By a Silver Thread

DFZ Changeling, Book 1

By: Rachel Aaron

Narrated by: Naomi Rose-Mock

Length: 11 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

A new DFZ series from the author of Nice Dragons Finish Last and Minimum Wage Magic!

In the world’s most magical metropolis where spirits run noodle shops and cash-strapped dragons stage photo-ops for tourists, people still think fairies are nothing but stories, and that’s exactly how the fairies like it. It’s a lot easier to feast on humanity’s dreams when no one believes you exist. But while this arrangement works splendidly for most fair folk, Lola isn’t one of the lucky ones.

She’s a changeling, a fairy monster made just human enough to dupe unsuspecting parents while fairies steal their real child. The magic that sustains her was never meant to last past the initial theft, leaving Lola without a future. But thanks to Victor Conrath, a very powerful—and very illegal—blood mage, she was given the means to cheat death.

For a price.

Now the only changeling ever to make it to adulthood, Lola has served the blood mage faithfully, if reluctantly, for 20 years. Her unique ability to slip through wards and change her shape to look like anyone has helped make Victor a legend in the DFZ’s illegal-magic underground. It’s not a great life, but at least the work is stable, until her master vanishes without a trace.

With only a handful left of the pills that keep her human, Lola must find Victor before she turns back into the fairy monster she was always meant to be. But with a whole SWAT team of federal paladins hunting her as a blood-mage accomplice, an urban legend on a silent black motorcycle who won’t leave her alone, and a mysterious fairy king with the power to make the entire city dream, Lola’s chances of getting out of this alive are as slender as a silver thread.

©2023 Rachel Aaron (P)2023 Rachel Aaron

Mixed feelings, overall-good

I found Rachel Aaron through her DFZ Trilogy, which I really loved. Comparatively, this book was not as good.

Part of the issue with this one is definitely the narration. The narrator was almost monotone through most of the narration and spoke a little too fast/mumbled through much of it.

The pacing of the story was a little off, too, though. I liked Lola. She was, by far, the most developed character in the book. The others were mainly props and had little development of their own, although certain characters had the potential to be more... they just weren't. Honestly, most of the characters were pale copies of characters from the dfz Trilogy. Simon=Peter, Black Rider=Nick, Victor=Gamemaster

I didn't hate it, but it fell flat. I did like the plot and storyline, but execution left a lot to be desired.

Good save the narration

As usual, I love Rachel Aaron's work. The story was interesting, the magic cool, and the characters relatable.

However, this narrator is just not working in my opinion. She has inconsistent, odd pauses and pacing in her speaking that make it hard to feel the full impact of things, and I keep hearing her taking breaths and flipping pages or moving in the background. I don't know if this is simply due to the narrator or the recording studio, but it's off-putting either way.

Unusual and interesting, glad I read it.

These stories have an underlying wisdom so important to our times.
I think the DFZ books should be modern classics. I hope there will be more.

Another great book in this world <3

Rachel Aaron nailed it once again with another compelling story that had me blazing through the book at every chance i could. Naomi did a great job narrating and granted their own personal touch to the series.

I love the variation on attention to multiple creatures in the world an not only focusing on the dragons... despite how much I may love them. There are so many options in the world Rachel has built that I want to see what else is out there. Chef Kiss.

excellent!

give this one a listen it was great. a little slow to start but takes off like a rocket after a bit.

Wish you picked a different narrator

I really enjoyed the previous DFZ stories so I was really excited about this new tail. The narrator very nearly killed it for me in the first book but either I got used to it or she got better cause I listened to all 3 books! The story is worth the listen but the reader places pauses in strange places and that can be off putting. Still not terrible.

Great story!

I read the reviews, but I don’t agree with them. I think this is a great story, and I think the narrator did a great job with the different voices. I very much enjoyed this audiobook, and I think you will too. 🙂

not bad

I don't know how i feel about the mc, but it's over all a good book.

Disappointed

I’ve read Rachel Aaron’s other two series that takes place in the DMZ. I loved both of those. The stories, created world and characters were so good!
This story seemed flat and one dimensional with limited characters and story line. Also, it wasn’t very inventive using fairies and the wild hunt which have been used in so many other books.
I did like the narrator.
Unfortunately, I’m not even interested enough to continue on with this series

 Pleasantly surprised

This was actually a great book. I did not expect it to be as entertaining and good as it was so good that I’m starting a book 2..I don’t like to leave spoiler information. But I love the way the book written ..because it makes you want to go immediately into the second story that’s a great author they can do that. this is exactly what I’m doing right now starting book 2.