Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: The Flux

Subtitle: Mancer Series, Book 2

Author: Ferrett Steinmetz

Narrator: Peter Brooke

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-06-15

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 36 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Aliyah Tsabo-Dawson: the world's most dangerous eight-year-old girl. Burned by a terrorist's magic, gifted strange powers beyond measure. She's furious that she has to hide her abilities from her friends, her teachers, even her mother - and her temper tantrums can kill.

Paul Tsabo: bureaucromancer. Magical drug dealer. Desperate father. He's gone toe to toe with the government's conscription squads of brain-burned Unimancers, and he'll lie to anyone to keep Aliyah out of their hands - whether Aliyah likes it or not.

The King of New York: the mysterious power player hell-bent on capturing the two of them. A man packing a private army of illegal 'mancers. Paul's family is the key to keep the King's crumbling empire afloat. But offering them paradise is the catalyst that inflames Aliyah's deadly rebellious streak....

Members Reviews:

Wonderful storytelling

Ferret did a better job with this book then the first. Hope he writes another in this series.

not quite satisfying

a good follow up to the first book, and provides a stand alone plotline, but relies way too heavily on an outside storyline limiting creativity in a book which should already have all the uniqueness it needs.

Bbetter and better

So. I came into this expecting to like it. After all, I loved Flex, the first book in this series. But I am well aware that sometimes book 2 in a series is a bit lacking.

The Flux? Wasn't. It managed, in fact, to be what I thought it could not be: Actually better than the first one. And that is really saying something.

The story was thrilling, full of unexpected turns, the characters were believable (which is again saying something since a fair few were Mancers). There were even donuts.

I also found the narration improved over the first time through, though I have trouble putting my finger on precisely what made it better. All in all? Well worth a listen. But if you're new to this series, go back and start at book 1, and prepare yourself for a fascinating jaunt into a rarity in modern fantasy: an actually unique magical system.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Still Falling (Solstice 31 Saga: Book 1)

Author: Martin Wilsey

Narrator: Andrew Tell

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 49 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-21-15

Publisher: Martin Wilsey

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 187 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Barcus is a working stiff looking for a good paycheck. When the Ventura and its crew enter orbit for a scheduled planet survey, the ship activates an automated defense system protecting the planet. Although the Ventura is destroyed in the attack, Barcus alone survives the harrowing fall to the remote planet surface. He struggles to remain alive and sane, and to discover why everyone he knew and loved on the Ventura was deliberately murdered.

Swinging between despair and fury, Barcus discovers that for every answer he obtains, there are more questions raised. Barcus is assisted by the Emergency Module, Em, his most useful tool. It is an artificial intelligence system contained in an all-terrain vehicle specifically designed to help him survive. Barcus soon finds himself in the middle of a planetary genocide of the local native population. He is unable to stand passively by as more people die, even if they are long lost colonists who fear "the Man from Earth" like children fear the monster under their bed.

Will Barcus ever find his way home? Will he find out who is responsible? Will his rage just burn this world down? Or will he find his soul in the eyes of a starving, frightened woman?

Members Reviews:

Space Man Vs. Medieval Planet

When the Ventura enters the orbit of the planet Baytirus it is immediately destroyed by the planet's defense systems. The sole survivor (that we know of) is Barcus, and together with EM (his modified Emergency Module and the most creepy human-like AI ever with its own agenda) he must survive on a planet that mostly resembles the middle ages. He also discovers that many villages are being attacked with no one spared and he decides to intervene while trying to survive on the planet (since he has some pretty strong robotic AI controlled 'friends' along with him which prove very useful).

The story started off great and was very interesting but then its pacing slowed down considerably and I felt that I was showered with details that really don't impact the greater story much (or at all) and while these details do allow for a better imagining of the scenario I found them to be mostly distracting (since not much is going on during these rather tedious descriptions).

Halfway through the novel, the story picks up again and proper pacing returns.

Every chapter is preceded by a short investigation report of the historical events that occurred during the story, I really loved those little tidbits of information and I hope these will be kept for the subsequent novels.

The narration of Andrew Tell is excellent, his performance is spot on and I felt I was listening to more of an Audio Drama at times. His voice and words are crystal clear (even when using various accents for the various characters) and it was a joy to listen to.

This audiobook was provided by the narrator at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review.

Advanced technology indistinguishable from magic

Martin Wilsey's Still Falling: Solstice 31 Saga is a sci-fi variant of A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, although by medieval standards, the Middle Ages were somewhat enlightened. A survey ship, on an undescribed mission to an inhabited planet is destroyed immediately upon entering orbit.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: The Search for Gram

Subtitle: Codex Regius Book 1

Author: Chris Kennedy

Narrator: Craig Good

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 49 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-19-15

Publisher: Chris Kennedy Publishing

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 70 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Lieutenant Commander Shawn "Calvin" Hobbs has saved Seattle, traveled to the stars and forged new alliances with alien races. With the latest war concluded, he turned his attention to deciphering the strange rod an ancient alien civilization gave him as a test. Was a little downtime to work on the project too much to hope for?

Yes.

Something or someone is destroying the starships of the alien Aesir race. The elven Aesir are in need of help, and all of the signs point to Calvin as the hero they need. He has already defeated the merciless Drakuls and saved Earth from alien invasion, but is he prepared to face this unknown challenge?

As the Theogony trilogy comes to a close, a new chapter for Calvin is set to begin. The Search for Gram initiates the Codex Regius, a trilogy that will once again take Lieutenant Commander Hobbs and his Special Forces platoon to the stars. Not even the universe can hold him this time!

Members Reviews:

Only the second book that I could not finish.

Everyone who rates this book higher than a one star is lying to you!!!!!! I should have listened to the sample before I bought this audio book. I listen to about 3 books a month for the last 3 years. This book is so cliché I could only make it to 53 minutes. To be fair I new within 5 this was a bad book. I'm going to ask for a refund ASAP.

Outstanding!

Another Winner from author Chris Kennedy and narrator Craig Good. These two are automatic buys for me! Give it a shot!

Narrator is reading to kids....

Great story, could have been one of those great series with a Mark Boyett or Jonathan Davis or.... Narrator has a 'nice' voice but would be better for Harvard Business Review stuff not requiring inflections and emphasis suitable for reading to the grandkids...

Sorry, But worst narrator ever

I tried so hard to listen to the end but for some reason, the narrator moved from being a not so good narrator, to a top level condesending one.

Whilst the author made the characters somewhat stupid at times. An example would be how the MC virtually threw his mens lives away at one point because of an idiotic plan, something like WW1 British Army generals did, and with no comeback at all.

I think the books would be more suited to junior teens rather than adults. Clearly aimed at adults with the complex story arc but does not fit for adult reading.

Will not read 2 and 3 or any more by this author.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Tactics of Conquest

Subtitle: Stellar Conquest Series Book 3

Author: David VanDyke

Narrator: Artie Sievers

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-13-15

Publisher: David VanDyke Author

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 54 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Armed with alien technology and a complete refit, Henrich Absen captains Conquest on a voyage to take back what humanity has lost. Along the way he must confront a new form of life as well as his own demons in this shocking episode of the Plague Wars/Stellar Conquest saga.

Members Reviews:

Good book, narator is alright

the first time they changed to this narator it was weird getting used to but this time it was easier

Still not sold on narrator

Still finding it hard to connect with the story because the narrator causes me to daydream with his boring voice. Overall I rated it high because all in all the story is great! You just have to put up with the below par narrator. Mark Boyett would have been great for this series!

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Flex

Subtitle: Mancer Series, Book 1

Author: Ferrett Steinmetz

Narrator: Peter Brooke

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-06-15

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 80 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

A desperate father embraces forbidden magic, drawing from his obsession with bureaucracy in order to save the life of his injured daughter.

FLEX. Distilled magic in crystal form. The most dangerous drug in the world. Snort it, and you can create incredible coincidences to live the life of your dreams.

FLUX: The backlash from snorting Flex. The universe hates magic and tries to rebalance the odds; maybe you survive the horrendous accidents the Flex inflicts, maybe you don't.

PAUL TSABO: The obsessed bureaucromancer whos turned paperwork into a magical beast that can rewrite rental agreements, conjure rented cars from nowhere, and track down anyone whos ever filled out a form. But when all of his formulaic magic cant save his burned daughter, Paul must enter the dangerous world of Flex dealers to heal her. Except hes never done this before and the punishment for brewing Flex is army conscription and a total brain wipe.

Ferrett Steinmetz is a graduate of both the Clarion Writers' Workshop and Viable Paradise and has been nominated for the Nebula Award, for which he remains stoked. Ferrett has a moderately popular blog, The Watchtower of Destruction, wherein he talks about bad puns, relationships, politics, videogames, and more bad puns. He is a noted online personality whose letter to his daughter, 'I Hope You Have Awesome Sex', went viral.

He's written four computer books, including the still-popular-after-two-years Wicked Cool PHP. He lives in Cleveland with his wife, who he couldn't imagine living without.

Members Reviews:

One of the best first lines ever

"Paul woke to discover that, once again, his six year old daughter had stolen his right foot." That got my attention & although Ferrett Steinmetz's world confused me at first, he pulled me in & kept me wondering what was going to happen to our unlikely heroes right till the end. Good job!

Refreshing take on Magic

This book was wonderful, and the only reason I didn't give it a full on five stars was that I found the narration to be a tiny bit dull.

Flex is an urban fantasy, and we've seen a lot of those, but this one stands out of the crowd due to a novel approach to magic. I found it creative and compelling, with believable characters that I cared about. A definite must read, and I hope to see the author accumulating the following he deserves.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Holding Their Own X

Subtitle: The Toymaker

Author: Joe Nobody

Narrator: Dave Wright

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 19 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-13-15

Publisher: Kemah Bay Marketing LLC

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 95 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Life as a postapocalyptic rancher isn't easy for Bishop and

his family. The Texan's struggles are further complicated by a recovery that

has left him feeling out of touch with the new realities of a rapidly changing

society.

Out of the West comes the most serious challenge the

Alliance has ever faced, a danger so potent that it could lead to another

downfall and spell the end of the grand prototype of self-reliance.

Respecting Bishop and Terri's wishes to live a normal, secluded life, the Alliance leadership does its best to overcome the new

threat. Despite heroic acts and the best intentions, their efforts only succeed

in pulling society closer to the brink of another collapse.

With their friends in danger, war looming on the horizon, and the Alliance's future teetering on the brink, the couple are thrust into a

fast-paced adventure that tests the limits of their skills, intellect, and love

for each other.

Members Reviews:

Story awesome, reader not so much

Why are all the time character voices whiney? Doesn't the reader have a different style and cadence?

Another great book in this series.

Over all another great book in this series. The president seemed a bit out of character based on the past history he has with Bishop but other then that a solid story.

Shallow and Plain

Got this title because of its good ratings. But this book is good for teens. It seems the author just wrote the book without putting much thought into it. The plot was plain. The characters are shallow. No personality behind them. And do not fill the ROLL shoes. The narrator made the characters sound like some incompetent idiots, and not leaders. Would not listen through any other books in the series.

Would not recommend this book to others.

It was pretty good...

While I miss one of the other narrators of this series and all his sound effects added in, the performance here is as good as the story.

Another great addition to the series

I thoroughly enjoyed both the story and narration. I look forward to the next release.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Equinox

Subtitle: Children of Occam, Book 2

Author: Christian Cantrell

Narrator: Nick Podehl

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 2 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-25-15

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 32 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

A delicate balance exists between humankind on Earth and the Coronians, the descendants of terrestrial scientists who were marooned aboard the space station Equinox. In exchange for raw materials crucial to expanding their off-world home, the Coronians provide precious space-based solar power to an Earth obscured by greenhouse gasses. But distrust runs deep between the two races, with each yearning for freedom from their mutual dependence yet both terrified of perishing without the other's help.

Now, their future rests in the hands of Ayla Novik, an itinerant smuggler desperate to survive the menacing world in which she plies her trade, and Luka Mance, a drug-addicted technician determined to save his planet and his people from deadly betrayal by their extraterrestrial cousins. When Ayla makes a devil's deal to take human hostages in a Coronian power play, her mission sparks a revolt that will force an ultimate confrontation between earthbound and space-born...deciding once and for all whether two races will rise to coexistence or collapse in devastation.

Members Reviews:

Good story, but one problem

The author has mixed up units of energy and power, using the watt (unit of power, one Joule per second) when he should use the Joule (unit of energy, a Newton of force applied over a distance of one meter). Beside that annoyance, it's a goos yarn.

Wonderfully entertaining and thought provoking

Picking up from containment but developing it so much further. The story begins with the lives of very different people as very slowly it entwines them together. We see from various perspectives how their modern lives are and how events change them all ... looking forward to coming back to this ...

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Poseidon's Wake

Author: Alastair Reynolds

Narrator: Adjoa Andoh

Format: Unabridged

Length: 27 hrs and 5 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-28-15

Publisher: Orion Publishing Group

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 31 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

This novel is a standalone story which takes two extraordinary characters and follows them as they independently begin to unravel some of the greatest mysteries of our universe. Their missions are dangerous, and they are all venturing into the unknown...and if they can uncover the secret to faster-than-light travel then new worlds will be at our fingertips.

But innovation and progress are not always embraced by everyone. There is a saboteur at work. Different factions disagree about the best way to move forward. And the mysterious Watchkeepers are ever present.

Completing the informal trilogy which began with Blue Remembered Earth and On the Steel Breeze, this is a powerful and effective story.

Members Reviews:

Fantastic. One of a kind. Different.

If you could sum up Poseidon's Wake in three words, what would they be?

Exploration. Elephants. African. Family.

Have you listened to any of Adjoa Andohs other performances before? How does this one compare?

no. quite good, but at times a bit hard to understand. e.g. too much played accent :)

Any additional comments?

If you want an action packed story look elsewhere. This is a story about people, their feelings, day-to-day interactions... Very interesting mix of hard science & nature animal story.

Gets tedious

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No. Too drawn out. Way too much uninteresting dialogue. Towards the end of the book I couldn't stomach any more.

If youve listened to books by Alastair Reynolds before, how does this one compare?

Other books I've read by him are better. More inventive.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator in and of herself is good - but the high pitch, squeeky, African-simulated voices get annoying after a while, espc. as there is so much dialogue.

Not bad, but oh so slow...

There is a worthwhile story in here, but unfortunately it's buried beneath a large amount of unnecessary padding. This is one book which would really benefit from some editing.

In particular, it seemed very dialogue-heavy, with a lot of conversations not contributing much. This was not helped by the narrator making some of the characters speak rather slowly - albeit for a good reason.

That aside, the narration was very good, and it was not hard to tell who was who.

Incidentally, I don't agree with the synopsis above, where it states that "This novel is a standalone story." On the contrary; it draws heavily on the previous two books, and if you're going to go for this one, I'd recommend reading/listening to the others first.

So to summarise: an interesting story buried under a lot of padding, with a decent narrator.

Curates Egg

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I understand the desire to create an alternate to the standard white Anglo/American focus, but not sure the African slant works for me. But the biggest issue I have is, talking elephants! Felt like a bit 'young adult science fiction' to me, and a big stretch, especially as there was little character definition and therefore it was impossible to be either supportive or antipathetic toward them.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Warstrider Series # 5, Warstrider: Netlink

Author: Ian Douglas

Narrator: David Drummond

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 22 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-26-15

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 98 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Over 20 years have passed since the events of Warstrider: Symbionts. Contact with the DalRiss and Naga, and their technology, has radically altered human society - as has the constant struggle between the Hegemony and the rebel Confederation for control over the dozens of human-inhabited planets. But the Hegemony has a new technology that could suppress any resistance to Earth's rule.

Meanwhile Dev Cameron and the DalRiss have discovered a new threat emerging from deep space: one that could cause the extinction of all life it encounters.

Members Reviews:

A great addition to wonderful series

What did you love best about Warstrider Series # 5, Warstrider: Netlink?

There's really good hardcore science fiction with good attention to the science,

Who was your favorite character and why?

There was some interesting character development around Dev Cameron which I really enjoyed

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Cursed

Subtitle: An Alex Verus Novel

Author: Benedict Jacka

Narrator: Gildart Jackson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-14-15

Publisher: Hachette Audio UK

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 30 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Things are going well for Alex Verus. He's on moderately good terms with the Council, his apprentice is settling in, and his shop in Camden is gaining quite a reputation.

But when a mysterious woman bursts into the Arcana Emporium one night with an assassin on her tail, Alex is thrown into a plot to revive a long-forbidden ritual. His old enemies are after the secret as well as a Council mage named Belthas and a mercenary named Garrick, and at least one of them is trying to get Alex killed - if he only knew which.

He can see the future, but knowing who to trust is something else.

Critic Reviews:

"Fast-moving and energetic." (Sunday Telegraph)

Members Reviews:

Couldn't stop listening

For those who loved Dresden Files, look elsewhere no more! Fun, well paced, interesting characters!

Perfectly average

Would you try another book written by Benedict Jacka or narrated by Gildart Jackson?

Eh, maybe. The series is unchallenging, perfectly decent to do something else to - doesn't require much focus. I don't mind Jackson as a narrator, but I don't know that he's the right narrator for this book - don't know that he fits the class/education/age of the main character.

Would you be willing to try another book from Benedict Jacka? Why or why not?

I'm not rushing toward the next book in the series. His stuff seems very underdeveloped - doesn't have the depth of characterisation or plot I prefer.

Any additional comments?

I don't know if it's the author or the copy editor, but this book seems to have been badly localised - it's a book by a British author set in London, but it doesn't have any actual sense of being in London, in the way that Ben Aaronovich's books are. There's also a lot of US terminology.

They got the series :)

This book makes me wish we had a more detailed rating system. Is it a Dresden files rip off? Well yes but then I'm enjoying these books more than the latter books in that series. Is the narrator as good as James Masters? Of course not it's James Masters. I really wish so many reviewers weren't making comparisons here because Gildart Jackson really isn't that bad, in fact I'd give him 4/5 as he's great at doing characters voices, doesn't feel the need to screech as so many male narrators do as soon as they get a villain that is female and is really enjoyable to listen to. His only real problems are, as many people have correctly said, that he sounds too old for the role (as narration is first person) and that he's not James Masters ( I swear fans would clone him if they could.) The story is even better than the first book and I was gripped from start to finish. Alex is the only genuine wizard to run a magic shop, it's a hobby, in between, training his sometimes apprentice, dropping in for tea with his friend/ possible creature from ancient mythology or somewhere and assisting other wizards in their various tasks, so that hopefully they won't kill him someday. 4.5/5 because I really enjoyed it and will be buying the whole series shortly, even if it's not original or well enough crafted to merit the top twenty. A good book is a good book and the story should appeal to most readers of this genre male or female.