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Horror is not usually my genre, but I like T Kingfisher. This is a really good examination of just how weird "southern" culture can be.

Very small suggestion of romance. Which mostly felt out of place because the way the narrator voiced the man was... not how I usually hear romantic interests voiced. (his voice annoyed me)

Overall, very good, despite it not being my usual fare.

This is a very interesting take on how some paranormal species came to be. It has led us to a world where the paranormals are the "celebrities" whose every moves are talked about in tabloids by the humans, whose lives are basically gifted from on high (they have to apply to have children).

And in this world of high society intrigue, there's a rebellion in the works... and lots of steamy moments. Can't forget the steamy moments.

I'm looking forward to picking up the sequel!

As with Book 1, this suffers from audiobook narration that is not terribly engaging by today's standards.

That said, it takes a really long time to figure out how in the heck this is part of Ged's story. And, understanding some time has passed since we saw him last, he doesn't at all feel like the same person. It would have almost felt more satisfying to me as something that happens in Earthsea, sure, but wasn't part of Ged's tale, because it feels so disconnected.

Like many audiobooks of its day, the narration is... sleep-inducing. This makes it difficult to appreciate just how wondrous a world Le Guin crafted, and how complex a character the protagonist is.

However, as other reviewers have mentioned, even without my issues with the narration, it is a bit of a slog. And it just sortof... ends. There is suggestion of tales to follow, but I don't really feel excited by the time I get there.

It took a bit for me to really get pulled in (I actually accidentally let my library loan expire because I found a different book more interesting, and ended up restarting), but once I was in, I was IN. Very satisfying conclusion.

As other reviewers have mentioned, the romance side plot is barely there.

Audiobook narration excellent.

Very interesting alternate universe/portal concept. Took a very very long time for the story to resolve. I was rather done with the world and decided to skip the bonus story at the end.

There's a really interesting take on magic (glamour) here that is absolutely fascinating, especially as it is considered a "women's art".

If you've read your Austen, you can see largely where the story was going, but it is absolutely still enjoyable. Especially with the more explicitly fantastical elements.

Narration by the author is lovely.

I adore the genre of twisted fairy tales, and this absolutely delivered.

@Tattooed_Mummy oooohhhh I liked this one!

As the title suggests, there’s some mistaken identity, and then hilarity ensues.

You’ve got your mistaken identity, circus performers, memory loss, fae, family feud… and it all works!

Alas, it feels very set up for a sequel but none has yet been written :(

This is one I picked up simply because I adore the narrator (Steve West) and I am certainly glad that I did!

I couldn’t even tell you how I ended up with this book. It languished in the TBR for a while. And then, when I finally picked it up, it’s kind of a slow start. And I didn’t understand why there was this whole secondary story going on.

And then. And then the story picked up, and I got to see not just a family on the run, but how that family changed shape while they were running. All of the things they had to run through. All the risks they took for the mere hope of something resembling safety. And how that secondary story relates. Just… holy at the whole thing.

It was also cool seeing some synesthesia rep!

It is very easy for the stories within stories within stories thing to fall flat, to not come together.

This book is what happens when it is done well.

Audiobook note: there’s a bunch of narrators, and because audiobook sellers haven’t figured out how to handle that well, it’s possible you’ll like the sample but then not like one of the other narrators.

This book has quite a bit going on - not really any one main character to follow, but an ensemble cast.

And that’s really the strong point - the fact that each member of the crew is a fully fledged character with their own hopes and fears and good and bad that happens to them, while the crew is working towards a goal together.

And not everything turns out perfect for each character. They each experience some pain. Which is just life

@Tattooed_Mummy I am a sucker for delicious prose (see: Lilith Saintcrow's Trailer Park Fae)

Because of course the person Death would choose as an apprentice has a name that means... Death.

ANYWAY

I really don't know what to say beyond the usual "Pratchett is a brilliant satirist" and "this is both hilarious and super deep". Because it is those things.

Audiobook generally excellent, though the fact that Rincewind's speech patterns were markedly different than Color of Magic/Light Fantastic was a bit jarring (yes, different narrator, but the fact that the speech pattern wasn't even close was annoying). (I wonder if this is why there's consistently a separate narrator for Death through this whole series of audiobooks?)