Verity

The Dead Planet Series, Book 2

By: Drew Avera

Narrated by: Al Kessel

Length: 2 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

For 2,500 years, the civilization on Mars has been ruled by the Syndicate, an organization run by the top one percent. Freedoms are suppressed and religion is banned. The only truth is what the Syndicate tells you. Every need and desire of the average citizen has been fed by the machine in return for a lifetime of obedience. What happens when the profit margins fall and the people become a burden to the pockets of the Syndicate? What happens when their plans to exile their citizens to a certain death is revealed?

In the first book entitled Exodus, Serus Blackwell had to face off against other policemen in the Agency in order to protect his sister, Kara. Now they are bound for Earth in an effort to save their home planet, Mars. What they experience will change everything they know about the past and open doors they never dreamed existed. Allies will be found and cruel enemies will be made. Will they find the answers they need to save a planet, or will millions die at the hands of the Syndicate?

©2015 Drew Alexander Avera (P)2015 Drew Alexander Avera

Feeling lost and very much confused

Any additional comments?

Not a lot has changed from book one the plot was still good and so was the narration, this book does leave a lot of questions unanswered. It is still very unrealistic and not giving enough information. At times I had to go back and re-listen because my mind had wondered away. This had nothing to do with the narrator but with the story. For me what was not believable is you have a policeman who everyone is looking for along with his sister who doesn’t change his clothes after running into a member of the mob on his way on the ship. When he and his sister finally comes to their sense and get a change of clothes deciding they needed to stay in the room as much as possible only to go window shopping which leads to them being kidnap. He is still running around the ship with his weapon on his arm in full view of everyone and no one even ask a question. I got very confused with the person who helped them after a battle with part of the mob I thought was the captain to the caption I saw at running with the mob. If that is the case he changes his personality so fast only to go back to the old helpful them once they land and want to go back home. I am still confused who the man was on the ground at the end of this book. There is again a lot of action that makes the story interesting but with no body as to facts or the how and why it is very lacking.

Mr. Kessel narration was better in this audio than the last but he still seem as lost as I was from time to time. There were times I thought his voice should have been louder as the character grew angry and at times lower when whispering. At times I still felt he was pushing their emotions not giving it a smooth even tone and other times right on the money. I still feel it is because the story didn’t feel realistic to him anymore than it did me. The mob member’s voices were strong, deep and full of power. His performance for the most part was good he did make this a more pleasurable listen. A little more work is needed to make this come across at more even flow. At times if felt like the narrator was as lost as I was. If this is the case it would have a big effect on his narration. I did not hear any background noise. If any breaks were taken I could not tell. The music used at the beginning and end fits the story it wasn’t over powering and it goes very well with this story. With not having enough information given and at times too much I thought this narrator did a great job. I still believe with the right book this narrator would be outstanding. I just really felt he felt as lost as I was at times trying to understand all the pit falls of a story that leave so much out. I am looking forward to listening to more of his work.

I felt even more lost in this one than the last story of this series. They would practice shooting on the ship but when they missed it did no damage to the ship? No one heard them? They walked around the ship with their weapons out in the open when no one else had them but nothing was said or no one pointed them out. I thought only the people with the most money were on the ship but the author at one points talks about the poor being there.

I loved the action and danger but there was no foundation to pull me in. They want to go back to Mars they go to the caption saying lets go home he said ok. He works for the mob and doesn’t ask any questions. The author totally lost me in this book with missing something and having to go back and listen only to think that makes no sense. It was an interesting read and I would like to finish the series only to know what happen to those on Mars, long with a few people and if Earth has been taken over. Again this is my point maybe I am missing some key points to make this a great book, please give it a listen and find out what you link.