A Polar Expedition: And Other Stimulating Research Opportunities

Shades of Sanctuary, Book 1

De: Kass O'Shire

Narrado por: Will M. Watt, Khristine Rivière

She has everything she needs for a solo trek through the Arctic: a sledge heaped with supplies, a little magic, and evidently, the eye of a polar bear shifter—who shouldn't even exist.

Sirin is determined to find the source of magic, and nothing is going to stop her. Not expulsion from her guild, not their warnings about her certain death, and definitely not the damned polar bear stalking her through the taiga.

Berne is a simple bear. He likes spending time shifted, a good meal, and apparently, round little scientists. When his duty to protect a thousand-year-old secret is tested against the strange pull he feels toward her, Berne can't help but sink his teeth into the one solution that might let him keep his adorable prey.

For fans of determined plus-sized heroines and cinnamon-roll bear shifters, A Polar Expedition is the first standalone novella in the Shades of Sanctuary series, where the vibes are cozy, the heat is high, and the mates are monstrous. Grab a cup of tea and snuggle in because while the burn might be slow, the HEA is only a few hours away!

©2023 Kass O'Shire (P)2024 Podium Audio

Cuteeee!

9/10 I really loved this book! I can’t wait to read more by this author! The narrators did and amazing job aswell

Accents sooo good

I first read this book when it came out in paperback. But the narrators did such an amazing job narrating it and bringing it to life. I love that they each had different accents. It just made me love the characters so much more!

It’s SO CUTE

Ok so the story is amazing; adorable romance with lovable characters and quirky footnotes. 5 stars for the book overall. But the narrators really add so much to this!!! They did an awesome job and I loved every minute of it!

The characters developing relationship.

Super cozy and fun! Love Bern’s perspective and voice. The scientific angle provided added interest and the spice was sweet and fun!

enchanted

Starts out slow. But picks up in a pleasing way. Very enjoyable. Would read again and again!!

Loved this!

I loved this book so much when I first read it and listening to it is even more fun, I really loved Will Watt as Berne because I’ve previously enjoyed other books he’s narrated, and he’s so good at making each performance unique! Khristine Rivière is a new-to-me narrator but I liked her as well.

Excellent authorial voice and narration

This story was quite charming and the world is intriguing. I would love to hear more tales set in the same universe. The plot felt a little unfinished. There was definitely more the characters could have explored, and the big conflict just went away with a few words.

She Blinded Him With Science

Gleeful Goblin Review: Ah the book that started my love affair with this author. It's been a minute since I read the book so having a chance to revisit these characters in audiobook format was a TREAT. The narrators did a great job, especially with the footnote sections which are one of the things I love most about the book version of these tales. Bern and Sirin are such wonderful matches for each other and it's a joy to listen to their quite literally magical courtship. This book especially captures the feeling of Sirin trying to condense a multitude of oral histories and her own lived experience but also make it fit as best it can into a scientific recounting with a linear flow. This book is a treat start to finish. 5/5 Stars

Great Worldbuilding, but deceptively long and slow

The chapters felt like they could’ve been split up much more than they would, it kind of felt like they were droning on, and once we did get a change of pace, it was the exact same.

Also, I can understand a slowburn, but if your spicy book is only going to be *spicy* at the very end, then you need them to actually interact one-on-one for me to feel like it’s worth it to keep going.

Also also, I don’t know if it was a choice, from the director, but the inner monologues and dialogue were done in different voices even though they were from the same characters perspectives, and it really took me out.

Odd fourth-wall breaks…

The story did not interest me at all. The way this was written was a bit confusing and the random 4th wall breaks took me out of the story a lot. If you’re coming to this story for the “monster” part of the romance lower your expectations. The best part of the book for me was the epilogue which I thoroughly enjoyed but not enough to bump it to two stars. I enjoyed the male voice actor but he kinda disappeared at the end which was unfortunate.