Audiobook Review: Jane Eyre

Book Description

Orphaned into the household of her Aunt Reed at Gateshead, subject to the cruel regime at Lowood charity school, Jane Eyre nonetheless emerges unbroken in spirit and integrity.

She takes up the post of governess at Thornfield, falls in love with Mr. Rochester, and discovers the impediment to their lawful marriage in a story that transcends melodrama to portray a woman's passionate search for a wider and richer life than Victorian society traditionally allowed.

With a heroine full of yearning, the dangerous secrets she encounters, and the choices she finally makes, Charlotte Bronte's innovative and enduring romantic novel continues to engage and provoke readers ...
(Description from Goodreads)

Genre: Classics, Romance, Gothic Romance

Series: No

Quick Synopsis

Jane takes a position as governess at Thornfield and finds both love and a mystery that will tear her apart.

Review

Liked
• For a novel that is over 100 years old, Jane Eyre reads almost like a modern book. I guess that's why it's a classic.
• Jane is a well-developed character. She lays her own strengths and weaknesses out for the reader to create a very detailed picture. Although she is from a different time, I noticed many things that Jane and I had in common, and it added a nice sense of connection.
• The romance between Jane and Mr. Rochester is epic. The relationship is slow to build but explosive when they confess their feelings for one another. The obstacles in their path are many but by the Happily Ever After, you just know that it was meant to be. After all, it's a little bit of magic that facilitates their reunion.
• Even though he's a bit Alpha, I like Mr. Rochester because he does bend for Jane.

Liked Less
• Although the book as a whole isn't dated, there are some elements that are. For example, there are long soliloquies, sometimes religious ones, that bored me. Also, I found the denigration of any other nation besides England to be pretty unintentionally comical.
• Parts of the book dragged a little. I think this is more a difference in style between when the book was written and now rather than a lack of writing skill.

Audiobook Notes

• Clarity - 5/5 - Words and names were very easy to understand, even with differing accents.
• Differentiation Between Characters - 4/5 - It was fairly easy to tell the difference between characters speaking in conversations. There were a couple rare moments of confusion.
• Sound Levels - 4/5 - I only had to adjust the volume once or twice because the sound levels were too different i.e. suddenly too loud or too quiet.
• Overall Performance - 3.5/5 - Good voice acting. Sometimes it sounded like the narrator almost flubbed a word/line. She recovered and didn't actually make a mistake but I don't know why this wasn't re-recorded.
• Audio Version Recommended? Yes

Note: this is the Brilliance Audio recording of Jane Eyre with Susan Ericksen as narrator.

Rating

King of Swords
A very enjoyable read with a couple of minor issues. Recommended.

Disclosure: I purchased this book.

Buy the audiobook at: Audible

Steals & Deals: Dreg City Audiobooks

The Dreg City series by Kelly Meding is one of my favorite urban fantasy series. It has all the elements I love - a unique well-built world, amazing characters, fantastic supernatural creatures. Evy, the heroine, goes through hell and back and comes out snarking. And Wyatt? *sigh* Where do I get me one of those?

Why am I gushing? Because Tantor Audio has the first three Dreg City audiobooks (digital download version) on sale for $6.99 each! This is a great price for books that I highly recommend for any urban fantasy fan. I also really like the narrator, Xe Sands. She gives wonderful performances.

You can get your downloads at Tantor Audio.

* Prices were current at the time of this posting. Please check prices before buying as they can change.

Audiobook Review: Riveted by Meljean Brook

Book Description

A century after a devastating volcanic eruption forced Iceland's inhabitants to abandon its shores, the island has become enshrouded in legend. But the truth behind the legends is mechanical, not magical—and the mystery of the island a matter of life and death for a community of women who once spilled noble blood to secure their freedom.

Five years ago, Annika unwittingly endangered that secret, but her sister Källa took the blame and was exiled. Now Annika serves on an airship, searching for her sister and longing to return home. But that home is threatened when scientific expedition leader David Kentewess comes aboard, looking to expose Annika's secrets. Then disaster strikes, leaving David and Annika stranded on a glacier and pursued by a madman, with their very survival depending on keeping the heat rising between them—and generating lots of steam . . .
(Description from Goodreads)

Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Steampunk

Series: Iron Seas #3
Does the series need to be read in order? No

Quick Synopsis

David and Annika meet and their relationship starts to bloom aboard the airship Annika works on. Then some crazy awesome action stuff happens (don't want to spoil) and Annika and David are in a fight for their lives. Along the way, there's plenty of airships, clockwork devices and other neat steampunk tech.

Review

Liked
• The world-building is amazing. You can tell that the author has the world completely sculpted in her head. Each place has its own feel and history and people. It's a cornucopia of stories to be told, and I want to read them all.
• There are plenty of steampunk devices - airships, clockwork dogs, nano-agents, mechanical prosthetic limbs, and much more. The technology is neatly integrated into the story so I never felt like it was a collection of "look at the cool things my brain invented."
• Annika and David are fascinating, layered characters. I loved getting to know them almost as much as they loved getting to know each other.
• There is no insta-lust. I don't always mind insta-lust but I very much appreciated the slow-developing romance between David and Annika. Many times I found myself grinning like a fool as things progressed so sweetly.
• The sexy scenes are hot and well-written. Ms. Brooks doesn't fall into any over-used phrases typical to romances (flat, male nipples anyone?). As with everything else, the sex is well-integrated into the plot.
• About 50% of the way through the book, shit gets real. I was already enjoying the story immensely, but then the action really got ratcheted up and I loved it even more.

Liked Less
• I wish we'd seen Annika's home. Maybe in another book in the series?

Audiobook Notes

• Clarity - 5/5 - Words and names were very easy to understand, even with differing accents.
• Differentiation Between Characters - 4/5 - It was fairly easy to tell the difference between characters speaking in conversations. There were a couple rare moments of confusion.
• Sound Levels - 5/5 - I never had to adjust the volume because the sound levels were too different i.e. suddenly too loud or too quiet.
• Overall Performance - 4.5/5 - Excellent voice acting.
• Audio Version Recommended? Yes

Rating

Queen of Swords
Amazing! Why aren't you buying this book right now?
I will be buying up this author's entire backlist.

Disclosure: I purchased this book.

Buy the audiobook at: Tantor | Amazon | B & N
**Currently the digital download is on sale at Tantor for only $6.99!**

Buy other editions at: Amazon | B & N