Audiobook Review

This is a review of the actual AUDIOBOOK, because way too many of the existing reviews only talk about the printed book, which I found completely useless when trying to decide whether or not to spend a credit on it. Yes, yes, the book is a five stars if you like paranormal gay romance at all. But we've all read books we love, then go to buy the audiobook so we can enjoy it again hands-free, only to find it ruined by a dreadful narrator.

In this case, the review of the narrator is especially important because the sample is NOT impressive. The guy sounds like he's never been so bored in his life. I am relieved to say that the full reading is better than that. Kudos to the reviewer who said that the reading is greatly improved by boosting the speed. This is, I think, critical to enjoying it. I liked it at x1.25, and that was still a pretty relaxed read.

The narrator doesn't have a wide range of voices, and Mrs. Brannigan sounds like something out of a British 70s sitcom, but it's amusing rather than annoying. (Really. She's very likable and she's read that way.) Even though the range of voices was less diverse than I like, I never struggled to tell which character was speaking. After a minute or two of listening, as another reviewer mentioned (see how important it is to talk about the narrator in an audiobook review??) my initial misgivings about the narrator faded, and I forgot about him and enjoyed the story. Is that a glowing review? No, that's why I gave the book 5 stars and the audiobook 4 stars.

Authors don't always have control over who reads their book, and new authors don't always get a Joel Leslie or Michael Farraiuolo. This guy is OK, like, "I can live with this" OK. No more, no less. I realized after I looked him up that he read another series for which I own all four books. I felt similarly about his work in that series, too. He'll probably read the next in this series, and I'm happy enough with the work to know I'll buy it, too, because he does OK with a great story. I will almost certainly listen to this one again as the next in the series are released.

Short version: 3 stars performance, 5 stars story, up the speed for better enjoyment.

14 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

So Glad I Picked this One Up!

It has been 47 minutes and 22... 23... 24... 25 seconds since I finished listening to the audiobook of Spellbound by Allie Therin. I know this because I now mark time by what happened before I was able to experience this book, and how my life has been utterly and irrevocably changed by having finished the experience. This book is... it's finding that last piece of candy at that bottom of your jacked pocket when you thought you were all out (and not the gross, old piece, but a beautifully wrapped, shining piece of your favorite sweet, still glistening within it's beautiful wrapper, filled with sweetness, saltiness, and a taste that you want to remember for the foreseeable future).

Can you tell I really liked this book?

Perhaps it's the books I have been reading recently, which I have enjoyed JUST AS MUCH as this book, but which present emotions in different ways. Perhaps it's my own writing, which is set in a world that acts as a heavy weight before the characters can even get to explore their own emotions. Whatever the reason, the naked sincerity and bold openness of Rory Brodigan stole my breath away (much the same effect it seemed to have on Ace, really). Part of the reason it took me longer than usual to finish this book was that I was constantly worried that something would happen to Rory, the adorable, rough-tough-cream-puff that he is, to rob him of that vulnerability. I can understand Ace's want to protect him, as it surged within me every time Rory might set off on his own or faced something down that was entirely terrifying. I won't lie, ALL of Therin's main characters shared the same level of depth. The ever worrying, compassionate Arthur, the sarcastic, confident, and quick-witted Jade, the caring, stubborn Mrs. Brodigan... I could go on and on, but I really only had eyes for Rory, and let me tell you, my big sibling senses were going CRAZY for half of the book!

Characters aside, I loved the magic system presented. It added so much to the overall story that it became a character in and of itself. It made villains identifiable and, dare I say, sympathetic? It made heroes vulnerable and brave and sacrificing in a way that no other setting or environment could have.

I don't know if I can recommend this book highly enough. It's a great adventure in 1920s New York, full of magic, mystery, and love. I have to take my hat off to the author. From the first moment I began the story, she had me...

(should I do it? Should I? Oh, I'm going to do it, you watch me.)

...Spellbound.

7 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Recommend

The story is really good, with real chemistry between the leads. This is definitely on the less explicit side of the MM spectrum, so wouldn’t recommend this if that’s what your looking for. But the plot and characters are great, so if you’re more interested in that go ahead. I was slightly put of by the narrator at beginning, but he really grew on me.

3 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Mixed review

Positives: fun story, and I (mostly) believe the protagonists could actually be into each other. But best of all, the flirting is GREAT. Fun innuendo, very sweet. I'm wondering how many early films the author has watched (I'm guessing a lot).

Negatives: Rory is SO ANNOYING. Insecure, sarcastic, ridiculously self-protective. I know some people are like this (I've dated a few) but ugh, I dumped them for a reason.
The writing isn't great. Kinda cringey, except for the excellent flirting. The pacing is slow, it could have been edited down a lot.
The reader is, perhaps, a little inexperienced. He's far from the worst I've heard, and not annoying, so don't let his issues dissuade you from listening. just a little robotic, and needs to do a better job looking up the pronunciations of words he doesn't know.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

Spellbound, equal opportunity magic, mystery and romance..

The story and these characters in this time and place appear to have been written with a lovingly realistic nostalgia for the era, the result is especially charming. However after reading the book and looking forward to the audio version I was initially put off by the sample of the narration. I sometimes read other Audible customers reviews of selections I am interested in and one in particular recommended revisiting Spellbound and changing speed and suggested that the narrator and narration improved over the course of the full listen.. l took this advice because the story is worth it, and I'm glad that I did, the narrator improved from doing a dry reading of material to performing with the warmth and emotion that the story and characters require.....The improvement continues! in Starcrossed..Thanks Audible ..Gwen S.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

Wearhouse 13 in a tux

The set up is a copy of Wearhouse 13.
Some of the nineteen twenties detail was way off. If the author doesn't know what a fountain pen is, all else is suspect too.
The reader sounded a bit like Rex Reed (Google it if you're under forty.) The performance is greatly helped by speeding it up.
I got this as a recommended example of Decopunk without knowing it was a gay romance; this is the last time I ever use a credit on the strength of a recommendation alone.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

just dive in! worth it!

so, this book is really amazing. the narrator is amazing although a bit slow for me but speeding it up at ranges from 1.05x to 1.20x feels comfortable and doesn't effect the sound quality either. the voices are all clear a distinguished i had no problem telling who is who.
I don't want to give any spoilers but I will say that some parts are unexpected with the flow of the story. It's a good listen and I don't regret this.

A romance novel with minor supernatural subplot

I'm not sure why I thought this would be supernatural suspense and not a romance novel, but I managed to disappoint myself. The romance was a little heavy-handed for my tastes, and it seemed like too often the romance took center stage instead of the plot. If you take out all of the romance from this book, the plot only occupies maybe 20%. I don't typically enjoy romance novels so I didn't really enjoy this.

The narration was confusing at times because, what I'm sure makes perfect sense visually, is confusing verbally. Several times the characters thought and spoke nearly simultaneously and I struggled to differentiate between the two.

Also, a pet peeve of mine; near the end of the book the main baddies stopped the whole plot to unload a f*ckton of exposition about the main characters, for the main characters. For what? Why? It seems like, if this information were to be meaningful, maybe the main characters should have acquired it on their own. It makes no sense for the main bad guy to spend so much time making sure they know everything about it.

Cute with interesting world building

This is a sweet story that created an interesting magic system in 1920s NY and gives a good feel for that time period and different areas of the city. the romance is lovely and not explicit (I'm fine with explicit but this story was much more about characters than sex). I liked the narration quite a bit. the 2 main characters have distinct voices and hearing 1920s American slang is funny. there were a few words that were mis pronounced but not enough to detract from the story and it happened less as the book went on. I'm ready for the next book!

Bound to Cast a Spell on You

I adored this book. It took a little bit to adjust to Erik's narration. I wasn't terribly fond of it at the start, but that could also be due to coming off a narrator I very much enjoyed. Once my ear adjusted I liked the narration very much, so in the event anyone finds the audio a little off putting I would suggest giving yourself some time to get used to it, as the story is wonderful.

I loved the snark and sass of Rory contrasting the sophisticated and duty bound character of Ace. I'm much more a fan of a slow burn rather than an instant ignition, so Rory snarking about and Ace being a mature, responsible adult was a great way to make that burn happen. And, once they do give into their feelings, their easy chemistry is so enjoyable.

The story is also very interesting. So often we just see a backdrop to a romance, but the story itself is enthralling. You want to know what will happen next as much as you want to see Rory and Ace get together. The conclusion of the book feels well paced, and complete, but still allowing for a clear continuation.

I was sorely disappointed to see that the next book was not available on audible at the time of this review.