth and legend based.

Kate is a good reader and her vaoice tone and acting ability fit the story very well. She adds depth and emotion to the book that help the reader/listener understand what is happening.

N/A not sure I would want to see this a theator.

Not a book I would recommend to youth. I am a big Micheal Scott fan and have enjoyed much of his past work. This books adult edge is a bit of a turn off for me but others may enjoy that edge tot the book.

At the top of my list of all the books I have listened. Kate Reading is absolute one of the great reader in audiobooks.

The whole book

The whole book

Do not know

No

yes the kids books

no swearing what so ever

I didn't get far enough, to get a favorite couldn't get past the F bombs

all the swearing

I think this was his