Problem with Narrator!

I had a huge problem with the narrator. She has a gravelly irritating tone that was like listening to nails on a chalk board. Even getting past that, she didn't differentiate the voices of the characters much.

The story might have been interesting if I hadn't already read Vampire Academy. There was so many similarities that it really distracted me. It was an OK story but not engaging and I'm not very interested in what will happen in the rest of the series.

17 people found this helpful

Story as good as narrator is bad!

So worth the read if you can get past the narrator! I actually started the Luxe series written by Armentrout, but didn't make it because of the narrator. I did better with this book, and I can get over the too gravely voice of the heroines, but I still hate the way she does the male leads. In trying to stay in character, she makes the voice too monotone and sucks all the sexy and emotion right out. "nuff said.

This story is pure fantasy. It's like BH 90210 with a paranormal twist. I found myself brought back to my fun college days of parent-free living, only with money and nothing but super hot guys around. Call me shallow, but it was fun to put away my Mom jeans and dive to the dark side for awhile. And the nice thing was that while there was a real superficial edge to the setting, the characters were real people, with real emotions. Of course there are hook-ups, but the romance was real -- you like the people, you get to know them, and it's clear they care about each other. It might start with attraction, but this author doesn't have them fly into bed just based on that -- she establishes at least a preliminary emotional bond. As far as YA, the characters are older and so the themes are more mature -- Underage drinking, pretty grim violence, slavery, hookups, virginity, etc.

14 people found this helpful

If you like Richelle Mead!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If you liked any of Richelle Mead's books (Vampire Academy or Game board of the gods), there's no reason why you wouldn't like this series. Everyone says it reminds them of Vampire Academy series like it's a negative thing and if they stopped at just the first book I can see why they would think that, but I am on book 3 and I definitely think this series stands apart. Similar, not the same. It is certainly worth listening to!
P.s. The main characters ages range around 17-24.... so it has more "adult" scenes than the Vampire Academy series.

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

I had a little trouble with some of the narration in the first book, but she gets better during the 2nd book.

13 people found this helpful

Good Book, Terrible Reader

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The reader. I really enjoyed the story, but I will have to get the rest of them as books to read myself, because as an audio book, it just annoyed me.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Half-Blood?

When Alex went to the infirmary to visit Cain, and he turned out to be a half-blood demon! Very scary and while I wasn't really surprised, it wasn't pleasant in a good plot twist kind of way.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Justine Eyre?

Anyone who doesn't sound like they are working on a bowel movement while reading! I can think of any number of readers that would be better. I do like when there are male and female readers in particular. Love the Phil and Natalie paring of the fever series by KMM.

Do you think Half-Blood needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

I can't wait to read what happens next with Alex and her men. First we have to find out what all this stuff about her being the second Apollyon and Seth and her attraction to Aiden and the changing laws regarding Pures and half-bloods dating. Lots of loose ends!

Any additional comments?

Please, for the love of all that is holy stop letting Justine Eyre read books. She is not good at it. When my friend told me it sounded like she was on the toilet, I was amazed at how right he was. I am not usually a mean person, and hate to say this, but if this is the only way to keep her from ruining more books, then it has to be said. Maybe, she needs to find another line of work at which she can excel, because this ain't it.

11 people found this helpful

Worst Narrator Ever!

What disappointed you about Half-Blood?

Regardless of the plot, I could not get into the story because of the narrator. She has such a low voice and her performance as some of the main guys in the story was awful! It was comical at times because of how "valley girl" she sounded. very disappointing

What could Jennifer L. Armentrout have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

picked a different narrator

What didn’t you like about Justine Eyre’s performance?

awful...worst I've ever heard.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

It had potential but Justine's voice made it impossible to get into it.

10 people found this helpful

liked the story, did not like the narrator.

It sounds like the narrator is testing really hard to have a sexy/gravely voice and it just isn't good. The story was good enough that I stuck to it. I will listen to the next book.

7 people found this helpful

Good Series

Any additional comments?

Once you get past the similarities to Vampire Academy it's actually a really good story. The first book I was not as sure about because it was so like VA I kept anticipating the twists and turns in the story like I had already read it. As the series continues the story changes and you hardly notice any similarities. I liked VA so a similar story line didn't bother me much. In the end I think I like this series better.

7 people found this helpful

Terrible narrator

How could the performance have been better?

Different narrator

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed story and would really like to complete the series but I cannot listen to another book with the hunk in the story sounds like my 90 year old grandmother with a bad sinus infection.

6 people found this helpful

Now THIS is how you do it!

Loved this book. Kick butt heroine. The world the author built was believable and the Heroine goes through a pretty great character arc. (I know everything in the world...oops...maybe not.) Loved it! She stands up and takes responsibility for what she does. I am hooked.

5 people found this helpful

Such a Disappointment

What would have made Half-Blood better?

Be it's own story. It was basically Vampire Academy but with gods minus Lissa. Normally I don't have a problem with books that have similar themes or plot like The Hunger Games and The Selection. Those two are similar in theme but they had their own story. With Half-Blood there were too many similarities between it and Vampire Academy that it was hard to separate them.

What could Jennifer L. Armentrout have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

I don't know.

How could the performance have been better?

Performance was fine. I had no problem with Justine Erye. She was good. It was the story itself that I had a problem with.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment. Not what I was hoping for and it was bad.

3 people found this helpful