Everlasting

By: Candace Knoebel

Narrated by: Rebecca Hansen

Length: 13 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's Summary

What if your destiny lay on the other side of death?

The annual Culling ceremony is a day every coming-of-age novice looks forward to within the Primeval Coven. It's the start to being initiated into the Night Watchmen, humankind's protectors, and it's the long-awaited day when novices discover if they're a Hunter or a Witch.

But this day is not a happy one for Faye Middleton. Not when she's known her whole life that she's a Defect and is about to face banishment in front of her fellow novices. She's forced to attend the Culling with little hope for her future, but what she discovers about herself is far worse than she could've imagined. And far more dangerous.

Thrown into training and separated from her friends, Faye must learn to adjust. She struggles to find her place within the Coven, and with Jaxen Gramm, the darkly handsome and extremely unnerving man assigned to watch and protect her. Emotions run high, and when she discovers a deadly secret about him, her struggles deepen. As corruption within the Coven begins to unravel, Faye pieces together her role in saving the future of her people, and within Jaxen's life...but will the truth save her, or be her undoing?

©2015 Candace Knoebel (P)2016 Candace Knoebel

OK story, bad narration.

This has been on my list for a long time and I jumped at the chance of listening to it. While I mostly enjoyed the story, I found the narration to be really bad! Now, the narrator had plenty of different tones for different characters, but her cadence was weird! It felt like each sentence ended in a question, or an almost sing song kind of end. It was really off putting and at times annoying. I had to unplug a lot just to take a rest. She had a tone for one character that was almost nasal and whiny, and it grated. I felt like I was listening to a bad 90's mean girl movie!

Now the story itself was OK. I found it to be very cliche at times, ....girl finds out she is special but not only is she special, she's extra special. Girl meets hot guy whom is standoffish with every other girls but ends up falling for special girl..... I was rolling my eyes a lot at this! It's been done to death.

Now I did like Faye at the start, she was resigned to the fact that she had no powers and would be made to live with the humans. She was devastated but knew she had no choice. Then the day of her test, her parents go missing and while Faye is upset, I found it extremely weird that she never really makes an effort to find out what happened them!! She goes weeks without doing anything to find out and she is supposed to love them!! It was really odd. Also, when she is chosen, it seems that she never makes any progress with her training. She spends weeks training with (of course) the moody standoffish hot guy but never gets better.

Overall, I enjoyed the story enough to finish it despite the narration. I loved the world the author created and I loved the idea behind a lot of what was going on, I just didn't like the insta love, nor the fact that she is super special. For once can't the MCs know they are super special since birth!! I'd consider listening to book 2 because I am interested to see where the story goes, I think it would need a new narrator though.

*I received a copy of this for review. This in no way affected my thoughts.*

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Witching hour

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, the story was a really good view on another possibility of how things could be done in the witching world.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite character must be Jaxen. Who doesn't love the hero in some stories?

What does Rebecca Hansen bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She helped me give the characters voices. I know if I picked up the book, I would hear her voices in my head

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

If I could, yes. I really enjoyed the story line and wanted to find out what happened. When it ended, I wanted it to continue on.

Any additional comments?

This audiobook was provided by the author/narrator/publisher free of charge in exchange for an unbiased review.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Cool story

I really thought this was a captivating story. Lots of action, self discovery, danger, and unlikely alliances.

I loved the characters and the storyline. However, this narrator took a while to get used to. Her narration makes the whole book almost sound like a question, almost whiny. The fact that she does much better with the male voices than the female voices is a bit ironic.

I am intrigued enough by the story itself that I'm looking forward to reading the second book.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Everlasting

If you could sum up Everlasting in three words, what would they be?

Everlasting is filled with suspense, romance, and paranormal. It begins in a stereotypical manner, with a teen girl knowing she's a failure, dreading banishment, only to find out she's super special. The first part of the book drags due to this internal struggle, then the story picks up as the story progresses.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Enjoyable story!

What did you love best about Everlasting?

Everything, the good, the heart wrenching.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Everlasting?

The fight in the cafeteria.

Which character – as performed by Rebecca Hansen – was your favorite?

Faye Middleton (main character)

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, listened to it on a 5 hour drive, and wanted to listen longer.

Any additional comments?

I now must get the other books in the series lol...

I received this copy free from Audiobook Blast in exchange for an honest review. (First time ever getting something for a review)

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great story!

I don’t usually read many books from this genre, but I really enjoyed this one. The narration brought the story to life and held my interest throughout. The story was well thought out, complete and will keep you listening. I will definitely be watching for this author in the future.

* I was provided a free copy of this book from AudioBookBlast for review.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

new speaker please

the story is good but for crying out loud please get a new person to read it it was really had listening to this the person sounds graiting nd a bit like a robot i couldnt finish it

can't wait for the next one

I was gifted this audio ARC from the author for a honest and unbiased review
Everlasting it’s one of those books either in hand or listening to, that draws the reader in right from the start and is hard to put down. Candace Knoebel has taken the witch concept and put her own unique spin on it, creating a brilliant story. Everlasting is loaded with action,mean girls, secrets, paranormal beings, sexy men, and even a little romance.
This first book in series is a great starter can't wait to get the others.
If you are looking for an action packed witch story, then you should definitely read/listen to Everlasting.
Unfortunately in this reading Rebecca Hanson didn't live up to her normal reading. I can only give you a 3.

Enjoyable story

Would you listen to Everlasting again? Why?

Yes I would very much so

Which scene was your favorite?

Everything, the good, the heart wrenching

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Rebecca Hansen did not do a very good job on the narration of book

Any additional comments?

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher

Just Read the Book - Narrator is the worst

Would you try another book from Candace Knoebel and/or Rebecca Hansen?

I will look for other books by the author but will never buy another audiobook read by Rebecca Hansen. Had to stop the audio playing and just read the book on kindle.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Faye was a likable character and mature for a teen.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Narrator sounded like a computer generated voice. She could have been reading the phone book for all the inflection and emotion that was expressed.

Any additional comments?

A good book that suffers from a terrible narrator. I like audio books and will try again with the series if they switch narrators.

Kick-ass action, magic and a bit of romance

What did you like most about Everlasting?

Be prepared for a heroine who isn't afraid to face up to her own flaws. Unlike many female protagonists in books and media, Faye Middleton acknowledges her shortcomings and she strives to be her own person and Be a person that she herself likes and respects.

What other book might you compare Everlasting to, and why?

I don't like comparisons instead let's say that in this book we have adventure, magic, bad/good, supernatural creatures, love, frustration, dark secrets, haunting dreams and through it all hope for the future. With a sprinkle of twists and turns in the plot that mske this a great book.

What about Rebecca Hansen’s performance did you like?

Really good characterisation. Nice voice and pace to the narration. Really good.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. It only took two.

Any additional comments?

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Please re-narrate!!

This series is amazing! so thought I'd get the audible version too...bad choice. I found the narrator to be a continuous, although high pitched drone and too slow. There no emotion at all! The main character is a kick ass girl/heroine figure and with this narrator comes across as whiney and annoying (and exactly the same voice for her best friend - can get very confusing) Does anyone else think the narrator sounds like yoga jones off OITNB??

The series is amazing so highly recommend but please PLEASE! RE-NARRATE!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Terrible voice

What disappointed you about Everlasting?

I listened to this for 15 minuets & then turned it off. The voice is terrible. There was no feeling or anything to it just a continuous drone.

What could Candace Knoebel have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Get a much better narrator.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

It was a terrible preformence all round.

What character would you cut from Everlasting?

Absolutely no one, the book is marvellous.

Any additional comments?

Please find a person who will read the book with feeling.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Bad narrator

I couldn't get past the first few pages of this book because of the narrator. She has such an annoying voice and was like a drone reading it, no personality to her voice at all.

I did like the idea of the book though so I'll pick it up on kindle.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful