Dryad-Born

By: Jeff Wheeler

Narrated by: Sue Pitkin

Length: 15 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's Summary

In the scourged kingdoms of Mirrowen, little hope survives.

Rumors stir of a hidden child who can stop the devastating plagues — and the race to find her has begun. The ruthless ruler of Kenatos, the Arch-Rike, and the people pledged to stopping him will do anything to make sure they’re the ones to reach her first.

Because even though young Phae may be unaware that she is the long-lost daughter of Tyrus — the Arch-Rike’s rival — there is no mistaking her gift. She not only wields the dangerous fireblood, but she can also steal the memories of anyone who looks into her eyes. Both Fireblood and Dryad-born, she alone can survive the Scourgelands long enough to learn the secrets hidden within the oaks — secrets that may reveal the origins of the plagues…and how to fight them.

Now Phae must learn to accept her newfound destiny or forever fear the steadfast evil of the Arch-Rike.

©2014 Jeff Wheeler (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Great Story Horrible Narration

Would you try another book from Jeff Wheeler and/or Sue Pitkin?

I would certainly listen to another of Jeff Wheeler's books, I totally enjoy his writing style. I would never try another book narrated by Sue Pitkin. She has no ability to narrate multiple characters in any distinctive fashion.

How could the performance have been better?

The performance would have been better if Michael Page narrated the second book as well as the first. Sue Pitkin was simply pathetic. I was perplexed by things such as how the Quiet Kishion takes on some sort of Arnold Schwarzenegger accent. He (she) sounded ridiculous. Her narration almost ruined the book for me.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Great story, terrible narrator

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I would go back to Michael Page as the narrator. Sue Pitkin does okay when she isn't reading dialogue, but she can't read dialogue well to save her life. I can only listen to this book for short periods of time before I have to turn it off.

I got this audiobook despite the poor reviews of the narrator because I had the ebook already and it was only $2, but I would never waste a credit or pay full price for it. The book is excellent, but Pitkin was not the right choice at all. I feel like she'd do much better with something like Jane Austen rather than epic fantasy.

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoy everything about this story except the performer. It's a solid follow-up to the first book.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Her speech is exaggerated, her attempts at different accents are awful, and it is clear that she didn't listen to any of the previous book. Conversations between characters are painful and unnatural. As an example, the voice she uses for the archivist's passages is stilted and overdone while Michael Page's interpretation was scholarly and thoughtful. I grit my teeth every time one of those sequences comes up when I used to enjoy them. I gave her two stars because I can at least listen to her for short periods of time, but I have to take a break after long dialogues.

Was Dryad-Born worth the listening time?

Reading time, heck yeah. Listening time... Just barely, maybe? It was better than not listening to a book at all, I guess.

Any additional comments?

Please, please, please, please bring Michael Page back.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

better!!

If you could sum up Dryad-Born in three words, what would they be?

more flushed out!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Dryad-Born?

when you find out who the villain in hiding is.

How could the performance have been better?

did not care for the voice talent. accent were not the same as the first book I think.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Amazing Book...Terrible Narrator

This book is so great. I would listen to it as I fall asleep, but I would find myself staying up late trying to listen to more. The narrator is awful. I eventually got used to her voice, but I really hope audible has the narrator from Fireblood read the next book in the series. Again, this book is so good!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Couldn't stomach the Narration

Any additional comments?

The first part of the series was great... very promising and enjoyable. This second book seemed to have the same elements but the narration was at best unpleasant, but more often actually irritating. I gave up on the book about 3/4 of the way through because I couldn't stomach the narration (the first and only time I've done that with an audiobook)

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Good Story, Bad Narrator

What did you like best about Dryad-Born? What did you like least?

I liked the story, but the narrator was terrible

Any additional comments?

I highly recommend the first book of the series. The narrator was fun to listen to and made the characters come alive. I don't know why this book had a different narrator, but she could not use different character voices at all, so it could confusing when two characters were talking to each other. Another thing I didn't like about her was that would be just as dramatic with some mundane description or detail as she would an action sequence or with something important. That got old pretty quick.Anyway, I will probably listen to the next book in the series when it comes out if it has a different narrator. For this book, you would be better off to read it yourself.

6 of 8 people found this review helpful

what happened to Michael Page?

Fireblood (book 1) was awesome. Good story, but the narrator Michael Page did a fantastic job. He really gave the characters personality through his narrating. Started this book, but couldn't finish, narration is AWFUL. I can't tell one character from the other, why the change? Am I alone in this? Had to return this one, guess I'll just go get it in paperback. I saw book 3 is with the same narrator as this one =( so sad.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Not sure

I don't want to say that this was the worst of all of your stories Jeff. I couldn't make up my mind if it was the story or the performance of Sue P. Her voices were so annoying on most of the characters. At times I had to go back and listen again in agony to figure out which character was supposed to be talking. I love listening to your stories while I work, but I may have to pass if Sue P. is reading anymore. It was horrible to say the least.

book 2

On my way to book three. Really like this narrator. A series you can listen to while you do other tasks.

Good story, awful narration.

I really like J Wheeler and have listened to pretty much everything he has out at this point other than this book and the next in the series.

The narration really ruined this. Two of my favorite characters were awful. Hettie sounds like a whiney, weak wretch and Paedrin sounds like an arrogant ass. Since it’s a female narrator, I just don’t get how she did Hettie so very poorly, disappointing. And many of the bad guys sound like shrews. Just awful.

The newest character is written well and her unequaled powers are interesting and clever.

Good story - worst narrator ever!

The story is interesting and different from the usual sword and sorcery books which is why I put up with the execrable narrator. I was expecting her to suddenly yell 'and LASHINGS of GINGER beer' at any moment.
The cadence of the narration was awful with frequent emphasis on the wrong words and a real jumble of downright dumb accents poorly realised. The first book was narrated by a much better narrator and I am sorry that they changed for this volume.
I can only hope that they change again for the third volume or I don't think I will be able to put up with it and will never hear the end of the story, although I will probably buy it in written word because, again, the story is really good!
I suggest Ms Pitkin would make a great job of narrating the Famous Five books.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Needed a copy editor!

The story is good, Sue Pitkin gets the intonation wrong a lot though, making it difficult to listen to.

This would really have benefitted from the attentions of a good copy editor, or even a proof reader. Repeating words twice in a sentence & misquoting famous sayings demonstrated a lack of attention to detail.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

awful change of narrator

yet another great series ruined by changing the narrator,not only from male to female but one who's only character voices are a soft spoken cultured voice and I high pitched wizened old cackling voice that is like fingers on a chalk board ,which not only confuses you to as who is talkin as they all sound the same,female,male ,young,old it's all the same,in general I enjoy a woman narrating but on this occasion,such a disappointment

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Good story, poor narration

story continues in the same vein as the first in the series and maintains interest throughout but really struggled with narration.

Really hard to tell which person is speaking, pauses in awkward places and all males seem to have the same inflection and base emotion but accents do vary... as best I can tell one character has a mixed accent of French/Russian!

will make it through but if the first book was narrated like this I don't think I would have been hooked enough to even get through the first!

Great story but.

Love the story but really struggled with the voice actor and telling apart some of the characters.

good

story is great but alas like others have said in other reviews the narration in this one is not up to the usual standard
book 1 was narrated by the guy that did the gentlemen bastards books so the bar was set really high for book 2 in this series
this narrater is pitchy squeeky and seems to use angry voices for no aparent reason
the start of each chapter starts with a passage from the archivist and altho its the same archivest she narates it in diff voices for some unknown reason this makes it confusing when depending on audio
also the prince in book 1 was a levelheaded softly spoken intelligent character but in this narration he seems to say everything in a really angry way
the same for his meek adoring cousin who for some reason gets a wicked witch voice
it seems that angry voice is the default setting in this narration so it is not a good pre bedtime listen as it will not soothe you
pitchy and scratchy
i really hope this series becomes availabewith someone like the female narater of the other books by mr wheeler
she was great

good book

Really develops well as a story, though a tad predictable at end which you can forgive as a lead in to the third book.

Magic assembled

Very well written book with many unexpected twists
And turns beautifully read with great empathy, wonderful
Narrator

0 of 1 people found this review helpful