Gio'
A Master of Djinn – 4 Stars:
The story has a great setup, and the way it blends real historical references, old myths, and new imaginative elements makes for a lively and exciting world. The characters feel alive, and the story is fun, though not particularly original. I’d give 5 stars for the world-building, but the plot is a bit too familiar, and the book feels slightly too long—tighter editing would have made a difference.
As for the audiobook, it was problematic. The narrator is over-enthusiastic, with dramatic volume shifts—especially during accents or intense moments—that were ear-splitting. I had to constantly adjust the volume, which is a first for a professional audiobook. It's a shame because the narrator is pretty good at a normal volume, but the production quality is definitely below average.
A Master of Djinn – 4 Stars:
The story has a great setup, and the way it blends real historical references, old myths, and new imaginative elements makes for a lively and exciting world. The characters feel alive, and the story is fun, though not particularly original. I’d give 5 stars for the world-building, but the plot is a bit too familiar, and the book feels slightly too long—tighter editing would have made a difference.
As for the audiobook, it was problematic. The narrator is over-enthusiastic, with dramatic volume shifts—especially during accents or intense moments—that were ear-splitting. I had to constantly adjust the volume, which is a first for a professional audiobook. It's a shame because the narrator is pretty good at a normal volume, but the production quality is definitely below average.
A Time for Mercy – 5 Stars:
Happy, happy, happy. Before reading this, I thought Grisham was no longer a thing for me. It had been a few years since I was truly engrossed in one of his books.
Sure, the Camino series is fine—nothing to complain about—but its light silliness isn’t where Grisham shines. A Time for Mercy is a classic courtroom Grisham, executed with perfect pacing.
You can’t put it down, and it will completely derail your plans for the day. It’s probably not going to win any awards or break new ground, but it’s fun, well-written, and has fairly well-developed characters.
A Time for Mercy – 5 Stars:
Happy, happy, happy. Before reading this, I thought Grisham was no longer a thing for me. It had been a few years since I was truly engrossed in one of his books.
Sure, the Camino series is fine—nothing to complain about—but its light silliness isn’t where Grisham shines. A Time for Mercy is a classic courtroom Grisham, executed with perfect pacing.
You can’t put it down, and it will completely derail your plans for the day. It’s probably not going to win any awards or break new ground, but it’s fun, well-written, and has fairly well-developed characters.