Audio Review of Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Title: Seraphina (Seraphina, #1)

Author: Rachel Hartman

Narrator: Mandy Williams and Justine Eyre
Published by: Listening Library
Length: 13hrs; 15mins
Source: Library
Format: Audio
Rating: 4 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high. 

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.

Seraphina was an unexpected delight.  

I didn't honestly think I would enjoy this book as much as I did.  A while ago Seraphina seemed to be popping up on my blogger feed all the time so when I was at the library last and saw the audio, I thought I would give it a try.  I should realize by now that when I don't think I'm going to like I book, I usually end up loving it. 

Dragons; that was my fear with this book.  Besides Pete's Dragon and the little they showed up in the Harry Potter series, my exposure to these creatures was limited and not very appealing.  Rachel Hartman gave dragons an interesting twist by having them be able to take a human form.  I don't yet know if I'm a fan of them or not, but I do love how they tried to assimilate and understand human emotions.  It was quite funny listening to how uncomfortable they were when they started to care about someone.    

The story itself, was exciting and adventurous.  It was action, mystery and a little bit of romance all wrapped up in an adorable story.  The characters were beautifully built and quite complex.  I enjoyed spending time with them and can not wait to see where this story goes.  

I  thoroughly enjoyed the audio version of Seraphina.  Mandy Williams and Justine Eyre did a wonderful job and kept me engaged throughout the entire story.  I think listening to the audio version is a great thing in this case because some of the words and terms were phonetically difficult for me, so instead of trying to figure out how to say something (even in my head...does anyone else do this or am I just crazy?) I didn't have to worry about that as it was done for me.

The moral of my story is...if you think you may not enjoy a book, pick it up anyways and you may be surprised.  

Audio Review of Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot

Title: Size 12 is Not Fat (Heather Wells, #1)
Author: Meg Cabot
Narrator: Justine Eyre
Published by: Books on Tape
Length: 10hrs, 5min
Source: Library
Format: Audio
Rating: 5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: HEATHER WELLS ROCKS!

Or, at least, she did. That was before she left the pop-idol life behind after she gained a dress size or two-and lost a boyfriend, a recording contract, and her life savings. Now that the glamour and glory days of endless mall appearances are in the past, Heather's perfectly happy with her new size 12 shape and her new job as an assistant dorm director at one of New York's top colleges. That is, until the dead body of a female student from Heather's residence hall is discovered at the bottom of an elevator shaft.The cops and the college president are ready to chalk the death off as an accident, the result of reckless youthful mischief. But Heather knows teenage girls . . . and girls do not elevator surf. Yet no one wants to listen even when more students start turning up dead in equally ordinary and subtly sinister ways. So Heather makes the decision to take on yet another new career: as spunky girl detective! 

But her new job comes with few benefits, no cheering crowds, and lots of liabilities, some of them potentially fatal. And nothing ticks off a killer more than a portly ex-pop star who's sticking her nose where it doesn't belong. . . 

Light, hilarious, and down-right fun; Size 12 is Not Fat was the perfect book to take me away from that crazy hectic thing we call life.  

I am a bit late to the Meg Cabot worshiping.  I never read many of her YA series, and every once in a while I'd pick up one of her books, but never religiously.  Well, I think that is about to change with this series.  I'm not quite sure if it was just the right book at the right time syndrome, or if this is as fabulous as I think it is, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was laughing-out-loud one minute, commiserating with Heather the next, and then seriously wondering who that dang killer was.  Even though there were some serious moments, the over all feel of the book was light-hearted and fun. 

Heather is a retired pop singer who landed a job at a New York College as the assistant director of one of the resident halls.  She's a fresh voice and while at times she can be a bit ditsy, she's also super funny and seems down to earth.  Her imagination tends to run wild, along with her curiosity, which land her in some sticky situations.  She is definitely a take charge kind of girl, without seeming pushy.  The whole cast of characters in Size 12 is Not Fat were entertaining and seemed to fit really well into the story.  

If you are looking for a light read, or dreaming of those days of beach reads (it's only dreaming here...we still have snow!) add this series to your list!  

Since I am so late to the game, what is your favorite Meg Cabot book? Or are you like me and haven't read many (or any)?