Shadows of Tockland

By: Jeffrey Aaron Miller

Narrated by: R. Paul Matty

A harrowing post-apocalyptic adventure.

David Morr runs away from an unhappy home to join a traveling circus and meets a quirky assortment of characters who test and challenge him as he struggles to come out of his shell and embrace his new life on the stage.

But the world is full of sickness, and life on the road is fraught with peril. A plague sweeps across the land, turning ordinary people into mindless monsters. Soon, the performers find themselves fighting for their lives against crazed mobs. All the while, the Empire of Tockland is on the rise, the cruel tyrant, Joseph Mattock, conquering one city after another, and the black and silver flag will soon fly over every nation.

Unwittingly, David and his fellow performers find themselves traveling deeper and deeper into the very heart of darkness, where plague and madness and tyranny collide in a brutal struggle for survival.

©2013 Jeffrey Aaron Miller (P)2015 Jeffrey Aaron Miller

Couldn't put this one down!

Where does Shadows of Tockland rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This one ranks up there in the top 10.

What did you like best about this story?

It was easy to identify with the main character David who ran away to a circus!

Have you listened to any of R. Paul Matty’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes I have and I like all of his other books that I could find so far. The Burning of St. Mary's was phenomenal!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I thought it was a little twisted when it got to the part where the clowns had to actually hurt each other to get the audiences to like them but I guess that was just the nature of the beast!

Any additional comments?

The audio book version of Shadows of Tockland is a compelling book to listen to.
I read the online snippet and it was enough to get me interested. When I listened to the Audio Book, the characters came alive and I was hooked.

The main character, David Morr, starts off as an older youth looking for a way out of his less than happy home-life. He ends up in an unimaginable nightmare. The content of the story is a little on the darker side of humanity but I couldn't stay away from it!

Listening to the book narrated by R. Paul Matty, allowed me to get lost in the story. I am most grateful for the clarity of his voice and enunciation. The characters now had more depth and it was easier to picture each of them. I could hear young David's excitement and uncertainty in his voice, Telly, trying to over compensate his smaller stature with his leadership and voice and even the roustabout Gooty's accent and experience came through in his voice. I even reread the printed sample of the book and in my minds ear, could hear each of those characters from the narrated version. Nice job by R. Paul Matty, I'm going to look for more of his narrated books!

AWESOME!! BRILLIANT!!

Would you listen to Shadows of Tockland again? Why?

Yes! Shadows of Tockland by Jeffrey Aaron Miller is a reamarkable crafted, dark, suspenseful and engaging exploration of the price of both running away from life and the ramifications that come with that choice. Set in a post-apocalyptic future, the plot is well paced by beautiful, strong characters dealing with their demons and intense imagery filled with humor and intrigue.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Shadows of Tockland?

I could easily see myself in the shoes of the main character, David Morr. Life is not going as planned so he runs away from it only to find himself on a much darker journey with suspenseful twists and turns while facing his own inner demons. I could especially relate to making choices amidst his own wounds and scars without contributing to his pain or the pain of other people. Powerful!! As he meets his own “dark night of the soul”, he has to make choices…….. I also especially liked Belle (her courage and strength) and her desire to defend the helpless. The parasitic plague was also intriguing as it is all believable!

What about R. Paul Matty’s performance did you like?

Truly exceptional narration with impeccable timing. Outstanding work of playing all of the diverse characters by bringing out their personalities with an engaging flair! He does an incredible job of bringing everything to life!! At times, I was sitting on the edge of my seat due to the dark suspense and tension! It was powerful to experience the book this way as it would not have been the same experience if I had read the book. I really experienced the range of emotions from happy, sad, depressed, fear, compassion, and love! A great narrator will bring the words to life, stimulate your imagination, and keep you engaged while providing a new and unique experience! Paul Matty is a great narrator.

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

"Soul Survival in the Heart of Darkness""Soul Survival of traveling with the clown crew deep into the Heart of Darkness""Inner demons will keep you captive, Letting go will set you free"

Any additional comments?

Brilliantly read. Moments of humor followed by suspenseful drama the next. Great plot, characters and message. Loved it. I want to hear more from this narrator ☺