Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Salvaged by Madeleine Roux Narrator: Emily Woo Zeller
Published by Ace, Penguin Audio on October 19, 2019
Genres: Science Fiction, Suspense
Pages: 352
Length: 12 hours, 3 minutes
Format: eARC, Audiobook
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
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In this dark science fiction thriller, a young woman must confront her past so the human race will have a future.
Rosalyn Devar is on the run from her famous family, the bioengineering job she's come to hate, and her messed-up life. She's run all the way to outer space, where she's taken a position as a "space janitor," cleaning up ill-fated research expeditions. But no matter how far she goes, Rosalyn can't escape herself. After too many mistakes on the job, she's given one last chance: take care of salvaging the Brigantine, a research vessel that has gone dark, with all crew aboard thought dead.
But the Brigantine's crew are very much alive--if not entirely human. Now Rosalyn is trapped on board, alone with a crew infected by a mysterious parasitic alien. The captain, Edison Aries, seems to still maintain some control over himself and the crew, but he won't be able to keep fighting much longer. Rosalyn and Edison must find a way to stop the parasite's onslaught...or it may take over the entire human race.
I like science fiction and Salvaged seemed like it might have the first phase of an apocalyptic change. What I didn’t consider in advance was the world-building and character aspects. The world is one with space travel, and other advanced technologies such as bioengineering. It is also a world with politics and greed with some bad people misusing their power. Rosalyn gets crushed by this with a famous, wealthy family and some of the others in the business.
So Rosalyn runs. No one took her side, or seemed to care about her, so she left. She takes a crappy job, and tries to ignore / forget the past. When even the crappy job is on the line, she pulls herself together and ends up in a terrifying situation. Her character development and careful skills, along with her compassion are the power of Salvaged.
I wasn’t ever really terrified but there was definitely a suspense about who would survive, and how it would happen. In this situation, there are instances where no decision is a good one. Things have to be done to live and protect the world. Sometimes the choice is to only protect others. The story is quite contained with a small number of characters. I found myself in my mind more than lost in emotions. The ending gives us some of the aftermath which I appreciate.
Narration:
I’m a fan of Emily Woo Zeller and enjoyed her performance here. I was comfortable with all her voices, male and female, which allowed me to just focus on the story itself. I listened at my normal 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip:
About Emily Woo Zeller
Audie award-winning actor, voiceover artist, dancer, and singer Emily Woo Zeller (member SAG-AFTRA) is based in Los Angeles, though her work has been seen and heard internationally. Her wide range of work has included theater and extensive dubbing for film and television in Southeast Asia. Emily’s lifelong theater and dance work includes performance with Ellis Wood Dance, Dutch Kills Theater, FACT/SF, Facing East Dance and Music, Oracle Theater, and physical theater collective Lampazo Group.
Audiofile Magazine named Emily as one of the “Best Voices of 2015” in Nonfiction and Culture for her work on THE LIFE-CHANGING MAGIC OF TIDYING UP by Marie Kondo and “Best Voices of 2013” in Nonfiction and Culture for her work on GULP by Mary Roach. Awards include 2018 Audie for FIRE ROAD by Kim Phuc Phan Thi, Ashley Wiersma; 2015 SOVAS VOICE ARTS AWARD for THE LIFE-CHANGING MAGIC OF TIDYING UP by Marie Kondo; 2015 Audie Nomination for her work on THE BEAM: SEASON 1 by Sean Platt and Johnny B. Truant; Audiofile Magazine Earphones Awards for narrations of THE POPPY WAR by R. F. Kuang; FIRE ROAD by Kim Phuc Phan Thi, Ashley Wiersma, AFTER THE ECLIPSE by Sarah Perry, KITCHEN CHINESE by Ann Mah, UNDER A PAINTED SKY by Stacey Lee, THE LIFE-CHANGING MAGIC OF TIDYING UP by Marie Kondo, GULP by Mary Roach, and TIES THAT BIND, TIES THAT BREAK by Leslie Namioka; the 2009 Tristen Award for Best Actress as Sally Bowles in CABARET; and the 2006 Roselyn E. Schneider Prize for Creative Achievement.
Emily holds a degree from the University of California, Berkeley in Dance and Performance Studies, with a minor in Nutritional Sciences. She is a certified yoga teacher.
About Madeleine Roux
MADELEINE ROUX received her BA in Creative Writing and Acting from Beloit College in 2008. In the spring of 2009, Madeleine completed an Honors Term at Beloit College, proposing, writing and presenting a full-length historical fiction novel. Shortly after, she began the experimental fiction blog Allison Hewitt Is Trapped. Allison Hewitt Is Trapped quickly spread throughout the blogosphere, bringing a unique serial fiction experience to readers.
Born in Minnesota, she now lives and works in Seattle, Washington.
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
This sounds really good and what a GREAT cover??? Excellent review, Anne?
Thank you! I found the character development especially fascinating in this one. I love this narrator too.
I’ve seen some of Madeline Roux’s creepy ones and have debated if I could handle them, but you really tempt me with this one being on the sci fi side. I like Emily Woo Zeller’s narration work, too.
I had never read anything by this author before I really enjoyed it though and it was dark but more scifi than horror to me
love that cover and i do like some science fiction reads. this sounds like one that might work for me
It is a great cover! I hope you enjoy it
I’m going to add this author to my list. I think I’d enjoy this one and some of her other ones too.
Yes I didn’t realize but Sophia Rose says she does some creepy books in the horror genre which are in your zone
I heard about this author but I didn’t know about this book
Well this book is just released this week I didn’t know about this author until this book but I’m glad I tried it.
This sounds good and I do like Emily Woo Zeller. Thanks for the review!
It’s different but I really liked it.
I love the cover and this sounds like one I could get into.
It is not quite like other things I have read recently and that is a good thing.