First Contact

Eclipsed Evolution: Phase 1

By: Kim Harrison

Narrated by: Xe Sands

In the wake of the solar eclipse, a portal between our world and a paranormal realm opens—and a scientist’s life will never be the same, in this thrilling serialized adventure from the New York Times bestselling author of The Hollows.

Dr. Renee Caisson knows there are worse things than an attractive man in uniform drafting her into a secret government project—especially when Major Jackson makes it clear that he isn’t bothered by her questionable past. But when her labs come back with decidedly odd results, the Major is forced to come clean over who the government is actually studying. Renee is shocked to learn her subjects are demonic-looking beings who call themselves “Neighbors”—refugees from a dying world, who arrived during the nation-wide solar eclipse.

The Neighbors’ technology is unlike anything Renee’s ever encountered. At first, she dismisses an injury that inexplicably heals as “just one of those things”. And surely August, the most gregarious Neighbor, begins to speak English overnight because of the team linguist’s skills?

Not until August begins evolving in real time to withstand Earth’s brighter, dryer atmosphere does she admit that the Neighbors’ “tech” feels less like science and more like magic—the same magic that brought them here in the first place, and the same they’re trying to rekindle with a mysterious labyrinth in order to return home and save their world.

At least, that’s what August claims they came for…

©2024 Kim Harrison (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Great new story!

Narrator was a miss for me. She whisper talks and I had to have my volume up ridiculously high in order to understand what was being said most of the time. On top of that, most the characters sounded like they were 80 years old, I'm sure partly due to the whisper talking. Sometimes it got to the point of distracting enough that it took me out of the story. That said, I enjoyed this new concept from KH, it was interesting and I was hooked so it got frustrating when the narration took me out of the story. I'm looking forward to more from this series, though I may get the books if the audiobook is read by the same narrator.

Very inventive, hoping for a series

love the characters & can't wait for the next installment. I really hope this becomes a series.

sound quality meh

The sound quality is terrible. Story and narrator outstanding. As usual Kim and Xe delivered.

Great story poor performance

The narrator was a challenge to understand even at slower play back speeds. This was unfortunate because the story was interesting.

The start of a story that i CAN NOT wait to finish

OK so I must start with the narration - Yes she is a bit hard to understand at first with her tone and soft voice, BUT it makes sense as you go on and OMG you need to go on!

Usually I am not a SiFi fan when it comes to books or audio books but I gave this one a shot as I do love the author. This book had me on my toes; it had me in tears, joyful, angry and just all the feels. You feel for The Neighbors more then anything, they just want to save their world and they come here to see if we can work with them. And as fear is a drive for most when something new appears, humans do what we do when afraid, we lock them up and hurt them, But not everyone is afraid. Its the start to a story of hope and fear and sorrow and so much more. I can not wait for the next chapter!!!!!

unique story and well-written.

this is not like any story I have read before. really got drawn into the characters and want to know the backstory.

different type of story than I am use to in fantasy

seeing humanity showing up with non humans giving me a hope for us, maybe we are not a complete waste of air.

Too Short but so good

This Audiobook had me enthralled from the start. I love Kim Harrison but this is NOT your typical KH book. My only complaint was that it ended so soon. It’s at least a 3 book series.
I immediately bought the 2nd audiobook & finished it in a sitting. The third comes out early June & I’m impatiently
waiting for it.
KH characters are amazing & intriguing & literally out of this world.

I like the story and it's nothing like any other book by Kim Harrison .

Really good story and a new concept by Kim Harrison. The narrator is definitely not the best. I was able to improve it by changing the speed to 1.25 and then the story was greatly improved. I hope you give it a try.

Volume levels

Had to turn up volume higher when listening in my car than other audio books.