Broken Skies

Book 1

De: Theresa Kay

Narrado por: Andrea Emmes

Plagued by nightmares and panic attacks, seventeen-year-old Jax Mitchell wants nothing more than a life of seclusion with only her twin brother for company. So when he's kidnapped by Earth's reclusive alien settlers, the E'rikon, she'll do anything to get him back--even form an alliance with a teenage E'rikon boy left behind by the same ship that took her brother.

Jax agrees to act as a guide, and in return, the alien agrees to sneak her past the human-proof barrier surrounding the E'rikon city. Too bad it's not that simple. Jax soon finds that she's drawn to the alien boy with bright green hair and jewel-like scales on his back--and he's equally affected by her, the courageous redhead with haunted eyes. But she doesn't know the alien's true motives, and he has no idea that she is much more than she seems.

With the aliens and the humans at odds, the connection forming between the two teens has consequences. What started off as a rescue mission sets in motion a chain of events that threatens not only the remaining humans and the growing alien society, but Earth itself.

©2014 Theresa Kay (P)2014 Theresa Kay

Great 1st Book in new YA SciFi series

Theresa Kay's 1st book in Broken Skies series is narrated by 1st time narrator Andrea Emmes. Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (March 10, 2014)

Andrea has the perfect voice for the lead character and voices the other characters from old to the very young both male and female very well. Theresa Kay has given proper respect to each genre in this Science Fiction, Young Adult, and Dystopia collaboration.

The story starts off quickly and catches you up along the way with details as needed in this fast passed audiobook. Jax Mitchell's world has been a little crazy. Her mom died at the birth of her and her twin brother and their father died after raising them through their early teens. 

The earth was deveststed 30 years prior by man made biological weapons and then 10 years ago the E'rikon arrived. Aliens who created their own domed city where they lived not helping or communicating with the people of earth.

Until now... When Jax and her brother see an E'rikon craft land in a field she climbs a tree to investigate. After being seen her brother acts as a decoy so she can escape. When the E'rikon take her brother and leave a disabled one of their own behind Jax will do anything to get her brother back. Even if she has to work with the unknown alien to do it.

This story and direction of this First book, in what I hope will be a continuing series on audiobook, is a great attention keeping book.

This book was gifted to me for an honest review. 

Excellent Narration + Great Story = Winner!

Broken Skies is the first book in the Broken Skies series by Theresa Kay. The audiobook is narrated by Andrea Emmes.

Broken Skies is set in our world, 30 years after an apocalyptic event (the Collapse) that ended with 90% of the population. From that surviving 10% women a very low minority; they are considered in some cases as commodities or simply as reproductive wombs.
After the Collapse, aliens (the E’rikon) arrived and settled in the world. They don’t help the humans nor interfere with their lives and until now, they have kept their distance from them.
The heroine of the story is seventeen year-old Jasmine “Jax” Mitchell. She lives along her twin brother, Jace, in a compound in the middle of the forest. They moved there for security reasons after Jax was attacked in the house they used to share while Jace was out hunting. Jax hates living in Bridgelake; she is not the usual feminine girl and wants more from life than what is expected from her in the compound (get promised/married and have babies).
After breaking the rules and leaving the compound to search for Jace Jax witnesses aliens kidnaping him. She tries to go after them, but she is too late. Luckily for her not everything is lost because she finds Lir, an young alien who has been left behind by his ship and who is willing to help her get into the secure city where the E’rikon lives, so she can find Jace, in exchange to help him get there safe and sound. Together they travel discovering secrets about both races and themselves, and despite their misgivings getting closer to each other.

I really liked Jax. She is a strong heroine with a broken core. She knows she is broken due to past traumas; notwithstanding she does whatever is necessary to survive and to fight for what she believes to be right. Jax is also stubborn and determined; sometimes she makes mistakes, but what teenager doesn’t? This only made her feel more real and believable. The story is told from her point of view, so it was easy to see and to feel what she was going through.

I have mixed feelings about Lir. I liked him a lot, but I didn’t like that he was keeping secrets from Jax, although I understand why he did it. I think Theresa Kay did an amazing job with his physical description, because she made him “other”, but at the same time human enough to be attractive to us.

The secondary characters are great, but I have to applaud Theresa Kay for what he did with Jace and Flint. I really was surprised but in the best way possible. I loved them both and can’t wait to see more of them in future books. What was so special about them? No spoilers, you need to listen to this audiobook. *inserts evil laugh*

The story is fast paced and with so many twists and turns that it’s impossible to put down. I was actually quite surprised by how much I liked it. I listened to this audiobook while traveling from Paris to Miami and Theresa Kay’s words and the wonderful narration of Andrea Emmes made the time fly… literally.

Talking about the narration, it’s hard to believe this was Emmes’ first audiobook because her performance is equal or better than many seasoned narrators I have listened to. She gave to every character its own unique voice and accent. They were easy to differentiate with just the tone she used on them. Also her voice is perfect for the characters, she sounds young with the young characters and adult with the adult characters. That something I usually have problems with narrators, especially with the young voices.
After listening to Andrea Emmes I can’t imagine anyone else narrating this book.

I’m looking forward to listen to the second audiobook in this series, Fracture Suns; sadly there is not a release date yet established. I’m also looking forward to listen to other audiobooks narrated by Andrea Emmes.

I recommend Broken Skies to YA dystopian and YA Sci-Fi fans. I also recommend listening to the audiobook because Andrea Emmes really pays homage to the story with her excellent narration.

Excited about the series

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes! Even though the content was a little "young" for me (I'm an older woman), the story was really intriguing and got me excited to hear the rest of the series. I love trilogies, series, but within the first four chapters, if I'm not sold, then I just stopped. Theresa kept me going through the entire book. Ready for book two, please!

What did you like best about this story?

It's fantasy and intriguing but not over the top. It's still believable and the characters are really memorable and I care about them.

What about Andrea Emmes’s performance did you like?

Andrea really helps bring me into the author's world in a believable manner, especially with all of the different voices she uses.

Any additional comments?

I liked the Romance between Lir and Jax, but I would have liked their friendship to have been built up a little more first, even though it was obvious that they were interested in each other. Also, for all of the aliens, I would have preferred them to have a little bit of a subtle accesnt to differentiate them from the humans so that it was more believable that they were from another planet and that when they were speaking English, they were translating and reflecting in their head to know how to "say" the right thing. Could also have changed up some of the pronunciations of some of the human words or break up the speech pattern a little bit again to show that they were a little different.

Out of this world!

Would you consider the audio edition of Broken Skies to be better than the print version?

Yes. The narration adds so much to it. I think that Theresa Kay and Andrea Emmes make a fabulous team. Andrea adds so much feeling and expression to Theresa's words. The narration is done with such emotion behind every word that it is just captivating. No monotone reading here. I was laughing and crying throughout the book. There was one part that I felt so deeply about that I actually gasp out loud. I have never done that before with any book. And I also love the little voice effects that is added in.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I have two favorites, Jax and Lir. They just seem so real and down to earth. They both have issues that they need to solve and tend to go through the normal doubts of trusting the ones that they have always have been taught is the enemy.

Which scene was your favorite?

I have many favorite scenes but I thought it was hilarious when Jax strips to go swimming while Lir stands there in shock and as she is in the water it dawns on her what she just did.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Definitely! I enjoyed listening to this book so much that I didn't want to stop. I could listen to Andrea Emmes read all day. especially such an amazing book like Broken Skies.

Any additional comments?

This book blew me away. We don’t just get in the main character’s head we experience everything with her. Theresa Kay is such an inspired author. The characters are believable and down to earth. I love how realistic the scenarios are with that little bit of otherworldly abilities and tech added in to spice things up. I got so caught up in Broken Skies that I felt like I was missing a part of me when it was over. I cannot wait for the next book to come out.

Great listen/Read

Really enjoyed listening to this while I was landscaping. Nice to listen to a book that tries to show people how challenging trauma is popping up from the past can be. Along with a Great female Heroine adventure, love, loss, with good character growth.

A fresh take on alien invasion. Great performance

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I'd recommend this to young people or anyone interested in getting introduced to the sci fi genre. An easy read (or listen) with a fun concept.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Vitrad makes for a fun villain. He's calculating, vicious, and out on a mission to get you. (add maniacal laughter)

What does Andrea Emmes bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Andrea enhances the story and is a natural fit. She personifies Jax and the rest of the cast by beautifully rendering them with her voice.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not one moment in particular but Jax's relationship with Jace was very moving.

Loved This story

This is a sweet YA story! I enjoyed it so much. I was given the audiobook in exchange for honest review by the narrator Andrea Emmes and in all honestly amyany other voice and this would have been ruined. Emmes youthfulness in voice matched the young lady of the story. The writer made the smartest decision they could ever make to allow this narrator to give voice to this book. Well done!

Concise first novel with great audio performance

What did you like best about this story?

Well drawn characters and efficient plotting.

What about Andrea Emmes’s performance did you like?

What I most appreciated in Andrea's performance was the vividness in which Andrea embodies the characters with variations in her voice, and her clear articulation of Jax's internal experience through the descriptive passages. Andrea's voice is both professional and relaxing, encouraging the listener to continue on, weaving the author's words like a spell. One can tell that Andrea placed a great deal of time and effort into capturing just the right nuance for each passage that she read.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

The pacing of the story and the enjoyability of the audio performance does draw the listener in to where I did want to keep listening each step of the way.

Any additional comments?

Many kudos to both Theresa and Andrea for their excellent work in what appears to be a promising start in each of their respective creative fields.

Great Narrator, boring story

The narration by Andrea was great. She voice for the main character was lovable and friendly as the character seemed to be. Truly a good fit. Her voices for other Female characters were all enjoyable. Her male characters we good too, I liked the ex-priest's voice. I had fun listening to her narration but the story was pretty boring. The character's panic attacks and complaining really started to get old, she is a character who is tough, a survivor and is all around a very capable person but acts like she is helpless or freaks out. Also the love subplot between her and the Alien really was lame and felt unfinished. I think overall the book would have been much better if they focused on the rescue story and had a more confident lead character. I hope to hear more from Andrea as I really enjoyed listening to her perform the book and bring life to the characters but I doubt I will listen to or read more books by Theresa Kay. Also the story has a very anti-climatic ending that is just setting up for a second book.

One of my to-go books to re-read over and over!

I've read this book a bunch of times but loved founding the audible book. Just wish the other books were available too!! I would buy them on a heartbeat.