Henry, the Gaoler

Serenity House, Book 2

By: A. W. Exley

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki

Length: 5 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Imagine if Rapunzel's parents were Edwardian preppers.

Hazel's parents saw the 1912 sinking of the Titanic as a portent of doom and locked their daughter away. Isolated and alone, each birthday she wishes to be free, whatever the risk. If only her childhood friend, Henry, would return and breach the high walls.

On the front lines of the Great War, Henry kept a token of happier times - a worn photograph of a young girl with long blonde plaits. He returns from war damaged and vowing to do one brave thing to make up for his cowardice: release Hazel from her prison. But could Henry keep her safe in a world ravaged by the pandemic? How can Henry reconcile protecting Hazel with setting her free? Or perhaps the sheltered young woman will teach the soldier a lesson about life, liberating him from a tower of his own construction.

©2016 A. W. Exley (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc., and Skyboat Media, Inc.

it was okay

Book was ok. was hard to keep interest in it and had go back a few times to try to understand d what was going on. was a decent read but I'm glad it was free.

separate story based on 1st book

This story happens along side and pre- Ella. interesting story. Too short. just as your getting a feel for these characters it ends. worth the listen. but left me wanting more.

inner coherence question

I read this after reading the first in the series. The unresolved incoherence between the Henry of the first story and then the story of Henry in this sequel is why I'm not giving it 4 stars. a lack of coherence in stories or in series drives me crazy. It sucks all the joy from the reading... as a stand-alone story, this book is fine. but I kept wondering how Hazel fit into the larger picture, and that question was never answered.

Great expansion on Henry’s life

Really loved this book and viewing the events of the pandemic in another’s point of view. This books give further in-depth detail about the progression of the “flu”. I do wish there was a little more closure with Hazel but I think her role in the story is important to understand Henry. Also, I enjoyed the male narration gave a different and appropriate feel especially since this was written in a males point of view. On to the next one! Love this series definitely worth the credit!

Waste of a credit. I am getting a refund for this!

This was nothing short of a recap of the prior book and very disjointed. It had no r ees al action until the last 2 chapters and even less romance.