Review: Intrepid

Intrepid by Nate Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Though short, I liked Intrepid and thought the author spun out a pretty good tale for the book's length. It was a quick, light read with a plot that was an unusual mix of sci-fi and primitive survival (about as much as I can say without spoiling it). I found the main characters interesting and thought they were developed reasonably well in a short amount of time; however, the sheer number of supporting characters may have been a bit much for the format. I often found myself confused in the last half of the book as I attempted to remember who each minor character was and why I should care about what happened to them. Overall, the story isn't horribly complicated, mostly predictable, and wraps up a bit too conveniently at the end. However, I found I still found the book pretty enjoyable.

Doug Tisdale Jr. is a dependably decent narrator, and his performance for Intrepid was good. I've heard his narration from listening to a few different books, and I think he consistently checks the boxes for a quality narrator. He isn't at the very top of my favorites, but he isn't far below them either.

This audiobook was given to me free, and I voluntarily gave this review.

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Review: Heaven's Gate: Volume 1

Heaven's Gate: Volume 1 by DragonTreasures
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Juvenile wish fulfillment

I want to leave an honest review, but first I'll disclose that I didn't listen to the entire book. About three-quarters of the way through, I started to skip chapters. I usually never leave a review for a book I didn't fully complete, so perhaps the last quarter that I skipped was absolutely amazing work and I should feel shamed for not slugging through the entire book. I doubt it, but take that into consideration while reading this.

Heaven's Gate is a perfect example of why I used to think I disliked the LitRPG genre. It's still not my favorite, but Heaven's Gate is more of a juvenile's personal fantasy fulfillment than any kind of real novel. It may appeal to a 13-year old gamer, but for anyone else, it is going to fall short with its arrow-straight plot, simple character development, and overpowered protagonist. The plot itself barely makes sense and the characters often seem to make foolish or unrealistic decisions and actions. Some elements were okay, for example, the dialog wasn't awful and the POV perspective was done decently -- but overall, I would not want to read a second book in this series.

The narration did not help this book -- in fact, it may have hindered it. It's difficult to completely judge it as sometimes bad material can bring down a good narrator, but I don't think Richard's performance was very good. This may be my ethnocentric opinion, but the narrator's heavy accent made it difficult to listen to and felt out of place with the characters (who I do not believe were supposed to be American). However, he did have good voice inflection and did a decent job representing some of the character's (limited) personalities. I'd be willing to give him another try, but I don't think he was a good fit for this book.

This audiobook was given to me for free, and I voluntarily gave this review.

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Review: Waters of Salt and Sin

Waters of Salt and Sin by Alisha Klapheke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Waters of Salt and Sin is an exceptional novel set in a deep and complex fantasy world rich with traditional eastern culture elements. The protagonist, a low-born sailor named Kinneret, is locked within a caste system where those born into slavery may buy their way to higher standing with silver. Kinneret seeks little more than a safe and secure life for herself and her little sister and aims to use her sailing skills to earn enough silver to buy their way into a higher caste. Sailing is a dangerous and challenging trade, as those that die at sea are cursed to haunt the oceans as salt wraiths and prey on any living mortals brave (or foolish) enough to remain on the oceans during the night.

The story combines several genres. It is a coming-of-age story that combines action, adventure, romance, and low fantasy into a strong and compelling narrative. Kinneret is a strong heroine and leader, but her flaws, insecurities, and vulnerabilities make her a relatable and lovable character you'll find yourself drawn to. The other characters who support Kinneret, like Oron and Calev, are just as well written, though perhaps not quite as deep and intricately detailed as Kinneret. Overall, the dialog is snappy, the pacing makes the book hard to put down, and the plot is expertly spun from a series of smaller story arcs that keep the reader interested. The book is also part of a series but thankfully does not end on a cliff hanger, making it an excellent introduction to this exciting and well-developed world.

At the beginning of the book, the reader is immediately immersed in the unfamiliar culture and society of Jakobden, which can be a bit jarring and confusing, but as the story progresses, more and more of the fascinating setting is described. I mention this to encourage readers not to be discouraged if they can't immediately sort out everything going at the start -- it'll all come together soon. I cannot find many flaws with Waters of Salt and Sin, which makes it an exceptional example of the growing number of successful indie, self-published authors.

Though it's identified in the teen and young adult category, the book delves into a few dark places as it skirts topics such as slavery, rape, and torture. Nothing explicit is gratuitous or described in detail. Still, those sensitive to such things could be bothered by the iniquitous treatment of slaves and other low born in a caste society.

The audiobook version of Waters of Salt and Sin is narrated by the talented Heather Costa, whose natural voice is perfect for any feisty heroine. The complex characters really allow Costa to demonstrate her ability to create unique voices that capture each character's personality. Overall, she's an excellent narrator, and this book was a perfect fit for her talent.

I received this audiobook for free and am providing an honest review.

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Review: Bishop's Gambit (Omnibus) - A Space Opera Adventure: Precipice To War: Book 1

Bishop's Gambit (Omnibus) - A Space Opera Adventure: Precipice To War: Book 1 by Jeremy Fabiano
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Good Space Adventure for Teen & YA Audience

I debated a while before reviewing, as I was suggested this book as a sci-fi space opera. And while it is, it's also has a very simple plot, immature characters, and accessible writing. Then I figured out it's a YA and teen book and felt pretty bad for almost bashing it as a one or two-star review. I could see a young teen enjoying this, so even though it's not my thing, I'm going to rate it on those merits. Adults, look elsewhere for your serious sci-fi -- but your kids might enjoy this one.

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Review: Star Scavenger Boxed Set: Complete Five Book Series

Star Scavenger Boxed Set: Complete Five Book Series by G.J. Ogden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fun sci-fi series set in a unique world

The Star Scavenger Series has a lot going for it. The world-building in the series was excellent, and the overall story was interesting and unique. I enjoyed the entire idea of relic hunting in the wrecks of ancient alien ships and how this was tied into both the political structures of the various government factions and the plot that ran throughout the series. I know it's not a unique concept, but once you read the series, you'll see how well it was all thought out and woven together.

Though the story setting and the plot were well done, the characters felt like they were built around tropes, and the overall growth and direction of the narrative were reasonably predictable. Hudson Powell is an average guy with a chronic hero syndrome who pairs himself with the engineer who happens to be a gratuitous ninja. Other supporting characters fill different trope roles, and the antagonists are just pretty much your typical scoundrels that never learn from their defeats. The narrative starts in the first book with Hudson battling a hostile work environment and dirty co-workers -- and then it takes the typical evolution through the series until the fate of the entire human race is left in the hands of Hudson Powell and his band of unlikely, but clichéd heroes. I liked the series, but the characters never really developed, grew, or deviated from their stereotypes -- and that made much of the book predictable. The consistency of the actions of the characters could be downright irritating at times.

I also wanted to point out that I've read other reviews that bashed the "science" in the series. I'm afraid I have to disagree with the critique. For example, the alien relics tended to work without explanation; however, I think this was the point and believe it was done well. The science from the alien wrecks was advanced to the point of almost being magical -- like how a cave dweller would view an airplane. The alien technology was just that much beyond the earth's technological level that things did seem to "just work" rather than being explained.

So, all that being said, would I read another book in the series? It's likely. Everything other than the trope characters and predictable nature of the series was solid, and I did have fun reading them. Ogden has talent as a writer and knows how to tell and structure a great sci-fi story. Would I read another book placed in the same universe but with a different (and less stereotyped) cast of characters? Definitely.

In the audiobook version, the narration was decently done. Doug Tisdale Jr. had a way of characterizing the villains of the series that certainly made them memorable. All the characters had a unique voice, and I think the narrator captured their personalities, but he had a lot of trouble with some of the female characters. Of course, that's a common problem among male narrators, so I'm not going to hold too much against Tisdale for it.

Special thanks to G. J. Ogden, who provided me with this book at my request.

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