I cannot stop singing Joel Leslie’s narration skills. He is a master of his craft and so emotive it is shocking he has not wom twice the awards he already has. His voice is excellent however, as ever he does go quite fast. If you find yourself troubler by him, slow down the recording to around 85% and you will get a more traditional, theatrical narration.
Ah Sam Burns. Sam is a balm to an aching heart. Sam is the warm hug after hard work. She is light hearted with her conflicts. This story is no different, instead she focuses on the emotions of her characters. She wants us to adore them as much as she adores them. She wants us to feel their pain, their loss, their grief, and their anxiety but does it in a way that does not overwhelm the reader.
This world is richer and more fully fleshed out than Rowan Harbor. This is not a fault of RH but rather because this work is much more focused on one type of magic. While earlier Sam Burns novels focused on variety and diversity, this one focuses on the individual path to acceptance. This book’s strength is the “I am broken but I will heal myself. I am strong” whereas previous titles were “We are strong because we are together.” There is something beautiful in this individual treatment. However Sam in her greatness does not shy away from forcing the characters to make allies. She intrinsically knows that while we must be strong no person is an island. We only have to ask.
There is so little to criticize in this piece that my only real critique is that next installment is not already in my possession.
Thank you, Sam, for being you and for writing the way you do.