Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
One Word Kill by Mark Lawrence Narrator: Matthew Frow
Series: Impossible Times #1
Published by Brilliance Audio on May 1, 2019
Genres: Science Fiction
Length: 6 hours, 44 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble
In January 1986, fifteen-year-old boy-genius Nick Hayes discovers he’s dying. And it isn’t even the strangest thing to happen to him that week.
Nick and his Dungeons & Dragons-playing friends are used to living in their imaginations. But when a new girl, Mia, joins the group and reality becomes weirder than the fantasy world they visit in their weekly games, none of them are prepared for what comes next. A strange - yet curiously familiar - man is following Nick, with abilities that just shouldn’t exist. And this man bears a cryptic message: Mia’s in grave danger, though she doesn’t know it yet. She needs Nick’s help - now.
He finds himself in a race against time to unravel an impossible mystery and save the girl. And all that stands in his way is a probably terminal disease, a knife-wielding maniac and the laws of physics.
Challenge accepted.
I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this as teenage boys aren’t my knowledge base exactly. I have to be careful about young adult and science fiction choices. But I have enjoyed everything I have read by Mark Lawrence. I got the ebook through my Prime subscription and then the audiobook for review. Sometimes it is easier for me to read science fiction or fantasy in an audiobook. So I began this science fiction series, Impossible Times. It is set in England.
I was not a player of Dungeons & Dragons but my younger brother was. There was always a group of boys over at our home, but mostly I was off at college. I loved the teenage boy antics in One Word Kill. The overall plot and the game brought a great math and science view into things. My favorite subjects are applied here.
Nick tells us the story and he’s a great character. He is dealing with leukemia after already losing his father. I like him and I want him to have everything go his way. Of course, that might be boring, so lots of things happen. I kept worrying about him dying with the cancer or the street thugs. There’s great suspense wondering how he will get himself or his friends out of various predicaments.
I enjoyed how different this is from other things I’m reading. The science fiction aspects along with the mysteries and action make it fresh and exciting. I’m already listening to the next one, Limited Wish.
Narration:
I have not previously heard Matthew Frow as a narrator. I enjoyed his voices for the characters. I did listen at 1.25x speed, a bit slower than usual, to grasp everything as my English is not the same. I’m no expert at accents but it sounded authentic.
Listen to a clip:
About Mark Lawrence
Mark Lawrence was born in Champagne-Urbana, Illinois, to British parents but moved to the UK at the age of one. He went back to the US after taking a PhD in mathematics at Imperial College to work on a variety of research projects including the ‘Star Wars’ missile defence programme. Returning to the UK, he has worked mainly on image processing and decision/reasoning theory. He says he never had any ambition to be a writer so was very surprised when a half-hearted attempt to find an agent turned into a global publishing deal overnight.
Mark Lawrence is married with four children, one of whom is severely disabled. His day job is as a research scientist focused on various rather intractable problems in the field of artificial intelligence. He has held secret level clearance with both US and UK governments. At one point he was qualified to say ‘this isn’t rocket science … oh wait, it actually is’.
Between work and caring for his disabled child, Mark spends his time writing, playing computer games, tending an allotment, brewing beer, and avoiding DIY.
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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:
- 2019 Audiobooks
- 2019 Releases
glad it worked for you. nice to shake up our reading once in a while
It is. I really liked it a lot.
This did look like a good one with his health issues, losses, and scary situations. I’m the same as far as ignorance about gaming. I got offered it right when I’d already taken my limit of review books. I wish I could have fit it in because I enjoyed his other writing. Maybe I’ll still get to it.
I know it’s tricky when you get offered so many great books and if one reads a few genres. I have to be careful to say no if I really can’t put it on the schedule soon.
I think I will enjoy this. Grabbing from Prime 🙂
I hope you do! It’s a trilogy and also in KU.
Interesting. I immediately thought of Stranger Things after reading the blurb. Sounds like some heavy topics involved. Glad you enjoyed and now I’m going to see what you thought of book 2!
I am enjoying them. The second book felt a bit more fractured or more complicated. It’s odd because usually with world and character building book 1 can be confusing. I thought book 2 had more changes here.
After reading your reviews for both books, I will be adding these to my wish list.
Well I hope you will enjoy them. I did. It is a trilogy which is also in KU.
I think I said over on the other review that I need to check this series out! Wonderful review, Anne! This definitely sounds like something different and I love that.
It’s different even from what I usually read which is also different from your regular reads, so yes. Thank you!
I’m not familiar with Mark Lawerence. Sounds interesting.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
Mark Lawrence has lots of excellent fantasy trilogies. This is a science fiction one so different for him. I have enjoyed all his books.