City of a Thousand Dolls Audiobook Review

Audiobook: City of a Thousand Dolls by Miriam Foster
Read by: Shannon McManus
Genre: YA Fantasy

I was looking for adventure, and this book seemed to have a lot of action and a kick-ass girl. So, I rented it.

Not so much kick ass.

Set in a fantasy Asian/Indian place, the City of a Thousand Dolls is a large orphanage complex that takes in unwanted girls, of which there are many, thanks to a strict two-child law. The city trains the girls in several different disciples and sells them off (as wives, courtesans or apprentices) when they turn 16. Nisha, is the head Matron's personal assistant ... with a secret past.

Sounds pretty good but Nisha isn't not much of a heroine. She's muddled and, other than talking to cats, has no special skills. She's described as Matron's informant, but she doesn't really know that much about the city, at all. When a few murders happen, Matron asks Nisha to look into it -- a pointless task, as she only talks to five girls and one of them happens to be the killer. Done.

To make matters worse, there's a scene at the end were all the stories untangle and is witnessed by the Prince and about 100 other people. It was the longest scene in the book and all I kept wondering was "how were all the people STILL standing there listening to all this expletive." Boring.

The only upside was the narrator read the book in a hurry. And when the story went stale, I was okay with rushing through it.

Grade: Yellow Light

'Airborn' Audiobook Review

Audiobook: 'Airborn' by Kenneth Oppel
Read by: Full Cast
Genre: YA Lit, Steampunk

This was a bit of an unconventional choice for me -- mostly because it was a high-seas action (boy) book with zero chance of kissing, but I was tempted anyway because it sounded so much like the Leviathan, the steampunk trilogy I read a few years ago. And I was in the mood for an adventure.

Happy I tried it out, as this book was filled with excellent high-seas adventure. And I liked the full-cast performance (it was the first I'd come across) -- it really elevated my enjoyment of the story and the characters.

Matt Cruise is a cabin boy on an airship called the Aurora. In steampunk fashion, it's a Victorian-era ship (zeppelin) that flies the Pacificus to exotic ports of call. Matt meets Kate, a bold heiress and budding scientist out to prove her grandfather had found something extraordinary before he died. Matt joins her crusade -- amid pirates and shipwrecks.

Matt is certainly a worthy and noble hero who saves the day -- again and again. And his kind Captain Walken, with his booming voice, was one of my absolute favorites. The scenes with Chef Vlad, and his crazy accent, were my favorite. And the pirates were good baddies. All together, a very dramatic performance and fantastic to listen to.

And, yes, there was a kiss. Two, actually. Yay!

Grade: Green light

'Requiem' Audiobook Review

Audiobook: Requiem by Lauren Oliver
Read by: Sarah Drew
Genre: YA Dystopia

This is the third book of the Delirium trilogy. I had to rush out the library to get it right when I finished the second. And was so excited to see the audiobook waiting for me on the shelves that I nearly yelped.

And no, it wasn't the ending I was hoping for. It was a bit disappointing, actually. Is there any hope for a fourth book at all?

When I think of the word "requiem," I think of ending and death. This story had no ending. In fact, it felt more like a middle book in a series rather than a finale. It didn't pick up steam until the final quarter of the story, otherwise, it was just a lot of walking around and Lena wavering back and forth over which guy she actually loved. Good boy Julian, who's very shallow or Alex, who is dark, deep and mysterious -- I mean, Lena, is there actually a choice here? Wake up!

Big props to Sarah Drew whose voice continues to mesmerize me, even when the story lost its direction.

Overall, it's not a complete bust of a trilogy. it had all my favorite dystopia elements and I felt a faint optimism at the end, but not enough to feel satisfied. Seriously, a fourth? Please?

Grade: Yellow Light

Pandemonium Audiobook Review

Audiobook: Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
Read by: Sarah Drew
Genre: YA Lit, Dystopia

This is the sequel to Delirium, a dystopian novel that supposes the future, fractured U.S.A has deemed love a virus and are curing the population of it. (My Delirium review here.) That takes away choice, freedom and passion. Lena, the main character, is all about this cure until she meets Alex and realizes she can't live like a loveless zombie. So she runs.

I couldn't help wonder what will become of Lena after she crosses into the "wilds," so I picked up the second audiobook. Now, I've got to pick up the third book. Like now.

Usually, the second book in a trilogy is dullsville. It's a bridge from one action book to the epic finish in the third. There's lots of internal development, as the character gets to the place mentally to take on the crazy stuff in the third book. But this second book was actually good!

We get new characters, "Then" and "Now" storytelling that keeps things moving and lots of good action. Even the time Lean spends in a cell isn't boring. It's all built around revolution and movement and Lena figuring things out a few steps too late. Poor dumb Lena.

One thing I couldn't help but wonder -- so the Wilds is a place where people won't be cured of the love virus and are thus free to love openly. So you'd think there would be a lot of couples, relationship and kissing everywhere. There's not. The groups Lena hangs out with are just a bunch of single people cohabiting. Maybe because it's a book for teens or perhaps Lena doesn't find those kinds of camps. Or maybe I'm making too many hippie commune comparisons. Still it strikes me as odd that there's no free love everywhere with the "uncureds."

Regardless, I all but ran to the library to pick up the third. Because the last delivered line "don't listen to her, she lies" killed me.

Grade: Green Light

Eleanor and Park Audiobook Review

Audiobook: Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
Read by: Rebecca Lowman, Sunil Malhotra
Genre: YA Lit

I've read a few reviews about this book and though it didn't sound like my normal cup of tea, it still seemed enticing. 

Well, I didn't make it past the first disc.

Here's the thing about me: I like to escape into books and if those books turn too dark, it spills into my real life and I get moody. And this book was hinting at some bad things to come, so I returned the audiobook after one disc.

So, I'm sure it's great -- raw and emotional. And great for adults who grew up in the 80s and love nostalgia.  But not for me.

Grade: Red Light

'Delirium' Audiobook Review

Audiobook: Delirium by Lauren Conrad
Read by: Sarah Drew
Genre: YA Lit, Dystopia

So the plot sounds a little fantastical: A future world where love is a horrible virus. When you turn 18, you're given a cure -- a seemingly "gentle" lobotomy that makes you immune to feeling love and all that comes with it -- passion, intense joy, etc. You're paired, married and asked to procreate and "care" for the children you have no capacity to love.

Kinda crazy, right? Love cure? Gimme a break. That's nuts. Why would anyone want to surpress that. Love is all you need, right? I couldn't help investigate. And so glad I did.

The story is about Lena, who is just weeks away from having the cure when she meets Alex and becomes "infected" with the love virus. But she now understands a world without love sucks. She isn't a radical, but she's willing to give up everything to be with Alex in the "Wilds" -- the place outside the city boundaries where the "uncured" might live. Let's just say, it doesn't go well.

Like most great dystopian books, there's a reworking of our current society that makes you question just how crazy this is. Would the government go to lengths to deaden our passions? Hmmm. And there's tons of action that kept me popping that next CD into my car.

Sarah Drew, the narrator, is an actress I remembered from the TV show Everwood. And she's fantastic. She yells and whispers and attempts Alex's low mumbles. I want to call her and chat with her so she can share even the most boring details in her rough yet tender voice. Seriously, call me!

Here's what I didn't like: The entire book is in Lena's head and that gets tiring. Her romance with Alex -- sweet perfect Alex -- is tainted with her confusion and uncertainty. It's like a friend telling you a really good story, but not taking in account any other perspectives, selfishly rambling on and sometimes you just have to turn her off for awhile.

The best part, like most good dystopian, is this book is a trilogy. So, I'll be back at the library next weekend to pick up the next book in the series.

Grade: Green Light

'Days of Blood and Starlight' Audiobook Review

Audiobook: Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
Read by: Khristine Hvam
Genre: YA Lit

Ok. I was walking through the YA section at the library and nearly fell over when I saw this audiobook. It's a pretty new book. A book that I bought not too many weeks ago and have been too busy to start. A book I have been waiting and waiting for since finishing Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I got it, of course, but it felt like cheating. Like I should be READING the book, for real.

I got over that pretty quickly, as I fell back into Karou and her situation and powerful mix of emotions. In a sentence: this audiobook was ammmmazing.

With Laini Taylor, you don't so much "read" her books, as you're pulled under the spell of her words, her characters and her world. It's big. It's deep. It's a rollercoaster ride of action and emotions.

I'm not sure I can summarize this story easily or without spoilers, as it's the sequel and so much happened in that first book. Karou is a human with blue hair who moves between two worlds, our human world and one made of beasts called Chimera and Angels. And they have been at war for thousands of years. Enter the Romeo and Juliet story; Karou (is kinda Chimera) falls in love with an Angel named Akiva. And all hell breaks lose.

Like any second book, there is a lot of set up in this story -- they build armies and alliances, get revenge, feelings grow, tension mounts -- and nothing will pan out until the next book when the battle really begins. But there's certainly enough action and plotting. And Karou continues to mature and kick butt. She's no longer nieve and with so much knowledge, she's bubbling with longing, regret and the need to set things right. Sure, there's a lot of repetition, it's Taylors way of reminding you what's important.

The reader Khristine Hvam is super, too. She's great at all the voices, especially the Czch accent of Zuzana and Mik. And though it was a 12-disc audiobook, time went quickly by in my car.

The last chapter blew my mind! And the third book isn't due until next year ... at the earliest! So, I'm in for a long wait. Worth it, though. Oh so worth it.

Grade: Green Light!

'King Dork' Audiobook Review

Audiobook: King Dork by Frank Portman
Ready by: Lincoln Hoppe
Genre: YA Lit

A few years ago I read Andromeda Klein, and while I ended up skimming much of the first half of the book, looney Andromeda stuck with me. She was this great mix of brash punk and sweet innocence. King Dork came before, so I was always curious about it. When I found it on the shelf, I hoped I'd find another Andromeda.

I found Tom, a dork with dreams of being in a rock band and a rampant imagination with a very exciting sophomore year to tell me about. And a pretty good story to boot.

The book description talks a lot about finding Catcher in the Rye among his dead dad's things as a major plot point. I didn't think so. It was the whole library that changed everything. And I loved all the band names Tom and his one friend would come up with. Names that included first album titles, credits and song. Also, Tom hates The Doors, which I quite agree with.

The one problem with this audiobook is Tom would trail off into wild, imaginative tangents -- so if I got distracted by merging traffic or what I was making for dinner, I'd be confused as to why Tom can suddenly fly or was being chased by KGB spies. An editor could have been a little more diligent with the red pen.

The narrator, Lincoln Hoppe, had a great voice that captured Tom's wryness and sarcasm. And it was a male voice which, up until now, I thought I had problems listening to. Must have been just some male voices that bug me. 

Grade: Green Light

'Rebel Angels' Audiobook Review

Audiobook: Rebel Angels by Libba Bray
Read by: Josephine Bailey
Genre: YA Lit

I read the first book in this series called A Great and Terrible Beauty a few years ago. It was a little too Victorian paranormal dramatic for me, but it was kinda entertaining. And Libba is such a YA author celebrity, so when I saw Rebel Angels, the second book, I had to see what it was all about.

I wasn't disappointed and might even consider listening to the third and final book of the trilogy.

This series is difficult to summarize. Jemma was the new girl at a boarding school who discovers a secret society of sorceress that her late-mother was once a member. They are caretakers for a dreamy land, like purgatory, where people pass through when they die. This land is filled with magic and dangers and strange creatures. See? I little tough to explain. Oh! And Jemma has nasty visions. And one of her best friends died and is stuck in that realm.

It's definitely more exciting that how I'm explaining it. This book is mostly about the other group of people who want to take control of the realm and all its magic for themselves. And Jemma fighting back against them. She and her friends move the fight from the gray backdrop of December in England to the technicolor beauty of the realms. And there's no stop to the action.

The real advantage was the reader, Josephine Bailey, who gave this book more life than I could have reading it myself. She used theatrical voices, deep Victorian accents and more to make each character vivid and distinct. The more I listen to audiobooks, the more I find there are books I'd like prefer to listen to, and this was certainly one of them. As a book, I might have skimmed -- but as an audiobook, I drank it up.

Grade: Green Light

Gallagher Girls Series Audiobook Review

Audiobooks: Gallagher Girls Series, books 1-5 by Ally Carter
Ready by: Renée Raudman
Genre: YA Lit

I read Heist Society, Ms. Carter's other spy series and really liked it. (Review of second book in that series is coming.) As books, I had always dismissed the Gallagher Girls books because they looked a little too kid-ish for my tastes. But, as audiobooks, there's less of a time commitment, and these books are universally adored, so I picked up the first one.

I was back at the library the next day to check out the rest of the series.

The Gallagher Academy is a top-secret, all-girls spy school and Cammie, the main character, is its headmistress's gawky daughter. The series follows Cammie as she matches her education against real-world dangers, and real boys(!), with her best friends Liz and Becks.

The miracle of this series is that Cammie grows up a lot. I listened to these books consecutively in the span of about a month, so her growth was easy to chart. She goes from naive and silly to wise and capable. This series gets compared to Harry Potter, and this is likely why. The fifth book was far darker than the first.

The narrator, who reads all the books, has worked for the Simpsons and it took me weeks to figure out which voice. And her boy voice is seriously annoying. Also, Carter is repetitive -- like a romance writer. You'll read descriptions on how the girl spies can incapacitate a man 3-times their size with ____ (fill in a cosmetic bag staple). Or how they can speak 17 languages, but can't understand what boys are talking about. But I guess if you listen to 6 books, you're bound to pick up the rhythms.

These books were a hit, and deserving of all the praise they get.

Grade: Green light

And in case you're wondering, those titles are:
GG1:  I’D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU, BUT THEN I’D HAVE TO KILL YOU
GG2:  CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO SPY
GG3:  DON’T JUDGE A GIRL BY HER COVER
GG4:  ONLY THE GOOD SPY YOUNG
GG5:  OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF TIME
GG6: Coming Next Year
source: allycarter.com