Black Spark

Dark Magic Enforcer Series, Book 1

By: Al K. Line

Narrated by: Gildart Jackson

Length: 7 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

I watched in horror as dark magic sprang from my hand faster than an imp after your socks. I didn't know my name, let alone that I had such power. The man was dead. I panicked. I ran. How was I to know I was a dark magic enforcer, tasked with keeping magic hidden from the world? Yeah, total noob move, I know. But my memory is returning, and the Hidden have given me 24 hours to make amends. Cover it up. Finish the job I was given, or else. Failure isn't an option. Well, it is, but I like me, and I like being alive. The clock is ticking as I battle to make things right and exact revenge on those who took so much from me. Easier said than done as I deal with angry mages, bitey zombies, oversexed imps, creepy necromancers, and grumpy trolls - and those are just my friends - all while trying to stop myself falling in love with my best friend, Kate, who just so happens to be a hot vampire. I'm Faz Pound, a.k.a. Black Spark, Dark Magic Enforcer, and time is running out. At least I have my looks. For now.

©2016 Al K. Line (P)2017 Tantor

Great story overall.

Narrator was the toughest part. Vocal narration did not entirely fit the character. Sounded separated most the time. Almost like he was struggling to complete a thought. story and atmosphere were fantastic and the relationship between Spark and Kate were the most notable interactions.

not the best, but not bad at all

it was okay. Not as good as some of the other fantasy books, and it took the narrator a while to get a feel for how the character actually spoke. all in all not bad.

A weak start to a fun idea

When I first started this book, I disliked the writing enough that I didn't plan to finish it. However, I do like this narrator, so I listened a little longer, and then the protagonist started to grow on me. Before I knew it, I was enjoying the book and wanted to know more, so I purchased the sequel. The books do improve as they go, for a while. (See my review of Book 6 for the downside to that statement.)

Black Spark

By AL K. LINE
Narrated by Gildart Jackson

I finally finished this book! I'm so to hearing Gildart Jackson as Alex Verus and I just couldn't get passed it in the beginning. But I finally got to the point where I could imagine these new characters and not see my favorite Diviner.

Now as for Black Spark. It was decent. You jump head first into the story (Which I liked). All the world building was done through the characters inner thoughts so it turned into these extremely long explanations about stuff.

I'm not a big fan of breaking all the classic rules. A couple here and there, I can deal with. But this author remade vamps. They aren't affected my the sun, they aren't blood driven, and the old ones sleep during the day while young ones walk around. It all required even more extra long explanations that still dont sit right with me. The same was done for other fantasy creatures.

With all these explanations, I still didnt find out what I really wanted to know by the end. How did those Emps make the babies??? 😂 And which one is the girl???
After listening to this book, those are the two things most important about it.

Also, the guy talk will make you ladies roll your eyes a bit. I'm ok with make leads thinking about "male" things. But when this dude was dying, he starts thinking about a girl wearing pink underwear. Really dude??? The rest is ok. I have a feeling the series gets better. Some of the hints dropped seem to be leading to bigger plots.

What came across as diversity to me is one more reason I'll try Book 2.

OK Urban Fantasy

Would you try another book from Al K. Line and/or Gildart Jackson?
This was OK. I liked the world AI K. Line created and I will give the series one more book before I quit. Gildart Jackson is amazing and has become one of my favorite narrators.

What do you think your next listen will be?
Not sure yet.

What about Gildart Jackson’s performance did you like?
He adds emotions to the character and gives each character their own voice. You feel like you are being spoken to and not read to.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?
I'd wait until it was on Netflix.

Any additional comments?
This was a very generic urban fantasy story. A man with powers must defeat an unknown force with the help of a beautiful but troubled woman in a world full of supernatural creatures. The world Al K. Line created is very interesting and has potential but didn't hit the mark. It was a fast-paced story but also very repetitive.

Interesting world build. Less than solid story.

Faz Pound, aka Black Spark, has just killed a mortal. An innocent. But that isn't what's got him in hot water with the powers that be inside the Hidden world. He killed a mortal, AND GOT VIDEOED DOING IT.

That just isn't done.

Spark has twenty-four hours to fix this, and get a botched assignment done. Now that his mind is once again his own, he's remembered that he's a dark magic enforcer. Yep, that's right. He's the one that supposed to track down people who do things like he did this morning. Oops.

This book was more of a 2.5 than a true 3.0 for me. There are plot holes a plenty, and while we start with Spark failing at his task, it's nearly the entire book gone before we find out what that task is. It ends with us assuming we're calling things over once a fairy shows up and takes the succubus with her. Not a solid landing at all.

What is solid is the world build. I've read lots of urban fantasy and magic books and this world I find fresh and interesting. If this Alkaline guy could just string his story along something that resembles a structure I'd be happier. Anyway, it's book one and there are lots more. I may try book two, just to see what it's like, but I'm not rushing out to buy it right away.

A fun take on magic and magical creatures.

Good book with great narration. Can't wait for the next book. I hate the minimum word requirement to leave a review. So there.

Not Bad

As a fan of the Alex Verus series and Jackson, I thought I'd give this a try. I enjoyed the visual details, mild humor and have grown fond of Spark. It's a different take as you learn about his world more than the actual problem but I didn't mind that. Looking forward to getting the next.

1st person

1st person
F I v e star series one of eight as of 2018
British narration

Boring and Repetitive.

It was an interesting concept, but sacrificed tension for explanations that were repetitive and long and boring. The audible version doesn't help since the reader had a dry and bland tone. I knew I went wrong when it literally repeated sentences.