Awakened

By: James S. Murray, Darren Wearmouth

Narrated by: James S. Murray

Length: 9 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's Summary

The star of truTV’s hit show Impractical Jokers - alongside veteran sci-fi and horror writer Darren Wearmouth - delivers a chilling and wickedly fun supernatural novel in the vein of The Strain, in which a beautiful new subway line in New York City unearths an ancient dark horror that threatens the city’s utter destruction and the balance of civilization itself.

After years of waiting, New York's newest subway line is finally ready, an express train that connects the city with the burgeoning communities across the Hudson River. The shining jewel of this state-of-the-art line is a breathtaking visitors’ pavilion beneath the river. Major dignitaries, including New York City’s Mayor and the President of the United States, are in attendance for the inaugural run, as the first train slowly pulls in.

Under the station’s bright ceiling lights, the shiny silver cars gleam. But as the train comes closer into view, a far different scene becomes visible.

All the train’s cars are empty. 

All the cars’ interiors are drenched in blood.

As chaos descends, all those in the pavilion scramble to get out. But the horror is only beginning. High levels of deadly methane fill the tunnels. The structure begins to flood. For those who don’t drown, choke or spark an explosion, another terrifying danger awaits - the thing that killed all those people on the train. It’s out there...and it’s coming.

There's something living beneath New York City, and it's not happy we've woken it up.

©2018 James S. Murray (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

Good, but narrator talks really fast

This is a great story, but the author/narrator talks too fast sometimes. I get the feeling he is is trying to set a suspenseful mood for very tense scenes, but he doesn't realize that since readers don't yet know the story as well as he does as the author, those parts can be a little hard to follow. It also makes things sound a bit manic at times. He has a very nice narrating voice, but the speed detracted somewhat from the experience for me.

Of course, if you routinely listen to books on higher speeds, then I think this will be perfectly fine for you.

I will read the next one by this author--and maybe even listen to it--but I hope he slows down.

6 of 8 people found this review helpful

Great Book

I love creature horror in all mediums. This book most definitely delivered. It was pretty original and kept me interested. It's a long way from Impractical jokers for James Murray but he did a great job! I look forward to hearing/reading more.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Surprisingly Great!!!

This is an amazing story! I didn't want to stop listening. Way to go Mur!!!!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

On edge thriller

I loved this book! amazing story line, I seriously couldn't get enough of it! the details this book has is beyond amazing! cant wait for next series!!!

Awesome

Hope there is a 2nd, 3rd... excellent read narration was great and Murray did well.

Good Brain Popcorn

Enjoyable, but not grounbreaking. Many New Yorker stereotypes will have you rolling your eyes, but nothing terrobly offensive.

Author clearly likes cops, the MTA, and Andrew Cuomo.

Amazing!!!

The story kept my attention the whole time. Awesome character development! I will definitely be buying the next two books!!

not as good as expected

I heard this book was really good. I found it to be monotonous. Lack of plot line. I was bored.

The Best I Can Say Is Meh

This is one of those audiobooks you can walk away from to finish the laundry and not miss much... Formulaic “creature from the deep” adventure complete with monster-napped pregnant women and a shady secret organization in the background. Meh...

Intense and wonderful

I was so into this. I'm normally not a big "reviewer", but I felt compelled with this one.
1, I love and adore Murr. HUGE Impractical Joker fan. 2) his narration kept me enthralled and i felt the intensity of the story. 3) I was scared, I was sad, I was rooting on the good guys while my heart was racing. I loved this novel. 5☆s!!!!!

Unbelievably Poor

Why do some authors think they can narrate their own books? It's incredibly arrogant and such an insult to actors who have trained to do the job. The narrator here, one half of the authors, hams it up for all its worth. There's no line that he can't William Shatner, no pause he can't put in the wrong place, no accent he can't attack and leave injured on the floor and no emphasis in the wrong... place... It's dire. I'll give him props for the energy, he certainly goes for it. But, it all merges into one ear-numbing monotone.
There's the plot, which borrows so heavily from 'Aliens' that I'm amazed James Cameron hasn't been in touch. Some of the story is interesting - certainly the opening couple of chapters lead you into thinking that there's an actual story ahead. But then you hit the rest of the book and realise that you've gone past the best part.
And then there's the writing itself. No subtlety, no character development beyond people shouting at each other, backgrounds shoe-horned in at the worst time and with prose that hits you over the head to tell you what you should think of the characters.
I love me some cheese and pulpiness, but it still has to be well written and read. And this ain't that.
Despite this review, I'm not a fan of bashing books, but I've struggled to find anything good to say here. Do yourselves a favour, avoid this like the lexical plague it is.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Gripping read! (and listen)

If you're looking for a gripping read, look no further! It will have you hooked from start to finish. By the end you will have your questions answered and will leave you asking more! It's scary, it's gruesome, it's awesome! Thankfully we don't have long to wait for book number 2! Cannot recommend highly enough. Enjoy!