Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Review: Tales from the Archives - One

Tales from the Archives - One

By:  Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris

Format:  Podcast, 32:57 minutes

Genre:  Fantasy, Steampunk

Series:  1st in Tales of the Archives podcasts, part of A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series

Recommendation:  Oh Yes!  Especially if you enjoyed the book; A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel, Phoenix Rising.  These are nice additions to get to know the characters and you fix of the steampunk world.

Synopsis:
The Evil that befell Sampson…

It is revealed just how Miss Braun ended up being exiled from her native country, New Zealand, and working for the Ministry in its London Offices. It’s a tale of nefarious doings, stalwart ladies, and the sound of clockwork.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Eliza is summoned to visit with Mrs. Kate Shepard, her ideal and hopefully to be her mother-in-law, who has need of Eliza's expertise with questionable happenings; women of the suffrage changing their minds and sides.  A Mr. Fish seems to be visiting these women as Eliza finds, with a persuasive bracelet ~ the Circlet of Dalila, and item from the Archives gone missing while on loan.  Kate and her suffrage's petition to Parliament could be in danger...

When the story started we got to hear both Agent Books and Agent Braun in the Archives going through the cases.  I loved the sound here as it was like we were really in the echo-y large basement.  The characters had the sounds I had thought they would, along with the feel behind their chatter in which they carry on when talking or tormenting each other.

The podcast was extremely easy to understand as the speakers spoke clear and precise to understand each word clearly.  The speed of reading was perfectly paced with the climax of the story along with the way different characters would have sounded in what they where saying.  The feelings came through wonderfully in the tone and insinuations.

I like the steampunk items used.  The descriptions given are detailed so you can easily visualize them, yet quickly described.

The story is quick.  You get the details and right to the action, as I'm starting to expect when Eliza is around.  In the height of action in the short story the music along with tone and speed of Philippa's voice had my heart picking up pace with the characters and wanting to speed up the story to hear what was happening, wanting to get through the scene quickly so I could know.

This story gives us a little more view into Agent Eliza Braun.  We meet the love of Eliza's life, Douglas Shepard.  And learn a little of Eliza and her ideas of what she wants to see herself as.  This podcast answered one of my curiosities I had on Eliza after reading A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences: Phoenix Rising.


Would you like to listen to these?  For a taste of the characters or in addition to the book... Visit HERE.
There are short stories always added to the listing.  So keep checking back!


I listened to this short story for my own enjoyment.

6 comments:

  1. But I should read the book first? Or?

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  2. Blodeuedd - I read book first as I wanted to understand fully. But with listening, I think you would get it and a feel for the characters. But, I like that I knew the characters before going in. I think you could follow along with no troubles if before the book. But I liked waiting. Just me, I've got an order OCD thing. lol. ;D But these where on the site before the book came out.

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  3. Oh how interesting. I love that they are using podcasts in this way. I think I'll take your advice tho and read the book first (even tho I'm quite reckless in my order thing... lol). Thanks!!

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  4. Melissa (Books&Things) - I really thought this was really cool of the authors to do too. :) I just had to jump on board for listening to these, and that I enjoyed the book so it had to be the next step. ;) LOL. But, I know the feeling. I didn't want to start these with out reading the book first. I'm sure you could, but just in my mind I didn't want to. Thank you!

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  5. I really like this whole idea. I read the last post before this one, so know I'm in love with the book and I really want to listen to the podcasts.

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  6. Ryan G - Hi! :) Oh, I'm so glad you like this idea. I do hope you enjoy the book and these podcasts. But, I think you just might. :) Thank you!

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