Audio Book Review: One Piece at a Time by M.K. Gibson

One Piece at a Time by M.K. Gibson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Through the adventures and dry humor of Salem (which I enjoy all of), M.K. Gibson shares nuggets of great thoughts. These nuggets relate to the events and experiences on a deeper level. The events spark Salem to reflect, and the results are amazing. They could be great discussion topics for groups. An example of these is maybe the world is constant and we are ever changing... I really enjoy these moments of insight from Salem.

I've enjoyed Jeffrey Kafer as the narrator for these books. He's been here since book one and continues strong with the characters. Salem suffers from PTSD in this book. Jeffrey does a great job of sounding like Salem, and sounding like he's covering the hurt he's feeling in some moments.

Salem has been through terrible things. We get to see those terrible events and why they happened as it all comes together in the end. These are traumatic moments and current Salem is working through PTSD. He's working through the trauma, the emotions of the events, along with emotions of current time. He still feels and sees and remembers all that happened. M.K. Gibson does a great job of setting the story to help Salem while he still feels from the events. It's NOT an easy fix and I appreciate that M.K. Gibson doesn't make it as such. So well written for this. We see life's pain, friends, and family along with how people are there for him.

We are left at the end with what feels like a closure for Salem. But, there's an epilogue that leaves us to feel as there will be more to happen in the future. Will that book come? I don't know. But I'm always up for listening to Salem's adventures.

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Audio Book Review: Angels and the Bad Man

Angels and the Bad Man

By:  M.K. Gibson

Publish Date:  January 7, 2018, Audiobook Release August 28, 2018

Format:  Audiobook - 12 hrs 31 mins
Narrated By:  Jeffrey Kafer

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  3rd book in The Technomancer Novel series; Book 1 ~ To Beat the Devil, Book 2 ~ Flotsam Prison Blues

Impression:  People come into light, as do plans. So much more happening!

Synopsis:
Immediately after escaping Flotsam Prison, Salem finds himself in the middle of nowhere with the mad giant Chael and the teenage stowaway TJ. Salem’s mission is simple: find the Tears of God in seven days, or else his land, and the people residing there, will either be sold to demonic lord or face death. The only things in his way are demonic Abominations, shape-shifting bison, murderous men, and the last remnant of an angelic choir. Salem pits everything he has, and everything he is, to hold on to hope and save his people.

No pressure.

While Salem risks his life, Vali and Father Grimm risk theirs. Father Grimm’s investigation into his old apprentice Rasputin leads him into a trap and into the heart of the last remaining Faerie land. Forced to survive the Wild Hunt, Grimm fights to stay alive while clinging to his last remaining connection to humanity. Meanwhile, after the kidnapped children of Löngutangar are returned, the assassin god Vali makes it his personal mission to strike back against their enemies. The god collects his past sins and sets his deadly sights on Flotsam Prison.

Angels and the Bad Man is a work of adventure and pain, sadness and perseverance, redemption and hope.

First Sentence:
The entity known as Mr. Rictus, or Ricky, sat as he normally did: with his arms over his head, his fingers interlaced, and an expression of amusement at the world around him.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles 

Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:

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

Jeffrey is one awesome narrator. He doesn't give anything of future events away in his voice. He feels to absorb Salem, Grimm, Vali, and more, voicing them with true feeling of who the characters are. In some audio books I add a small amount of speed to the audio to move a little faster, I could not do that here. Jeffrey keeps a wonderful pace for the storytelling that it moves along quickly, and their are details that I want to pick up as Gibson wastes no time on unneeded words.

The story is fast moving and full of fun references as Salem has lived a long life already. When you live as long as Salem has, you start to distance yourself from people and the lose that is to come. Salem starts to see he can have connections. There is more to the people that surround him and who he meets, so maybe he can have friendships again, and family.

I had to work my brain to remember where we left off with Salem and Grim and all others. It all came back to me as I listened to this one. I remember wondering what was going to happen next and needing this book. I have it and was excited to get into it.

In the beginning we are divided between Grimm, Salem, and Vali as they have separate paths to follow. Salem has been the main character in the previous books, but Grimm was growing to be a favorite along with Vali and his brother, Vidar, growing into great leaders of their own right. Grimm has his own...sticky situation to get through with someone from his past and the fey he's had run-ins with. Vali is having a hard time with the children being taken. Vali becomes determined, more than ever, to protect his people in Longutangar.

People are changed with tragedy and harsh events in their lives. Characters in a book are no different. When characters live through terrible moments, it affects them and it's then believable to the readers. Salem, Grimm, Vali, and TJ (yep a new character) live through such events here and come out at the other end changed. Maybe even influenced in perspective. Salem sees a family he's formed along with facing some feelings for his parents. To live through what these characters do gives them views and thoughts they wouldn't have had before.

I've come to enjoy the secondary characters in this series. Sometimes secondary characters aren't given the credit they need. Well, these characters have really stepped up and stepped into the light. There are things we learn with those we didn't realize were more. Oh yea. Keep an eye on ALL the characters here!

Oh Mr. Rictus, or Ricky. He's a bad person. He has a bigger plan for everyone, that something big is coming and our characters are being primed to be as they need to be when that thing happens. We get hints as to what he's up to, how he goes about it is the question.

I've come across a few new characters that have caught my attention. Riggs and TJ. There is more in the future with them, there has to be...

Oh snap! Things just got serious. There is sooooo much more in the works that we didn't know about. The "battles" being fought have taken a huge turn here. Revelations are made and they make for a deeper plot than we expected. Niiiiiice!



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Audio Book Review: Flotsam Prison Blues

Flotsam Prison Blues

By:  M.K. Gibson

Publish Date:  October 8, 2016, Audiobook Release May 16, 2018

Format:  Audiobook - 10 hrs 3 mins
Narrated By:  Jeffrey Kafer

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  2 in The Technomancer Novel series; 1st Book ~ To Beat the Devil

Impression:  Humor, action, and memory lane with morals remembered.

Synopsis:
A couple of months have passed since the cyborg smuggler known as Salem led a small team in the violent coup that brought down Abraxas, demon Archduke of New Golgotha’s central kingdom of Ars Goetia. From the destruction, Salem became a hero, whether he wanted to be one or not, and was appointed the first human baron in the demon-run supercity.

But Hell does not like being made to look foolish--or weak. And Salem’s actions, while noble, have consequences. A victory for man means a defeat for Hell. A single question will be asked of Salem: How far can a hero fall? The powers of Hell are willing to find out.

Flotsam Prison Blues is the gritty, exciting sequel to To Beat The Devil. Following an assassination attempt by a rocket-launching madman, Salem must untangle a web of lies, theft, and conspiracies, lest his new world, and his citizens, burn. Follow Salem’s adventures as he is forced to relive the parts of his past he wanted to stay buried while once more pitting himself against the might of Hell. Salem will need all his strength and skill as he suffers the Hell-on-Earth horrors of Flotsam Prison.

First Sentence:
The proprietor of the bar and brothel known as Dante's was an entity known as Ricky.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  /  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 sounds like he slips into character and enjoys doing so as he voices this book. He's awesome at the dry humor that goes with Salem. A Chewbacca impersonation! Yes, Jeffrey had to do one and it was at the perfect place in the story with Salem and Grimm. It made me chuckle with the placement and hearing it. Jeffrey has voiced Salem and all his friends (and enemies) in the first book, so it's a great pleasure to have him back to carry on with their adventures. It feels Jeffrey breathes life into all for us to enjoy.

I totally have fun with these stories. Between the references and one liners used with the surprise events that happen, I just smile the whole way through the book. The characters interactions make me shake my head and chuckle. Oh dear! There are movies referenced in this book that I looooong forgot about. And it was a treat to remember them!

I wondered where this book could go after the ending of the first. There were a few threads that where left open in the first book that could easily be picked up on. Salem has created a new setting on his land for those that were displaced from the town of Midheim after the big battle there. This brings new troubles and frustrations to Salem's doorstep. And Jensen, there's something there...maybe? This all leads into the adventure Salem goes on, and drudges up past memories from other lives as he goes.

We get to see life in one of Salem's previous lives. You do remember that since he's long lived he switches identities through life so people don't know who he is. Salem's past surfaces when one of his hidden vaults is robbed. But, along with facing his past, he has to face a few things he has happening now and consequences.

Just as you think there couldn't be anything more intense to happen to Salem, something does. Don't ask the one question that the universe always seems to answer... What's next? There will always be something next. lol. And Salem sees it.

Salem and Father Grimm together. LOL! They are a team and they toss jokes off each other that the other one plays into and gets. They keep me smiling. Salem even finds a sidekick in prison! Yep, and it's a cool friendship too. I think it's Salem and his jokes that keep it going, how he plays off others and their different personalities.

What I love is the lessons learned and important points made that people need to remember through life. These are mixed in with crazy and funny moments, but in the end there is a huge point that hits home with the characters and with the readers. The way it's done, it feels as though a comic book fashion is used but in words. I love it!



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Audio Book Review: To Beat the Devil

To Beat the Devil

By:  M.K. Gibson

Publish Date:  March 23, 2016, Audiobook Release January 3, 2017

Format:  Audiobook - 10 hrs 51 mins
Narrated By:  Shawn Purvis

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  1st in The Technomancer series

Impression:  Cyborgs, technology, magic, Demi-gods, and demons. Totally awesome combination!

Synopsis:
175 years have passed since God quit on mankind. Without his blessing, Hell itself, along with the ancient power of The Deep, were unleashed upon the world. Two world wars and oceans of blood later, a balance was reached. Demonkind took its place as the ruling aristocracy. Mankind, thanks to its ability to create, fell to the position of working proletariat. Alive, but not living.

Lucky Us.

Welcome to New Golgotha, the East Coast supercity. In it you will find sins and cyborgs, magic and mystery, vices without virtue and hell without the hope of heaven. In the middle of it all is Salem, smuggler extraordinaire and recluse immortal, who has lived and fought through the last two centuries, but his biggest battle is just beginning.

To Beat The Devil: A technomancer Novel is an incredible adventure full of cyborgs and demons, gods, magic, guns, puns and whiskey, humor and heart. Follow Salem as he embarks to discover the meaning of the very nature of what mankind is: our souls. And, who is trying to steal them.

First Sentence:
I was being followed by at least three demons.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  /  Book Depository

Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:

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


I'm a sucker for a narrator who does different voices with the characters. So when Shawn spoke as a hellion or a demon, I smiled. He had me. Each character had their own sound/voice. When Shawn read Salem I found his voice monotone-ish. There didn't feel to have a lot of feeling to the character, however this could have been the character that's written. Salem is more of an even keel type character and independent with the life he's living.

Baltimore's Inner Harbor is turned into Razor Bay. There are demons of all sorts present. And we get a feel for the city from the get go. Wow, really did an overhaul on things when God left and demons arrived.

Salem is a very special person. What he can do and why caught my attention when he started explaining it. I really like this creation and blend for Salem and the world. Cyborgs, technology, magic, Demi-gods, and demons. Totally awesome combination!

I found the story very interesting as it's taking place years after God left. There's a reason for why he left, you get to know it. I liked this concept and spin on the world. There is a lot of details to the world and drops of how it came to be. As much as I enjoyed learning the past, sometimes I found it dragging and my mind drifted.

The story is well written in that we are given all the pieces we need before we get to the moment we need it. It all fits the events and scenes we come through. I had moments where I knew when we learned a small detail that backed current scenes as I came across them in the story. I like that I can connect those dots when reading/listening.

There is more to life than simply getting through. To feel and live it in your heart is important and what keeps you tethered to humanity. I love this feel I got. I don't know if it's a theme for the book or not, but it really stuck out for me. Salem comes through on the other side of this story learning this lesson. He may be starting to change from the closed off man to opening to those around him. There is a hint that we could get more in this world with Salem. I'm curious with this small drop.



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