Showing posts with label dragons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dragons. Show all posts

Thursday, 21 March 2024

CURSED WOLF


Cursed Wolf by Brogan Thomas
Book 1 in the Creatures of the Otherworld series
Narrated by Poppy Royana
Genre: urban fantasy
Format: ebook & audiobookAudiobook


Loathed by those who should love her, can one fierce woman discover the secrets of her unique blood in time to be her own rescuer?

Forrest Hesketh desperately clings to humanity. Trapped in an infuriatingly inept wolf form since she was nine years old, the traumatised girl’s hope of regaining her ability to shift is slowly fading. But as her abusive pack plots to kill her, her desperate act to help her kind stepbrother finally triggers the broken young woman’s transformation.

Stunned that suddenly everyone wants her after fourteen years of horrific treatment, Forrest struggles to relearn basic skills while dodging kidnappers and assassins. And with a powerful shifter councilman determined to claim her as a mate, even the protection of a gorgeous dragon can’t guarantee her safety.

With monsters closing in, will Forrest’s undaunted courage be enough to keep her alive?
Source: Info in the "About Cursed Wolf" was taken from GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54817962-cursed-wolf on 26/06/2021.


Book Trailer :


Buy Link(s):
  Audible Books


My Thoughts:
This is my first Brogan Thomas book and I am so very glad that I stumbled into her! I like her author's voice! The sassy sarcasm and the way she weaves a wonderful world and her characters are loveable! Though the plot has tiny little holes in them and kinda predictable. However, I can forgive that because this is urban fantasy after all, not crime fiction. And the first chapter took a little bit of perseverance on my part to get through. A more forgiving reader might not struggle as hard....

This is also my first Poppy Royana listen and I like the way she reads! Her British accent and young voice fits Forrest to the T! I like the way she reads her lines with sarcasm and vive!


Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 5
Ending = 4
World building = 5
Cover art = 4.5
Pace = 4.5
Plot = 4
Narration = 5


Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 cherries


Books In The Creatures of the Otherworld Series:
Book 1: CURSED WOLF Book 2: CURSED DEMON Book 3: CURSED VAMPIRE Book 4: CURSED WITCH Book 5: CURSED FAE Book 6: CURSED DRAGON


 
Books In The Rebel of the Otherworld Series:


Meet The Author

About Brogan Thomas:
Brogan lives in Ireland with her husband and their eleven furry children: five furry minions of darkness (aka the cats), four hellhounds (the dogs), and two traditional unicorns (fat, hairy Irish cobs).

In 2019 she decided to embrace her craziness by writing about the imaginary people that live in her head. Her first love is her number-one favourite furry child Bob the cob, then reading. When not reading or writing, she can be found knee-deep in horse poo and fur while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.


The Narrator

About Poppy Royana:
Born and raised in the South East but finding her home in the North, Poppy is a bi British Narrator based in not too sunny Manchester. With experience in musical theatre, Poppy is both a singer and a book lover and teaches singing when she’s not found narrating in her booth.

Poppy’s voice could possibly be mistaken at times for Olivia Colman’s so we’d like to think that, in our opinion, Poppy has an award-winning voice. She sounds warm and uplifting whilst being articulate and crisp; and not only that but she can nail sarcasm to a T. There’s really not much Poppy can’t do!



FTC Disclosure:
The ebook and audiobook copies of the book were purchased with private funds.
No money received for this review.

Sunday, 7 July 2013

HUROG Doulogy

Book 2: DRAGON BLOODDragon Blood by Patricia Briggs
Book 2 of the Hurog doulogy
Read by Joe Manganiello
Genre: high fantasy
Format: paperback & audiobook

About Dragon Blood:
As the rebellion grows against High King Jakoven, Ward, ruler of Hurog, realizes he must join with the rebels. However, Jakoven can crush his enemies with dragon’s blood. The very blood that courses through Ward’s veins.
Source: Info in the About Dragon Blood was taken from GoodReads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/285208.Dragon_Blood on 21/11/2011.

My Thoughts:
I bought this book because I just have to read it after I listened to Dragon Bones. I just wanted more Hurog goodness from Patricia Briggs! At first, I bought Dragon Bones (Book 1) just because I wanted to hear Joe Manganiello's deep timbred voice. It wasn't really the book, it was Joe. But with Dragon Blood, it's the story and not about Joe's voice anymore. I would credit Patricia Briggs' wonderful story telling quality for that shift in the magnetic force!This book is infinitely more interesting for having read Book 1. Reading Book 1 first is therefore highly recommended, though it makes the story seems like a very thick book to read (2 volumes). Having said that, I have to say that it feels too short and there are no more books in this series! Now, it would be difficult for me to find something which is as good to read to stem the tide of withdrawal symptoms! And that is the only down side of this book... The paperbacks (of both Book 1 and 2) is normal-sized and the font is not big so the actual size of the book is not short, but because I read it too quickly, it felt short. So, yes, this is a very fast read...

I am a touchy-feely and a visual reader. That means that the cover art plays a big role in my reading habit. I have to say that I am not fond of the cover art at all! Yet despite that strong deterrent I love this doulogy! That just shows you of how good a read I found this book!
Source: This review was taken from http://www.cherrymischievous.com/2013/05/review-dragon-blood.html.

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 5
Character development = 5
Story itself = 5
Ending = 5
World building = 5
Cover art = 3.5
Pace = 5
Narration = 5

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 cherries


Original review published at: Cherry Mischievous.



Dragon Bones by Patricia Briggs
Book 1 of the Hurog doulogy
Read by Joe Manganiello
Format: audiobook
Genre: high fantasy

About Dragon Bones:
Riding into a war that's heating up on the border, Ward, the new lord of Herzog, is sure he's on the fast track to glory. But soon his mission takes a deadly turn. For he has seen a pile of magical dragon bones hidden deep beneath Hurog Keep. The bones could prove to be dangerous in the wrong hands, and Ward is certain his enemies will stop at nothing to possess them.
Source: Info in the About Dragon Bones was taken from GoodReads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123408.Dragon_Bones on 17/11/2011.

My Thoughts:
Okey, so I bought this audiobook because I wanna listen to Joe Manganiello's deep-timbred voice. Can you blame me? Anyway, I like his voice so that makes the narrator a 5 out of 5, right? Well, the thing is I had to buy the paperback as well because there were parts I couldn't quite understand and had to replay them a few times before I understand it. Having the book to read as well makes it easier for me. But I am pretty sure this is a fault on my part rather than Joe Manganiello's narration. And besides he is not really a professional audiobook reader like Johanna Parker and Jenna Lamia, now is he? He is a model, for Christ's sake!! Look at him! -->

However, Patricia Briggs' story telling quality is masterful! As per usual. And since I am a long time Patricia Briggs fan, that is biased as well. I am just disappointed that there isn't much dragons in this book. When I first encountered this book, I was expecting a dragon or two, by it's title. But more like just dragon remains, i.e., dragon bones. And if you are like me, a dragon freak, then that is a downer, because I like to see dragons flying. Anyway, Patricia Briggs' world building makes up for it because it is simply fabulous!! As you might have surmised by now that I really loved listening to this book... so I'd give it a 4.5 out of 5.
Source: This review was taken from http://www.cherrymischievous.com/2011/12/review-dragon-bones.html.

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4
Ending = 4.5
World building = 5
Cover art = 3
Pace = N/A
Narration = 4.5

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 cherries


Original review published at: Cherry Mischievous.



Books In The HUROG Doulogy:
Book 1: DRAGON BONESBook 2: DRAGON BLOOD