Tag: John Lenahan

Mini-Review: The Prince of Hazel and Oak

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment

Prince

  • Author: John Lenahan
  • ISBN: 9780007425594
  • Publisher: The Friday Project
  • Genre: Fantasy

The information above is for the paperback and ebook edition.  I listened to the free “podiobook” version from podiobooks.com.  Since this is the 2nd book in the Shadowmagic series by John Lenahan, I’m keeping this review short, as I will do for any books after the 1st in a series.

There isn’t anything different to say about The Prince of Hazel and Oak that I’ve already said about Shadowmagic.  I’m still a huge fan of John Lenahan and his books, and the “podiobook” format.  The third book in the Shadowmagic series, The Sons of Macha, isn’t available as a “podiobook”, and I haven’t seen it offered as an audiobook anywhere, either, so I was a little sad when The Prince of Hazel and Oak came to an end.  My next audiobook has some fierce competition.

If you’ve already taken my recommendation to listen to Shadowmagic, then listen to the “podiobook” version of this book as well.  You won’t be disappointed.  I’ve already got The Sons of Macha as an ebook, and I can’t wait to find the time to read it.

 

Review: Shadowmagic

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment

Shadow

  • Author: John Lenahan
  • ISBN: 9781905548927
  • Publisher: Harper Collins

The above information is for the paperback and ebook edition.  I listened to the free “podiobook” version from podiobooks.com.

Though I’ve listened to audio books before, this was my first “podiobook”.  I’m now a huge fan of the format, John Lenahan, and his book, Shadowmagic.  My commute to and from school has never been more fun!  I deliberately held off on listening to it until I was in my car, unless I was finishing up the last couple minutes of a chapter, which was difficult at times.  I frequently had the urge to continue listening, but I told myself it was better to savor it, since it would be over all too soon.  I’m already listening to the second book, Prince of Hazel and Oak, and I have a feeling I’ll be just a little bit sad when it ends.  I’m sure there are other great books on podiobooks.com, but finding them will likely involve a bit of trial and error.  Thankfully, they’re free.

I can’t say for sure, but I think listening to the book, which is narrated by the author, rather than reading a print version, is what got me hooked.  I felt like I was being told a story, instead of just being read to, if that makes sense?  I think the difference is in the enthusiasm of the author as he narrates.  In an author’s note at the end of the book, he mentions that he wrote it for his son, and I’m sure that’s a factor in his performance.  If I had been reading the book, I might have felt that the story was a little silly, but then again, maybe not.  I really don’t know.  I just feel that this is a story that needs to be told rather than read.

With that being said, I have to recommend the “podiobook” version.  It’s free, so it gives you the chance to try it out without costing anything in case you’re not 100% sold on it yet.  If you love Fantasy, the childlike feeling of being told a story, or Irish Celtic mythology, you can’t go wrong with Shadowmagic.