Risk by Dannika Dark Narrator: Nicole Poole
Series: Mageri #6
Published by Tantor Audio on August 16, 2016
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Length: 10 hours, 6 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Simon Hunt is a masterful Mage when it comes to knives, solving puzzles, and women. But when a Mageri Councilman asks for a personal favor, his skills are put to the test. He reluctantly accepts the impossible job of training a young Learner who is beyond anyone’s help. She’s beautiful, cunning, and disabled. If he succeeds, he’ll receive a hefty paycheck. But if he fails, more is at stake than merely his reputation.
A compelling tale about two lost souls with dark secrets and the unique connection they share. Simon is her last hope… and perhaps she is his.
What happens when a game of chance becomes a fight for survival?
I’ve been reading the series from the library and enjoying the audiobook version. In fact, Risk didn’t have an ebook at my libraries so I had to enlist Brandee to help with a quote since it’s hard to save quotes in an audio format.
Risk is both Simon’s story and an epilogue to the Mageri series. It handles both tasks well and is an enjoyable read. Simon doesn’t talk much about his history because it’s bad. He was forced to do things he didn’t want to do, and treated as a servant for his maker. One reason he can relate to Silver’s feelings is he was treated more like women were treated by the mages for so long.
Simon has been working for Halo and doing fight training. He provides much needed humor to many situations. He also provides strategy and intelligence. His board games and calling things out like they are fun.
Ella is Hannah’s progeny but there’s more to her than that. She was doing well until the attack which left her deaf. Simon is hired to train her to fight. He does, using her natural skills, but also to live. Ella is such a strong and vibrant woman, managing well the horrors she has survived. Hannah has shut her away and isolated her from everyone and everything. That isn’t a way to make her sharp and able to deal with diverse challenges. Simon helps her fight for her independence from Hannah.
The backdrop to Simon’s present and past, is a setting 3 years into the future from Shine. We get to see Sunny’s children and Justus and Page’s little girl, Rose. There are updates on all their lives and connections. I appreciated this additional look at their lives.
I really enjoyed this gift of more of these loved characters and their lives from the author. I’m emotionally invested in them and their world. I look forward to more in the additional series, Seven and Crossbreeds.
Narration:
The narration by Nicole Poole has been highly regarded by my friends and was a key factor recommending this series. I enjoyed her voices for the various characters, including some accents. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Share your review/ thoughts on Risk:
I thought it might be fun to link up reviews so we can find them all easily. It can be a link to Goodreads or a blog, or wherever you have a review (short or long).
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The chat will be Sunday, December 15
COYER Challenge is adopting our Read-along. You can read about COYER and join that challenge or just the community chat HERE. On the Sunday after the review posts, they will host a Google meeting (like we do for COYER book club) at 12 PT, 2 CT, 3 ET and 9pm Europe, for a one hour chat. You do not have to join the COYER challenge to participate, only the COYER Facebook group.
Here’s your to-do list:
- Join the chat on Sunday!
- If you haven’t read the books before, make a list of questions you have for the discussion. If you have read them, please don’t spoil new readers.
- Enter the giveaways!
Interviews with Dannika:
Now: Character interviews from Dannika Dark website
Now: Mageri Q&A from Dannike Dark website
Games:
Who said (enter the answer in the Rafflecopter, don’t put in the comments)
Who said “I never thought I’d say this, but be quiet. Silence is golden. ”
There are other options in the rafflecopter for you to enter discussion questions and quotes to share.
Who said “I’ve been wondering when you would figure it out. You still need to find a way to gain control of the knife and put it in your hand.” in Shine is Simon.
The villain was Nero.
Observations and questions you shared from Shine:
(Thank you so much for sharing!) If you can answer any of these questions, you can do so in a comment.
- Silver was a more enjoyable character in this novel. She seems to have shed most of her impulsiveness and naiveté.
- The narration, as always, was awesome. Nicole Poole has grown on me for quite some time. I love her variations in tones and accents.
Quotes you readers shared from Shine:
“Levi has a disability. It’s a type of vision impairment. Since childhood, Levi has never been able to see a hamper. ”
“I will love you until the stars burn out and we are nothing more than cosmic dust.”
“Don’t trouble yourself with the woes of life, for they will only prevent you from giving all of yourself to others.”
“Sometimes rules have to be broken; sometimes you have to follow your heart. Sometimes doing what you’re told isn’t always the right thing to do. I’m sure we wouldn’t have all these great inventions and philosophies if people always just did what they were told.”
““Your wish can’t stop inevitability.”
“Maybe it can. Maybe if I love you hard enough, the rest of the world with disappear.””
“Sometimes we must do what feels wrong because we know in our heart it’s the right thing to do.”
Be sure to enter the giveaways!!!
Giveaway:
For each book, Dannika Dark will give away 2 signed paperbacks. (Open Intl)
Grand-Prize Giveaway:
For a US or Intl winner, this will be a set of audiobooks for the series offered by Tantor Audio. For a second winner, (US only) there will be a set of signed paperbacks from Dannika Dark.
Schedule:
We are doing one book every 4-5 weeks, posting on Fridays. We will have a review for most of the books with the team here at Books of My Heart plus some of our friends.
Jul 19: Sterling – Brandee @Unconventional Bookworms
Aug 16: Twist – Lillian @ Mom with a Reading Problem
Sep 20: Impulse – KC
Oct 18: Gravity – Berls @ Because Reading
Nov 15: Shine – Kimberly @Caffeinated Reviewer
Dec 13: Risk – Anne
Jan 4: Q & A Post with Dannika Dark
About Nicole Poole
Nicole Poole is a classically trained actor with equal passions for literature and improvisation. She has toured with the Royal Shakespeare Company, has been a member of the critically acclaimed Walter Thompson Orchestra for over fifteen years, and recently became a member of the Parisian groups SPOUMJ and Anitya. She is honored to have been recognized for her narration by an AudioFile Earphones Award, a Publisher’s Weekly Listen-Up Award, and nomination for an Audie Award.
About Dannika Dark
Dannika Dark is a USA TODAY Bestselling author and Audie Awards Finalist of urban fantasy and paranormal romance novels.
THE MAGERI SERIES is an exciting urban fantasy romance about a young woman’s claim to immortality. Passionate, humorous, dark, and full of unpredictable twists, the Mageri series will take you on an unforgettable journey of love, friendship, and the hidden power within us all. Cliffhanger-free.
THE SEVEN SERIES is a paranormal romance that portrays Shifters living in secret in the modern world. A blend of humor, heartwarming romance, drama, and real-life issues. This series is for those who believe in family, second chances, and finding that person who completes you. Cliffhanger-free.
THE CROSSBREED SERIES is a compelling urban fantasy romance about a private organization of individuals who hunt evildoers. Dark secrets, complex characters, and plenty of action. Let a new series of magic, mayhem, and mystery begin!
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:
- 24-COYER
Shoot, I thought I had more time for this one. I read it, but I wanted to read it again before I wrote my review. It’ll be coming…
Well at least you got it read once. I hope you’ll enter the giveaways and perhaps even join us for the final chat Sunday.
I adored this book! I actually read and loved this one before I finally got into the Mageri series. Risk was definitely the push I needed to backtrack into the series. Simon is such a hilarious character ♡
Simon is so fun and I was thrilled to get a focus on him.
Happy to hear you enjoyed the series! I’m looking forward to the coming read-along!
Thank you Rachel. Me too. I always am excited because I pick things I really want to read.
Glad you enjoyed this one, the narrator can make all the difference.
The narrator is fantastic.
I participated in the readalong and re-read the Mageri series with the addition of first reads for Closer and Risk. I so enjoyed this series!
I was so happy to have you join us Brandee. I love having your thoughts and ideas in the discussions.
I loved this series. Well, I love all of her series…lol, but this and Crossbreeds are my favorites.
I look forward to reading more of the series.
“’m emotionally invested in them and their world” awww I love that feeling.
yes connection is great