Audio Book Review: Echoes of the System by Carrie Summers

Echoes of the System by Carrie Summers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Devon has a number of things happening in game, like finding Stonehaven and then a new boss arrives that only she can solve, while also dealing with people in person. Emerson has asked if she wants to move to his area, she has a surprise visitor that's not really welcome, and her friends want to meet. A lot for someone that's not really a people person.

I love the beginning! I took a break between books and the author did a great job of weaving past events into the story happening. Because the characters are all still a little shellshocked. Great catchup with not retelling the story. It all plays into what's happening now.

The game world and characters created there are amazing. I love how the NPC's have become friends and important in everyone's life, especially for Devon.

This is a great story of events and happenings for the characters in game and in life. I loved the way it was all done. This book ties a lot of things up. Almost a finally, as there's not another one. (Yet?) We still have the looming possible threat of more demons, but in a game there's always something to come.

This series is definitely worth a listen or read.

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Audio Book Review: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sarah is great at creating characters we are invested in. We grow attached to them. I feel like she enjoys pulling my heart strings.

Celaena is the King's champion. She now is sent on missions to eliminate people on his list. Celaena has been doing things a little...differently with her missions. And she builds her relationships with Dorian, Chaol, and Nehemia.

Things aren't exactly what they seem. Celaena has been doing her own thing as are others.

I have mixed feelings with this book. There's something in the works. There's more happening behind the scenes than we are aware of. I'm not sure who's pulling the strings yet, but someone is. And there's powerful keys in the world that the King can't get...but he has at least one already.

So my mixed feelings come to Celaena and her feeling with one person who doesn't tell her something, that she could have prevented a terrible event. Something that hits me with this is because she was hiding information too. She didn't tell everything. She was playing her own agenda and keeping things secret. But she holds all that against another and looses that deep bond. They are still friends.

Celaena's hidden past is starting to surface. Oh the things that could come with this information...

I'm curious where life is taking Celaena next. Even if my heart is partly broken.

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Audio Book Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After being left heartbroken from the novellas leading up to the series, and Celeana's past, I finally jumped into to the first full length book. This book was great. I loved the potential threads here.

Celeana is broken, which we knew from before she was sent to the salt mines. (The previous novellas.) She had a different upbringing. This book takes her from the salt mines that were to be her death and puts her in the hope of winning her way to the King's Champion for her freedom in four years. There is a line Celeana has to walk and cross as the King is one she's not a fan of.

She will compete against other men who want this position as well. But while the competition is happening, there's another danger that is attacking the competitors. A very old danger that lingers in the shadows. And Celeana is drawn into it. She must survive not only the challenges to become the Champion but also the ancient beast set to destroy the potential champions.

As she goes through, Celeana makes new friends. I love the bonds she creates with her wit and charm. Her guard and who she trains with, Chaol, is a huge part of the story as he's always at her side...to make sure she doesn't kill the prince. The prince has other plans and enjoys spending time with Celeana. And we have a princess visiting who befriends Celeana. I love Nehemia. She is a strong woman with her country, training, and opinions. There is much, much more to her and we start to see that.

I have really enjoyed all the potential threads set in motion here in this book as we fight the evil here and see Celeana strengthen again in the challenges. I'm looking forward to listening to the rest of them


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Audio Books at a Reduced Rate, Through Amazon

Audio books can be expensive. But I recently purchased a $17.95 audio book for $5.98. How did I do that?

Amazon has started a deal program with Audible.com. You purchase the ebook, you can get the Audible book for $1.99.

Wow. Sounds...unreal. Right.

I recently tried it. I'm hooked on a series, after the first book, and I love keeping my series the same way I start them. Also, I love the narrator. So I gave it a go.

1st:
   Purchase the ebook as you normally do through Amazon. (I think this ONLY WORKS for ebook purchases, NOT print books.)

2nd:
Pull up the book on Amazon and go to the Audible version. There should be a note that states you already own the Kindle book and are eligible for a reduced rate of $1.99.
-- My image is from the Amazon purchase on my phone. You'll see half way down the statement with the coverting tablet to phone symbol in orange.

3rd:
   Click the 1-Click and you are done!


You'll see in your emails, your ebook purchase along with your Audible purchase.

This book I wanted is normally $17.95 to $14.95 for the Audible version through Amazon.

I paid $5.98 total for it. 

How?

Purchaing the ebook for $3.99, Then the Amazon reduced rate for Audible version of $1.99.

I saved $11.97 on the audio book!

There is something neat and special about this setup with Amazon ebooks and Audible. I've added a screen shot of the computer screen that shows it: (click to enlarge)

The neat thing about this connection is that you can read AND listen. If you are sitting at lunch, you can read. Then when you are riding in the car on the way home, you can listen -- Picking up where you left off!

Cool, right! I'm going to try it later this week.



This all sounds way to easy and like I'm missing something. But, I really wanted this book and it worked out. The book is in my Kindle library along with my Audible library. Sweet!

Am I missing something though? Thoughts?