Sterling

By: Dannika Dark

Narrated by: Nicole Poole

Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's Summary

Zoë Merrick lived an ordinary life until late one night, she was brutally attacked and left for dead. She survived, saved by a stranger who witnessed her undergo a physical transformation. That's not the only thing that's different. Zoë is unable to control an unexplainable energy coursing through her body.

Justus De Gradi is a man who can teach her that control. He's handsome, arrogant, and not entirely human. He reveals that she is a Mage - an immortal made of light, not magic. She must now make a choice: Rebuild her life in the human world with the man who saved her, or live with Justus and learn how to use her extraordinary gifts. Justus has sworn an oath to protect her life, but can he guard her from the one man who has a right to claim it?

©2012 Dannika Dark (P)2014 Tantor

Critic Reviews

"One of the most balanced stories in terms of darkness, action, romance, and humor that I've read in a long time." (Grave Tells)

No more whispering!

I wish audible read these or at least the producers.

We really need to STOP the whispering, because it can only be heard in ideal environments. If you absolutely must. Stage whisper! I don;t know if I should blame the performer or the producer for letting it happen.

The book itself is good though I did get frustrated some with the abuse.

14 people found this helpful

Eh ok story

Just ok for the first book. A lot of fluff that wasn't needed and almost made me stop listening. I am unsure if I will continue to the next book.

7 people found this helpful

Good story, I'll go on to book 2

The story here was good, the characters defined, if a bit predictable. Sterling wraps up the story and lets you know there's more to the overall saga. The narrator was a bit flat. Sometimes really good, other times, just meh. Not very good at strong emotions or "yelling". I found myself wishing for a strong narrator like Renee Raudman (Kate Daniels - best series ever!) or Tavia Gilbert (Night Huntress - 2nd fav series).. but she did ok, and didn't ruin the story, which, as I said, was good. I'll move on to the next book.

30 people found this helpful

Not a big fan of the whisper squeaky screams.

It only happens a few times and isn't enough to detract from the story, but is quite annoying.

13 people found this helpful

Super Exciting Listen

I had read it in ebook version and decided to buy the audio to experience the story in a new light. It. Was. Awesome! Nicole Poole did a marvelous job capturing the feel of the story and gave each character a voice that suited them perfectly. 5 stars all the way!

12 people found this helpful

Not as good as her other books in this world

Boo!!! Poor damsel in distress can’t take care of herself and spends the whole book depending on men to take care of her. Vomit. Literally at every turn that she has the opportunity to save herself, she fails and some “man” comes in to do the job properly. First she’s in an abusive relationship, then she gets tragically attacked and turned into a mage, then she goes to live with Adam and is a worthless burden who just hangs around his house at his mercy, then she goes to live with Justice as his subordinate and is completely under his power and made to know that she is less than him at every turn, then she goes to a council who doesn’t care that she was brutally attacked by her maker and gives her back to him, her maker abuses her and she just helplessly takes it, then in the 11th hour she has the opportunity to kill him and she hesitates and ends up being almost killed by him before, you guessed it, Justice comes to save her again. This book is nauseating and it’s going to be a real burden to finish it. COME ON DANNIKA! Give the people what they want - a strong female lead worth respecting!! Not some mewling pathetic weakling who just lets every man who comes along boss her around and treat her like a slave.

10 people found this helpful

ONLY OK

Very disappointed that a good audiobook has such a bad narrator. Her voice is normal one minute then so soft a whisper that I am constantly having to adjust the sound level.

9 people found this helpful

AWESOME ! GOOD PARANORMAL SERIES.

I am so... glad I picked up this book. I did not realize it was that good! Absolutely enjoyed it from start to finish. I felt so sorry for Silver when she was attacked but after that with the help of some wonderful people who became really good friends she can start a new life again as a Mage. I like Adam, Simon and Justus for steadfastly helping all the way. Am amazing plot with action and suspense. I will be continuing the whole series . Worth a credit. Dannika Dark is an amazing writer and Nicole Poole performed all the characters very well.

9 people found this helpful

loved this book

I was captivated from page 1 Dannika Dark is a powerful author who had me experiencing an amazing roller coaster ride from start to finish.
I am not a reviewer unless something I get from amazon really was terrible, but I felt compelled to tell all that this was an amazing book.
For me what was also cool was having the whisper sync audio so that I could listen in my car as well as read on my couch.
this book was just that good I just couldn't put it down and so far book 2 is of the same stuff.
back to my couch I go to enjoy book 2 if it continues being as good as the first I might just write another review :-) happy reading

12 people found this helpful

Disappointing

It was hard to finish listening to this with the narrator's un-enthused, sleepy, whispery delivery. She sounds like she's on Valium for the majority of the read. And Silver's illogical, stubborn, stupidity in refusing to discuss impending threats to the many folks she sponges off lacks credulity. Its difficult to feel any empathy for this prolonged Mary-Sue origin story.
Avoid.

6 people found this helpful

Strong female

Which scene did you most enjoy?

Learner and Simon's interaction and flirting.

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

I both laughed and cried during this book.

Any additional comments?

After having read Dannika Dark’s series Seven, I was expecting something along those lines. The breed references and world set-up are indeed the same, but the actual story doesn’t resemble the romantically based Seven. Zoe begins as a regular human, but is violently changed one night and wakes up in the worst place of all, scared and alone. She runs straight into Adam who has a super sexy nurturing side and tries to take care of her. She soon comes to the notice of Justus and her new, safe life is torn away and replaced with a harder existence under the rule of the Mageri. The reader can really emphasize with the girl, who loses the right to use the name Zoe, and is taken through her journey into the world as a Mage. I was expecting a little more romance and didn’t really get it, but I certainly wasn’t disappointed in the content and I must admit, tears trickled for a while in there. This book is about a girl’s strength and durability in a harsh world.

1 person found this helpful

Sterling

I'm in love with Dannika Dark's Stories, I'm working my way through them quite quickly so I hope she is writing more 😂

Great start

Lots of interesting ideas and actions, continuing the concepts of the Cross breed series. I like the continuity, much better than trying to catch on to a new world.

Sterling

Wow you really have got to read this just couldn't put it down its riveting

Absolutely Fabulous snd highly recommend

This is my favourite series, full of drama, action, romance and brilliantly narrated by Nicole Poole. Can’t recommend this enough.... buy now and enjoy 😁😁😁😁

Amazing

is the second time i am listening to this serie😍
Dannika is my favourite writer ..i really love all her books

boooooaring

well first of the narrater was very quiet, the story dragged on filling the time with pointless chatter, i tuned out several times.
at no point did i feel emotianaly captavated.
the use of rude words were just throwen in with no real concept to the story. hopefully it will get better with the second book, of witch i acsedently bought.

2 people found this helpful

Really difficult to listen to

I found the narrator really hard to listen, her very breathy voice was so unpleasant I gave up after about an hour.

1 person found this helpful

change

this is the first DD book I've listened to on Audio book. The voice of Simon was annoying, and took me a while to get used to. Reading the book myself was a totally different experience to listening to it. it felt like I was listening to a book I've never read before.

Did I have different book than most people?

What would have made Sterling better?

A female lead with some self-respect, strength and brain and less hysterics.

What was most disappointing about Dannika Dark’s story?

Where to start... I found some descriptions too expanded while others- important to story rather shortcut. That much to writing. As for the characters in book, it just didn't do! The lead character is probably weakest female lead I came across in past couple of years and I read a lot of paranormal and fantasy drivel! The failure to take her life into her own hands at nearly 30 is just sad.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

I think the narrator is more suitable for different type of book. The voice is fine, the accents so-so, but every time she does somebody screaming it’s like nails on blackboard.

You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

I would love to say yes, but I am very sorry for myself to have spent a credit on this. I wish a band of sexy males who are all completely into me even though I have terrible taste in books would die saving me from my foolishness. After getting me extra credit and some first obviously.

4 people found this helpful