Liked the series but....

Really loved the story premise but hoped they would bring back the first narrator...but they stayed with the second and, while she has a pretty voice, her "acting" is very limited. The narrator has such a huge impact on how the story is viewed, and it becomes difficult to separate the two.....

15 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

A YA Mystery that Isn't... Quite

Would you try another book from Susan Elia MacNeal and/or Susan Duerden?

Probably not.

Has His Majesty's Hope turned you off from other books in this genre?

No. This series just doesn't measure up.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

The narrator has a pleasant voice, and does accents well. If she wanted to imitate a German accent, though, she should have researched it a bit better. Her "German" comes across a bit too much like what you'd hear in a cartoon. A little too much V for W and little else that sounds German. Her narration tends to have a sing song quality that could be improved on.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from His Majesty's Hope?

The decision to include a PG sex scene was awkward and didn't fit. This series seems to be aimed at YA, and the sex neither added to the characterization nor moved the plot along.

Any additional comments?

The author has obviously done a lot of research on swing dance and jazz. She includes too much, though. Describing a swing dance would be fine, and in keeping with the book... Including a long list of dance moves was out of place.

The book doesn't seem to be able to decide what audience is wanted. The writing style and characterization is more Young Adult than adult, but the author includes a homosexual character and his affairs as well as an awkward sex scene. Sex can be included in YA if it is handled properly, but this scene comes across as awkward and self conscious.

The characterization and action remind me of the Nancy Drew books I read as a child. I have read three by this author, because I hoped the awkwardness of the first one might have been a fluke. The author writes smooth, easy to read prose, but the characters are rather flat and the plot is very predictable.

11 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Narrator.She doesnt end sentences & is breathy

Would you consider the audio edition of His Majesty's Hope to be better than the print version?

Yes. The narrator does not complete sentences as one would expect to have a fullstop at the end of a sentence. She draws out the last word of a sentence and seems to be "breathy". I almost stopped listening because of the monotonous narrator

How did the narrator detract from the book?

She was monotonous and boring.

Who was the most memorable character of His Majesty's Hope and why?

Maggie. Heroine

Any additional comments?

A narrator should make you believe that you are watching a movie. This narrator made me want to switch off audible and watch a movie

9 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Seems to be meant for young people

I enjoyed the first 2 of the series, but this one seemed too juvenile, with the adult characters one-dimensional and mean. The narrator didn't bother me as much as it did others. It was all part of the slightly cartoonish approach. I'll be skipping the rest of the series.

3 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

A good book ruined by bad narration

What would have made His Majesty's Hope better?

The narration for this Maggie Hope book was really awful. I will not be listening to anymore by this reader.

4 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Can't wait for the next Maggie Hope book!

Would you listen to His Majesty's Hope again? Why?

Yes, the story line continues to fascinate and keeps the reader engaged.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Maggie is a strong woman dealing with multiple challenges in a time of great uncertainty.

Have you listened to any of Susan Duerden’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, I truly prefer the previous narrator.

If you could take any character from His Majesty's Hope out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Definitely Maggie, she is witty, complex, and independent.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

Great series!

I love this series and want to listen to each book as long as it lasts. The story line is a good one, and the historical bits are interesting. I am not sure though that I will be able to listen to another book narrated by Susan Duerden. PLEASE return to the original reader!

4 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Maggie helps me garden

listening to the non-taxing and we'll developed characters keeps me entertained when I am gardening. I really enjoy Historical fiction to keep my mind occupied when gardening. Looking forward to the next book in this series.

Engrossing story that stretches one’s imagination.

History and fiction work well to give the reader a better understanding of actual events and or eras. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I am on to the next Maggie Hope Mystery in this series. I only hope that the multifaceted relationships and unbelievable coincidences do not continue at levels my mind rejects as impossible to believe.

Nazis were not as naive as portrayed

I enjoyed the first two of the series, but I did not enjoy the exaggerated ease with which the main character tricks high-ranking nazis. If they were half as naive as portrayed in this book, WW2 would have ended in a few weeks. I listened until the end, partly hoping the plot might improve, but primarily because I enjoyed the performance.