Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Audio Book Review: Air and Ash

Air and Ash

By:  Alex Lidell

Publish Date:  May 2, 2017, Audiobook Release September 8, 2017

Format:  Audiobook - 6 hrs 57 mins
Narrated By:  Kaitlin Bellamy

Genre:  Young Adult, Fantasy

Series:  1st in Tide series

Impression:  High seas adventures to learn about life and herself.

Synopsis:
Master and Commander meets Tamora Pierce in a seafaring adventure of duty, love, magic, and a princess’s quest to protect her kingdom on her own terms.

After a lifetime of training, seventeen-year-old Princess Nile Greysik, a lieutenant on the prestigious Ashing navy flagship, sails into battle with one vital mission—and fails.

Barred from the sea and facing a political marriage, Nile masquerades as a common sailor on the first ship she can find. With a cowardly captain, incompetent crew, and a cruel, too-handsome first officer intent on making her life a living hell, Nile must hide her identity while trying to turn the sorry frigate battleworthy. Worse, a terrifying and forbidden magic now tingles in Nile’s blood. If anyone catches wind of who Nile is or what she can do, her life is over.

But when disaster threatens the ship, Nile may have no choice but to unleash the truth that will curse her future.

First Sentence:
I fall to my knees as His Ashing Majesty's Ship Faithful's mainmast breaks in two and crashes to the deck.

Purchase At:
Amazon

Audible

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

The story starts fast with battle at sea with Nile Greysik part of the crew. There is mention of a decade war and that the ship carries a code book of the enemy which could help end the war. However, things fall apart and Nile's ship, Faithful, and crew takes the brunt of it.

Kaitlin is a new voice for me to listen to. She starts off strong with there being a battle at sea. She picks up on the quick thoughts and actions voicing it all so we are in that chaotic moment. She also voices different characters with adjusting her voice and tone so each sound to match the characters age and personality. Yes! She had my attention from the get go. Solid start! Kaitlin felt to be Nile in this book, which is a great feeling for the listener. The story comes to life and the narrator is part of it.

This book is Young Adult, but it reads stronger than that. I love how Nile speaks of many aspects and dynamics in honest and forward way, as she's dealt and talked about it openly her life so far. The relationship of men and woman on a ship and what happens to people that are Gifted. She doesn't shy from many topics, making them matter of fact feeling.

The Gifted. This is a special magic that comes out in some people in the world. It's based on elements and controlling them. But, there is great consequences that comes from having this ability. Heavy drawback on the body for being Gifted. I like the price for the ability, though no one has a choice to be gifted or not.

It felt that Nile's drive is true, and there are added reasons for that drive that affect her as well. Of course she runs for one reason, but her true desire was stated before that and is what becomes her main goal. I really like how these topics are written to overlap and the world and events drive her to do what she may not have done, or doing sooner than would have.

Alex has created an enticing story with Nile and her world. The way the story is told, there is much that can happen on the ship with the crew present. Nile's views of how things are handled in the world are firm, and there is much happening in the world to fight against. This is a huge story in it's own. It's also a stepping stone for Nile to get to where she wants to be, but has to do her time. Great blend of ultimate goal with immediate obstacles.

This is a storyline and characters I'd love to follow the story along when the books come out in audiobook in the future.



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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About the Author: Alex Lidell
Alex Lidell is the author of Amazon best sellers AIR AND ASH and WAR AND WIND (Danger Bearing Press, 2017) and an Amazon Breakout Novel Awards finalist author of THE CADET OF TILDOR (Penguin, 2013). She is an avid horseback rider, a (bad) hockey player, and an ice-cream addict. Born in Russia, Alex learned English in elementary school, where a thoughtful librarian placed a copy of Tamora Pierce’s ALANNA in Alex’s hands. In addition to becoming the first English book Alex read for fun, ALANNA started Alex’s life long love for YA fantasy books.
WebsiteFacebookTwitter

About the Narrator: Kaitlin Bellamy
​Kaitlin Bellamy is a freelance performer and acting coach residing in Central Florida, with a theatrical history spanning more than twenty-five years.

Since relocating to Orlando in 2012, she has worked at multiple theme parks and various theatrical venues, in a career style she calls “Buffet Performing:” or, the idea of keeping several jobs active at any given time, so she may pick and choose where to work, and life never gets boring. Her specialties include Shakespeare, Voice Acting, and Puppetry. But above all, she is passionate about the performing arts, and all they stand for.
WebsiteFacebookTwitterInstagram

10 comments:

  1. You do keep finding ones i have not seen anywhere else

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah! That's great to hear Blodeuedd. I'm so glad I find new books. :) And they are good too! :D

      Delete
  2. I like when books start out fast in battle :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do too, LilyElement. This one set the whole book from the get go. I really enjoyed it. :)

      Delete
  3. I think you had me at high sea adventure! It sounds good, I'm glad you had a very great time with it :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Silvia, That's what caught my attention first too. :) I really enjoyed it.

      Delete
  4. Oh this one sounds intriguing. I like how the character is being built though her actions and desires. Might have to check this one out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Melissa (B&T) It was very well done with the character. And it adds to the world and drives all around her. Really well done. :) Hope you get to give it a try.

      Delete

Sorry, got 106 spam comments in less than 24hrs. Had to turn on again.

I love comments! Please share your thoughts. I will respond here in the comments back to you.

Thank you for visiting!