Skinwalkers

By: Wendy N. Wagner

Narrated by: Karen White

Length: 10 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

As a young woman, Jendara left the cold northern isles of the Ironbound Archipelago to find her fortune. Now, many years later, she's forsaken her buccaneer ways and returned home in search of a simpler life, where she can raise her young son, Kran, in peace. When a strange clan of shapeshifting raiders pillages her home, however, there's no choice for Jendara but to take up her axes once again to help the islanders defend all that they hold dear.

©2014 Paizo Publishing, LLC (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

Great story, but not actually Pathfinder

So the author did some excellent writing here. Interesting plot, character development, lots of showing character’s motivations and story and not telling. Very well done. I could be a bit nitpicky about pacing, but she had a lot to share and wants to ensure it doesnt get lost. All in all an excellent story.

However, with changing 1000 words or so this could be anywhere including current or historical earth. The only actual Pathfinder elements are location names. Even the main bad guys are not as the Pathfinder bestiary describes them. There is minimal magic (including no basic divine or arcane magic) and what magic there is has no foundation in the Pathfinder ruleset. No races other than humans (and technically 2 trolls but they are referred to as beasts, and again are crowbarred in. A better choice would have been ogres but whatever.).

If you can identify the class of anyone in the book you are doing a better job than I am. They don’t even all fit into fighter, which is tough. Finally, it would seem everyone in this book is under 5th level. Again, no classes. But no one is doing anything an experienced backpacker couldn’t do. (Well, one who knows boats.). And the Pathfinder society reference is unfortunately dumb and not aligned with the society as described in the canon.

Oh, one other thing. Many, seriously almost all, of the characters and especially the MC, consistently make stupid decisions. You will be slapping your forehead as the consequences of their actions come home to roost.

Again, this is a great story (aside from some of the dumb decisions) and I would recommend it, but it isn’t a Pathfinder book.

Narrator: She does a fine job and is actually quite good. 20 years ago she gets 5 stars. But Audible has a higher standard now. Also, I played this at 1.3 speed and heard no noticeable difference. That’s not good.

eh.

ok not the best. the narrator is a c- and the story starts off good but slows down and falls flat. never really got to care for any of the characters.

I didn't finish it

It was not my cup of tea. It was just too slow. Would not recommend.