Audio editing should be better!

the book was great, the performances were great but the editing of the multiple performances was pretty bad - constantly shifting in sound volume was extremely irritating and someone failed at their job on this oversight.

12 people found this helpful

The person who mastered the audio should be fired

Great story once again from this series. The narration was frustrating due to the fact that the range in volume was all over the place. Apparently the audio technician has never heard of a compressor to make the difference in volume less.

9 people found this helpful

Doesn't live up to the Red Rising trilogy

Honestly, if this book was a stand alone it would be good. However, being part of the Red Rising series makes it only okay at best. I have listened to the Red Rising trilogy over a dozen times; this is no exaggeration. Without further ado I'll plunge into the review.

Audio:

This was a big annoyance for me; and many others have mentioned the level of volume is constantly changing throughout the book causing the listener to always increase or decrease the volume on their device.

Too many narrators. Tim Gerard Reynolds was in my opinion the figurehead of Red Rising on Audible. The moment I heard the female narrator start it was.. strange. It's always been through Darrow's perspective with Tim narrating, and it felt extremely out of place to me.

The names of characters are now pronounced differently. Okay for some reason the pronounciation of Priam REALLY bugged me; but there were also a few other characters who had their names buggered up. It's always been PREE (tree) - uhm. Why change it 4 books in? WHY?

Story:

I know that it has been several years after Morning Star has ended; but the change it politics seemed so absolutely drastic to me it's simply hard to consider it plausible. I want to avoid spoilers here but at the end of the Morning Star when the Telomanuses are talking to Darrow and are talking basically what comes after the rebellion they are constantly putting down democracy and so forth. Like democracy has been the running joke of the entire fucking series. And the characters; -- I need to take a break from writing this review.This book was so god damn disappointing you have no idea. I loved this series and I still do but this is akin to the disappoint of the Avatar live action movie.

16 people found this helpful

Well written, but be careful what you wish for

Before you read this book, or what comes next, ask yourself how much you value that satisfying ending from book 3 in the last trilogy. If you’re tired of stories not ending and forcing characters you love into more drama and eventual death (I assume) then my advice is to walk away before reading.

Not that the book is bad, because it’s quite good.

Any time to re-examine characters after some time, they’re going to be a little different. And if you’re attempting to do more than retread the same plot and pay fan service, you’re going to ruffle some feathers.

It’s hard to see the relatively buttoned up ending of the last book undone by the march of time and the reality of conflict.

Of course the war didn’t end with Daro on the beach, meeting his son. But to see the darkness of it, is another thing entirely. It’s not as enjoyable a read frankly, because the story isn’t about winning a war against oppression, it’s about the need for maintaining a fractured, fragile government, and pragmatic incremental change over radical revolution.

Daro, like us reading, is still in the past, fighting a different war that is no longer relevant. It’s jarring to dip back into this world, expecting to see old friends as seasoned veterans who have lived happy lives, only to discover they never got their happy endings and very well may not. As realistic as it might be to show the conflict continuing, its immensely dissatisfying.

The other key difference, particularly with an audiobook, is the change from narrator to narrator and perspective. It works, and it allows for the story to be something new, but again, it’s jarring compared to the original trilogy. Daring and necessary yes, but not perfect. The larger story runs the risk of forgetting about, or not paying enough due to Daro, who has been our eyes and ears and for all intensive purposes, the reader, through a trilogy prior to this.

I sure hope the Reaper gets his happy ending, or like Star Wars recently, these new books could undo the investment I’ve made as a reader. Based only on this book, not what comes next, I’m intrigued, but more than a little worried I’m reading a tragedy not an adventure.

Fingers crossed the title of the next book betrays some lighter moments and returns a sense of purpose.

For the recording, I still really like the voice of Daro, and I think my biggest gripes with the change of perspective are Julian Elfer feeling a bit too emotionally charged. Probably has to do with how much pain the character is dealing with, but the performance tried my patience with how one note it was. Surely SOME of these lines can be delivered without pain?

Also, I really would have liked to see and hear Mustang’s perspective if there was going to be more than Daro. That feels like a missed opportunity.

Anyway, I’m still a fan, just a slightly more cautious one now. The book is well done, but If you value a happy ending, cap it before reading on.

5 people found this helpful

I really liked it.

I read reviews and was tenative to pick this one up. Once I got used to the multiple narrators I found I liked each one. I felt it complimented the story, making me feel more connected to the characters.

3 people found this helpful

Narrators

Tim Gerard Reynolds is fantastic, the others are ok, but not that great. takes away from the book a bit.

2 people found this helpful

slow start

Took a third of the book to get going. After part 1, I really looked forward to listening.

1 person found this helpful

Good but not as good as the others

Enjoyable but not as riveting as the other novels. Having said that I'll certainly read the next one.

1 person found this helpful

audio is challenging

love the series but little things with the narration were challenging, mostly having to do with volume (constantly needing to turn up) and discontinuity with pronounciation of names... if youlisten all in a row, it is jarring when the names are not pronounced consistently.

1 person found this helpful

Disappointed

I was able to finish all the other boox in the series up untill this one in under a month. This book alone took me nearly 3 months to get through. I lost interest right at the start and did not gain it again until the last chapter. This book should be recast for voices most of the readers are terrible and non of it is at the same volume from one reader to another.

Soo disappointed.