Ryan Clark

Lady Monsters in Victorian England is my jam.

Reviewed: 02-01-23

The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter by Theodora Goss is a scrumptious tale of several inheritors of monstrosity with which most readers are familiar... but they needn't be to enjoy the book.

Woven throughout the 19th century is a secret society of scientists and other personalities (The Alchemists Society) who are attempting, not to make gold from iron, but to make superhumans. These men--Jekyll/Hyde, Frankenstein, Moreau, VanHelsing, to name a few-- have experimented on their daughters or created female monstrosities who struggle not only with the typical issues women of the time faced, but now their monstrous aspects, as well.

A tribute to the Feared Woman of the Victorian era, the story is settled in a frame narrative of this collection of women, the Athena Club, seeking to convey their adventures as they discover the truths of the SA and provide a safe space for the victims of the fathers' exploits.

Never too heavy handed, this book deals with women's issues and misogyny, poverty, the "Other" female relationships and identity, and similar topics while keeping the light reading experience at forefront.

Kate Reading is an excellent narrator with a beautiful, textured voice. Her voices are distinguishable without being campy. Her intonation excellent for the read.

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Have fun, don’t die

Reviewed: 01-20-23

Disclaimer, I know the authors. Also, you should check out their podcast The Unofficial Official Story. It adds a level of enjoyment to the book.

Zombie Run by Koji Steven Sakai and Dwayne Perkins is the first zombie book I’ve read. It’s a humorous book. But when I started imagining it as if it were created by Matt Groening, the humor really… came to life. It has funny jokes, situational comedy, and crude humor, as well as interesting plot lines, original world development, character development, and a few action scenes.

I also really like the narrator’s voice. Most of the narrators of the fantasy/SciFi audiobooks I listen to have a Brit accent. But the rough city accent worked well with this. Added to the Matt Groening aesthetic. I call it rough city accent bc it was hard to place. He also pronounced some words oddly. Like condom was cone-dome… which also kind of makes sense.

Looking into the narrator, Aubrey Pardons, I discovered he’s actually British. So that’s why the event is unidentifiable and some of the words are pronounced funny, I guess. But they have their own charm.

But the voices he does are not the believable kind. But they made me laugh because if you listen to their podcast mentioned above, when Dwayne’s does voices it sounds a lot like Aubrey’s.

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Excellent YA, Gracious Gift of Indigenous American Culture

Reviewed: 01-14-23

Excellent YA, Gracious Gift of Indigenous American Culture

The Firekeeper’s Daughter was recommended to me by Bookstagrammer @TheFoxyReader. I thought it was fantasy, not general YA. I was pleasantly surprised to be welcomed into an Indigenous American culture through the pleasure that is good YA.

A strong teenage girl who faces so much heartache and trauma while simultaneously falling in forbidden love. She reflects on her own actions and on forces outside her. She’s devoted, determined, wise, and kind. And yet she’s also hurt over and over again by those she trusts, from romances to family to her community to people and institutions outside her community. I have a teenage girl, and I want her to read this and find a hero.

The story is good. A teeeeennnnny bit hokey…it’s YA…but done as well as can be. The world building and translation of the world is done naturally, honestly, and with much grace without being condescending. I truly am thankful that I was invited to glimpse this culture and way of being.

The narrator, Isabella Star LaBlanc, was excellent. Pacing, inflection, voice changes for each character were subtle but effective. Looks like she’s doing another of Boulley’s books, Warrior Girl Unearthed, that comes out in May 2023.

Definitely recommend this book.

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One of my all time favorite series

Reviewed: 12-31-22

This is such an excellent series and the narrator is phenomenal. Dune meets Hunger Games with an undercurrent of Star Wars.

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Great Read, Great Listen

Reviewed: 12-08-22

Full disclosure: I worked for this publisher, am friends with the author, and have met the narrator. The interview should be on the publishers YouTube.I also edited the anthology that is set in this world, but I directly benefit nothing from writing this review. And I also seldom do bad reviews.

The a black Yonnix: A Bitter End is a fun adventure with colorful characters and packed with action and intrigue. The pace is steady, and I’m ready to read more about the adventures of the Black Yonnix. The #Pileaus world is incredibly detailed, and seeing the various iterations of the world through @outlandentertainment’s publications has been a delight. I’m looking forward to reading more from Outland and the moderator for the world, Scott Colby. The world is very vibrant and fun while still containing serious social issues and fantastical intricacies.

The voice actor, Caleb Summers, is absolutely perfect for this book. His various characters are distinguishable and add to their characterization. The main character is narrating his tale to another character, and the transition and tone is very well done. Seems well considered. I also love how Summers’ voice adds to the inexperience of the main character, but also depicts the characters’ underlying knowledge and courage. I know this sounds a bit gushy, but I’m truly impressed with the performance.

Definitely recommend. I’ll be revisiting the accompanying anthology of short stories, Pileaus: Symphony No. 1 and hope to hear more from Scott and Caleb.

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1 person found this helpful

Guidance for White People Who Actually Want to Get It

Reviewed: 12-01-22

If you believe People of Color that workplace inequities exist, but aren’t really sure what that means or what you, personally, can do about it, this is the book for you. If you don’t believe PoC, this book will probably make you angry, and you need to sit with that and figure things out.

In Waymakers, Tara Jaye Frank eloquently and gently provides some hard truths and perspectives many white people have not considered before. In many cases, many white people, especially white men, haven’t considered how the nuances of their daily interactions, workplace culture, and institutionalized industry standards effect personal lives and even organizational health. But if you’re in that category and you’re reading this review, know that if you don’t get this book and you continue to remain ignorant, willful ignorance of workplace inequities is your choice.

Tara Jaye Frank expertly interweaves logic, data, and storytelling to hit the desires of a wide audience, drawing on her experience as a Hallmark executive, her coaching, and DEI research. She makes a case for the “why” and also presents the “how” in multiple ways. She uses scripture, as her personal faith helps direct her in life, but the references are few and are relevant to all people as empowering instances of poetry.

And to be fair, her recommendations can make you a better manager of people and coworker, in general. This is good Professional Development and touches on issues that also directly affect white people.

The audiobook is done as well as can be, narrated by the author, whose voice is clear, strong, and pleasant. But I would recommend a hard copy you can make notes in, chomp on a little at a time, and reference quickly. And I’m certain the visual order of the guide would help stick in the brain better. But the audiobook for backup may be a good idea too.

I also recommend following Tara Jaye Frank on LinkedIn for continued insight. I actually started following her after hearing her on Clubhouse.

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A Gift to Chew Not Imbibe

Reviewed: 11-12-22

Reading @therealmargaretatwood’s #OnWritersAndWriting could have threatened the knowing that I am writer though I’m not writing, but I remained largely unscathed. It also could have inspired or grounded the knowing, but I’m not certain it did that either. There were times I hit “huh, I never thought of it that way,” and I am always seeking that out and seldom finding it, so goodie, but I found myself largely just getting through the audiobook. My #adhd tendencies drifted me away from being able to focus more than usual, in part, because it was an intellectual feat to stay on track.

It’s not the kind of book with steps and bullet points and tips and tricks. It’s more of an essay, an attempt, to metatextually embody what is writing, the writer, and the others too. And it does.

Don’t get me wrong. Atwood is brilliant and this work is true to her brilliance. It is inspiring and revealing.

But it’s heavy lifting.

It’s riddled with scholarly references of stories, tales, and works I was largely not familiar with. They may have been minimally obscure works I would have encountered had I been in a situation to go to grad school for literature. She explained them well enough without being condescending, it was very honorable to this ignorant reader. I could still follow and get the gist. But it was work.

I think I would prefer to consume this as a handbook. A little at a time, at my own pace, as needed. It would need be a physical copy. And it would likely sit on my desk for accessibility when the mood struck. I’m certain I would like a paragraph or page at a time more than the unrestrained flow of narration.

And the narration. Atwood was 81 the day this was released. It’s a gift we got to hear this work in her own voice. Yes it’s gravely, more so at times than others. It has the dignified monotone of the high brow, scholarly reciter of their own work. That can be intimidating or grounding or annoying or inspiring. I found it to be a gift.

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4 people found this helpful

Good fantasy

Reviewed: 11-08-22

I almost put this down when the first chapter opened with a mooney love-sick teen à la Romeo and Rosalyn. But that was more like a prologue and thankfully we left those characters behind only to hear mention briefly of Roz later. And thankfully I kept listening.

The story is good. The characters are good. The relationships are good. There’s interesting growth and inward struggle. It’s a good read. Solid. A little fun. Some interesting things going on. I’d compare the quality and entertainment value to The Red Queen. I’ll be seeking out the next one.

The narration was very good. There are multiple perspectives and, thus, multiple voice actors. They were mostly different enough to keep it straight. And each narrator was good, tho one sounded more like a movie trailer narrator at times and it got a bit distracting.

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Fascinating and incredible narrator

Reviewed: 10-17-22

I. LOVE. This world. Immediately you’re immersed in this world of literally sky high halls covered in statues and the scientific calculations therein from the main character.

I loved the methodical categorization of the world, and was continuously astounded when I was still engaged in the mostly solo experience of the main character, chapter after chapter. I can imagine some would hate it, but I loved it.

But when it transitioned, and things were becoming evident (you know, when the plot unfolded), I was less interested. I’d figured everything out and the story didn’t seem to give me anything new really. It wasn’t poorly written, I’d just figured it out. I don’t know, that’s how I am with stories.

But the narration!!!! Absolutely wow. And when we briefly saw him on Andor, I sank back into his voice. Great narrator.

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Inventive and Prophetic

Reviewed: 10-08-22

I listened to Parable of the Sower a while back and only recently discovered there was a sequel. I was thrilled, because I really enjoyed the first book. This one is a bit different, of course. But also enjoyable.

I was at first put off by the multiple narrators, but I can see it’s essential, and it really isn’t that bad. The audiobook does need some editing, making sure there are reasonable pauses between entries.

The story follows Lauren from the first book as she builds a community around Earthseed. She loses the community and seeks out both personal goals as well as those related to Earthseed.

What fascinates me, and then terrifies me, is that she imagined a world with political extremism, even using phrases and tactics and ideologies that we hear in political forums today…and this was written in 1998! (Literally, she says they tout, “make America great again.”) If some of her machinations came true, what’s stopping all the horrors from coming to pass, as well. Humanity has proven its capable of terrors such as those described in the book. It’s not impossible. And a work like this warns us to remember that, to watch, and ensure we don’t allow it again. It’s up there with Handmaid’s Tale for relevance.

But I fear we may be too far gone.

I really hope the book series gets picked up for the screen. Long series format I think would be best.

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