The Boy from Reactor 4

Nadia Tesla, Book 1

By: Orest Stelmach

Narrated by: Tanya Eby

Imagine a secret that will change the world. Imagine that its owner lives in the darkest place on Earth and will trust only one person to come get it from him. Imagine the resources powerful men will deploy to steal the secret and prevent her from succeeding.

When Nadia Tesla inquires into her enigmatic father’s past, a stranger propels her on a treasure hunt from New York to her father’s homeland in Eastern Europe. The knowledge she acquires could change the fate of the free world and earn her riches beyond her dreams. To cash in, she forms an alliance with an unlikely accomplice - a mysterious boy from the cooling ponds of Chernobyl. Together, these lost souls must survive the trip home through the world’s most treacherous terrain, pursued by resourceful men who will stop at nothing to steal the treasure.

Not even murder.

©2013 Orest Stelmach (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

NY, Ukraine, Chernobyl, and Diomede Islands!

This has interesting international settings and an unusual storyline. Some is farfetched and some quite believable. There is much information about those living in the shadow of the nuclear disaster; supported by many authors and documentaries. The chase through the exclusion zone, Siberia, Bering Strait, Diomede Islands, Alaska and on to NY is plausible. The story of Adam/Bobby is sad and triumphant due to the persistence of his cousin in the US.

This storyline didn't settle in my mind until I listened to the second book in the series. It's probably my shortcoming as the book can stand alone. However the story is ongoing and I encourage you to continue the series.

Tanya Eby is an excellent narrator, as always.

enjoyed

I enjoyed the story and the narrator did a good job keeping it interesting, not speaking in a monotone. I would recommend this story although it did take me a long while to finish it. The twist at the ending was pretty good although I wasn't crazy about all the killing off.

Really well done.

Fascinating personalization of the Chernobyl disaster and life in Ukraine. Great job with the performance.

I'm enjoying this series...

...and am learning about a culture with which I was not very familiar (Ukrainian). I didn't care for the voice characteristics assigned to Nadia. They made her seem fey, kind of dingy. But, I tried not to let that spoil the overall experience.

Excellent-Interesting

I never heard of this author but am really glad I downloaded it. The only way I can think to describe it is; a light but compelling mystery. It isn't a page turner, but I couldn't put down.It is Defiantly worth using credit!

An intriguing tale set in the Ukraine

What made the experience of listening to The Boy from Reactor 4 the most enjoyable?

The plot, characters, and setting were all well developed. This story clips along at a good pace and while you are reading it you are also learning a bit here and there about the Ukraine -- including a visit to devastated Chernobyl.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The lead character -- unlike so many leads-- she's not perfect -- but she's worth getting to know -- and she learns and grows.

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

I really enjoyed the "3-D" effect of reading and listening. It made the book alive for me -- and it clips along faster. I set the narration at 2x and it worked well for me. The narrator knew the pronunciations for the Ukrainian words -- which were delightful to hear, and also prevented me from getting "stuck" on them.

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

Characters living near Chernobyl. Well drawn and very sympathetic.

Any additional comments?

A good read.

I Like Surprises

Would you consider the audio edition of The Boy from Reactor 4 to be better than the print version?

This story starts to take you down one path, then jumps to another, then another.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

It kept me entertained. It was more edge of seat toward the end of the book as the two main characters are escaping Russia.

Which scene was your favorite?

I think my favorite scene was the last one in the story with the boy examining the locket.

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

No extreme reactions.

Disappointing ending

I should have read the description of this novel more closely. "The Boy From Reactor 4" took a long time to get going and it's convoluted plot was hard to follow. A young woman of Ukranian descent is drawn into a journey tracking down a presumed lost relative who has a valuable secret. Along the way she's becomes the target of various criminals and other shady characters as she hops the globe in pursuit of what she hopes will be a mysterious but lucrative payoff. Ultimately things turn out not to be what they seem but by the end you won't likely care too much. I found the voice of the woman doing the narration irritating and her male vocals weren't very good. When it was finished I was glad to be done with it.

Horrible reader

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The book was long and confusing with so many insignificant characters and locales - I actually lost the plot line. To make it even worse, the reader was so boring, her voice flat and grating. I am so sorry I bought the audio part to this Kindle book. I am even more sorry that I bought the Kindle book.