Showing posts with label Giguere. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Giguere. Show all posts

Monday, April 4, 2022

Audio Book Review: Race to Terra

Race to Terra

By:  Terry Mixon

Publish Date:  February 22, 2019, Audiobook Release May 6, 2019

Format:  Audiobook - 9 hrs 12 mins
Narrated By:  Veronica Giguere

Genre:  Science Fiction

Series:  10th in The Empire of Bones Saga series

Synopsis:
Separated by an almost unimaginable gulf in space, Princess Kelsey Bandar and Admiral Jared Mertz must fight to stop the diabolical artificial intelligences that destroyed the Old Terran Empire.

Though unable to communicate with one another, they must overcome terrible odds and defeat foes determined to kill or enslave them. They cannot allow themselves to fail.

Yet time is running out. Unless both quickly make their way to Terra, the computers win and humanity loses.

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

Veronica is magnificent as always! The number of voices she has to do! Wow. That's talent to keep them all straight and different with tone, accent, and personality. Amazing work! Veronica makes it possible to hear emotion in each character's voice as they live through amazing and terrifying moments on this adventure. This brings the story and world to life through natural actions as the voices feel to be natural to how the characters would respond.

I love how Terry takes different people with different views and makes allies and even friends with them. People that are on opposite sides of a battle could still connect, and Terry shows that. Of course these people are ones that are not drastic in their thinking, but even those that are brain washed have been shown the truth. I love this blending as it gives hope to all.

Terry's character growth feels natural and believable as I listen to his story. I don't feel that anything comes out of the blue as it evolves. There are leads to the points in these characters lives and emotions that feel human. I love how he writes these characters. And the small jokes that are made by characters is awesome, they draw in something we know to a futuristic space story.

Terry breaks his normal story style in this book. We don't start with meeting new people then dive into the troubles. Everyone is already in tough situations that could go bad in a heartbeat. Do we get to meet new people? I'll let you read the book to find that out.

We do get a few surprises in the story though, like a System Lord we get to visit. Interesting to see this AI's view.

I'm afraid to say too much about the story as this is the tenth book. Wow. How did we get this far already?!? I'm no where near ready for this series to end! I've become so comfortable with these characters, their lives and adventures. Sure, we've lost a few good ones along the way, but that's what happens when battles are fought to free all from the control of the AI's.

We see most of our crews come together again, along with making new alliances. As the title states, this is a race to Terra and for a good reason. We will find the Terra system, and ready for the next step in the plan for freeing all from the AI controls. And we will learn a bit about the Singularity that have showed up on our radar. Very interesting.

I can't wait to see what adventures and who we meet on Terra in the next book! 

Friday, April 1, 2016

Book Review: Revolutions (part 1)

The Secret World Chronicles: Revolutions
(season 6)
By:  Mercedes Lackey & Cody Martin, Dennis Lee, and Veronica Giguere

Narrated By:  Veronica Giguere

Publish Date:  2010

Format:  Podiobook

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  3rd book in The Secret World Chronicles series; 1st Book 1/2 (season 1) ~ Invasion, 1st Book 2/2 (season 2) ~ The Hunt, 2nd Book 1/2 (season 3) ~ World Well Lost, 2nd Book 2/2 (season 4) ~ Revolutions, 2.5 Book (season 5) ~ Bonus: Waiting On

***NOTE: I've learned that the podcasted books are divisions of the printed books as follows:
Printed book 1 is Invasion is podcasted seasons 1 & 2.
Printed book 2, World Divided, is podcasted seasons 3 & 4.
Season 5 podcast, Waiting On, is a bonus season - it's stories of characters between books 2 and 3.
Printed book 3, Revolutions, is podcasted seasons 6 & 7.
Printed book 4, Collision, is podcasted books 8 & 9 (season 8 in progress, season 9 yet to come).

(Podcast season titles:
Season 1: Invasion, Season 2: The Hunt, Season 3: World Well Lost, Season 4: World Divided, Season 5: Waiting On, Tales of the Secret World War, Season 6: Revolutions, Season 7: Run Silent, Run Deep, Season 8: Collision)

Recommendation:  Superheroes!

Synopsis:
(no synopsis on Goodreads)

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  /  Book Depository
*I'm linking the full length book for you to purchase.

Listen For Free:
iTunes  /  Podiobooks  /  Secret World Chronicle website

*I listened to this story for my own enjoyment.

My Thoughts and Summary:
What happens when you have a foe is on the inside? ECHO could be in trouble. They need to band together in secret and with others to stay alive.

Bruno is with Scope on the hunt for Harmony. They are looking for Harmony to make her pay for her deeds in Alex Tesla's office. While we travel with Bruno and Scope, it feels like a tribute to Bullrick and his importance to some of the agents. Scope doesn't want to use Vickie's magic help, nor Red Genie's help. All ECHO contacts would not be used, that they wouldn't back them with the revenge payment Harmony was deserved, maybe with an ally that they least expected. Revenge can make likely allies.

Vickie holds my attention and curiousities still. I love seeing her work her magic. And it seems she's becoming the unexpected element that tips the scales in the favor of the good guys, those that want to help people. Vickie holds a power that no one considered in their plans. It's wonderful to see!

In this season, this book, I feel the characters are coming together for more than just a common foe. Their paths cross and the need is there, but they are becoming closer to each other. Like a family. I like this feel with the characters. With this closeness comes the opening of feelings and the history we want to know.

In fighting together and working so closely the hearts start to grow fonder. We see characters starting to draw closer to others. Love and hearts start to get in the way of actions, and even when love isn't returned in kind but given to another.

I didn't realize that I've become totally invested in the Meta's by now. It was something that snuck up on me and has hit me.

The tales of these Meta heroes is an epic one as the world works through all their troubles and fight the battles for humanity.

Now we end with a new battle to be fought, one on the homefront with a different aggressor toward ECHO Meta's. Looking forward to getting into the next podcasted season.

Friday, March 25, 2016

Audiobook Review: Waiting On

The Secret World Chronicles: Waiting On
(season 5)
By:  Mercedes Lackey & Cody Martin, Dennis Lee, and Veronica Giguere

Narrated By:  Veronica Giguere

Publish Date:  2010

Format:  Podiobook

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  3rd book in The Secret World Chronicles series; 1st Book 1/2 (season 1) ~ Invasion, 1st Book 2/2 (season 2) ~ The Hunt, 2nd Book 1/2 (season 3) ~ World Well Lost, 2nd Book 2/2 (Season 4) ~ World Divided

***NOTE: I've learned that the podcasted books are divisions of the printed books as follows:
Printed book 1 is Invasion is podcasted seasons 1 & 2.
Printed book 2, World Divided, is podcasted seasons 3 & 4.
Season 5 podcast, Waiting On, is a bonus season - it's stories of characters between books 2 and 3.
Printed book 3, Revolutions, is podcasted seasons 6 & 7.
Printed book 4, Collision, is podcasted books 8 & 9 (season 8 in progress, season 9 yet to come).

(Podcast season titles:
Season 1: Invasion, Season 2: The Hunt, Season 3: World Well Lost, Season 4: World Divided, Season 5: Waiting On, Tales of the Secret World War, Season 6: Revolutions, Season 7: Run Silent, Run Deep, Season 8: Collision)

Recommendation:  Superheroes!

Synopsis:
The heroes of Echo and the villains of the Thule Society continue the battle in the fifth book of The Secret World Chronicle, Waiting On. In this shorter podcast-only season, the heroes of Echo struggle with their own pasts and demons as they wait for the organization to regain strength following a devastating loss. Famed fantasy and sci-fi author Mercedes Lackey and SWC perennials Dennis Lee, Cody Martin, and Veronica Giguere tell the stories of fan favorites Seraphym, Red Djinni, Victoria Victrix, Mercurye, and John Murdock. Cover art done by Adam Mancilla.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  /  Book Depository

Listen For Free:
iTunes  /  Podiobooks  /  Secret World Chronicle website

*I listened to this story for my own enjoyment.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Season 5 of the podcast is a bonus season. It's stories from between books 2 and 3. This is the ending I was expecting in season 4, or partly as there are still a few subjects to address. There are a few new twists introduced here with a few characters that I'm curious to see if they are brought up in the future books.

These intermediate stories are wonderful to bring the wonder and suspense back to the story and plot. This bonus series has heightened my love for the characters and gave me a bit of what I wanted at the same time. I'm ready to keep going and see where the characters go on to.

Episode 1: Aces and Eights
On a bad day, Handsome Devil stays in bed. His luck is what he lives by and a bad day could be dangerous or even deadly for him and those around him. Today, Handsome Devil wants to stay in bed even though he got a full house from his morning deck of cards. A full house that's the dead mans hand...

Ramona is on her way from CCCP when spheres show up to a highly populated area. CCCP can't make it with all the sightings so she calls in ECHO. When Ramona sees Handsome Devil is not with Shockty, she demands he get there ASAP.

We see all the characters in this episode fight against the Thulians and their deadly spheres. We even see Seraphym show up and a bit of an inside with her thoughts.

It is always amazing to see the Meta's in action against the Thulians. And this episode does not fall shy of anything.

Episode 2: Night and Gold
Seraphym is limited in what she can do, how she can interced. She's not rebelled against the way she lives, but considers it now with the Thulians attacking a small town where CCCP nor ECHO can get there fast enough.

Now this episode. Oh. My. Seraphym does the one thing she's not fully done yet. And shouldn't do. It is amazing to see her in full action. We even get a closer feel of the rules by which she is to live by.

There is a mention of watching Seraphym and I'm curious how this will come into play in the future books. This has brought me to attention and I'm ready for more!

Episode 3: Running on Empty
Mercurye is stuck at the Metis watching reruns of tv shows. The collective concess of those here have not agreed to let him return home yet, no matter how hard he's tried to convince them.

First, I've noticed from the website that this is a rewrite of an episode from season 3 to tie in the prints better.

I enjoyed this episode because we get a better feel for how Metis runs. The secret place runs on a collection of equal votes from every person present. However, there are those that agree with Mercurye in letting him go, and more.

Mercurye meets Nikola Tesla for the first time. It seems Tesla has plans and wants Mercurye's help. What are the plans? I'm not sure, but it makes me anxious for what's to come!

Episode 4 & 5: For Those About to Rock
Vickie is to watch over Red Genie on his solo mission. She's as nervous about it as she always is when working with Red Genie. Some how this man gets to her.

We get to see part of their last mission that leaves Vickie even more worked up for the current mission she's working Overwatch for this time. Genie has got some serious issues with magic, but he's not sharing why with anyone, let alone with Vickie. However, maybe Red Genie will send Vickie in a few surprising loops with his reactions and answers to many comments.

I found these episodes rather interesting as wel learn a bit more about magic along with the speciality of Vickie's technomancy. The details here are so neat. But in learning about magic and Vickie's magic specifically, we learn about Vickie too. She's the only magician we see and know. Also she's the ONLY one able to work magic in technology.

But! there is more. Red Genie. (Aww.) Now that I got that out I'll go on. After this short, with the help of Vickie's little elemental friend Herb, I feel for Red Genie more. The previous season started to bring me around, but this cinched it for me. He's not really all that bad. There is more to him we haven't seen yet.

I look forward to seeing an honest, hard friendship growing here.

Episode 6 & 7: The Journal of John Murdock
John Murdock is on his way back from the Silo incident and Vickie has found him an amazing hotel to stay at. Along with learning about more Thulian threats, John also learns that Vickie has looked into his past. And can dig deeper.

Now this episode had my attention like the one with Seraphym. John and Seraphym have been huge interests of mine. And I'm still loving what I'm learning.

Vickie shares that she knows some of John's past from what she's found, and shares the records with him. In doing so, she hopes to learn what she can in case the Suits take him away again, this way she can help break him out. John agrees that she keep digging.

We know John has been enhanced, but we don't know much of the details. We get to see the day that John escaped from his imprisonment by the Suits. This feels like a major moment in John's past, and memories. A moment that seems to be a turning point for him, something he keeps close to heart to remember who he is and wants to be.


Friday, March 18, 2016

Audio Book Review: The Secret World Chronicles: World Divided (Part 2)

The Secret World Chronicles: World Divided (Part 2)
(season 4)
By:  Mercedes Lackey & Cody Martin, Dennis Lee, and Veronica Giguere

Narrated By:  Veronica Giguere

Publish Date:  2010

Format:  Podiobook

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  3rd book in The Secret World Chronicles series; 1st Book 1/2 ~ Invasion, 1st Book 2/2 (season 2) ~ The Hunt, 2nd Book 1/2 (season 3) ~ World Well Lost

***NOTE: I've learned that the podcasted books are divisions of the printed books as follows:
Printed book 1 is Invasion is podcasted seasons 1 & 2.
Printed book 2, World Divided, is podcasted seasons 3 & 4.
Season 5 podcast, Waiting On, is a bonus season - it's stories of characters between books 2 and 3.
Printed book 3, Revolutions, is podcasted seasons 6 & 7.
Printed book 4, Collision, is podcasted books 8 & 9 (season 8 in progress, season 9 yet to come).

(Podcast season titles:
Season 1: Invasion, Season 2: The Hunt, Season 3: World Well Lost, Season 4: World Divided, Season 5: Waiting On, Tales of the Secret World War, Season 6: Revolutions, Season 7: Run Silent, Run Deep, Season 8: Collision)

Recommendation:  Superheroes!

Synopsis:
From New York Times best-seller and science fiction and fantasy mistress of adventure Mercedes Lackey, Book #3 in a new pulse-pounding saga of modern-day humans with superpowers. The metaheroes deal with supervillain Verdegris, who seeks to destroy them from within, before turning their attention back to the Thulian conspiracy.

It’s go time once again for the meta-heroes including fire-bender John Murdock, hacker-witch Vikki Nagy, healer Belladona Blue, super-quick Mercurye–and most of all for their ghostly ally, Seraphym, the spirit of the world Verdegris knows he must trap and destroy her if he is to take down the metas.

From New York Times best-seller and science fiction and fantasy mistress of adventure Mercedes Lackey together with a team of topnotch collaborators, the third entry in the blockbuster saga of superpowers–and the very human men and women who must learn to wield them.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  /  Book Depository
*I'm linking the full length novel for your purchasing.

Listen For Free:
iTunes   /   Secret World Chronicle website

*I listened to this story for my own enjoyment.

First Sentence:
Vickie took a deep breath and another look at the clock.

My Thoughts and Summary:
In her own way, Seraphym shows a future to one person to shift the future of others. Seraphym has put Verdegre into action. Verdegre knows he's on the Tholian's list and what they will do to him. He now works to purchase Black Snake to get ECHO, as they are the only ones that can stop the Tholian's. John Murdock is sent to bring back electric parts, and he finds the Thulian's, Nazi's, are attacking and showing up in many places.

ECHO is really not doing well. It feels like it's falling apart. Meta's are not surviving well. A CEO was thrown in charge with what's happened to the world, which is why Tesla isn't acting like the general who should be in the chair. Then there's the Ide's of March... The prophesies. It's what has Tesla shacking in his chair behind his big desk. It's like a suicide note for ECHO.

I love the early episode, the one with Romona and Bella. This takes things in a different direction, really pulls things together and how people are working with what they know, preparing. And sharing those important tidbits with others. Things then start to turn with what we see and learn with Bella and Vicky.

Vicky...she's different, and has become one of my favorite charaters for it. Her magic is so neat to see. We even learn a bit of her history too. Oh do we learn about her with the help of Red Genie. And in the same token, we learn a bit about Red Genie too. This is where he starts to become more for me and the potential he has to help others. Bella is stepping up to a position that she never thought she'd do, but Bella is crafty enough to do it. I still enjoy John Murdock and the mystery surrounding him. I'm looking forward to what he has to bring to the events. And the Seraphym. Oh the Seraphym. She has a way to send people on a path without telling to act that way. She's not to interfer but she does give supportive talk when someone she needs to follow what they are thinking of doing, that it's the right thing to help.

Each Meta makes a bang of an entrance at the beginning. The world feels as it's trying to pull back together, but the Nazi's are not done with attacking and as our Meta's return to the pages, they all enter with individual flare.

The different Meta organizations, CCCP, Blacksnake, and ECHO, might be coming together to help fight against one common foe, whether they want to or not. But there are those that have their own agendas in mind as well.

The building to the climax is crafted in a way for us to get to know the characters more personally, and make us anticipate the moment it all explodes, or implodes. However the ending didn't feel as huge as I had thought it would. But, we've got a lot to deal with at ECHO in the next podcasted book. I'm diving into the next story as I want to know what comes to pass with ECHO and Verdegris.

We get to see the Thulians up close, face to face. Neat to see them without all there armor.

As for listening to this story. I can't be more amazed with Veronica's vocal accomplishments. There are so many different characters and voices that she does having all distinctly different. The characters have different accents, tones, speaking patterns, and so much more. Veronica does all this. I've even forgotten she's the only voice here with the magnitude of her voice command. Each character is distinct and easy to differentiate. Veronica is a woman of many voices.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Book Review: Broken

Broken

By:  Cedric Johnson & Veronica Giguere

Publish Date:  September 2, 2013

Format:  Podcasted Audio book

Genre:  Inner City Cyberpunk

Series:  Stand-alone

Recommendation:  Technology can make a difference in some worlds, even bring two people to a friendship they didn't know they needed.

Synopsis:
The city of Charlton is a city divided: Upper Charlton, where the rich and powerful work and play, and Charlton Terrace, where the poor are kept from crossing the ever-widening economic gap by corporate dynasties controlling the flow of capital, their security firms controlling the city police, and numerous gangs controlling the streets.

Miranda Garren has a chance of escaping the Terrace's oppression and making a new life for herself with the help of an old family friend and his plans for advanced medical technology. Criofan Byrne is the city's favorite son, champion of the local boxing circuit and heir to a corporate empire. Their separate worlds are brought together and destroyed around them in a single night by the leader of the Cabezas de Muerte gang, who will stop at nothing in order to make a name for himself in Upper Charlton.

Forced into using the experimental prosthetic technology Miranda had been working on, Criofan must put aside everything he knew of his privileged existence and work with Miranda. Together, they must find a way to escape the machinations of the cruel, vindictive gang leader, the life he's thrust them into, each other and themselves—and reclaim control of what remains of their lives.

First Sentence:
The lights came up in Charlton Terrace earlier than in any other part of the city.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles

**I listened to this book for my own enjoyment.

My Thoughts and Summary:
I'm not going to try to do a summary for this story. The synopsis above and given on the book is perfect. It tells you about the harsh world we are in and the two main characters, Miranda and Criofa.

I listened to this book recorded by the amazing voice talent Veronica Giguere, who is also a co-author of the book.

In the beginning you see Miranda in her home surroundings, the dangers of it, and how smart she is. She should have the chance to move up from the Terrace or even out of this city for the brilliance that is in this girl. Her fathers old friend sees the genius in the girl as well. Reggy takes her on as his assistant and teaches her and finds Miranda is taken by the project as much as he is.

There are two worlds in on city. The Upper Charlton and the Terrace. Criofan is from Upper Charlton, but doesn't seem to like the feel of elite and richness of the living. The Upper Charlton seems to be just as dangerous as the Terrace, only in a different way. The Terrace police work under the security companies owned by John Harper Byrne. Which means the police are owned by the Upper class and do what they say, or not say. We see the struggles and power control over the cops. We also see the dangers of the gangs present. The world is a rough, tough place to live.

I will admit, listening to the first three episodes with meeting the characters and the world, I wasn't sure if this listen was for me. Then when listening to episode four, I was hooked! I was starting to see the potential workings, the connections to what we've seen and the hints given by the cover. At this point, it had caught my interest. I liked the groundwork put in place and the quick drops of hints of what was to come. Great drawing in the story! I was curious and anxious for the story to continue.

Miranda and Criofan both start a bit on the naive side. They both know their worlds and have better expectations than what they should. Both suffer for it as well. Their lives are torn apart. They both have their eyes opened to the way of the world in Charlton, and it's not a good way. Each grows in their own way needed to strengthen themselves and do what needs to be done to survive. I appreciated this growth in both the characters. They came through many hurdles and accomplished a great deal. And found a rock strong friendship through it all.

Criofan was different from the family and class thinking he was born into. I liked him from the first meeting. And even more so after he's learned of those around him and what happened to him. Miranda had an idea of what it was like with the gangs that her father paid each week for "protection". But she was a bit more optimistic and thought she was different, maybe could change things. Sadly she was looked at different and paid a terribly steep price for it. She can make a difference in the world, and eventually does. But it's small steps at a time.

Do the bad guys get what they have come in the end? Well, you will have to read the story to find out. ;)