The last book I’d read that was narrated by Jeff Hays wasn’t a great experience. I’d stopped early. Now I’m not sure if it was the author’s doing, the narrator’s or even just my state of mind at the time. Regardless, the result was that I went on to avoid both of them. Unfortunately for me, avoiding Jeff’s work is not easy, considering how prolific he is in the genre. Ultimately I accepted that maybe my prior experience was coloured by other factors, or maybe it was just the book itself was not one of his best (despite it being exceptionally popular). So I picked this one up.
I wasn’t disappointed. The narration wasn’t anything special but it did not break my immersion. The story wasn’t thrilling, but it had it’s moments and I did enjoy the focus on resource management and the protagonist’s struggle with his sense of what is and isn’t ‘real’.
While I do feel that it is long for what it is, it maintained my attention throughout, and even had me reaching for it even outside of my daily commutes. I’d say that’s a win.