Audio Book Review: Primal Dawn

Primal Dawn

By:  Ryan Kirk

Publish Date:  September 26, 2016, Audiobook Release January 19, 2017

Format:  Audiobook - 5 hrs 11 mins
Narrated By:  Andrew Tell

Genre:  Science Fiction

Series:  1st in Primal Series

Impression:  Humans searching for life, and what they find.

Synopsis:
Tev is a hunter, one of the best in his clan. Trained since birth in the art of tracking and killing, Tev has never met a challenge he couldn’t overcome. But when a mysterious fireball falls from the sky, Tev will question everything he has ever known. For the first time in his life, he isn’t the one doing the hunting.

He is the prey

Primal Dawn is the first short novel of the Primal Series, spanning centuries of conflict following first contact. Each novel tells a complete story in the ongoing saga of two cultures learning to explore the vastness of space together.

First Sentence:
Tev woke up before the sun rose, as was his custom.

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My Thoughts and Summary:
*At my request, this audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review.


From the beginning I enjoyed the suspense added by Andrew's voice to Ryan's words. The action of what the character was doing was something common, but between the two (Ryan's writing and Andrew's vocal) the tension is added, bringing the hunt to life. Andrew gives each character their own voice in tone and feel. Andrew has brought the story to life without me even knowing it. His narration has given the characters voices and personality, and he doesn't get in the way of what the author has created. A wonderful job for Andrew.


The clash of a primal world of simple humans with humans of another world full of science and technology.

The story is well written, from what I feel and hear in the audiobook, but it just feels as though Ryan hasn't brought anything new to the idea of humans coming to a new planet to take samples.

We get two point of views in this story; Tev and Kindra. They are both of different origins and views of what's to come about in their lives. They are both very strong characters as well. In the beginning I wasn't sure about Tev, but he quickly became my favorite character as he developed into more through the pages.

Tev is a smart and logical person. I liked that Ryan does not downplay Tev's mental capacity even though he's not of the technologically inclined world. Tev logically thinks things out, even though his world's not as advanced as Kindra's. By getting Tev's POV we see how he thinks through things to communicate and takes in what he finds.

What I found interesting was Kindra and a huge decision she makes. This decision feels unusual from what I thought she would do. Ryan takes the leap to make his characters go further and gives them a setting to do things they would not normally do. This is a decision that will change lives, but could be the only choice to save the life on the planet they've visited. Very interesting. This is one thing that sticks out in my mind about the story, and makes the story individual.

This is the starts to a new series. It feels basic in humans searching for life and finding it. But I think the series will take off now that we've gotten through this and heading back out to space to search some more. I'm looking forward to the situations the characters will have to face.

I'm curious to see where the characters go after this. There is another planet being searched at the same time, so what's found there by others? And where else is there to visit?


***If you found my thoughts helpful, please click Yes at Amazon and/or Audible. Thank you!