Loved it

Out of all Brian’s wonderful series this might be my favorite
Picks up from book one as more of the story is told to the future generations
Well narrated with excellent characters highly recommended
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review

6 people found this helpful

interesting and unique post apocalypse story

I did not listen to the first book in this series. I do not think that it would matter. Brian Parker did well to introduce the characters and the world that he has created. It is about 100 years since a nuclear war decimated the Earth. There are bands of survivors scattered throughout the wasteland. All fighting for what little resources are left. Some of the familiar animal life that we know has been mutated from the radiation and decades of evolution, to make the best of it. Including Demon Brocks that are a mutated form of the badger. Roughly the size of a human with almost a boney exoskeleton, and vicious and dangerous as all get out.

Opening with a tense action sequence. Of an invading Demon Brock. That somehow infiltrated behind the security of the wall surrounding the settlement. This was intense and made my hair stand up on end. However, some are injured and killed. Making Grampa feel like it was time to pass on the story of is family. This is where the real story begins.

The publishers summary does a pretty good job of summarizing the rest of the story. So I am not going to try.

I found the wasteland that Parker created absolutely fascinating. I wanted to know more about what exists now out there. The different creatures and different settlements.

As far as the characters go. I wanted to know more about what Traxx went through, maybe this was in the first book? Although his personality didn’t really seem like someone who was tortured for ages. He seem too upbeat. The personalities of the main players of the Vultures seemed like it was more for shock value than anything else. I found I couldn’t really connect to any of them. Making it harder to care about any of them or what they are going through.

All in all Fireside was an interesting and unique post apocalypse story. Without the use of zombies or any other sub genre crutches. It tries to be different. Not a complete success but much more appealing than many that try to go this route. I look forward to more stories by Parker and I think he has, what could be, a very intriguing world to explore.

James Foster delivered another fine performance. Everything that I have come to expect from him, he did. Decent characterizations. Pacing changes for the action scenes. Adding in a pause here and there to help the story along. Doing everything he could to keep me engaged.

Audiobook was provided for review by the narrator.

Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog

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12 people found this helpful

Second one was just as good

This series is a family saga. It spans many generations and is really good. I always love Brian Parker’s work. I usually hate it when there are different narrators in a series. The first 3 of this one are all narrated by different people. It works here. I don’t mind it at all. Narration was great.
The Traxx family and friends continue their fight to survive. The Vultures are once again a problem. Star is one crazy ass psycho! She’d be a character you’d love to hate in a tv show but she’s way too psycho for any televisions series!
Already starred book 3!

I was voluntarily provided this review copy at no charge by the author, publisher and or narrator

1 person found this helpful

A little long in the telling!

Book two relates the story of San Angelo through the eyes of great-grandfather Aidan to his great-granddaughter Tanya. Aeric Traxx commands a large portion of the tale as he was the main mover & shaker of the San Angelo development. The story is quite detailed and fairly interesting. Hard work, dedication, and an undying spirit finally seem to be paying off for the San Angelo folks, but the Vultures make an unwanted reappearance having other ideas. The story continues as the Vultures extend their hold on the countryside; geographically and politically. Not a bad story to be sure, but it's feeling drawn out. Steady on three.point.five.

1 person found this helpful

Interesting

I was a bit hesitant to pick up this book having not read/listened to the first in the series. This book stood on it's own though and was a great story while giving enough back story to know who all the major players were. I'm not sure if that part got repetitive to those who heard book 1 but I hope not.

The Narration was well done, with strong transitions between the different characters so you got a feel for the personalities. A few of the twists were able to be predicted but I think it was intended by the author if you were paying attention you'd see them coming. I hope so because that made it more fun to try to find others and I fell for a few red herrings as well.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

1 person found this helpful

Characters are most appealing

This is a continuation of the story begun in the first book of this series: A Path of Ashes. I heard fewer grammatical errors in this book, although there were still a few. The compelling characters are what's most appealing about this story. And James Foster voices these characters well. His narration is excellent. .

As with the previous book, this book is brought to a satisfactory conclusion, although it's clear there's more to the story. Thankfully, it does not end in a cliffhanger.

NOTE: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

1 person found this helpful

Just as good as the first book!

If you could sum up Fireside in three words, what would they be?

We will survive.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Fireside?

The storytelling by Aiden

What about James Foster’s performance did you like?

I like how James Foster was able to capture each character's personality.

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

There are some cry worth scenes in this book. I'm still trying to get over some of the devastating parts.

Any additional comments?

A must read!

1 person found this helpful

Post-nuclear war does not mean the end

If you could sum up Fireside in three words, what would they be?

very satisfying read

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

James Foster delivered another fine performance. Everything that I have come to expect from him, he did. Decent characterizations. Pacing changes for the action scenes. Adding in a pause here and there to help the story along

Any additional comments?

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

1 person found this helpful

It was okay.

Would you try another book from Brian Parker and/or James Foster?

Maybe

Any additional comments?

I didn't really feel a connection to any of the characters. I don't know if this was because I had not read the first book in the series. My mind kept drifting. There were some interesting parts. The narrator did a good job. I received this audiobook for free through Audiobook Boom for my unbiased review.

1 person found this helpful

One families history of survival

Any additional comments?

Even though I haven't read the first book in this series I was able to easily understand and enjoy this book.The story of one families fight to survive in a post apocalyptic world,is shared by an injured grandfather with his grandchild.While I did enjoy this book I wished the author had spent more time world building and showing more of the actual world they resided in.I wanted to know more about the genetically mutated animals etcetera.The narrator did a good job and is pleasant to listen too.I received an audiobook from the author in exchange for an honest review.

1 person found this helpful