Farborn

Maxim Colonies, Book 2

By: Lesli Richardson

Narrated by: Aaron Goldenberg, Matthew Holland

Length: 7 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

He’s not from around here…

Davies McKellan is a man without a true home. The cocky mining contractor navigator has spent his entire adult life roaming the stars and refusing to be tied down by anyone.

But that doesn’t come without cost. Like loneliness.

When Davies makes his first run to the planet Pfahrn, he meets Olarte, a Pfahrn who intrigues him in ways he never dreamed possible.

Except duplicity and deadly secrets are a killer combo that’ll make any man rethink his past. And if the eight-foot-tall green alien is Davies’ future, he might be down for that. He’s got priorities, though.

Like making sure they uncover the truth first, and don’t die in the process.

©2021 Lesli Richardson (P)2023 Bryant Street Publishing

Davies and Olarte

When Davies makes his first run to the planet Pfahrn, he meets Olarte, a Pfahrn who intrigues him in ways he never dreamed possible. This one has the same pacing as the first book but in this case Davies is gay and has no trouble remembering Olarte's non-binary "Pfey-Pfem" pronouns. The patience these two have as their relationship develops over time is so sweet. There is still a lot on inner monologue - so if that is not your thing - maybe find something else. There seemed to be an equal amount of this from both main characters this time. Dr. H'Looder makes an appearance here as well, and it is refreshing that the scientist is using his powers for the betterment of our main characters and the universe at large. Very enjoyable listen. Would like to see more in the Maxim Colonies world.

Primarily in monologue

There was no dialogue until ch. 4 &, even then, very little. The 2 main characters don't meet until ch. 7. It's primarily monologue directed at the listener. Additionally, when Davies first meets Olarte, the Farborn, Davies describes the Pfahrn's voice as deep, dark, and rumbly. That's a huge contrast with the actor narrating Olarte's voice. Those differences paint a very different image of Olart. That misalignment impacted my experience of the story.
Sadly the monologue, the telling about and not showing, continues throughout the story. I don't buy audiobooks to have characters talk to me with no possibility of reply. I hate it. It can barely be called a story, just telling me about themselves. Ugh! Additionally, the narrators have very narrow ranges. Generally, all their "males" sound the same, and the same goes for the "females." Four positives are the world building, the absence of contrivances to move the story, not jumping into sex immediately or insta-love--though there's quick attraction--, or being a story only about sex.