The Legacy Human

Singularity, Book 1

By: Susan Kaye Quinn

Narrated by: Nick Podehl

Length: 10 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

What would you give to live forever?

Seventeen-year-old Elijah Brighton wants to become an ascender--a post-Singularity human/machine hybrid--after all, they're smarter, more enlightened, more compassionate, and above all, achingly beautiful. But Eli is a legacy human, preserved and cherished for his unaltered genetic code, just like the rainforest he paints. When a fugue state possesses him and creates great art, Eli miraculously lands a sponsor for the creative Olympics. If he could just master the fugue, he could take the gold and win the right to ascend, bringing everything he's yearned for within reach... including his beautiful ascender patron. But once Eli arrives at the Games, he finds the ascenders are playing games of their own. Everything he knows about the ascenders and the legacies they keep starts to unravel... until he's running for his life and wondering who he truly is.

The Legacy Human is the first in Susan Kaye Quinn's new young adult science fiction series that explores the intersection of mind, body, and soul in a post-Singularity world... and how technology will challenge us to remember what it means to be human.

©2015 Susan Kaye Quinn (P)2016 Susan Kaye Quinn

a bitter sweet tale but a very memorable story

Most memorable listen.
This theme is special and the hero is special.
it an coming of age story and finding out who you are story with a twist.
The Story is woven with color and mystery. it move quickly without losing the details. For me the story reached my empathy and the narrator's delivery never let the pace to slow down

Does the human soul exist?

This story was riveting. The narrator was amazing, maybe the best I've had the pleasure of listening to. I listened to the entire book in just two days. When I wasn't listening to it, I was thinking about it.

Sue's vivid descriptions immersed me in the main character's world so completely that I could see, feel and hear every experience as if I were actually there. The depth of the thoughts and emotions expressed let me relate to the self-doubt, inner torment and feelings of insecurity of an artist struggling to claim his place in a system stacked against him, even as he fights for his very survival and that of those he loves.

Thought provoking, often wry and ironic, deep and moving, thoroughly engrossing, nearly poetic. I think it is absolutely brilliant!

unique sci fi

The story was unique and memorable. I enjoyed the interaction of advanced technology and questions about the soul. The performance was great as well.

Thought provoking

Interesting and different. Definitely makes you think. The story was fast paced, I was never bored. Loved the characters. Very well done.

Nick Podehl is always top notch. I'll pick an audiobook just because he narrated it.

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review.

Wonderful story with awesome narrator.

Would you listen to The Legacy Human again? Why?

I think I will because I like to go back to really good stories after a while. Some I revisit yearly.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Legacy Human?

When the two boys and Eli's mom were in the bathroom together. That was a touching scene.

Have you listened to any of Nick Podehl’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Not sure about other audiobooks but he did a great job narrating this audiobook.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Mom in the bathtub to reduce her fever.

Any additional comments?

I received this audiobook as a gift from the author and I voluntarily leave this honest review. I really enjoyed listening.

what an imagination this writer has!

Wow this is a fast paced story, of a very crazy world where we, the humans, are pets for machinery.
the detail in this book is great. it does have a few twists, the story is to what it seems to be at first. Eli, and Cyrus, just wanting to win the olympics, The prize? to become one of them.. become non human. an to be able to share the gift with your family. Sounds perfect right? even more so when your mom is dying, and this could be her cure. To live forever, healthy and free.
you meet some gets charities along the way! then the twists come in! I can’t wait till book two!

the narrator did an amazing job.


I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

OH MY GOODNESS

Would you listen to The Legacy Human again? Why?

Yes!!!! A million times YES!!!!!

I loved it, as an artist this was especially intriguing to me as the descriptions of the art and techniques were so well done, but also because it just appealed to me.

The story is so fun, the idea of humans being transferred to machines is not an old one but I so enjoy the take on the science and technology behind it. The author doesn't try to act like it just happens, she takes the time to come up with a HOW.

I am soooo mad that it left me wanting more... I WILL be buying the sequel next month.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ohhhh....that's a hard one.....
Sirus.... he has such a way to looking at things from all angles. He can tell both the negative and positive and be able to tell what will be the most beneficial to support.
And he cares so much about what will happen...

Have you listened to any of Nick Podehl’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not, to my surprise because the name seemed familiar.

But I did really enjoy his performance and hope he also did the sequel.

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

I laughed... a LOT... I was very drawn in and came to care about the characters and what would happen to them.

Any additional comments?

I loved this book. It is all I have been able to talk about the last few days.
As I got to the last two hours I started to realize that there was going to be a sequel and looked around to make sure I would have access to it.

I truly loved this book and am so glad that I found it.

I was provided a copy of this book for free in exchange for my unbiased opinion/review.

Hunger Games but with art.

I was so surprised by how good this book was. If someone told me what it was about, I probably would have passed on it, but I'm glad I didn't. It's written in a YA style, but managed to keep my (39/M) interest all the way through and I'm excited for the next in the series to come out. The subject matter is a bit strange, the main character being a painter and the story revolving around the arts, but it is done flawlessly and by the end I was so happy not to be reading just another story about kids fighting each no other with fists and weapons. Also there is nothing strictly YA about the story other than it follows a bunch of teenagers.

Nick Podehl delivers the story flawlessly as well (as always) and gives the characters voice without making them seem too whiny, which is something I find in a lot when the characters are teenagers.

Over all it's a great book and a great story.

- I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

YA without romance!

Okay, I have to be honest, I picked this book because I saw that it’s narrated by Nick Podehl. How does that saying go? ”Nick Podehl could read me furniture assembly instructions” ? I’ve listened to a few books read by him already, so I had no doubts that the performance for this book would be phenomenal, and it is.

As for the book itself, I was so pleasantly surprised by how great it is! I love YA, but I can’t stand romance. The Legacy Human is perfect because it focuses on the story line without any sappy and annoying romance. What drew me to this book was the idea of a “creative Olympics” where artists compete for a prize, and in this case it’s to “ascend.” I’m really, really picky about first person narration, but this book nails the first person perspective; there are no long winded and unnecessary internal dialogues, yet the protagonist Eli is developed expertly. Eli is so real and so caring that I instantly liked him. He does everything and anything he can to help his very ill mother in his dystopian world. If you’re considering getting this book, stop debating and get it, it’s well worth the listen and a great start to a new series.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

i love this book

i never would have thought I would like a book with very little violent type action. but not only do i like it, i love it. great characters with an interesting premis. highly recommend.