Audio Book Review: The Torn World

The Torn World

By:  Melanie Karsak

Publish Date:  September 6, 2016, Audiobook Release October 28, 2016

Format:  Audiobook - 5 hrs 57 mins
Narrated By:  Kristin James

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  3rd The Harvesting series: Book 1 ~ The Harvesting, Novella 1.5 ~ Midway, Book 2 ~ The Shadow Aspect, Novella 2.5 ~ Witch Wood

Impression:  A fitting conclusion that ties it all together.

Synopsis:
Our world is dead.

With the undead walking, vampires hunting, and kitsune closing in, everything seems lost. Layla and the others will need help if there is any hope of survival. But how can you endure in the dying world?

Join Layla, Cricket, Amelia, and the other survivors for the final chapter of The Harvesting Series in The Torn World.

First Sentence:
The undead closed in.

Purchase At:
Amazon   

Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:
*This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review at my request.

Tristan has lead Layla, Cricket and their followers to Witch Wood where Amelia and Madame Knightly live. Layla wants to get back to Jamie, where they left him as an undead. But she knows he's still there, he spoke her name in her mind. The living have to find a way to survive and carry on. But is this world the one for them?

Kristin returns as our narrator to finish off the series. I'm thrilled she's been a constant with these books. Kristin voices each character with accents and tones we've come to associate with them. She fluidly shifts from one voice and personality to another with all being present in one book. I never get a feel of the audio stopping and starting as I listen. The characters feelings and tones match through out their sections and smoothly transition to new emotions as they arrive with events.

We get POV's of all three of our young ladies who've brought us this far; Layla, Cricket, and Amelia. All three have a different ability that is needed to help survive and bring the living to a point that they can carry on. These ladies have all had their hearts filled or broken through the series. And have become stronger in this devastating world.

This is the conclusion to the harvesting series. I'm working hard to not tell all with this review. We get our action and fights along with nervous moments trying to get what the characters need. Nothing is convenient for the characters.

The writing flow Melanie has created here is magnificent. The missions to get needed supplies do not feel as they are created to give more story, the missions fit the places the characters are. The story feels as it fits in it's world and where the people are without creating situations to get to where the characters are. I love this complete feel for the characters and world.

We get our romantic moments and gazes too. Cricket and Tristan, Amelia and Logan are falling for each other. And maybe a few others of the group are flirting.

Melanie never leaves me wanting in magic, fae, and zombies in this book. We get it all wrapped in one little package. All the special traits the characters have are seen and enjoyed.

I enjoyed the ending. We get all our answers. We also see something new for the characters. And... from a different POV that gives us a great view of everything on how it is after all this. What we see in the end, may or may not be what you were wanting, but it feels right. The hints are all there to draw to this ending. Well done.



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

Audio Book Review: Witch Wood

Witch Wood

By:  Melanie Karsak

Publish Date:  October 1, 2015, Audiobook Release December 12, 2015

Format:  Audiobook - 2 hrs 23 mins
Narrated By:  Kristin James

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  2.5 in The Harvesting series; 1st book ~ The Harvesting, 1.5 Novella ~ Midway, 2nd Book ~ The Shadow Aspect

First Impression:  There's a good witch in the midst of all going bad.

Synopsis:
Harm none, and be ready for zombies.

In the little town of Brighton, Amelia’s practice of Wicca makes her an outcast in school and the subject of disdain at home. But Amelia can’t change what she is. Knowing how to use herbs, see auras, and create spells comes naturally to her. Only Madame Knightly, the ancient matriarch and owner of Witch Wood Estate to whom Amelia plays caretaker, doesn’t seem to mind her conjoining. In fact, the library in the crumbling old mansion is full of old books and oddities.

However, when modern treatments fail to make a dent in the flu outbreak sweeping the globe, those who once ridiculed her white witchcraft turn to Amelia for help. While her eucalyptus tinctures prove no more effective than western medicine, her spell-casting is another matter. The residents of Brighton soon depend on the very magic they once ridiculed to save their lives.

** Witch Wood is a tie-in novella that complements The Harvesting Series. It can be read as a stand-alone or as Book 2.5 in the series **

First Sentence:
The aura around Mrs. Delaney had faded from vibrant green to dull, sludge-colored green-brown as the last class of the day wore down to its end.

Purchase At:
Amazon  

Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:
*I requested to review a copy of this audiobook for an honest review from the author.

Amelia has a white witch's touch. Those in school and around Brighton don't see a witch as kindly, but Amelia loves what she is. She can feel and see things are off, but she doesn't know what it is, starting with her mother's aura having specks of sticky black to it. When people come down with the flu Amelia will have to do more than mix her faithful herbs, she'll have to cast spells.

Kristin gets to share her adverse vocal talents once again. She not only does different tones for different characters, but also gets to do a young girls voice then the teachers older and more stern voice. There is such a variety that it's amazing to see her slip into different personas. Kristin does a hurt, upset girl along with other voices.

As with each book, this one brings a new element into the world of the harvesting. Magic. A witch. I couldn't quit listening. I knew what was going to result, but I was drawn to know for sure. What would happen and see what Amelia could do. She's special! Oh we discover with Amelia something new that she can do.

Amelia is a white witch. It's sweet hearing her thank the trees and for pumpkins and many others. She's connected to nature. She even sees the aura of people, and tries to help all when sees dark spots by clearing them from their aura. She believes in using natural herbs to help heal and maintain good health. This mention of natural herbs brings into question something that's mentioned in Shadow Aspect, something that might have spread this disease.

Oh where this story ends! Eee! I can't wait to follow on in the series. It's all coming together now. And I'm curious about Logan. I have a few thoughts on him, but I'll keep that to myself so you can experience him in your own thinking.

Audio Book Review: The Shadow Aspect

The Shadow Aspect

By:  Melanie Karsak

Publish Date:  June 2015, Audiobook September 28, 2015

Format:  Audiobook - 6 hrs 11 mins
Narrated By:  Kristin James

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  3rd in The Harvesting series; Book 1 ~ The Harvesting, Novella 1.5 ~ Midway

Impression:  Danger is always present, but there might some hope in the dying world...

Synopsis:
When Layla took the final step through the labyrinth, she thought she was saving the ones she loved.

She couldn’t have been more wrong.

The unwitting victims of a grudge seething for eons, Layla and the other survivors now find themselves in a war for our world. With vampires lurking and shapechangers plotting vengeance, if mankind has any hope of survival, Layla must decide whom to trust: the carnie girl? The quiet doctor? The tarot reader? The stranger with alluring gold eyes? Or the man she loves? And then there are the voices. What does it forewarn if the dead can speak?

When the world burns, mankind’s shadow side rises. Do we deserve to survive?

First Sentence:
I don't like roller coasters.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  /  Book Depository

Audible


My Thoughts and Summary:
*This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review, at my request.

Layla and her family and friends exit the labyrinth and find themselves in thick woods. The other side was to be safe for them all. What they find is far from it. Layla does come across new allies in the world of the walking dead. Now she needs to choose who she thinks she can trust, after learning she placed her trust in others to easily. There's an ancient power at work now. Layla and her crew starts to question, why would spirits of the land help them, or hinder them?

I've continued listening to the series as I love Kristin's voice acting. She slips into each and every character, becoming them in voice. She does the breathless moments when in dialog. She does several accents through the story for Cricket, Tristan, and many others along with deeper and different tones for male and females. All this makes it so easy for the listener to differentiate the characters. I love how Kristin knows what words to put an accent on, to show there is more meaning behind the word.

Layla is still strong for her people. But she's starting to break down. She's realized too late that she's trusted to easily. And her friends have paid for the mistake in blood. Not everyone, or being, is good inside. Now Layla must figure out who she can trust in this dark world of death. I feel for her as she's slipped into the role of leader for her strength and insight from the spirits. Those that are left from Hamletville look to her for guidance on if they stay or go.

This book brings Cricket and those from her novella together with Layla and her friends from Hamletville. Cricket is a sweet yet determined young lady. I really enjoy her outlook on things and her strength. We do learn about what we suspected of Tristan. Well, part of it. We'll most likely learn more as we come out the portal in book three. Seeing Vella the tarot reader interact with Layla, the few short times we do, I got excited. I would like to see them talk more. I don't know, I think it's a feel I got when Layla was with her grandmother. I just loved the feel of the old blood in them.

We also come to meet new characters. A few of which I enjoyed and love and a few that I'm very suspicious of. One new character is a Doctor. Dr. Gustav is working hard to figure out what happened to cause the undead in people and she thinks she can cure it!

Melanie walks us through the next expansion of the world here. We saw the undead and vampires in the first book. We learn about the thin places and fog here, along with some of the natural spirits. Each growth of the world in each book is placed to explain and grow the stories. We even start to get a look into why this is happening along with how. And, to Layla and a few other observers, there is a difference in the undead as well. Which kind of made me start to feel for the undead. *gasp*

I know the characters are in constant trouble with the danger of the undead and vampires, but it doesn't feel high strung fast. I really like this. People need rest, even if not 100% trusting of those around them. That comes through yet the stories moving to keep us interested. The grown of the world helps balance the pacing and action. Not to fast. Not to slow. Just right.

Melanie did the one thing I feared she'd do from the moment we walked into Claddagh-Basel college. I'm not telling you what it was. You have to figure it out yourself. But it did leave me NEEDING book 3! lol!

Really can't wait to continue in this series with the next novella and novel!

Audio Book Review: Midway

Midway

By:  Melanie Karsak

Publish Date:  Book - 2014, Audiobook - April 1, 2015

Format:  Audiobook - 2 hrs 52 mins
Narrated By:  Kristin James

Genre:  Urban Fantasy, Apocalyptic

Series:  1.5 in The Harvesting series; 1st Book ~ The Harvesting

First Impression:  The carnival life can be fun, but can teach many things with living on the road, especially when the sick rise again.

Synopsis:
Midway: A Harvesting Series Novella (Book 1.5 in The Harvesting Series) is a tie-in novella that compliments The Harvesting, Book I in The Harvesting Series.

Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, for the beginning of the end.

Carnie. Ride jockey. Roustabout. White trash. Tilt girl. Gypsy. Cricket has been called a lot of things, but she never thought survivor of the zombie apocalypse would be one of them. One day she’s barking on the midway, and the next day, the world is eating itself alive.

Cricket, along with Vella, a tarot reader, and Puck, Cricket’s mangy mutt, find themselves running for their lives, but where can you hide when mankind has fallen? Cricket will need help if she hopes to survive.

Luckily for her, we were never really alone, and apparently, magical forces want to keep this tilt girl alive.

First Sentence:
"Tilt-a-whirl, tilt-a-whirl, tilt-a-whirl! Come on ride my tilt-a-whirl! I'll whirl you round the world," I barked to the mostly empty aisles at the Allegheny Fairgrounds.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles

*This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com, at my request.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Cricket is a carnie. She owns and runs the tilt-a-whirl. But today, the carnival shuts down early and starts to pack up. People are terribly sick and there are cities on quarantine. It's stopping them from coming out. Then when Cricket wakes the next day, the illness has hit the town she's in. She manages to escape with her mutt of a dog, Puck, and the tarot reader, Vella. But are they escaping or driving into the face of danger?

First thing that stuck out to me in listening to this audiobook, Kristin has a completely different voice! She is amazing at voices. In Midway, Kristin has a sweet southern accent that fits Cricket's personality. She seems kind and innocent. Kristin once again masters an abundance of emotions in her voice. The emotion and the rush or relaxing feeling of the words spoken. When things jump and the character is scared, the words are faster yet clear and bring my heart to a faster pace. I hang on her words wanting to know what happens.

Melanie is wonderful about setting the stage in the first chapter with this being a novella. We meet Cricket and many other carnie folks. We also learn that things are not well in the world. There is news that many are sick, places are shut down, and that the sick are turning on other patients resulting in being gunned down.

We have a Romanian tarot reader with the carnival. She reminds me a bit of Layla's grandma from the first book. Here, Vella knows things, and is known to be spot on with her predictions. Her prediction here...well, not good. But there is hope a few will live through the chaos that's to come.

Cricket is handy with her large wrench, in more than fixing the equipment. lol. She can swing a wrench good. Cricket is a good girl. She seems honest and kind to people around her. She grows in this story as she has to do things to people she never dreamed of. She sees it as killing them, but they are already dead, however it doesn't make it any easier.

I love that Cricket has a dog, which I'm curious about him. Hmm...  (and worry for him through the book.) Puck growls every time he sees the sick, warning her. Cricket and Puck go on the move with Vella. They learn what stops the sick when they attack. Then we come to others that are held up. They bring a glimpse of a dark side that other people are doing to other living people in the world. Then a moment that makes me wonder if the risen dead are thinking...

Oh the things we learn here. Those things Bring new questions and worry to the world of the walking dead. Oh the dark things that people do to others in this dreadful time. We see something happen that's shocking. I'm curious to see more of this world in the next book! Things get deeper and deeper in the world.

The heart tightening catch with these stories, so far for me, is what the people go through at the beginning with those they know and love, those that are like family. And learning what is happening to the world.

Do you have to read the first book before this? No. This story is of a different group of people. Though the novella and the first book will cross paths in the second book. So read this novella and the first book in the order you'd like, but remember they both come together for the second full length novel.

Audio Book Review: The Harvesting

The Harvesting

By:  Melanie Karsak

Publish Date:  March 4, 2015

Format:  Audiobook - 7 hrs 7 mins
Narrated By:  Kristin James

Genre:  Urban Fantasy, Apocalyptic

Series:  1 in The Harvesting series

First Impression:  An apocalyptic zombie story with so much more than I expected!

Synopsis:
"The world, it seemed, had gone silent. It was something we knew but did not talk about. We were alone."

While Layla Petrovich returns home to rural Hamletville after a desperate call from her psychic grandmother, she never could have anticipated the horror of what Grandma Petrovich has foreseen. The residents of Hamletville will need Layla's cool head, fast blade and itchy trigger finger to survive the undead apocalypse that's upon them. But even that may not be enough. With mankind silenced, it soon becomes apparent that we were never alone. As the beings living on the fringe seek power, Layla must find a way to protect the ones she loves or all humanity may be lost.

It's all fun and games until someone ends up undead!

First Sentence:
"If you ever need to slice someone's head off, this is the blade you want," I said as I lifted a curved sword off the table in front of me.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles

*This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com, at my request.

My Thoughts and Summary:
When Layla returns home, at her Grandmothers strong request, she finds the house boarded up and all sorts of supplies stocked up. Layla is concerned her grandmother is losing her mind, but she knows the woman has a strong connection with the spirits. Layla sees on the news of an outbreak of sickness that has a mortality rate of 100%, with signs of brain activity afterward... Layla drinks a special tea from her grandmother, and when she wakes the world is not as she remembers it. Layla's knowledge of swords, knives, and hunting that she's learned through her life will come in handy in the new world she's to live and survive in.

I had the great opportunity to listen to the audio book version. Kristin's work is outstanding. The emotion she shows through her voice is easy to grasp at and understand. She brings the intricately written Layla to life. She hits the rushed, horror filled moments making them pop with the suspense they are to feel and with shaking that fit's with Layla. It's like listening to a movie with the height of all emotions bubbling to the surface in her voice. She even does a Russian accent for Grandmother. I really enjoyed Kristin's work in this story! She really brought the story to life.

Between Melanie's writing and Kristin's reading, I even teared up at the thought of why Grandmother did all she did. And even a few other times through the book I felt caught up in the world with the characters, hurting for what they had to do.

Starting the book I knew from the description and others that there is a battle coming. Listening to the stocking Grandma is doing, the weapons she's collecting, and getting to know Layla and her Grandma has caught my attention right off. I want to know all! Grandma is scaring Layla, and making anxious as well. Then the moment comes. It's rough seeing the place Layla grew up go through all they have to bare. The people of this town have to come to grips with killing those they loved in life when they die. It's heart wrenching listening to how these people remember everyone and have to put them to their final resting place.

This book is full of all emotions. Love of loss, love blooming, and scary and rushed adrenaline moments. All blends together with action and emotions wonderfully in this world. Well done Melanie!

I love the subtle blends that Melanie has brought to the story. There feels to have nature and American Indian influences in the spirits around the Hamletville. The wood spirits around the area, and everywhere, is a helping hand for Layla. The world has changed, and they are able to suggest things in small ways.

Just when I thought I was settling in, the story has a turn that brings us to something new! Oh this was wonderful! This story has so much more than I was ever expecting to read. We struggle through in Hamletville with Layla and those that survive, but then to come upon another obstacle in their lives and choices they made. Oh a new foe appears and is exciting to see!

There is a bit of love in the book as well. Layla returns home, where her ex-boyfriend and the love of her youth still lives. But there is a potential other interest. It's not a three way that we all see all the time. Actually, Layla has her mind made up early on, it's that one of them has to get it through their skull that there's not a chance with her. And, I'm thrilled with the one she picks. He's TOTALLY the right choice.

Layla is a wonderful lead character. She's the strong woman that I would love to be in this situation. She is knowledgeable from her history studying and profession. She's also kick arse with a sword and guns, yet she's not one with a large head that takes charge. She's respected by all that know her and knew her grandmother, and she's looked to for help and advice. She's amazing.

If you haven't read or listened to this one, you SHOULD! I listened to that audio and man... this is an AMAZING combo of writing by Melanie and voice by Kristin. If you are a UF fan, you'll will enjoy this.