Appetizers of the Gods

The Brothers Four, Book One

By: Basil Sands

Narrated by: Basil Sands

Colin Farnsworth was a loser. Eking an existence from writing cheap sci-fi novels and the few dollars he makes at Fantasy Underworld card game tournaments, he lives in the house where he grew up. His only companion is Heimdall, a three pound Yorkie with big plans. Until, that is, The Brothers Four arrive on his doorstep looking for rooms to rent and with a giant troll in pursuit.

Colin's life is turned upside as he finds himself in a real world that is much stranger than the fiction he writes or the fantasy games he plays.

Leprechauns, Trolls, Faerie Folk, talking animals, and crazed municipal building inspectors galore: Welcome to the other side of Anchorage!

In a style reminiscent of Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett, The Four Brothers series is relatively safe for all ages, at least those who know how to giggle.

©2015 Basil Sands (P)2015 Basil Sands

Funny and endearing

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

Yes, it's only a few hours long, good for a cross-state drive with the family. Hints of Douglas Adams buried in there, good for some chuckles and brilliantly performed by Mr. Sands.

What did you like best about this story?

It's light-hearted, and family-friendly, but by no means a children's story. Absurdly mirrors aspects of our society and marries them to fantastical themes.

Which scene was your favorite?

I must admit I was captivated by the online auction bit, (though it ran a bit too long maybe) and the introduction of the little fellas.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The strangest things can happen... sometime, right under your nose.

Any additional comments?

Written and performed by Basil Sands, this experience was very thoughtfully crafted. I recommend Basil's work in both the narration and writing worlds.

SUPER CUTE!!!! LOVED IT!!!!

Would you listen to Appetizers of the Gods again? Why?

YEP...ITS QUICK, AND HILARIOUS!!!!

What other book might you compare Appetizers of the Gods to and why?

I CANT COMPARE THIS CREATIVE LITTLE STORY....ITS UNIQUE AND I WILL DEFINITELY CONTINUE THIS SERIES!

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

AWESOME NARRATION!!!!!!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

THIS WOULD MAKE A CUTE MOVIE!!

Any additional comments?

**I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review **

This is a super cute and funny story about Colin a computer geek/syfy writer, who finds 4 leprechauns at his door one day...well a story unfolds and a hidden destiny....I laughed out loud and found all the characters to be lively and fun! Definitely want more! Wonderfully Written and Narrated!!!!

Thank You, Audiobookblast(dot)com

Really Good Story and Great Narrator

Would you listen to Appetizers of the Gods again? Why?

Yes. Short and entertaining.

What did you like best about this story?

I thought it was funny and really liked the characters.

Have you listened to any of Basil Sands’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No I have not.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It did make me laugh in spots.

Any additional comments?

This is a great short story about 2 and 1/2 hours long. I really liked the characters. The best thing about all of it is the narrator. The way he does the different voices sometimes makes you wonder if there is more than one person narrating this book. He does a great job.

not safe for listening in the car!! too many giggl

I've read and or listened to all Basils book and most of what he narrates. you can't go wrong if Basil is part of the project.

I miscalculated this book and was afraid I'd wreck my car laughing......thanks Basil

Fun & Whimsical

A fun and whimsical short story. A nice diverse for a ride home or to work.

Very like Douglas Adams

What other book might you compare Appetizers of the Gods to and why?

The tone of this novella reminded me very much of the quirky humor of Douglas Adams.

What about Basil Sands’s performance did you like?

Basil has an amazing skill set when it comes to voices and accents. Very funny guy.

Any additional comments?

If you're looking for a couple of hours of entertainment and hillarity, definitely give this a try.

Yorkies And Leprechauns

What did you love best about Appetizers of the Gods?

A unique and fantastical story

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

Yes

Any additional comments?

What a unique and fantastical story brought to life by a storyteller. The narrator; who also happens to be the Author did a remarkable job. The listen was fun with many characters. The narration was an absolute thrill to listen to, and the story was very imaginative. Safe and fun for the whole family.

The four brothers made this book enjoyable

I was given this book by the author through AudiobookBlast dot com in exchange for my honest review.

This book went kind of slow at the beginning and I found myself questioning where it was even going. After the four leprechaun brothers arrived at Colin's home, the story picked up pace and I found myself laughing and enjoying the book.

This book is uniquely original and can get through it pretty quick. I found each of the 4 brothers to be enjoyable and I loved when they were interacting in the story. I liked how each character brought something to the overall plot.

it whets your appetite for more

Appetizers of the Gods is a delight. It is appetizer sized at just over two and one half hours. And like an appetizer, it whets your appetite for more.

Colin is a divorced science fiction writer who lives in Alaska with his Yorkshire Terrier, Heimdall (yes, a Yorkie named after a Norse god). He is an avid player of a card game that sounds (at least to the uninitiated like me) like Magic: The Gathering. Colin bids for an extremely rare set of cards online. In the final seconds of the bidding, he faces competition from his arch rival. But something goes horribly wrong:

“And clicked the mouse button but only felt a dull thpuhg from the plastic rodent. The clicker did not click. His mouse had run out of cheese. He raised the mouse off the desk and slammed it back down to the surface. ‘Noooo.’ He slammed and slammed the mouse down with such rapidity that even Dr. Seuss could not have created a rhyme to describe it.”

The broken mouse is not the problem. The problem is Colin did not bid on cards. He bid on hosting four Irish brothers, who happen to Leprechauns. Hosting the brothers turns out to be a blessing in disguise. They do home repairs, cook extremely well and make their own ale. Before Colin knows it, he is thrust into the mythological world of trolls, leprechauns and giant dog-snatching birds.

The story is a lot of fun. It did remind of of the late Terry Pratchett in terms of a sense of insanity lurking behind normal everyday things. Basil Sands, the author, is also the narrator. He does a great job with the varied accents. There are Welsh, English, Irish, Alaskan and Troll. All of the characters, except the brothers, are easily discernible. The male, female and non human characters are all very nicely done.

Appetizer of the Gods is definitely the start of a series. I will be looking forward to the next audiobook. As the other says at the end of the audiobook:
“The end. Well, kind of the end. There’ ll be more. But not right now. The sort of end, that’s what we’ll call it.”

Audiobook was provided for review by the narrator.

Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog

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An Introduction to the inner workings of a genius!

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

Yes. Very much so. Basil, as writer, is very creative. He's taken these 'brothers', that he's introduced via is YouTube podcast and really let listeners know who they are and where they come from. VERY entertaining.

What other book might you compare Appetizers of the Gods to and why?

I would compare Appetizers to things written by Terri Pratchett or maybe even Douglas Adams, it has that sort of wit and humor about it.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laughing...a lot of laughing! A well written laugh fest.

Any additional comments?

Basil Sands has written an amazingly entertaining story, and equally impressive is that he also NARRATES this story! Basil, as narrator, nails perfectly all the accents he delivers in the book. In fact, if I didn't know he was American, I would swear he was British. His delivery and pacing are of course perfection in audio. I highly recommend Appetizers of the Gods to everyone who enjoys a great story, told by a master storyteller.