I always enjoy Jeremy Robinson’s book, and NPC is just the latest in a long line of home runs! Both Samael and Ezekiel are robust, interesting, and sympathetic characters that are impossible to ignore. I loved the dual narration of both RC Bray and Jeffrey Kafer, they are 2 of the best in the business and they breathe their own uniqueness into Sam and Zeke. I was hoping that this book would finally buck the trend of having a single narrator read the other character’s voice when they finally interact, but it follows the standard format of reading by chapter. This does not hinder the performance in the slightest, as both narrators can speak for the other character without pulling you from the illusion of the story.
Speaking of the story – what a fun concept to explore, especially in the capable hands of JR! I enjoyed the overall implications of a potential simulated world, and I liked how both religion and technology were not only explored individually, but actually bounced off each other as potential partners in a singular world that can be seen through multiple lenses. I also enjoyed the humor and the little call outs to things in the modern day zeitgeist – hooray for the Orville joke!
All in all, this story is a fantastic listen that will keep you on your toes and saying “just one more chapter!” until you finally reach the end, hopefully with all of your original questions answered, yet also with an entire new set tingling your brain into deeper thought and reflection.