Coming of the Storm

By: W. Michael Gear, Kathleen O'Neal Gear

Narrated by: Kevin Orton

Length: 13 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's Summary

Of best-selling husband-and-wife writing team W. Michael and Kathleen O’Neal Gear, Booklist proclaims that “nobody does Native Americana better than the Gears.” Coming of the Storm launches a series featuring Black Shell, a Chicazaclan trader, and his struggles with Hernando de Soto, an invader intent on spreading Catholicism at the point of his sword.

©2010 W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear (P)2011 Recorded Books, LLC

Creates a story line from history

Anytime an author attempts to create characters and a storyline from a time in history they're taking a chance. There's no doubt that there are things that are way out of whack with this book like any other of the genre, but for the casual reader who's looking for entertainment and not historical accuracy, it's clear the authors took the time to learn enough that the setting comes across as real. The characters are appropriately flawed and gifted to lend to its readability and by the end you're certainly cheering for them to succeed.

Personally, I was looking for something a little racier after reading the Psy-Changeling series and the Elder Races series, but this romance is definitely less explicit and subdued. There's nothing wrong with that, but it wasn't what I was expecting and overall the storyline is enjoyable enough to have me purchasing the next book in the series.

Where the book succeeded was in the construction of several complex characters driven by different motivations coming together toward a common end. Particularly, the Black Shell and Pearl Hand characters are deep in their complexity, making them more realistic and pulling the reader into the story deeper.

Story was great, reading, not so much.

The Gears, once again, have written a wonderful story of N. America's indigenous peoples.

The reader's diction was clear, but he had below average affect and the variety of voice between characters was so lacking it was sometimes confusing to know who was speaking.

Wish there were more books by the gears

No one does native like the gears. Love all there books. Wish there were more
On tape

Not worth the time

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

A better story, the story was not that good, too many gaps as well as taking very modern principals and trying to write them into a very old story, just didn't work for me.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Not sure yet, still have to browse

Did Kevin Orton do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Yes, slight voice inflections and very well red.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment, was not well written.

Any additional comments?

Not a book I would recommend to any of my friends. Too bad, there was a great premise, just didn't do a good job of making me believe that the character telling the story was either Native American, or from the period.

Dialogue does not fit the time of the story.

What aspect of Kevin Orton’s performance would you have changed?

The preformer can only read what is written. He cannot change the content.

Any additional comments?

People of that time did not speak in such a mannner. Their speech was simpler.

An awesome narrative

One of my best listens...the whole series...a story that needs to be told. Great storing telling

Awesome

This series, the fight for America, is so damn good. I read (and own) the books, first. I love the Gears and have read every book.

Another great book...

by a great team of authors! W. Michael Gear & Kathleen O'Neal Gear, as anthropologists & archeologists, have the background to turn a based on true life fictional story into a rich, fully informative, & highly enjoyable masterpiece! This book begins after the landing of Hernando de Soto in Florida, with his push into the lands & homes of Native Americans. He is followed, & constantly irritated, by a man who was enslaved by de Soto for a time, & his wife. They make it their mission to stop him after seeing first hand his vicious methods of warfare. Along the way, up through Florida & Georgia, into North Carolina & Tennessee, back into Georgia, Alabama, & Mississippi, they follow the army, gathering others who share the mission & try to stop the deadly invasion. This was a good storyline which was written into a great book, by wonderful authors. Can it get much better?

Voice was TERRIBLE!

The narrator's voice is a really nice voice to listen to if it was an autobiography, but should be limited to books that don't require multiple characters. He was bland and made all characters have the same voice, it was confusing and quit often I would have to go back to re-listen to a part of the story because I was confused as to who was speaking. His dramatic voice to show excitement was terrible.... I really liked the story but I don't think I will buy the next one in the series from here because I don't think I could take listening to his voice for 13 more hours. I will have to buy the paper copy and read it myself. If somebody listened to this book as their first audiobook, I believe you would lose that customer for good. It was not a good purchase. In fact I may buy the paper copy of this too and re-read it..... Just terrible voice for this type of story. I have every other book by these authors that is available and highly suggest anyone reading this to take a look at the "People of" series. Amazing storylines!

Ugggh

I tried, I really truly tried..... but this narrator was so bad that he made me actually hate a book by two of my favorite authors. Never again. Whatta waste of a credit!