Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Dead Seekers by Barb Hendee Narrator: Alyssa Bresnahan
Series: The Dead Seekers #1
Published by Recorded Books on February 17, 2017
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 336
Length: 10 hours, 58 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm
In the New York Times bestselling Noble Dead saga, Barb and J.C. Hendee created an engrossing mix of “intrigue, epic fantasy, and horror.”* Now, they present a bold new series set in the same world, where the destinies of two hunters shaped by the shadows of their pasts are about to collide...
In the dark reaches of the eastern continent, Tris Vishal travels from village to village, using his power to put unsettled spirits to rest. He works alone, having learned that letting people close only leads to more death. Still, he finds himself accepting the help of the Móndyalítko woman who saves his life—a woman whose gifts are as much a burden as his own.
Mari Kaleja thirsted for vengeance since the night her family was taken from her. She has searched far and wide for the one she thinks responsible, known only as “The Dead’s Man.” But before she can kill him, she has to be sure. Mari hopes traveling with Tris will confirm her suspicions. But as they embark on a hunt where the living are just as dangerous as the dead, she learns the risks of keeping your enemy close...
Because it’s no longer clear who is predator and who is prey.
This new Dead Seekers series is related to the Noble Dead Saga series, (actually 3 series with a total of 14 books), which I have not read. I have read this author before, a husband and wife writing team, and liked them, so when the opportunity came up for this audio I got it. This is slightly against my OCD of doing everything in order but I’m dealing with it.
I have a bit of an aversion to historical and fantasy and horror, but I am finding that with the right story and / or right narrator, I love it. I am unable to determine, as yet, why some work for me and some do not. This one works, so well.
Alyssa Bresnahan did a wonderful job with this story. I loved the way she made the voice unique and somehow they really suited the time period and characters. It made it so easy to listen and I wanted to listen all the time! I thought this was a better narration than when I listened to her on the Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr.
If a book stays in my head and I keep wanting to know more and what will happen next, I know it was a great book. I’m invested in the characters and world. The world building was at a comfortable pace but I want to know more than we learned in The Dead Seekers. I fully intend to go read / listen to the related series.
Tris and Mari are the main characters. They both have great emotional pain and compassion for others, with a strong integrity and moral code. Tris, however, blame himself for everything. Mari starts the story blaming Tris as well. But she decides she must verify he is to blame before taking her revenge. So it begins.
There is action and a sort of magic in the battles of fighting spirits of the dead. Some of them are horribly malevolent. Tris and Mari slowly get to know one another, which also allows us to learn about them. There is also so much of human nature, class cultures to add to the tale.
I can’t find anything about the next book, it is listed as a series, but I wanted it the minute I finished. Highly recommended.
You can listen to a clip on Amazon here.
About Alyssa Bresnahan
Whether the work is contemporary fiction or young adult literature, Alyssa Bresnahan’s performances sing with a vibrancy reflecting her keen understanding of the text. For the seven years she has been working in audiobooks, she has delivered some difficult works, like Carol Shields’s Pulitzer Prize-winning THE STONE DIARIES, with consummate skill. She can tease out textual nuances and give listeners a clear window to the author’s vision.
In preparing to record a book, Alyssa tries to understand the rhythm of each author. Using an analogy that reflects her dancer’s training, she says, “I want to figure out the choreography of each author’s sound.” Recorded Books producer Claudia Howard remarks on Alyssa’s success with young adult titles. “She has a great comedic sense and an ability to convey a wide-eyed discovery of the world that just connects with that audience.” Narrating the recent recording of WHITE OLEANDER, Alyssa marveled at author Janet Fitch’s ability to paint a whole picture with one sentence. Alyssa sees herself–her voice–as a paintbrush delivering a picture to the listener. Good writing always gives the narrator more to work with, but Alyssa notes a paradox: “The better the writing is, the more you can leave it alone.”
About Barb Hendee
Barb & J.C. live south of Portland, Oregon, and about a hour from the coast. Barb’s fiction has appeared in numerous genre magazines and anthologies. J.C.’s poetry, non-fiction, and short fiction have also appeared in many genre publications.
Although they have worked together as a writing team from their earliest days, the Noble Dead Saga (a.k.a. the Noble Dead Series) contains their first novel-length collaborations starting in 2003.
Both are ex-academics with masters in English, have worked in academia as well as the private sector, and have taught multiple workshops, classes, and seminars related to fiction writing inside and outside of academia.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- Anne: 2017 Audiobook Challenge
- Anne: 2017 New Release Challenge
I find that some narrators work better for some genres than others. I could see how a narrator that you enjoyed for this horror/fantasy book, but not like her as much for YA. I’m glad that you enjoyed this one. Great review.
Anne, I read this series but perhaps I will switch to audio for the next, since it sounds like the narrator did a wonderful job!