Ruby Red

The Zadok Series, Book 2

By: Nikki Minty

Narrated by: Khristine Hvam, Jodie Harris, James Patrick Cronin, James Fouhey

Alex has called it quits and stormed off, leaving Harlow alone and vulnerable in the danger zone with little chance of survival and a broken heart.

Luckily, Jax finds her and brings her back to the caves. However, little does she know she’s returning with multiple souvenirs.

Standing out for all the wrong reasons has become Harlow’s specialty, and as the effects of her vertic switz tattoo set in and new issues are brought to light, she and her friends will find themselves in the line of fire with Rae and Electra.

Despite Jax’s attempts to neutralise the colour system, the Winter caves have become a death trap for Harlow, and Summer’s castle is no place for a Zeek. Harlow’s only sanctuary might be Spring’s Drake village, but her former ties to a Vallon are sure to cause friction with some of the residents.

©2021 Nikki Minty (P)2021 Nikki Minty

Excellent

Overall: I was so excited to dive back into this series, and book two did not disappoint! I know that often the second book is a let-down, but this one blew me away.

Story: First, let me say you should really start with book one, or you might feel a bit lost. The characters we got to know well in the first installment are back, and dealing with the fall out of their decisions, and complicated relationships. This was just as captivating as book one, and I was reluctant to hit pause while listening to it. I cannot wait to dive into book three!

Narration: This was wonderfully done, with great acting, and it was easy to distinguish between characters. I love books with multiple voice actors, as they really seem to bring the story to life and add a depth to it. They were all excellent narrators, and I’d definitely listen to more of their work in the future.

Adventure and More!

Part two of this adventure, finds Harlow severing the ties between Alex and his murderous brother. The result of this severing does not go well for her back on Zadok! Abandoned by “Alex” upon their return, Harlow is vulnerable and in pain. The medicine that is given to her has consequences; however, at least she is alive. The caste battle continues with Harlow in the middle. She finds herself in love and with a problem.
Nikki Minty, the author, continues to build an intense story and keeping the story flowing naturally. Well-written, the characters are developed and rich. She is deliberate in executing each plot twist. She maintains each character’s traits and personality. With each passing chapter, the listener gets drawn into the story even deeper.
The narrators, Khristine Hvam, Jodie Harris, James Fouhey, James Patrick Cronin once again, give a solid performance moving the story forward with clarity and unique voices for each character. Their performances depend heavily on one another to keep the story clear. Their intonations were flawless and enriched the story.

This is a series that young adults would enjoy, and the intimate romance is handled carefully and appropriately.

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook. The sound was clear and well done.

Disclaimer: This Audiobook was provided free of charge by the author, narrator, and/or publisher in exchange for a non-bias, honest review.

The adventure continues

Ruby Red is the second exciting novel in the captivating Zadok Series by rising and talented author Nikki Minty. Beautifully written fantasy and captivating magical realism combine successfully in this next adventure that is perfectly suited and tailored for young adults.

The action in Ruby Red picks up immediately after the events in the previous book, Pastel Pink, and finds our main characters in all sorts of difficult situations.

Being a direct continuation to the first novel, I highly recommend that you start with that one. Without me spoiling the storyline for you, all I can say is that almost all the main characters are making a return and will have to live with difficult decisions that they were forced to take. The unrest in the caste Color system, a dangerous love triangle and other unforeseen situations will keep the story going and fresh throughout the 10 hours and a half duration of this audio production.

Ruby Red is well written, fast paced and filled with vivid characters and descriptions. The plot is very interesting, the setting is original and the romance is treated with respect and consideration.

The audio production for Ruby Red is exquisitely brought to life by four extremely talented voiceover artists, with one more than in the previous audiobook from this series. Khristine Hvam is an award-winning audiobook narrator, producer, director, and voice-over actress. Jodie Harris is an Australian actress, singer, voice artist, audiobook narrator and singing teacher, James Patrick Cronin is an award winning American audiobook narrator and stage actor, while James Fouhey is an actor and AudioFile Earphones award-winning narrator living in New York City.

Each of them bring their A-game to the table and create a complete level of immersion for the listener with different voices and accents for all the characters. This second novel is running wild with emotion and tension, so experienced narrators are the only ones who can make us feel such sentiments appropriately.

Again, I want to congratulate the author and the production team for handling this audiobook with professionalism and the listeners with the respect they deserve. It’s not easy to bring together so many talented narrators, but it’s mandatory for a story with so many points of view.

I can’t wait to see what’s next in the lives of these colorful characters, so I will continue to listen to this entertaining series! Powerful Purples is the next adventure in the saga and I have it in my library already!
I hope that you found this review interesting and will consider leaving a helpful vote below. Thank you! Take care, stay safe, and don't forget, always listen with your heart.