Audio Book Review: Villains Pride

Villains Pride

By:  M.K. Gibson

Publish Date:  November 24, 2017, Audiobook Release November 30, 2017

Format:  Audiobook - 7 hrs 50 mins
Narrated By:  Jeffrey Kafer

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  2nd in The Shadow Master series; Book 1 ~ Villains Rule

Impression:  A fun romp of a book with a play on Villains and Superheroes.

Synopsis:
The Shadowmaster is back . . . whether you wanted him to be or not!

Jackson Blackwell, The Shadowmaster, is in over his head this time. After his last adventure, where he tore fantasy novels a new one, Jackson has to deal with the repercussions of angry gods, angrier conspirators, and the wrath of his pregnant girlfriend!

(I know . . . actual consequences in a comedy/action series? How avant-garde! --I think. Okay look, I really don’t know what that means. I’ve always just wanted to say it and I’m too lazy to look it up.)

Thanks to a godly decree and a crafty clause, Jackson has been banished from his home. And the only universe kindly enough to take him in is one infested with comic-book-style superheroes and supervillains. A perfect place to cause mayhem, right? Well, it wouldn’t be much of a book if it were.

Comics don’t play by the rules and Jackson has been tasked to do something “unique.” Whatever is a villain to do?

Follow the adventure of Jackson Blackwell as he attempts to manipulate his way back to the top while dealing with all manner of dark detectives, godly aliens, expensive power suits, and the most daunting challenge of all . . . looming parenthood.

First Sentence:
I looked at the simple idiots sitting across from my expensive, glossy black desk.

Purchase At:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository

Audible


My Thoughts and Summary:

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

Jeffrey Kafer was the narrator for the first book and returns for this one. Hahaha. I love him! I love his voice and can listen to him forever. But he has a great dry humor to his voice that fits The Shadowmaster. How does he get through this book without laughing? I don't know, but I might want to hear a few bloopers from him. lol. I'm sure they would be fun. But, back to Jeffrey... Oh my. When Jeffrey did voices for Dr. Pain and a few other villains, I had to laugh. They fit the characters and were a hoot to hear! This is the Jeffrey I enjoyed listening to, he's really enjoying narrating this. I think the enthusiasm comes through in his performance of emotions and voices. The voice and personality changes are awesome, and fit the story.

Going into this book, I was looking for fun and adventure. And many pop culture references of shows, books, comics, and so much more. And I got it from the first word. Gibson likes to have fun with what he writes, and it shows. Hahaha. The references to the superheroes anatomy...in spandex... Hahaha. Gibson adds in small superhero facts about comics throughout the book.

As I looked through the beginning of the book for the first sentence, I got drawn into reading the Dedication and Forward. All of it is fun. Really. Gibson has written a Dedication from his main characters view, and it's a hoot. Along with the Forward, it's all done in fun.

I have fun with Jackson. He's a crafty villain. He knows the rules and plays with and around them. Jackson also has a code of conduct. He's a villain but he's not evil in treatment of people. He openly voices his views on different things that could really fit, yet it's humorous how it's done. Jeffrey pulls these moments off perfectly. It's a matter of fact tone that isn't nasty, bringing the dry humor into the words. So well done!

Jackson is great at turning peoples thoughts around. Jackson firmly believes in what he's saying, whether he actually does or not is another thing but he believes it in that moment, and uses examples he can sway his direction to turn thoughts around. I love it!

Jackson may seem like he's having fun in King Stanley's realm of superheroes as a supervillain but he still has things nagging at the back of his mind. He's been kicked out of his realm by his pregnant partner. As much as he wants to be home, he has the parenting issue nagging at him. And he doesn't seem to notice it. Jackson's determined he doesn't need to change with having a kid on the way, but he's living that time before his first child where your mind has to adapt and accept things DO change. Throughout the book Jackson has kids or family on his mind.

If you are looking for a fun romp of a book, this is one for you. Nothing in life, seen, or in books, movies, and much more are safe from Jackson's criticism. And it's awesome when he goes on a rampage about it all. I look forward to Jackson growing as a character, and I love the fun we have with him too.

Oh goodness. Gibson had me chuckling throughout the book, but in the end... I had to stop the audio to laugh. Great play with the narrator and book. Really interactive and worked wonderfully. The way Jackson is written really brings this to life.

Seriously, listen to the audio book. It's so much fun and the story really comes alive. You'll love it.



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