Tag: The Guild Codex: Spellbound Series

I’m really behind on posting about audiobooks, so I’m going to tackle this half-dozen in one whack. It bugs me to not to write something about half of these, but at the rate I’m going, it’s just not going to happen. As always, the point of these quick takes posts is to catch up on my “To Write About” stack—emphasizing pithiness, not thoroughness.

Legends & Lattes

by Travis Baldree

DETAILS:
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: June 14, 2022
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 6 hrs., 22 min.
Read Date: September 30-October 3, 2022

(the official blurb)
Opening a coffee shop has to be hard—period. Especially if you happen to be an ork, tired of the adventuring and killing, who wants to retire to a quiet community (instead of dying in battle). Harder still if no one in this part of the world has ever heard of coffee. But Viv’s not known for backing down, she’s going to give it her all.

This is possibly the sweetest Fantasy story ever written. It’s just pleasant—as pleasant as whiling away an hour or two in a comfy coffee shop chair with some great beverages. I’ve got nothing else to say, everything else would just be a rewording or unnecessary expansion on that.

Baldree’s narration was as good as his text—sometimes I wonder about the ego involved in an author doing their own narration, when they just shouldn’t. But Baldree absolutely should’ve.

3.5 Stars

The Old Woman with the Knife

by Gu Byeong-mo, Chi-Young Kim (Translator), Nancy Wu (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises, Limited
Publication Date: March 8, 2022
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 6 hrs., 29 min.
Read Date: October 12-13, 2022

(the official blurb)
I think I need to read this, so I can focus on some things I didn’t give enough attention to (and a couple of the names confused me a bit, so I know I missed some things while I figured out the context).

But this story about an aging assassin who might be having memory issues, and could be developing a conscience of sorts—while trying to put a young up-and-comer in their place was just great.

Every front worked—the emotional moments, the dry wit, the action and intrigue, the character development…all solidly delivered. I’d probably have rated this higher if I’d read it and could’ve been more careful in understanding. Strongly recommended.
3.5 Stars

The Vexed Generation

by Scott Meyer, Luke Daniels (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Series: Magic 2.0, #6
Publisher:  Audible Studios on Brilliance
Publication Date: June 6, 2019
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 9 hrs., 55 min.
Read Date: October 20-24, 2022

(the official blurb)
Oh, this was just fun. Gwen and Martin’s kids are teens now, and discover the whole magic/computer thing on their own (mostly because Gwen, Martin, and Philip are in major trouble and the teens blame Philip). We get to see some magic that’s not in the medieval England or Atlantean model, and see how strange everything in the first 5 books really is through the twins’ fresh eyes.

Daniels was his typical great self; Meyers was inventive, clever, and witty (as you expect), and the story was very satisfying.

If this is the end of the road for this series, it was a great way to go. If not? I’m really going to enjoy what comes next.
3.5 Stars

Druid Vices and a Vodka

by Annette Marie, Cris Dukehart (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Series: The Guild Codex: Spellbound Series, #6
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Publication Date: March 17, 2020
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 9 hrs., 15 min.
Read Date: November 16-18, 2022

(the official blurb)
I’m getting a little annoyed by this series, I have to admit—I’m in it for the long-haul, make no mistake. But man…it feels like we’re just spinning our wheels with a couple of the storylines (and not in believable ways, mostly just to stretch out the drama), and Tori just refuses to learn or develop in any meaningful way (which is realistic, sure, but irritating in a fictional character after this long).

Still, I enjoy the novels, and am intrigued by some of the developments. Dukehart is fun to listen to—and the way this is interwoven with the other series ensures I’m sticking around.
3 Stars

The Mutual Friend

by Carter Bays, George Newbern (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Publication Date: June 7, 2022
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 15 hrs.,  56 min.
Read Date: November 21-25, 2022

(the official blurb)
Whatever problems I have with this are not with Newbern—I really enjoyed the narration.

I also really enjoyed portions of this—I can’t say entire storylines or characters—but maybe half of each? (some of the beginnings were great and then fell apart, some ended so well that I forgot that I really didn’t want anything to do with the characters/story, and some had great middles).

I found the overall “Friend” idea that tied all these divergent stories together both a great idea, and problematic at the same time.

I really wanted to like this, and assumed going in that I was going to love it. But I think this novel has taught me a lesson I should’ve learned with his TV show—Bays has moments of brilliance, but shouldn’t be allowed too much control over a story’s ending. (but if given the chance, I’m sure I’ll give him another try)

2 1/2 Stars

Bookish People

by Susan Coll, Alexa Morden (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Publisher: Harper Muse
Publication Date: August 2, 2022
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 8 hrs., 11 min.
Read Date: November 29-December 1, 2022

(the official blurb)
Coll tried so hard—you could feel the effort on every page. There were some truly amusing moments, and even a little sweetness here. But every storyline was entirely predictable—and not in the way that can be comfy and reassuring, but in a disappointing way. The madcap/slapstick moments felt disorganized and chaotic. The earnest parts felt like a Hallmark card.

The parts of the book that were about the ups and downs, travails and semi-triumphs, of a small bookstore made me like this enough not to resent the experience. But that’s about the best thing I can say.

2 1/2 Stars

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase from any of them, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

Catch-Up Quick Takes: A Few Remaining August Titles

By HCNewton

On September 23, 2022

In Audiobook, Don Winslow, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, Urban Fantasy

The point of these quick takes posts is to catch up on my “To Write About” stack—emphasizing pithiness, not thoroughness. Except for the two books that I want to do full posts on, this wraps up August. I’m in danger of catching up. (insert the obligatory “Narrator: He will not” joke here)

The Alchemist and an Amaretto

by Annette Marie, Cris Dukehart (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Series: The Guild Codex: Spellbound Series, #5
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Publication Date: January 27, 2020
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length:  6 hrs., 55 min.
Read Date: August 24-25, 2022

(the official blurb)
This series is the trunk that the others branch out from, it’s the anchor for the whole thing—and I’m just about at an end with it. It feels like Marie’s discovered a template and is just following it.

That said…I’m not leaving this because I want to see how the others unfold, I really like Tori, I want to see how things turn out with her brother, and the books are entertaining enough, while still being exasperating (to illustrate, Cobra Kai Season 5 is just on the other side of that line). But man…I’m tired of the non-romance romantic story and I’m fed up with the Ezra storyline (that I think is what the whole series is going to be ultimately about, so I’d better get used to it).

Putting my gripes aside—the alchemy stuff here is great, and I really liked the way all of it developed. This approach to werewolves is great and I’d really like to see more (but am pretty sure we won’t because of the whole template thing…but maybe in the Warped series?)

Also, I’m really hoping that at one point the protagonists from these series will figure out they should be allies and friends for one final, climactic battle before living a life of relative peace and routine.
3 Stars

Her Last Breath

by Linda Castillo, Kathleen McInerney (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Series: Kate Burkholder, #5
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: June 17, 2013
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 9 hr., 46 min.
Read Date: August 25-26, 2022

(the official blurb)
I truly had a hard time with this one because so much of the book is about this police chief that we’re supposed to be rooting for going around and manipulating a case, lying to other law enforcement officers, and pressuring her siblings into lying to cover up what will be a clear case of self-defense so that she can keep her job.

The other storyline about the hit and run that turns out to be vehicular homicide? That was pretty good—a touch predictable, sure. But only because Castillo did everything but name the killer McMurderer, because this one needed to be about Kate figuring it out and the reader seeing what that put her through.

If we can put the self-defense cover-up story behind us now, I can keep going. Otherwise, this series becomes Dexter with a really low body count, and I’m just not going with that.

3 Stars

The Heron

by Don Winslow, Ed Harris (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Publisher: Audible OriginalsT
Publication Date: July 28, 2022
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 1 hr., 6 min.
Read Date: August 12, 2022

(the official blurb)
This is only an hour long, so it’s really difficult to talk about. But that’s a shame because I want to go paragraph by paragraph and talk about it—a live-blog running commentary seems to be the best way to talk about it, but who has the time for that?

I’m going to start with Ed Harris rocking this one—the dude is perfect and I want nothing else out of life than a new Winslow story every month or so read by Harris. That’s hyperbole to make a point, but it feels like one of the most honest sentences I’ve uttered recently.

This is short fiction at its best—a great premise, some good twists, a great conclusion, and a perfect ending. It just made me happy. I was about to say that there’s a great villain, but I’m not sure which character I’d attribute that to. There are a good number of great criminal characters running around committing crimes against each other—it’s just a matter of who comes out on top and how they do so. Grab some popcorn and enjoy.

Also, as I look back at what I noted when I listened—only 4 stars? I remember it better than that. Maybe it was the length? I’m going to trust my initial reaction, but as I write this, 4 seems like I’m underselling it.
4 Stars

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase from any of them, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.

Catch-Up Quick Takes: Some Audiobooks from Feb. & March 2022

By HCNewton

On April 1, 2022

In Audiobook, Don Winslow, Fiction, General Fiction/Literature, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, Non-Fiction, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy

Here are some audiobooks that I’ve listened to in the last couple of months, and I really don’t have much to say about them—all are worth the time to listen to (or read, if you prefer), I just don’t have enough to say to make up a typical post.

Hard Reboot

by Django Wexler, Morgan Hallett (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Publisher: Recorded Books
Publication Date:  May 24, 2021
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 3 hrs., 57 min.
Read Date: March 14-15, 2022

(the official blurb)
This just seemed like a lot of fun when it was published last year, so when I saw it on the library site, I had to jump on it. And it was fun.

But it was a bit too short—I know that’s by design, but it felt too abrupt. You got fighting robots on the cover, I want more than two major fights. Sure, the fights we get are pretty cool, but I wanted more.

If this was 20 percent longer, I’d have been happy. As it was? I was satisfied.
3 Stars

Demon Magic and a Martini

by Annette Marie, Cris Dukehart (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Series: The Guild Codex: Spellbound Series, #4
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Publication Date: April 22, 2019
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 7 hrs., 15 min.
Read Date: March 9-10, 2022

(the official blurb)
So, um…yeah. This was okay.

For the second book in a row, we get to peel back the mysterious backstory of one of Tori’s new best friends while they’re battling a new magical threat. This time it’s demons—and rival guilds. One of which is pretty ethically challenged.

It was a bit too similar to the previous book for me. But it delivered the same kind of quippy UF action that characterizes the series. It’s entertaining enough to keep going with the series—and to recommend them—I just want to see a little more out of them.
3 Stars

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead

by Elle Cosimano, Angela Dawe (Narration)

DETAILS:
Series: Finlay Donovan, #2
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: January 31, 2022
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 9 hr., 20 min.
Read Date: February 25-28, 2022

(the official blurb)
I was a little worried how the premise would carry over to a sequel, and I clearly shouldn’t have—largely because Cosimano didn’t just repeat the way the first book went. It was very much an “okay, so now with that finished, what comes next?”—assuming that Finlay and Vero don’t just wholly abandon their new revenue stream.

We get some important new information about Vero—making a lot of what she did in the first book make sense. Finlay makes some smart romantic moves—and there’s some decent movement on the divorce front.

All in all, a solid sequel that shows that this can be a series with legs, not just a quirky one-off.
3 Stars

Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law

by Mary Roach

DETAILS:
Publisher: Brilliance Publishing
Publication Date: September 13, 2021
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 9 hrs., 17 min.
Read Date: January 31-February 1, 2022

(the official blurb)
So this is about what happens when animals and humans have a hard time co-existing—which basically means when animals being animals inconvenience (or worse) humans. Was that hiker killed by an animal, or did they die of other causes and become food for an animal? What happens when we put a building where an animal expected to be able to be?

I don’t think it was as amusing as Roach tried to make it. It was interesting, but it went on too long and therefore became less-interesting the longer it went on. I don’t remember anything more specific than that—which says something about the book. It just didn’t hold my attention for long.

This is my first Mary Roach book—and maybe would’ve been my last if I hadn’t run into a couple of other bloggers who are Roach fans that were as tepid as I was about the book. Still, I’m going to get a bit more distance between this book and my next.
3 Stars

Murder Under Her Skin

by Stephen Spotswood, Kirsten Potter

DETAILS:
Series: A Pentecost and Parker Mystery, #2
Publisher: Random House Audio
Publication Date: December 6, 2021
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 9 hrs., 40 min. hrs and 40 mins
Read Date: March 28-29, 2022

(the official blurb)
The circus that Will used to be in is in trouble—one of their performers has been killed and another has been arrested. Will’s mentor, to be specific. So she and Lillian Pentecost head down south to see what they can do.

It’s a culture clash (both the South and the circus) for the duo—Will learns the hard way that maybe she’s been gone too long—as well as a fish out of water kind of thing for Pentecost. Although not as much as Will and the reader might expect.

I enjoyed this one a lot more than the predecessor—it’s still a bit too much about Will and her current love interest than it is about Pentecost and the case they’re supposed to be working on. The mystery was clever, the character arcs were solid and Will’s narrative voice is strong enough to keep the reader/listener locked in.
3 Stars

Free Billy

by Don Winslow, Ed Harris (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Series: The Dawn Patrol 
Publisher: Audible Originals
Publication Date: 2022
Format: Audiobook
Length:1 hr., 6 min.
Read Date: March 30, 2022

(the official blurb)
This is a silly, fun, and sweet story in the world of The Dawn Patrol (one of my top 5 All-Time books), all our favorites get a quick appearance and we’re introduced to a couple of new characters.

Despite being in the same world as the crime novels that introduced Winslow to me, there’s no crime to be found here.

Which is fine—it’s not needed in this short story. It’s just a fun story about one of Boone’s friends. I laughed audibly more than once, and just enjoyed the story as a whole—I just wish it was longer so I could spend more time in this world. The story didn’t require it.

Ed Harris gives exactly what you’d expect from him in an audiobook narration—near perfection. I thought his stuff was great.
5 Stars

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase from any of them, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

Catch-Up Quick Takes: I Don’t Have Much to Say About these Recent Books

By HCNewton

On February 2, 2022

In Audiobook, Chet and Bernie, Dogs, Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, Spencer Quinn, Urban Fantasy

The point of these quick takes posts is to catch up on my “To Write About” stack—emphasizing pithiness, not thoroughness.

The Sentence is Death

by Anthony Horowitz, Rory Kinnear (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Series: A Hawthorne and Horowitz Mystery, #2
Publisher: HarperAudio
Publication Date: May 27, 2019
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 8 hrs., 36 min.
Read Date: December 22-23, 2021

(the official blurb)
A notorious divorce lawyer is bludgeoned with an expensive bottle of wine and Horowitz finds himself dragged away from his day job by Hawthorne to chronicle the investigation.

Hawthorne seems to be more disagreeable this time out—almost like he was trying to be off-putting. Horowitz (the character) is a decent source of comic relief as he struggles to prove himself.

The mystery was pretty compelling—and while I think I got it before the duo (well, before Horowitz, anyway), it was a bit trickier than the first. All in all, it’s a fun listen.
3 Stars

The Iggy Chronicles, Volume One

by Spencer Quinn

DETAILS:
Series: Chet and Bernie
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication Date: August 13, 2013
Format: Kindle Edition
Length: 49 pg.
Read Date: December 30, 2021

(the official blurb)
I’ve had this short Chet & Bernie story on my Kindle for ages, I think I started it a few times but got distracted quickly. Which makes no sense, because it’s not like it took too long to read.

It’s a fast read featuring Chet’s buddy, Iggy, and Bernie’s neighbor, Mr. Parsons. Bernie’s sharper than ever and he makes quick work of the mystery the duo literally stumbles into. It’s not a must-read, but it’s a fun one.
3 Stars

Zoth-Avarex’s Escape Plan: A Pick-Your-Own-Path Experience

by K.R.R. Lockhaven

DETAILS:
Series: Zoth-Avarex, #2
Publication Date: June 13, 2021
Format: Kindle Edition
Length: 43 pg.
Read Date: December 31, 2021

(the official blurb)
Not surprisingly, Zoth-Avarex, was not happy being thwarted The Conjuring of Zoth-Avarex, and he wants revenge. Lockhaven presents this quest in a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure style. Without, it should be stressed, being so close to the style as to infringe on any trademarks or anything.

I laughed at this, it was truly ridiculous. I don’t know that this is the sequel I wanted/expected, but I’m glad we got it.
3 Stars

Dogtology: Live. Bark. Believe.

by Jeff Lazarus

DETAILS:
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press
Publication Date: June 2, 2015
Format: Hardcover
Length: 189 pg.
Read Date: December 30-31, 2021

(the official blurb)
The central conceit here is that humans are so obsessed with their dogs, have devoted so much time, energy, and work that it’s become a religion, with humans worshipping canines. This book is a look at that devotion and the rituals and beliefs that accompany it.

When this book sticks to poking fun at the obsessive nature of dog owners, and having fun with the nature of dogs, it’s pretty amusing. But it treads a little too close to mocking actual religion for me to get excited about it.

I’m not sure I laughed at all, but it’s frequently funny.
3 Stars

Gone Missing

by Linda Castillo, Kathleen McInerney (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Series: Kate Burkholder, #4
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: June 18, 2012
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length:10 hrs., 8 min.
Read Date: January 3-5, 2022

(the official blurb)
Hey, Castillo found a way to get Kate out of town to investigate a crime involving the Amish. This has been my biggest (or one of my biggest) concerns with the series, that at the rate things were going, the Amish in her community would all die before we got to book 10.

There is a string of Amish youth going missing—enough that it’s got the attention of the state to assemble a Task Force—Kate Burkholder and John Tomasetti are recruited to be part of it.

What they end up finding is pretty disturbing, but a little less disturbing than the last couple. I like where the series is finding itself and can see me sticking around for a little longer than I feared I might have.
3 Stars

Two Witches and a Whiskey

by Annette Marie, Cris Dukehart (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Series: The Guild Codex: Spellbound Series, #3
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Publication Date: February 27, 2019
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 8 hrs., 9 min.
Read Date: January 11-12, 2022

(the official blurb)
Okay, this is more like it, a very good way to bounce back from the last book which was a bit of a disappointment to me. I wasn’t terribly worried about the series—I have a friend who’s further ahead of me (I think she’s done), and I assume she wouldn’t have recommended it if there was a problem.

Tori and her friends get themselves tied up in a big ol’ mess that will result in Tori dying unless they can pull off the impossible, or at least the incredibly unlikely.

The police (both real and supernatural) are lurking around the edges, the druid she met last time is back, and we learn a bit about Kai’s past and background. A fun story and some good character growth.
3 Stars

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase from any of them, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.