The Amaranth Chronicles: Deviant Rising

By: Alexander Barnes, Christopher Preiman

Narrated by: Emily Smith

The Helix was created to revolutionize the way we communicate. But even the purest of intentions can spawn terrible evil.

This wasn't what Lithia had in mind when she decided to run away from home. Her ship was not meant to carry a fugitive wanted in two galaxies or the stowaways running from a war that wasn't hers. She just wanted to live a quiet, peaceful life alongside her brother. But now she knows too much about The Helix, the secret hidden deep within it, and what it would mean for all humankind if she walked away.

©2017 Alexander Barnes & Christopher Preiman (P)2018 Alexander Barnes & Christopher Preiman

Beautiful story and excellent narration

I really felt for Lithia. She didn't want to go off and go be in a rebellion. She didn't want to go fight. She just wanted to find her little brother. Then when she has no one else to turn to she finds some friends unexpectedly but she doesn't even know if she can really trust them either. She's real and whole and beautifully written. From her abusive past to her current fears and worry, they were all very well written. This is a sci fi story and a dystopian story and I love the combination of them. We get to see a life and a culture that we're completely immersed in and having that read to us with such excellent narration really makes it work very well. I enjoyed this story and I can't wait for the next in the series. This world and these characters are vivid and so well written and this is definitely a sci fi book to grab up and spend an afternoon with.

starts as sci-fi and later turns into a romance

starts as kind of sci-fi like cyberpunk2077 but turns into a damn romance half way through... oh the pretty one, oh the cute one, oh his disarming eyes... cringe

I want the 2nd installment in this series....NOW!!

The authors begin with a back-story that quickly makes you fall in love with the story’s protagonist Lithia Boson. Without missing a beat, the narrative begins to parade the mind of the reader through an elaborate maze of wonder and intrigue unlike anything I have ever experienced. Lithia’s world comes alive with intricate details of a future San Francisco that is nothing short of spectacular. I can almost literally see our earth through the eyes of these characters with each setting description. I was struck by the various themes the authors played with throughout the story which include humanity vs. technology, social revolt, capitalism, issues surrounding colonialism, and even a religious component that had me considering Catholicism from a completely different point of view. The ending had me on the edge of my seat and not wanting it to come to its inevitable conclusion, but left me with a sense of satisfaction that few books have ever given me.

This book was one of the best listens I have ever heard thanks, in large part, to the narrator Emily Smith. Her articulation, pronunciation, and vocal quality go well beyond that of an average narrator. I could listen to her speak on, literally, any topic and feel so at ease and satisfied. Emily's character development with regard to various dialects and accents are truly a work of art. She IS these characters, and delivers each of them in a believable way that forces the listener to picture each one with overwhelming visual and vocal accuracy.

Overall, this book was an effortless listen with short chapters and an easy-to-follow story line. Chapter after chapter, I found myself entertained, wanting to know what happens next, and emotionally charged with each layer of narrative. The plot twists were plentiful, and never boring or predictable. Anyone looking to step away from the usual read and expand his or her literary horizons will want to experience this book. Those well-versed in science fiction will find a well-crafted work of art that will leave you restless for the next installment.

A Shining Frontier

once I picked this book up, I could hardly put it down. the story expands so wonderfully encompassing such a Vivid world and interesting characters. I love getting to hear about the world of the and read from the different perspectives of the different people who inhabit it. it is so fun to read a story with such pulse pounding action, Rich philosophy and a zany humor. this story caught me and I can't wait to read more!

Emily Smith is a fantastic narrator! I love how she embodies the different characters with her voices and catches the tone of the different passages as she reads whether it's the quirky humor, the Deep thoughtfulness or the sorrow of conflict. she brought the story alive!