Audiobook Review: Waiting On

The Secret World Chronicles: Waiting On
(season 5)
By:  Mercedes Lackey & Cody Martin, Dennis Lee, and Veronica Giguere

Narrated By:  Veronica Giguere

Publish Date:  2010

Format:  Podiobook

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  3rd book in The Secret World Chronicles series; 1st Book 1/2 (season 1) ~ Invasion, 1st Book 2/2 (season 2) ~ The Hunt, 2nd Book 1/2 (season 3) ~ World Well Lost, 2nd Book 2/2 (Season 4) ~ World Divided

***NOTE: I've learned that the podcasted books are divisions of the printed books as follows:
Printed book 1 is Invasion is podcasted seasons 1 & 2.
Printed book 2, World Divided, is podcasted seasons 3 & 4.
Season 5 podcast, Waiting On, is a bonus season - it's stories of characters between books 2 and 3.
Printed book 3, Revolutions, is podcasted seasons 6 & 7.
Printed book 4, Collision, is podcasted books 8 & 9 (season 8 in progress, season 9 yet to come).

(Podcast season titles:
Season 1: Invasion, Season 2: The Hunt, Season 3: World Well Lost, Season 4: World Divided, Season 5: Waiting On, Tales of the Secret World War, Season 6: Revolutions, Season 7: Run Silent, Run Deep, Season 8: Collision)

Recommendation:  Superheroes!

Synopsis:
The heroes of Echo and the villains of the Thule Society continue the battle in the fifth book of The Secret World Chronicle, Waiting On. In this shorter podcast-only season, the heroes of Echo struggle with their own pasts and demons as they wait for the organization to regain strength following a devastating loss. Famed fantasy and sci-fi author Mercedes Lackey and SWC perennials Dennis Lee, Cody Martin, and Veronica Giguere tell the stories of fan favorites Seraphym, Red Djinni, Victoria Victrix, Mercurye, and John Murdock. Cover art done by Adam Mancilla.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  /  Book Depository

Listen For Free:
iTunes  /  Podiobooks  /  Secret World Chronicle website

*I listened to this story for my own enjoyment.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Season 5 of the podcast is a bonus season. It's stories from between books 2 and 3. This is the ending I was expecting in season 4, or partly as there are still a few subjects to address. There are a few new twists introduced here with a few characters that I'm curious to see if they are brought up in the future books.

These intermediate stories are wonderful to bring the wonder and suspense back to the story and plot. This bonus series has heightened my love for the characters and gave me a bit of what I wanted at the same time. I'm ready to keep going and see where the characters go on to.

Episode 1: Aces and Eights
On a bad day, Handsome Devil stays in bed. His luck is what he lives by and a bad day could be dangerous or even deadly for him and those around him. Today, Handsome Devil wants to stay in bed even though he got a full house from his morning deck of cards. A full house that's the dead mans hand...

Ramona is on her way from CCCP when spheres show up to a highly populated area. CCCP can't make it with all the sightings so she calls in ECHO. When Ramona sees Handsome Devil is not with Shockty, she demands he get there ASAP.

We see all the characters in this episode fight against the Thulians and their deadly spheres. We even see Seraphym show up and a bit of an inside with her thoughts.

It is always amazing to see the Meta's in action against the Thulians. And this episode does not fall shy of anything.

Episode 2: Night and Gold
Seraphym is limited in what she can do, how she can interced. She's not rebelled against the way she lives, but considers it now with the Thulians attacking a small town where CCCP nor ECHO can get there fast enough.

Now this episode. Oh. My. Seraphym does the one thing she's not fully done yet. And shouldn't do. It is amazing to see her in full action. We even get a closer feel of the rules by which she is to live by.

There is a mention of watching Seraphym and I'm curious how this will come into play in the future books. This has brought me to attention and I'm ready for more!

Episode 3: Running on Empty
Mercurye is stuck at the Metis watching reruns of tv shows. The collective concess of those here have not agreed to let him return home yet, no matter how hard he's tried to convince them.

First, I've noticed from the website that this is a rewrite of an episode from season 3 to tie in the prints better.

I enjoyed this episode because we get a better feel for how Metis runs. The secret place runs on a collection of equal votes from every person present. However, there are those that agree with Mercurye in letting him go, and more.

Mercurye meets Nikola Tesla for the first time. It seems Tesla has plans and wants Mercurye's help. What are the plans? I'm not sure, but it makes me anxious for what's to come!

Episode 4 & 5: For Those About to Rock
Vickie is to watch over Red Genie on his solo mission. She's as nervous about it as she always is when working with Red Genie. Some how this man gets to her.

We get to see part of their last mission that leaves Vickie even more worked up for the current mission she's working Overwatch for this time. Genie has got some serious issues with magic, but he's not sharing why with anyone, let alone with Vickie. However, maybe Red Genie will send Vickie in a few surprising loops with his reactions and answers to many comments.

I found these episodes rather interesting as wel learn a bit more about magic along with the speciality of Vickie's technomancy. The details here are so neat. But in learning about magic and Vickie's magic specifically, we learn about Vickie too. She's the only magician we see and know. Also she's the ONLY one able to work magic in technology.

But! there is more. Red Genie. (Aww.) Now that I got that out I'll go on. After this short, with the help of Vickie's little elemental friend Herb, I feel for Red Genie more. The previous season started to bring me around, but this cinched it for me. He's not really all that bad. There is more to him we haven't seen yet.

I look forward to seeing an honest, hard friendship growing here.

Episode 6 & 7: The Journal of John Murdock
John Murdock is on his way back from the Silo incident and Vickie has found him an amazing hotel to stay at. Along with learning about more Thulian threats, John also learns that Vickie has looked into his past. And can dig deeper.

Now this episode had my attention like the one with Seraphym. John and Seraphym have been huge interests of mine. And I'm still loving what I'm learning.

Vickie shares that she knows some of John's past from what she's found, and shares the records with him. In doing so, she hopes to learn what she can in case the Suits take him away again, this way she can help break him out. John agrees that she keep digging.

We know John has been enhanced, but we don't know much of the details. We get to see the day that John escaped from his imprisonment by the Suits. This feels like a major moment in John's past, and memories. A moment that seems to be a turning point for him, something he keeps close to heart to remember who he is and wants to be.