Things Unseen

Metamor City

By: Chris Lester

Narrated by: Chris Lester

Length: 15 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

Lt. Kathryn Kitaen, a detective of Magic Affairs for the Metamor City Police Department, is not having her best day. An unidentified man in her precinct has been burned to death by unknown magic. A powerful wizard has erased the evidence from the crime scene. The commander of a powerful paramilitary organization wants to pick a fight over jurisdiction. And to top it all off, the Empire's top spymaster wants her to find his missing daughter: a spoiled and decadent heiress who's infamous for sparking scandal and controversy wherever she goes.

Together with her partner, the Elven life-mage David Silverleaf, Kate must expose a conspiracy of silence in the highest ranks of the Empire's nobility: a web of lies that has already claimed one life, and threatens to take more. To get to the truth - to protect the city she loves - Kate will have to unravel a mystery that has baffled the Empire for a generation...a mystery that began in a magic-filled jungle on the other side of the world....

©2013, 2014 Chris Lester (P)2017 Chris Lester

Great Urban Fantasy

Would you consider the audio edition of Things Unseen to be better than the print version?

I would say the quality was equal to the print version.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Things Unseen?

Anything involving the vampire crime lord.

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

I have. This one is as good as any (very good!).

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

No.

Any additional comments?

It’s a fast read for its size. There’s plenty of sex (though nothing so explicit as to be labeled erotica), action, and intrigue. We see the world through several sets of eyes, but its done in such a way that I never got “head hopping” motion sickness. At any given time we’re only getting one character’s point of view. It makes the experience of the world deeper in this case. What makes this story even better is that it doesn’t stop at the surface level. Underneath the excitement and mystery, this story is about identity and how much you can lose or gain before you stop being “you”. Most of the main characters undergo some significant changes in body, mind and/or spirit. The experience tears some of them down, killing them, and causes tremendous growth in others. It’s that character development that really makes this book worth reading.

If you’re a fan of urban fantasy, Shadowrun, or just good old fashioned adventure then you should check this book out. I give it five out of five elf ears.

I love this

The Metamor City universe is one of the best rabbit holes to get lost in. Chris' podcast is great but this was better can't wait for more stories on audible.

Excellent book of dangerous magic

Metamor City is wonderful on the page, but it really shines with the author's narration. As a longtime fan of the podcast, I've been waiting for this book for years and it does not disappoint. It's great to get a closer look at Detectives Kitaen and Silverleaf, who have appeared in other Metamor stories more briefly. I think even a new reader would enjoy it, although I definitely recommend the rest in the series.

Supernatural, Law and Order, and D&D in one

As a fan of Metamor City, I knew what to expect from the setting. The complex characters and rich world are encompassing. Be warned listener. This book is difficult to pause.

Rich, Complex, and Captivating

This book was intriguing from the first sentence and kept hold of me all the way to the end. In mysteries, I tend not to see a lot of character development, but there was some real intense growth in our main protagonist. In fact, every single character brimmed with life (or death, in the case of vampires--just trying to be fair here). Metamor City is rich, deep, and full of stories to tell. This was only one of them, and WHAT A STORY!

I always seem to go months or years between reading Lester's works, and when I invariably come back, I'm always awed at how great they are. His words are captivating, the plots detailed but not over-complex, and the characters ridiculously real. I'll be back to Metamor City soon (hopefully not months or years from now).

All in all, this is simply a fantastic book.

Intricate storytelling in a fabulous new world

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, absolutely. Good quality sound, particularly for an independent production. The author reads his own work and each of his character voices is distinct and vivid. The world of Metamor is distinctive, well fleshed, and fascinating. Strong characters, solid plot, and some interesting story hooks that left me satisfied with this book but definitely looking forward to more.

What other book might you compare Things Unseen to and why?

Nothing quite leaps to mind. Things Unseen can be considered Urban fantasy, but it takes place in a world that is like Earth but with a radically different timeline. Magic isn't just in the open - it's never been hidden. In spite of this, technology is just as important a force in the world. It's not quite like anything I can call to mind having read.

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

I listened to Chris Lester's Making the Cut, which was a free full-cast audiobook released through The Metamor City Podcast. He has several other shorter works which can also be found through this source, some in the same world and some not. He has always been a good writer, but I think he has improved quite a lot. If you like this book, I recommend looking up his podcast or buying anything else by him on audible.

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

There are a couple of pretty intense and violent scenes in this book. The main character starts out humorous, but she has some growing to do throughout the book and most of it isn't pleasant for her. It's got a fair amount of emotional punch, with some light horror elements.

Any additional comments?

Definitely listen to this book if you like gritty, detailed urban fantasy with a dash of humor and a dollop of light horror, with just a dash of philosophy. There's plenty of action, but it takes a little time to get there. There are a couple of kinky bits too, but nothing terribly graphic. A murder mystery wrapped up in guns and magic and possibly the end of the world. Can't wait to see where it goes from here.

excellent story

Chris is an excellent writer and an equally skilled narrator.
I love how he gives each character their own voices. It is always easy to tell who’s talking as he reads the story.
The story is a seamless blend of magic and technology with great characters and an engaging storyline. I listened to it first as a podcast and greatly enjoyed the opportunity to listen to the book again, this time without having to wait a week between chapters.
Over all a great experience, worth every moment spent listening. I will definitely listen to this novel again and again.

i love all that is Metamor

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

yes chris always seems to keep the reader engaged i am a long time Metamor Chronicles listener from his early podcasts