Freed

Phoebe Meadows, Book 2

By: Amanda Carlson

Narrated by: Emma Wilder

Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's Summary

For the last month, Phoebe has been training in the Valkyrie stronghold readying for battle. But when she stumbles into a secluded valley after a day of grueling practice, she's given a dire prediction. Phoebe must leave the stronghold immediately with the aid of the giant, Junnal, to rescue her mother from the dark elves. If Phoebe fails, Leela will be transported to a place that can no longer be reached.

Leaving Fen behind threatens to undo her, but Phoebe stays true to the mission. Along the way, she allies with the god Baldur and an old white elf mage. Together, they storm the realm, and with the help of an angry wolf and her Valkyrie sisters, they just might stand a chance to free the valiant shieldmaiden. But Phoebe soon learns that rescuing her mother comes with a price, and she's about to lose something too precious to sacrifice.

©2016 Amanda Carlson (P)2016 Amanda Carlson

Amazing!

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

Love the voices/accents she does!

Any additional comments?

Loved this book! Really hoping the Norns get their butts handed to them soon! They are truly evil hags! I adored the new characters we met in this book as well, can't wait for book 3!

Listened in one day

Would you consider the audio edition of Freed to be better than the print version?

Yes. Having an auditor put voices to the characters gives them a personality that I couldn't in my own mind.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Baldur god of light. His sense of humor and life is contagious.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Callan and Ray meet.

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

Yes. Made me laugh, cry, smile and ache.

Any additional comments?

Great story.

Actioned Packed story

Freed picks up about a month or so after the end of Struck. Phoebe has been training with the other Valkyrie. She is learning fast, but the other Valkyrie have been training since they were very young children. She has a lot to make up before she can compare. She has the great support of her Aunt Ingrid, her boyfriend and son of Loki, Fen, her half brother Tyr, who is also the god of war, she also has her best friend, Sam, who is a human, but has a little extra there. Some of the Valkyrie are accepting her, others are not, there are more that just down right out dispise her.

When Huggie, a raven and friend, shows up with a message for Phoebe, she learns that she can wait no longer to save her mother. She must venture into the world of the dark elves without the help of friends or the other Valkyrie. She isn’t sent alone though. She has the half-giant and half-troll, Junnal to accompany her.

It doesn’t take long for Phoebe to get into trouble in this world. Even with a cloak that is to hide her, she is discovered. It seems that Phoebe’s chances of saving her mother are slipping away. She does meet people along the way that can help her. She comes across Balder, god of light, who has been imprisoned with the dark elves by his own mother, no less (though she was trying to protect him from his fated death). There is also Callan, a white elf and mage. Who became a good friend to Phoebe. Junnal was a favorite character for me in this book. He is such a sweet guy. Wanted nothing more than to make sure that Phoebe was safe.

This story was full of action. There wasn’t a huge amount of romance in this one, as Phoebe and Fen aren’t together much in this book. The lack of romance isn’t a big deal to me, but I could see where others might be frustrated by it. I did miss time with Fen, Tyr, Ingrid and Sam. But the time with Junnal and the introduction of Baldar and Callan was great. If you’re looking for a fast-paced urban fantasy, this is a fun book. I do recommend you read book one first though.

Narration
Once again, I thought that Emma Wilder did a great job with the narration of this book. She stays with the same voices for the characters who have returned. I think she does a good job with the pacing of this action-packed story. I really want to call out her voices of the dark elves. I think the voices she picked really close to what was described in the story. They had high-pitched voices (and voices I wouldn’t want to attempt to imitate). I also liked the voice of Junnal. This is the only series that I’ve listened to by Emma Wilder, but I would definitely be on the lookout for more.

**I like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Wonderfully Magical!

What about Emma Wilder’s performance did you like?

Everything! She does so many voices! She really does a great job of immersing the listener in the experience. Wonderful!!

Any additional comments?

Full Review -

I'm really loving this series! All the cool magic, and I love the interesting worlds that Phoebe gets to! The Norse angle is still awesome, and I'm loving all of the different characters! I listened to the audiobook version of this book, and just like with the first, the narrator does an amazing job! She does multiple voices for all the men and women, and she also does different voices for each type of creature, such as trolls and light and dark elves! She's really wonderful! In this book, Phoebe is on the search for more information about her parents, and she also needs to train at a Valkyrie camp, so she can survive all of those that are after her. While in search of her mother, Phoebe gets into some pretty difficult situations, and although she can be a bit of a damsel, she definitely has moments of being a warrior. She is too trusting that's for sure! I loved all the new characters that Phoebe runs into! I love that Phoebe and Fen are still going strong at the beginning of this book! They are so sweet with each other! As I said in my review of the first book, I love that Phoebe is in her 20's because I like the maturity this brings to the story, and I love, love, love that there isn't a love triangle! This story has a wonderful romance, but the whole of the story is about Phoebe's quest, and I totally love that! I'm so ready for the next book!

Terrific! Emotional and full of action.

I might like this book even more than I did the first one! I enjoyed the action and all the tense situations enormously. I will even admit to shedding a tear or two towards the end. When you listen you'll know what part I'm talking about.

This book really kept my attention and had me thinking about it when I wasn't listening to it. I was engrossed in the story and felt an emotional response to all of the characters. The author did a great job at making each character stand out in the book.

Once again the narrator did an excellent job. She doesn't just read the book. She emotes well and you can always tell which character is speaking. I can't wait to start listening to the third book.

Loved!

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

Yes, I feel like I rarely come across a good series, or soon to be series; but after reading book 1 I knew this one was for me. The story, overall, is very unique and I can't think of any other series/story that is similar. Can't wait for book 3!

Who was your favorite character and why?

I'm not sure how you spelled his name but the troll/ogre mix guy. He appeared as the bad guy at the beginning but then did a 180 and helped Phoebe throughout the rest of the story, well into book 2.

What about Emma Wilder’s performance did you like?

I wasn't sure about Emma Wilder's performance in the first story, but she ended up growing on me. She's very 'into' the story, if you know what I mean. Unlike some narrators that read in a monotone/I don't care what I'm reading kind of way, Ms. Wilder did a great job.

Freed: Phoebe Meadows, Book 2

What about Emma Wilder’s performance did you like?

Everything.

She narrated a wide range of characters in this book and all of them in a great way.

The fight scenes were well narrated, they made me feel like I was in the middle of the action.

What I most liked about Emma's work was her narration of the villains in the book. Chilling !

The tenderness and emotion while mother and daughter unite, the sadness while a character fulfills its destiny, you ache and cheer for Phoebe and her family.

All the emotions the books stirs in you due to the good writing and narration.

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

The series is fast paced.

There is non stop action. But in this book, we get so much more depth.

I naturally loved the fight scenes, the world building and the Norse mythology thrown in .

I loved seeing Phoebe train to be a Valkyrie. She needs to work and improve in order to be a worthy warrior and capable enough to rescue her mother.

As much as the fighting and political intrigues entertained me, moments like Phoebe reuniting with her mother were the heart of the story.

Freed is also a story about a human adjusting to the reality not just being a warrior but a Valkyrie at that.

And amidst all the war ,Gods and mayhem , Phoebe and Fen added a touch of romance to the book .

Any additional comments?

If you like action, myths , romance and adventure, this series is for you.

Even better than book one

What made the experience of listening to Freed the most enjoyable?

The story is unique and quirky and interesting, it keeps you guessing on what is going to happen next as it twists and turns.

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

The narration is first class, the character voices are great and the over all delivery really brings the story to life.

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

Yes to both, this is a requirement to get a 5 star review out of me.

Any additional comments?

I liked book one, but I really loved book two, I'm totally enthralled and now I need book three!
This is a series that needs to be listened to in order so if you haven't listened to book one yet, go get that one first.
This series is perfect for any reader/listener who loves mythology mixed in with their stories.

Note: This book was supplied free in return for an honest review.

I'm hooked.

this story is great. I'm really hooked. I'm invested and can't wait to find out what happens next. she is surrounding herself with amazing friends and family. I love all the characters. the narration was fabulous. I would recommend this book to friends.