Part-Time Gods

By: Rachel Aaron

Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller

Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's Summary

Life in the magical mess of the Detroit Free Zone is never easy. When you’re laboring under the curse of a certain prideful, overbearing dragon, it can be down right impossible.   

My name is Opal Yong-ae, and I’m a Cleaner. At least, I used to be. Thanks to the supernatural bad luck that turns everything I do against me, these days I’m more of a walking disaster. Getting rid of this curse is the only way to get my life back. Unfortunately, dragon magic is every bit as sneaky and deadly as the monsters behind it, and just as hard to beat.  

But I’ve never been one to take her doom at face value. Cornered doesn’t mean defeated, and in an awakened city that rules herself, dragons are no longer the biggest powers around.

©2019 Rachel Aaron (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

I need a threequel immediately

Warning upfront, this has a cliffhanger ending. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but I was basically in mental torture for the last 3 hours of the book afraid things wouldn't go the way I wanted, and then unfortunately I got to work with approximately 58 minutes left and was thus tortured all day stuck in the middle of a cliffhanger being made. I'm left hoping Rachel Aaron can write fast - after all book 1 came out in January and this sequel came out in late June, so maybe by Christmas the cliffhanger will be resolved? This book was a joy to read despite the mental anguish, and features a few brief cameos from the Heartstrikers series that made me very happy. The prologue is from the POV of Opal's dad, the Dragon of Korea, which I felt really helped shine a light on the nature of their relationship from a different angle. Absolutely read this book....but maybe wait until the third book comes out and maybe it wont be as painful? The story that is being set up for the next book looks like it will be really cool :)

Seriously? Please grow the main character up!

I have not finished this release but will try to overtime. I keep stopping because it's simply silly and unbelievable at times. The main character is a very intelligent idiot. So far, there is no learning taking place despite a lot of opportunities. And, the problems are huge and the solutions nonsensical. I don't mind a bit of luck in books but in this book, it is simply too bizarre.

Even Better than the Original story!!!

By Rachel Aaron
Narrator Emily Woo Zeller

I read this book, but it consumed ME 😍. This series is so much better than the HeartStriker series which is almost unheard of from a spinoff.

Opal and Nik try to live and pay off Opal's debt to her father while dealing with the Bad-Luck curse placed on her. It becomes harder and harder to meet their goal which forces their backs against the wall.

The pace of the story is perfect. Just enough action, a little bit of love, and lots of drama. The futuristic gadgets are believable and well-explained.

My Postives:

This book takes us to new parts of the DFZ and we get to see some of her lower depths as well as the city's beautiful places.

Opal is not a goodie-two shoes like Julius. She is more like a real person. She has flaws and can be annoying in her decision making.

There is a cameo from Bob (my favorite Heartstriker)

The narrator, Emily Woo Zeller, is excellent!!! Her dragon forces are on point.

My eye roll moments:

A random guy says that if you find this rare statue that he has been trying to obtain for years then he will pay you well... and not even an hour later you happen to find that statue in an abandoned apartment just sitting on a shelf... Really Opal? This is a prime example of book-smarts versus common sense.

Nik's ending in this story was a bit bizarre.

4 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟. Great book. I've become friends with the characters. This is for my top Tier books. The story is deep with many layers. I probably finished it in a day. I'll likely reread this one when I miss the characters or need a pick me up.

The DFZ World continues to be completely immersive

I love the DFZ world from Opal's point of view. My favorite parts were Opal and Nick and the Cleaner business. I also really enjoyed Opal's visit in the woods (no spoilers here!). I greatly prefer this series over Heartstriker, though have not read all those yet. I am expecting a DFZ #3 SOON, what with the abrupt ending.

I l thought the narrator was great (though at first taken aback, naturally, by the voice of a key dragon). In the first DFZ, the AI (artificial Intelligence helper to Opal) pitch was so high and loud that I had volume issues--plus Opal's dragon father was hard to hear. This time around, the volume differences are less noticeable, which is great.

I did get annoyed with Opal a few times, but her behavior was in character and I felt the author did a great job keeping her in character. I vary from some reviewers in that less dragons would suit me, though I thought the author got it just right (we just don't need more, I felt). I feel this is the series to really keep exploring magic.

Great, immersive writing :). Thank you.

Enjoyed the first book more

The main character was very annoying in this second book and it was the exact same immature behavior over and over so much that it begin to feel like the same passage was being re-read. I hope the next book is less formula driven and the bratty behavior is dropped. For now I think I’ll give it another try...maybe!

Looking forward to see where this series goes

The second book in the DFZ was really good. If you liked the first book you’ll probably like this one too. There wasn’t as much of a mystery aspect to this book, it was more about Opal finding ways past her curse and how to pay her father. There is some further character development and we find out more about Nick and where he comes from. There is, of course, a bit of a romance angle but the author adds just the right amount and doesn’t use it to overshadow the rest of the plot. I also enjoyed learning more about Opal’s father and his relationship with her. It might not excuse his actions but it makes them more understandable.

One small nitpick is that Opal did get a bit annoying at times. I think Opal is going through a lot of character development and growth but seeing her get there is sometimes quite painful as she sometimes comes off as a spoiled kid. The attitude of “I’m going to be free and not be beholden to anyone” well still having the safety net of her father is a bit childish, but if she started the story already wise and knowledgeable that wouldn’t leave much room for character development or be that interesting.

Although you don’t need to, I think reading Heartstrikers before this will really add some volume to the story. There are some cameos from a few characters that you’ll get a lot more out of if you know who they are. Not to spoil much as there’s not much to his cameo but seeing Bob around and knowing the type of dragon he is makes me think this story might end up on a more epic scale than I originally thought.

Overall I like where this series is going and there’s somewhat of a cliff hanger at the end so I look forward to checking out the next book to see where it leads.

As far as the narration goes I think Rachel Aaron found the perfect narrator for this book in Emily Woo Zeller. Her voice really fits Opal and adds depth to the character. She also does a good job changing it up for the other characters in the book.

I hate Opal

In this book Opal's SELFISHNESS is only rivaled by her STUPIDITY.
She whines because she lost everything she worked for. But she also lost everything Nik worked for. She took everything from him and threw it away without a thankyou or apology.
ALL she cares about is her freedom. And she will do anything to get it. No cost to others is too high.

The narrator didn't do her homework at all. Of course she can't copy exactly the voices as portrayed by Vikas Adam in the Heartstriker series. But it seems that she didn't even listen to them for reference. The way she portrays the Heartstrikers who appear in this book are so wrong in style it is painful to listen to.

story was extremely repetitive

it needed more variety from first book. her broken magic and issueswith her dad seemed to go on and on

A real fight, set to epic proportions

This audiobook came out today; when’s the next installment release?. The turmoil is real, if set to some pretty epic proportions- Not all parents are dragons, but the struggle to gain independence and “freedom” is one most of us face at some point, even, or maybe especially, when the thumb we feel over us is a loving one. Throw in all those who try to help and hinder, and I can’t wait to see how she ends up getting out of the quagmire she just landed in!

Too much introspection!

I love this series but hope that we get to see more action and more dragons in the future.

Better than expected.

I bought this in a sale and found it to be the audio equivalent of a page turner. Now I'm going to listen to more in the series.

I HATE Cliffhanger endings

This builds on the solid base established in the first book. All the story elements really get going and it’s totally engrossing - HOWEVER it ends on a cliffhanger!!! I hate this in books. Fortunately the next book is already available or it would be losing a another star!

I love the characters!

This is such a charming and funny book. I love the characters. I could not put it down.

Good first great second

Normally second books even if good fail to be as good as the first. I really enjoy the first and really enjoyed this second. I liked it even more and it’s really left me wanting to know how this all plays out in the 3rd book. This story from the start has been really interesting and keeps the interest.

where is the next book?

I was totally surprised at the excitement of this book. I think the heroine is a bit of a wose. whats going to happen bwtween her and Nick? and to leave he dad lying in a coma is unfair to listeners. The narrator is excellent!

Still wonderful and I can't wait for more

I got through this book so fast because I couldn't stop listening. I love this series so much I need the next book! More magic, more gods, more dragons, more dfz! Pleaseeeee!

Loved it

Great characters and universe. Just like the last book and the Heartstrikers series before it. I couldn't put it down.