Audio Book Review: Rogue's Quest

Rogue's Quest

By:  Sarah K.L. Wilson

Publish Date:  December 26, 2018, Audiobook Release December 31, 2018

Format:  Audiobook - 2 hrs 22 mins
Narrated By:  Sean Rhead

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  1st in Dragon Chameleon series

Impression:  War's over, but there's still trouble to handle.

Synopsis:
It takes a special kind of magic to hide in plain sight.

I've been hiding all my life but now I'm doing it for my country.
My partner in crime? A chameleon dragon who takes things way too seriously.
They keep telling me that the world hangs in the balance, but I try not to take things like explosions, spies, and illicit magic too seriously.
After all, I get to ride a dragon! That is ... when she lets me.

DRAGON CHAMELEON: ROGUE'S QUEST is episode one of a brand new series set in the world of DRAGON SCHOOL.

First Sentence:
Dragons.
They haunted my dreams and brought their magic to my thoughts.

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My Thoughts and Summary:

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

Tor remembers riding on the back of Hubric's dragon when they saved Tor and people from the burning buildings in Tor's home of Vanika. It was a feeling he wants to have again, in the sky on a dragon. Hubric promised to return, and he finally has. But his vague words about where Tor will go and do has Tor wondering if he should leave his burnt out husk of a home town or not. But if there's a chance of flying a dragon... And not starving...

Sean Rhead is a new narrator for me, and I very much enjoyed his voice for Tor. As I got to know Tor through his actions, Sean voiced him with feeling. The story is clean and clear as we listen. I look forward to hearing more.

This is another series in a dragon world Sarah has created. I've listened to the first book in the Dragon School series. But I don't think you have to listen/read the Dragon School series to understand this series. Although, looking through the books available for Dragon School series, I believe it will tell of the war that's said to have ended in the beginning of this book.

Tor is in for more than he expected. Hubric figures with Tor's background and skills, he'd be perfect as his apprentice in the position he recently was placed in. Then we meet Saboraak. Saboraak is brought in to help with this new position. She is special too! She's the first female to join the Dominic and brings skills to the job that are needed. Female dragons can do something cool that males can not! You have to read or listen to find out.

Tor and Saboraak are a fun match. Well, match... They have strong personalities that clash a bit. The clash is a way that each tell the other what they need to hear, to make them stronger. They made me smile as they told the hard truths to each other. In this short story I grew fond of Tor and Saboraak together and as characters.

This story is the beginning of much more with Tor and Saboraak. We pick up a few potential allies and ready for what's to come. At the end, I wanted to story to keep going. I wanted to formally meet our new characters and learn what is going on with the Magica. I guess I'll have to keep an eye out for the next section.



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Audio Book Review: Dragon School: First Flight

Dragon School: First Flight

By:  Sarah K.L. Wilson

Publish Date:  January 3, 2018, Audiobook Release February 12, 2018

Format:  Audiobook - 2 hrs 43 mins
Narrated By:  Jigisha Patel

Genre:  Fantasy, Young Adult

Series:  1st in Dragon School series

Impression:  Amel finds more in her dragon than expected at Dragon school.

Synopsis:
Join Dragon School. Learn to Fly.

Sixteen-year-old Amel arrived at Dragon School just like everyone else – with a dream to ride dragons and join the Dominion Dragon Riders.

But Amel has a crippled leg and Dragon School training is grueling. Before she can even become an initiate, she must complete her First Flight on a dragon.

Can Amel survive First Flight and become a Dragon School initiate or will her dreams dash on the rocks below?

First Sentence:
The best part of dragon school is choosing your dragon.

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Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:

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

This story is Amel fighting against the odds to be what she wants to be. She has no support in school from the other students. In fact, they all doubt her. But Raolcan, her dragon, feels to have as strong a determination as Amel. Amel has to decide if she really wants to do this when she learns it means her dragon will be a slave, magically bound.

Jigisha Patel is a new voice for me. The introduction by Audible and title page sound clear but the first chapter, sounds muffled which jumps out at me within seconds. There were a few moments I thought it was clearing up, but it got muffled again. The muffle clears up at the end of first chapter and the remainder of the book is clear as a bell. As Jigisha narrates, I could hear her breath. I know everyone breaths, but some narrators are easier to hear than others. Knowing this helped me not focus on it and listen to the story. Jigisha voiced Amel with character and determination, which fits Amel as she is determined.

Amel has a handicap, her leg. She's determined to not be judged or stopped by it. This is awesome. We see, with Amel, a lot of people think she won't make it through the difficult lessons with her dragon, but Amel's strength shows through. She's more and can do more, than people want to give her credit for. People see a handicap and stop there. Amel's determined to show them she's more. And she is. I love the dragon that picks her though. Raolcan doesn't see a handicap. He sees a strong young woman who is like him in views.

Amel and Raolcan don't trust others, but they'll have to trust each other to survive the first flight. Yet, the seem to be fast friends. They find something in the other they aren't given by other people, a support and strength to keep going. Sometimes having that one person (or dragon) can help.

This story is very much a good story for young readers. Amel doesn't bulk under the negative vibe of others. She's strong and willing to keep going for what she wants. AND, she's a kind person. She'll help anyone. She's sincere in her worries for Raolcan as well. This is a clean story in language and affections.

This is a dragon school. We learn little details of the dragons and their positions and jobs based on their color. We even learn how dragons come to the school and why. There is a interesting connection with the dragons, and I'm glad Amel sees the truth in it.

The way the story ends with the dragon school leaves us to think there is possibly trouble somewhere. There is going to be more to come and I'm kind of curious about what Amel and Raolcan will come across.



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Audio Book Review: Teeth of the Gods

Teeth of the Gods

By:  Sarah K.L. Wilson

Publish Date:  January 11, 2017, Audiobook Release November 16, 2017

Format:  Audiobook - 10 hrs 54 mins
Narrated By:  Veronica Giguere

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  1st book of Unweaving Chronicles Series

Impression:  A determined young woman learns her heritage and destiny of her world.

Synopsis:
My world is unraveling and it's all my fault.

I'm alone in the world, my magic won't surface, my mother is dead, and everything I do just seems to make things worse. My father is planning to chain me to an enemy he defeated - literally. What should I do? I refuse to just give up my freedom! Is it really too much to ask that someone be on my side and that I get to have just a little bit of fun before my life ends?

First Sentence:
I always thought my mother would protect me from anything really bad, but it turned out that the one thing she couldn't protect me from was losing her.

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Audible 

My Thoughts and Summary:

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

Veronica is one of my favorite voice actors. She slips into the characters and their rules with ease. We can hear the emotion of each individual as she puts voice to their thoughts, words, and actions. She uses different tones, accents, and personality to differentiate each character for us. I feel this is a blessing when listening to audiobooks. Veronica has brought the characters to life for us.


I'm taken with the world. There was a lot of thought and creation in this world and culture of the people. From their dress to their land. From their beliefs to their magic system. The relation to other lands after a ruler defeats them. It's all so well drawn out. The best part is we see all of this through details of what Tylira is living through. It's all conveyed through events, which makes the story rich and full.

Tylira is an interesting character. She hasn't connected with The Common as others have. She doesn't know why. When she starts to connect it's because of the cruel nature of discipline inflicted on her by her fathers high consort to find it. Tylira wants more in life than sitting in the Silken Gardens. Tylira finds her way to a new city with a summons from her father, High Tazmina, in order to be bonded with another that can teach her new things. She finds more than she expected, along with a strong determination to join the Hunt for the Teeth of the Gods.

Tylira is a bit young, more naive. She's lived at the Silken Gardens with her half sisters and trained her whole life thus far, she's eighteen. She's not kissed a boy yet and has many things she wants to do, like seeing the world. Tylira sees her chance to experience many things and takes it. Though, she's stubborn in taking advice. She's struggling with her "magic" and she refuses to listen to a few things that could help her. This is something I think comes from the way she is raised, alone in the Silken Gardens, and treatment from others since her mother is said to be The Tazmin's least favorite wife. She is determined to be independent and free, though at times I would like to shack her to get her to listen. lol. I can see her being a character that readers could get frustrated with because of her decisions.

I like Amadera. I have mixed feelings of her as the book goes. I didn't like her at first. She's the High Tazmina's High Consort and acts all mighty. Even what she does to Tylira to get her to connect to the Common. Grrr. But, there is something more to Amadera, or so I think I see flashes of. Maybe Amadera thinks she's really helping Tylira and making her a stronger person for what may come in the future for Tylira.

The magic in this book is something I liked. They use heart stones to show when they have made a connection to The Common, and it shows clear with their color and power. I found I was attracted to the meditation spirit area that Tylira goes to speak to her ancestors. I looked forward to the moments when visiting these deceased ancestors. There is one ancestor that is a bit strange but interesting - An'alepp. She's an old woman who's a bit crazy. I kept trying to place the influence in the culture and world to something in our world. I just keep getting drawn into what's created here and love it.

There is a growing romance here. I like this kind of romance, when two people are thrown together and very individually strong. They work at a friendship first, then the rest follows. But they have to get through "other" things in their lives before they can trust and like each other.

Coming to the end of the book, it took a turn I hadn't expected. As much as I enjoyed the story, world, and character interaction, I found I was really sparked by this surprise. I thought back, thinking on what we learned through the book and where we ended up. There were hints given as we came here, not as much in the beginning but more so the closer we got. Very cool!

I thoroughly enjoyed this story for all the aspects and the turn at the end. I am ready to ride along with Tylira on her next adventure. I'm curious to see what comes and if she can learn what she must.



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