Finding Axiom

The Antiarch Trilogy, Volume 1

By: Eryn Carpenter

Narrated by: Zachary Johnson

Length: 7 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

When Finn, a 16-year-old Enforcer-In-Training, learns that The Wall built to keep citizens safe from The Wild is really a cage, he starts questioning all he's been taught. Maybe animals aren't as dangerous as he's been conditioned to believe. Maybe his rebel parents aren't the bad guys. Maybe he's playing for the wrong team. Finn must choose a side; either way it will cost him. His family, or his future...but neither are as terrifying as what may lurk beyond The Wall.

©2015 Eryn Carpenter (P)2016 Eryn Carpenter

great

delightful book to listen to. good book on what the future could be come .

Not bad

Note: I listened to the audio version of this book and it was provided at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast.

This book had elements reminiscent of the Hunger Games of Divergent series. Except there was a bit of a twist I wasn't expecting. The twist comes fairly early on, but I don't want to mention too much except to say that it happened when the protagonist met Barstow. Plot-wise it was decent, but the ending was rather anti-climactic. If the second one ends in a similar manner then it seems this would have been better off as one long novel rather than a trilogy. The narrator's performance was pretty good; if I had anything to change it would be that there was more distinction with some of the voices ... he did a good job distinguishing most of the male voices, but Barstow didn't really sound much different from the protagonist - the same held true with the protagonist's sister and love interest.

All in all, this book wasn't too bad. I'm curious to know where Finn's journey takes him in the end.

Did you know animals could converse?

What made the experience of listening to Finding Axiom the most enjoyable?

Eryn Carpenter did a fantastic job on developing the characters and setting this world up.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite was Piper. She had an air about her that was strong yet very vulnerable.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Barstow finally decided to be heard.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

The narrator did a fantastic job and kept you right there all the time.

Any additional comments?

I sorta like the idea that everything outside the walls are not supposed to be safe for you, yet they patrol it. Why have a wall, then. Oh yeah, to keep the animals and trees out. But what about the safety of the patrols?

Finding Axiom

Any additional comments?

This is book one of a trilogy - all three books are available in print but I am waiting for the audiobook format. At the end of the audiobook includes teaser of book two,

Finding Axiom

I was given this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

I was surprised at how good this was. I don't have a lot of experience in this genre, but Finding Axiom didn't disappoint. Maybe I should give some more books in this genre a try.

Divergent meets Avatar meets 1984.

Would you consider the audio edition of Finding Axiom to be better than the print version?

Audio is always better. The audio version important for this book because the narrator, Zachary Johnson, embodies the character of Finn. He also does an excellent job with the other characters--most memorably his mother and sister and of course the dog.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Finding Axiom?

Spoiler alert: The book totally changes when Finn realizes that the dog can communicate telepathically. The entire section where he is discovering this is very well-written.

Which scene was your favorite?

The whole book is filled with great scenes, but my favorite is when Finn is in the recovery room trying to explain to the cute nurse that she is the reason for his high blood pressure. The scene where he sneaks into the office and finds out that his family is on the watch list and his girlfriend's parents are in a work-camp is also intense.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The Adviser is Watching you. Can your Dog Save You?

Any additional comments?

If you liked the book, "Divergent," or the movie, "Avatar," you will probably enjoy this book. This is a clean, family friendly book. I received this book free in exchange for a fair review.

great book

I was very and extremely interested in the blurb of this book and I wasn't disappointed for a first book in the trilogy it was very interesting and the end made you run to the second book without preamble I loved this book

Very good book

What made the experience of listening to Finding Axiom the most enjoyable?

I really enjoyed the interaction and dialogue with all the animals

Who was your favorite character and why?

Hard to chose

What about Zachary Johnson’s performance did you like?

Zachary did a wonderful job with all the characters. He was very believable as Finn, but I especially loved what he did with the deep, richness of Adderick's voice

Any additional comments?

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

Dystopian World

Where animals are shunned and a patriarch demands extreme loyalty and obedience. Can Finn, an enforcer in training, come to understand his place in a world where animals and man work together? A choice must be made and soon. Should Finn continue on the enforcer path or should he forsake his place as determined by the chairman and instead become an agitator?

This is a good listen for tweens and teenagers. It's about the things we lay aside as we grow up. It's also about the decisions that go into deciding where our place is ultimately destined to be. Finn makes the right choice although it is an extremely painful one and has far reaching effects on both him and his family. The question is can Finn live with his decision and see his path through to the end?

I enjoy narrations by Zachary Johnson which is why I asked to listen to this audiobook. I find his narration style varied and compelling. I did listen on 1.5 speed.

I received this audiobook for free through Audiobook Boom! in exchange for an honest review.

Oh Fleas and Ticks!

Narration, Zachary Johnson - Really Good

He has the appropriately youthful voice to narrate this book, with our hero being just 16, but also handles a wide array of characters of all ages that are easily differentiated. He's a terrific storyteller that made this a really enjoyable listen.

So here is my take on this story - If you're familiar with any native american legends or have read any stories where an elder in a tribe is telling stories of the beginning of time with mother earth, nature, the animals and man living together harmoniously? But then man became greedy and started killing trees for shelters and killing animals for furs etc. (I'm grossly simplifying here)

Well, this is that legend, come to life. I'm not sure if this should be categorized as paranormal, magical, sci-fi, dystopian or all of the above. Our hero, Finn, lives in a society where everyone is in a city surrounded by a Wall and patrolled by Enforcers. From birth, they are taught that outside of the walls is the Wild, where there is danger, primarily from animals that attack at will, so the wall is for their own protection. There are classes of society that are determined by "The Adviser" and students in the preparatory schools choose their path which ultimately places them in their "class"
Finn is on track to become an enforcer, the elite that patrols the city, enforces the rules, has perks that others do not, enforcing curfew, collecting "agitators"

Finn has been in turmoil for the past year because his parents and sister seem to be more on the agitator side of things - not believing everything the Adviser says - and for his 16th birthday, his parents get him a dog.

"Animals are not safe, the Adviser himself says so!"

The only animals allowed in the city are those that have been through conditioning (drugged) and (unbeknownst to their owners) their foods are drugged as well.

However, this dog was sort of "planted" in Finn's lap. He's terrified of this dog. It's running around in their house - not drowsing around like a zombie dog as the others he's seen in the city do. Very quickly strange things start happening when this dog is around. Horrible headaches, voices in his head, is he infected with the dreaded canine flu that he's heard so much about?

This is really a clever story that portrays a very different world complete with an entirely new dictionary of curse words:

"What in the Wild do you think you're doing?"
"Fleas and Ticks and Claws and Fangs!"
"For Adviser's sake!"

A society that lives in harmony with man, nature and beast.
And a society that does not.

This is book one of a trilogy - all three books are available but only the first in audio as of this writing, however, the audiobook includes a very mean teaser of book two, "A Conditional Truth". Giant Cliffy Teaser! Very mean! (LOL)

Wonderfully enjoyable listen.

I received a copy of this audiobook free of charge from AudiobookBoom in exchange for an unbiased review