Audio Book Review: Heart of Gold

Heart of Gold

By:  J.A. Cipriano & J.B. Garner

Publish Date:  July 26, 2016, Audiobook Release December 12, 2016

Format:  Audiobook - 5 hrs 7 mins
Narrated By:  Joe Hempel

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  1st in Clans of Shadow series

Impression:  Magic becomes known to one person.

Synopsis:
My name is Frank Butcher, and when I got out of my truck to deliver the last package of the day, I never expected to get blown up by anti-magic zealots.

Yeah, you heard me right. I said magic. I didn't know it was a thing either.

Now, an ancient artifact is the only thing keeping me alive, and to make matters worse, that artifact is what those cultists wanted.

Still, I could have made a run for it, disappeared down into South America and spent the rest of my life on a beach. I nearly did it, but I didn't.

Why? Because the cultists have offered me a trade. Come to them or they start killing kids.

First Sentence:
My name is Frank Butcher and when my mother looks up 'underachiever' in the dictionary, I swear she sees my picture.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  /  Book Depository

Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:

*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.


Frank is running late on his deliveries. At Doctor Gabriela Perez's office his military experience kicks in as the Doctor is attacked by a group called The End Society. Frank is hurt severely and Gabriela saves him. Now, the ancient artifact that functions as his heart also makes him untouchable by magic or spells. Not only is he targeted as being wanted by both societies, but he could be the only one to help Gabriela and the Whites to stop The End Society from removing magic from the world. And all Frank worries about is his mom.

I've listened to Joe before and enjoyed his work. Actually, listening to him voice this story and a few small threads with Frank remind me of the another series he voiced that I listened to. Joe gets to do a few slight accents for characters, bringing them to life as more than characters on a page. Again, the audio sounds clear and seamless as I listen.


Frank... well, he is thrown into a mess that he didn't ask to be in. How does one handle that? Sometimes with a bit of not-so-nice snark. Frank kind of comes across as a jerk in the beginning. There is something about Frank that just doesn't strike me. I don't know what it is, but he doesn't feel likeable to me. Not a bad person, but like he's missing something in how he's written or trying to hard to make him a tough guy.

There are a lot of quick toss ins that are to be jokes that reference movies and such. Frank does say he has a love for movies and music, so it fits him. But they come so fast it's easy to miss them and their reference.

Frank does worry about his mom. There's a reason and you learn it. But, Frank is all she has left in the world and she is his mother. Who wants their mother to suffer for some mess they end up in? No one.

I found my mind wondering while listening to this story. I didn't connect much with Frank in the way to care what happens to him. And the magic, though sounds neat, I didn't feel was shown and expressed to easily understand. It felt as there is a larger world that we are just stepping into, which I believe we are. But the story felt to be missing the magnet to pull me in.

I'm sure this book will be enjoyed by others, but it just didn't impress strongly on me. So please don't let my thoughts change yours if you like the sounds of the book.



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