By: Michael S. HeiserNarrated by: Tim H. DixonLength: 17 hrs and 10 mins This book reshaped the way I understand Scripture by inviting the reader to see the biblical story through the lens of the divine council, the heavenly court that surrounds the triune God. Heiser’s central argument, that much of the Bible assumes a…

The Untold Story of Ireland’s Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval EuropeBy: Thomas CahillNarrated by: Donal DonnellyLength: 8 hrs and 12 mins This book offers an engaging reexamination of a familiar but often oversimplified period of history. Cahill presents Ireland as a kind of refuge for learning during the…

By: John ScalziNarrated by: Wil WheatonLength: 8 hrs and 7 minsSeries: The Interdependency, Book 3 Much the same as my thoughts on the previous installment: fast, accessible, and entertaining, delivering exactly what Scalzi does best and closing the trilogy cleanly.

By: John ScalziNarrated by: Wil WheatonLength: 8 hrs and 19 minsSeries: The Interdependency Book 2 This was precisely what I was looking for: a fast, easy, and engaging listen. Scalzi excels at delivering momentum, sharp dialogue, and accessibility, and this installment plays directly to those strengths without apology. It asks little and delivers exactly that,…

By: Andy WeirNarrated by: Rosario DawsonLength: 8 hrs and 57 mins I went into this book already aware that it was generally considered weaker than Andy Weir’s other work, and I found that assessment fair. Having expectations set properly helped; approached on its own terms, the novel proved better than I expected while still reinforcing…

By: Rob DircksNarrated by: Rob DircksLength: 5 hrs and 37 mins I came to this book for its familiar science fiction premise and found a concept with genuine promise. However, recurring tonal choices and a style of humor that did not suit my tastes kept me at a distance. While clearly intentional and likely enjoyable…

By: Madeline MillerNarrated by: Perdita WeeksLength: 12 hrs and 8 mins This was another intentional voyage beyond my usual waters. The book’s strong reputation and its Hellenistic, Titan touched setting caught my eye; while I had encountered Circe before in passing, I began the story without any deep or settled knowledge of her. The prose…

By: Frederick ForsythNarrated by: Simon PrebbleLength: 13 hrs and 22 mins This was something of a divertimento from my usual fare. I set out deliberately to sample a dish well outside my normal menu, and while it was not entirely unfamiliar, it was certainly seasoned differently than what I typically consume. I found it interesting…

By: Christopher RuocchioNarrated by: Samuel RoukinLength: 28 hrs and 3 minsSeries: Sun Eater Book 2 Much of what I enjoyed in Empire of Silence continues here, and in many ways that opening volume exists to prepare the reader for this book. The scope widens, the stakes deepen, and the long arc of the story becomes clearer; the…

By: Robert HarrisNarrated by: Michael JaystonLength: 11 hrs and 25 mins This novel takes on alternate history and does so with real credibility; the world Harris constructs feels coherent, unsettling, and convincingly lived in. In many respects, the book feels like a contemporary of 11/22/63 in its seriousness of approach, though it achieves its alternate reality without…

By: Christopher RuocchioNarrated by: Samuel RoukinSeries: Sun Eater , Book 1.5Length: 5 hrs and 46 mins I was unsure whether to listen to this installment before or after beginning The Howling Dark; in practice, it works very well as a standalone adventure. The premise is engaging, the characters are well drawn, and the story feels complete…

By: Christopher RuocchioNarrated by: Samuel RoukinLength: 26 hrs and 6 minsSeries: Sun Eater, Book 1 Oh my, what a wonderful world to enter into. I continue to find myself drawn to stories that consciously echo the Roman Empire; Empire of Silence uses that familiar imperial frame to great effect, providing a stable foundation on which a vast,…