Ex-Purgatory

De: Peter Clines

Narrado por: Jay Snyder

The fourth novel in Peter Clines' best-selling Ex series.

When he’s awake, George Bailey is just an ordinary man. Five days a week he coaxes his old Hyundai to life, curses the Los Angeles traffic, and clocks in at his job as a handyman at the local college. But when he sleeps, George dreams of something more. George dreams of flying. He dreams of fighting monsters. He dreams of a man made of pure lightning, an armored robot, a giant in an army uniform, a beautiful woman who moves like a ninja.

Then one day as he’s walking from one fix-it job to the next, a pale girl in a wheelchair tells George of another world, one in which civilization fell to a plague that animates the dead…and in which George is no longer a glorified janitor, but one of humanity’s last heroes. Her tale sounds like madness, of course. But as George’s dreams and his waking life begin bleeding together, he starts to wonder - which is the real world, and which is just fantasy?

©2014 Peter Clines (P)2013 Audible Inc.

Jumping into the Abyss without a net!

If you follow my reviews, it's no secret that I'm a Clines fan. Hands down, this author is the real deal when it comes to his genre, and he manages to take the series to new levels with each writing.

But does he do it again in "Ex-Purgatory?" Is he firing on all cylinders? Has he still got game?

You bet.

Look, if Clines stumbles in his writing, you'll hear from me first. Just look at my last two reviews on sub-par work from lesser authors. I'm not afraid of readers putting dislikes on my audiobook reviews. It's my review, and good or bad, the truth will out.

But, I'm happy to say, Clines is growing as an author. This time out, he's twisting both the storyline and perspective. It's got a prequel opening for a particular hero that I always felt was lost in in the backdrop at the beginning of the series. Now we have the opportunity to see this , and it spins into a LOST feel. Think flashbacks, twists, and a few reality shifts. Still, he manages to balance his dystopian superhero apocalypse in the listener's favor.

This is a departure from his typical writing. Authors, and especially their publishers, are apprehensive to change style and direction mid-stream in a series, because the old adage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." becomes the rule of the day. However, if done right, such a departure can make a series better for the journey. Such a move can be dicey - It's a leap into the abyss without a net, and a halfway attempt can ruin a series just as easily as a strong effort can strengthen it.

Clines jumps into the abyss, and it looks like the net wasn't needed. He still offers solid characterization, good story lines, and an enjoyable journey. Now, is this his best in the series? No, I don't think so, and this is due to the changes. Also, the narrator is okay, but I wanted a bit more. This is a departure from the multiple host of narrators previously used in this series, which I particularly prefer. But should you miss out on this audiobook? Definitely not, dear Audible listener. It's still worth your cherished Audible credit.

Am I going to provide spoilers, or giveaway what happens? If you think so, then you DEFINITELY haven't read my reviews. And I KNOW my reviews gets dislikes because of this. Still, I have to go with my gut in favor of the author. Why spoil it for you?

So, just like Clines, leap out into the Abyss without a net. Acquire this good next audiobook in the series.

And like Clines, you won't need the net.

Was ok, weakest of the 4.

What did you love best about Ex-Purgatory?

I like the fact that we got a little back story on the main heroes.

If you’ve listened to books by Peter Clines before, how does this one compare?

I've actually listened to quite a few Peter Clines books, and although they are all good, this is the weakest.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes it did.

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

Not really. The other three are better.

Any additional comments?

I was particularly turned off by the lack of the other voice actors. After 3 books, you grow used to having a set of voices for each character. Freedom's voice was especially "off". That being said, I'm looking forward for the next installment, hopefully with the other actors as well.

Good story, but missing the rest of the voices...

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The other two narrators are missing from this reading and (I thought that may have been deliberate due to the story) it was distracting to lose the very unique voices they brought for each of the characters.

buy me

You've come this far in the series, why stop now.
This book is a nice addition to the series.
Not really sure how but I hope he keeps it going.

Clines stirred it up, mostly successfully

She punched it, she kicked it, she bashed it with a baton. George scooped one up and threw it across the street where it knocked over the 4 behind it; he picked up another and threw it head first into the hood of a car. Its head smashed open and it stopped everything but its twitching. They bashed and smashed and swatted and hit and smacked and tossed... cracking bones and necks and pelvises. Their teeth chewed, clicked, gnawed, clattered, chattered, fell out of their mouths like tiny sparkles of fine dust...

And then the heroes got to do it all again.

That is how the "battles" (which make up at least 1/3 of the story content) are described. If that doesn't annoy you, you should like this book. Personally, I liked the change of perspective and the, err, "switch up" in the setting. It gave the series a fresh take on things. There isn't much in the way of super-powers in this one - they are kinda an aside to the story and only apply in the final battle(s), for the most part.

I believe there is another book in the series which I will buy when it becomes available on Audible. I had no issue with the narrator and there isn't any graphic content.

Another entertaining adventure...

Another entertaining adventure in the world of Superheroes and Zombies... I wouldn't put this story in the same category as the previous books only because it was kind of hard to get into, however, if you have listened/read the previous books, it is a great continuation of the storyline with new villains and types of situations to be conquered.

Where did all the voice actors go?

All the books prior to this one had great voice actors and really helped the imagination immerse you in the story. While the narrator did do a great job, it really sucks that he was alone. Please bring back the other voice actors.

its pretty good

the first you have to sloughed through. Its a lot of set up. Once you get past that there is a lot of action and fun bits.

kept me guessing

some was easy to figure out. but there were a number of things I didn't see coming

Great book

Very enjoyable book just as the previous in the series was. Would make a great movie also