Apprentice

Wanderers, Book 2

By: Richard A Bamberg

Narrated by: Johnny Mack

Rafe survived the fight with the renegade Wanderer, Rowle, but was unable to defeat him. As promised, Fate finds Rafe an apprentice. He arrives at Wilford Hall expecting to find a seriously injured veteran, what he didn't expect to find was a veteran missing a couple of limbs, who was female, the lovely Therese Sylvan. Regardless, his only way to convince her to leave with him is to heal her minor injuries and tell her that he can also restore her limbs. Fleeing just ahead of the military police, they ride into the night on Beast, Rafe's manticore-possessed Harley-Davidson. While Tess recuperates, Rafe begins her training, a long process that is interrupted time and time again by Rowle's machinations. Rafe knows he cannot defeat Rowle single handedly, but can he train Tess fast enough to prevent the on-set of Ragnarök?

©2014 Richard A Bamberg (P)2017 Richard A Bamberg

Entertaining but not romance

I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
Firstly the book was fun and entertaining. The Hero was likeable but a little flat. I disliked the heroine a great deal as a character, I felt she was poorly written for the role she played. Character development was poor. The beginning of the story flowed nicely until about the middle. Then the "magic" started to become too easy. The hero could complete any task with no apparent cost. Just all powerful with no struggles in that regard. This book is listed in the romance section but there is nothing resembling romance anywhere. There are a few sexual (non descriptive) encounters but that's it. It got a little bogged down at about 75% then picked back up at the end. The few attempts at an emotional connection fell flat.
All of that said, the plot and story were still quite good. The dialogue was well written and I did finish the book which is saying something because these days I dump about 1/4 of the books I read because I just can't wade through them.

Love this series!

I loved listening to this book. A lot of action and humor. Rafe and Tess are my favorite characters, I like their sense of humor and they are very relatable. I really liked the use of Norse mythology. The narrator is excellent and makes listening very enjoyable. I highly recommend listening to this series in order as this book picks up from the first and much will be missed otherwise. I received a free review copy of this audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.

The Fun Continues!

Any additional comments?

Apprentice is Book 2 in the Wanderers Series and can be listened to as a standalone, although it is best appreciated and understood if you have listened to Wanderers: Ragnarok first. Rafe's mission to prevent Ragnarok continues when it is revealed to him that his apprentice is a severely injured female soldier named Therese. Their escape from the hospital where she is a patient leads them to the same town where he fell in love many years ago. He discovers that he's not the only one keeping secrets - his former lover has secrets of her own.

I was eager to continue with this series and was delighted to find that Apprentice was just as fun as the previous book. Magic, action, humor and romance have all combined to create a great series that I'm really enjoying. The fact that Rafe's apprentice was a female added interest to the story, along with the revelation concerning the teenage boy. Johnny Mack as narrator was terrific once again. I'm looking forward to the rest of this series and I would recommend Apprentice: Wanderers, Book 2.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. This review is my honest opinion.

Great second book in this awesome series

I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

This was a great second book to a great series. I devoured this one and will definitely look for more in this series!

Exciting follow up

Book 1 for this series ended with Ragnarok averted for now. In this book, Rafe finally acquired an apprentice — a female — the first time a Wanderer is a female.

He goes to admirable lengths to acquire his apprentice and decided to revisit an old haunt to lie low for a time. Of course, things don’t go according to plan and we have past dalliances with consequences, deadly Amazons, Norse gods, evil Shades, and others causing mayhem and heartache.

Johnny Mack’s narration is as always perfect for the story and the characters. Loved his narration. The story is fun as well filled with humor, love, and plenty of passion and heat.

Wander into this series

This is part of a series, and although you can probably follow events in this story, the overall arching story won't be as clear. This story takes place as Rafe's is on his mission to find Rowle andto stop Ragnarok. Along his journey he has to rescue his Apprentice from the hospital and heal her. There is so much going on in this book. Having to train an Apprentice of the opposite gender and the dynamics that go along with that, seeing an old love (with a child). This book had more personal drama but was also full of action and a little romance.

This was hard to put down...and I have to know what happens next.
Worth a credit: YES

I was provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Very entertaining and enjoyable

Any additional comments?

Very fun and entertaining. I didn't listen to the first book in the series but it didn't take me long to get caught up in the story. Even though there references made to the first book in the series it basically can be listened to as a standalone story. The story is told in a way that everything you need to know is filled in throughout this book. I enjoyed this book so much though that I will go back and read the first book in the series. The story pulls you in immediately and it held my attention from start to finish. Between the humor, storyline and characters it's just an entertaining, interesting and very enjoyable story.

Enjoyed the mythology woven into the story.

Great cast of interesting well rounded and likable characters. You can't help but like Beast. He's a different sort of character.

While training and healing his new apprentice they seek refuge at a place from Rafe's past. It was close and Rafe thought it would be safe. While it is a safe haven for them in many ways, Rafe is in for one heck of a surprise upon his return.

Johnny Mack did a great job with the narration. Nice voice that is easy to listen to for long periods of time. Clearly spoken with a nice even pace. Really good character voices. Male and female. I like that he doesn't try to do a falsetto female's voice. Just a slight change in cadence is enough to distinguish the characters. Perfect tone and delivery of the humor. He brought the story and characters to life. Very enjoyable

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily provided this review.

The author nailed another one

I got this book via audiobook boom and am glad to give this review. This is book two in the Wanderers series and it follows the main character as he teaches his apprentice as he was taught.They are still trying to stop the person who wants to create a terrible war but also you get more insight into his character and what happened to him over his lifetime. He is over sixty now and only had five years of training rather than the twenty but he has lots of on-the-job experience under his belt. I love Beast. he is so cool and laid back. Loki is still strange and helps him along as he travels through portals and helps his apprentice to become the true Wanderer she is destined to be. This is not a one sitting story. Although you might lose a little sleep because you want to know what happened next. The humor truly makes the story as well as the narrator

Rafe gets an Apprentice! Magic, battles, fun!

Any additional comments?

Apprentice: Wanderers, Book 2
Written by: Richard A Bamberg
Narrated by: Johnny Mack
This is an audible book I requested and the review is voluntary.
This is book two of the series but I think a reader could read this without reading the first one and not get lost. In this one, Rafe is getting an apprentice, of course she didn't know about it until he just shows up to get her. He has to heal her missing leg, hand, and burned face. Stealing her from the hospital didn't go well by the hospital staff but it was great. Rafe's familiar, Beast, is a mythological creature that shape shifts into a Harley. Of course he talks which is something he has to do in private, makes things a bit awkward otherwise. Since the cops are after them, they stop off at a place Rafe knew from 20 years ago. This might not have been a good idea, he meets an old fling who is still there and has aged, he hasn't. He had loved her and she loved him. She has a son about what age Rafe looks, but he's not his son.
There are also portals being opened, creatures coming in. Trying to figure out who and why this is happening. Apprentice to train and to finish healing. Women to deal with. Oh, my! Fun book. I liked the first one better but this is still great. Great fantasy, magic, touch of romance, action, adventure, and battles.
The narrator is still the same, which I am glad. He is awesome. It also is nice to have the same voices for consistency. He can do all these voices wonderfully esp. Beast!

The pain of loss affects us more than the joy of..

The pain of loss affects us more than the joy of winning!

Apprentice is #02 of 05 in the Wanderers Series by Richard A Bamberg. There are currently 03 published with 02 being in audio. The author plans for 2 more bringing the total for the series to 05.

Johnny Mack continues to narrate the series, and is also slated to narrate the future titles.

This is a continuing main character story-line so even though it is not quite a cliffhanger at the end, there is also no HEA either.

I would suggest reading these in order!

Length: 9 hrs and 6 mins

Warning: SEX!
As with the first one, Rafe manages to find his way into bed with multiple women, and now he has a female partner who is just as bad as he is, so yes, there is sex. You have been warned!

Trigger Warnings
Both of our wanders are veterans, and "chosen" from familiar battles. They have memories played out on the page with Rafe's going back to Vietnam.


---- “Did you tell him how a Wanderer is born?” . . . . "We’re harvested from the killing fields by a Valkyrie" . . . . “I thought the Valkyrie were reapers of the dead.” . . . . “Exactly”----


♥ Story ♥

---SPOILER WARNING---
If you have not read/listened to book 01 in this series, some of this review might be spoilery for you.


Part 2 picks up not long after part 01. Rafe is getting an apprentice! Although he knows what it takes to join the Wanderer club, he still isn't expecting the condition in which he finds his new trainee. The fact that his new apprentice is a woman is one for the record books. Allegedly, there has never been a female wanderer, but part of me feels like we will find out that is wrong.


----“My name is Raphael Semmes, my friends call me Rafe. You and I are going to travel roads few people ever experience.”----


The world building continues with more glimpses into other dimensions and the creatures they contain. Norn Fate Verðandi makes another appearance, for what I feel like is too little, too late. Seriously, that chick really sucks! We also get to meet another Godly being, to which I am not fully sure of his intentions. But given who it is, that is to be expected.

----Loki grinned and for the first time I saw his legends appear in his features. “We wager loyalties, territory, and lives. For, in the long run, what else is there?”----


Rowle is not seen in person this book, but that doesn’t mean his presence isn't felt. He is busy spreading rumors and instigating havoc throughout the realms which puts a chink in Rafe's training plans. On a positive, I don't think Rowle knows about the new apprentice. Yet!

Through Tess we get to learn more about the life and times of what it is to be a Wanderer. We also get backstory clips from Rafe's short time with his mentor Walt. It is sad and a bit alarming how much Rafe doesn’t really know.


----Ragnarök would open the gates between Earth and the dimensions that held the old gods and all manner of mythological creatures.----


There are twists and turns that take a toll. Hind sight is 20/20 and we do the best we can at the time, but it still cuts deep when you learn that you could of done it differently.

I can't really comment more without spoiling something. And trust me, there are things I want to say about some of his regrets, but I will have to make this series a part of the Read Along With Me titles, so look for it over there hopefully soon.

♥ Author ♥

This is my 02 read/listen by Richard A. Bamberg, and I want more! He is a mythology geek after my own heart! Sadly I will have to wait on part 03 from the Wanderers Series. :-(
I am itching to get my hands on Monster Hunting 101!

Richard has 04 Audio Titles

♥ Narrator(s) ♥

This is my third listen by Johnny Mack, and I'm still not tired of his performances! His voice definitely works for the rough around the edges Rafe as well as the sassy Tess. He can also manage to set apart all the other voices to create separate characters that are each their own person. It's easy to get lost in the wonderful world created by Richard when Mr. Mack is telling you the story!

Johnny has 25 Audio Titles


Ebook obtained through Kindle Unlimited
Audiobook obtained for free at my request and I am voluntarily leaving this unbiased review
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