The Beating of His Wings

De: Paul Hoffman

Narrado por: Sean Barrett

The unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of The Beating of his Wings, the third and final installment in the epic narrative from Paul Hoffman. Read by the actor Sean Barrett.

Thomas Cale has been running from the truth. Since discovering that his brutal military training has been for one purpose - to destroy God's greatest mistake, mankind itself - Cale has been hunted by the very man who made him into the Angel of Death: Pope Redeemer Bosco.

Cale is a paradox: arrogant and innocent, generous and pitiless. Feared and revered by those created him, he has already used his breathtaking talent for violence and destruction to bring down the most powerful civilisation in the world.

But Thomas Cale is weak. His soul is dying. As his body is wracked with convulsions he knows that the final judgment will not wait for a sick boy. As the day of reckoning draws close, Cale's sense of vengeance leads him back to the heart of darkness - the Sanctuary - and to confront the person he hates most in the world. Finally Cale must recognise that he is the incarnation of God's rage and decide if he will stand against the Sanctuary of the Redeemers and use his unique skill of laying waste to all things. The fate of mankind rests on Cale's decision.

©2013 Paul Hoffman (P)2013 Penguin Audio

Frustrating conclusion

I enjoyed the first two books - of course they were a bit dark but I kept wanting to see a redemptive end. Well, without giving any spoilers away, I think it's safe to say that third book did not bring the redemptive, everything-tied-up-in-a-little-bow ending I was hoping for. Which is fine - it's Hoffman's story and he's free to write it how he wants - I'm just along for the ride. And, given how dark the first two books were, why would I expect anything different?

But, what was so frustrating was the narrator switch! (!!!) Steve West, who narrated the first two books was great - distinct voices for everyone and had just the right voice for the tone of the story. Sean Barrett was not only a less talented reader (a lot of times when Cale and Vague Henri or IdrisPukke were having a conversation you couldn't tell who was who - especially after being used to the distinct accent that Steve West had given IdrisPukke), but he did annoying things like pronounce IdrisPukke with an "uh" sound on the end of Pukke (Pook-UH) - and Henri like the french (?) pronunciation (Auhn-ree). Why do they let them do that when they do a narrator switch?!? The new narrator should be required to listen to the original and at least try not to introduce such blatant changes.

So, if you enjoyed the first two and need to know how the story ends, then go for it - just know what you're getting into. Otherwise, you might just want to skip the third one and read some synopsis somewhere to give you some quick and painless closure.

I wanted more

I'm sorry to say that if you love the first two books as much as I do then this one will be a disappointment. The book is in no way bad, it's actually really well written. I feel that the third book gave me closure but I hope others will appreciate it more then I did.

I'm eagerly awaiting Paul Hoffman's next book.

Just Okay

The series just seemed to go downhill from the beginning through this book. Still, overall enjoyable enough but nothing more than just okay.

Great Book Series

Compelling characters. Compelling narrative. Compelling voice.

Now that Thomas Cale has been able to escape his captors and has rejoined his friends, his health continues to be a major problem in his life as he now establishes the politicad power to strategize a way to fight back against the Pope.

I love this book series.

Beginning came out of left field

What disappointed you about The Beating of His Wings?

It seemed like the author did not stay true to the style and tone of the first two books in the series. And it took forever to get into the story, the beginning came out of left field.

What do you think your next listen will be?

I'm currently listening to The White Queen series by Phillip Gregory.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Sean Barrett?

Yes

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Beating of His Wings?

Cut the beginning, if they wanted to do something like that they should've tied it into the other two books. I won't go into detail because I do not want to give it away if anyone wants to read it.

Wow Hoffman, what the?

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I wish he would have stuck to the same writing style that made the first 2 so great.

What was most disappointing about Paul Hoffman’s story?

If I didn't know better I would swear Hoffman contracted this book out. It doesn't even read the same, and I am not talking about the narration. Did Paul take some new writing class and decide to show off some new moves. If so please take a couple steps back. Concentrate on telling a clever story, not cleverly writing a boring one.

Any additional comments?

I am not sure I have seen the such an absolute collapse to what would have been a great fantasy series since the great debacle of Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy. It follows the same pattern: First book; absolutely outstanding. Second book; Pretty good, not as great as the first but still great. Third Book: Absolute nonsense.
OK so this wasn't as bad as Hobb's 3rd book, I mean I didn't want to vomit after I read it. But still I was so looking forward to the end of this Trilogy and this just missed the mark. I am really just left confused and disappointed.

Disappointed

couldn't even finish it. should have kept the original reader. the reader for this book was kinda hard to understand when pronouncing character names and didn't do well when changing the tone of his voice when reenacting specific character's. it got so bad that I just turned it off. The first 2 books are amazing tho.