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Performance
Overall
Excellent, Unforgettable, Best of the nest
Very good, thoroughly enjoyed,
Good, Solid, Enjoyed many aspects
STAR RATINGS GUIDE
Atmospheric, moreish and unique
THE BIRDICT
š§” Virtually impossible to review this without spoilers, but here goes. As a dystopia, it has an eerie, foreboding atmosphere that keeps me listening. This especially comes from the painting of a world that is a mere pixel away from being exactly the same as our own. Shivers.
š Itās always fun for fiction to offer up surprises and this clever tale does just that.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton Audio for providing me with an ALC in return for an honest review.
SQUAWKING THE TALK
š§ Sophie Bentinckās smooth, clear, understated delivery makes her an absolutely compelling narrator. Would I compare listening to her voice to eating Nutella directly from the tub? Perhaps, if I had ever done so (which of course I have never, no follow ups please).
š§ This was an easy to follow, smooth production. And, at 12 hours or so, thereās plenty to get your teeth into.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER: SIMILAR AUDIOBOOKS
š I canāt fault the writing style and Fern is a fantastic, relatable character. But I canāt deny I was disappointed the dystopia wasnāt real. I think Iām going to be alone in this - in fact a cursory look at other reviews tells me as much - and this totally derives from the fact that I LOVE dystopias and they are a rare find.
Click For Spoilers
End of Story
THE BLURB
It's the year 2035 and fiction has been banned by the government for five years. Writing novels is a crime. Reading fairytales to children is punishable by law.
Fern Dostoy is a criminal. Officially, she has retrained in a new job outside of the arts but she still scrawls in a secret notepad in an effort to capture what her life has become: her work on a banned phone line, reading bedtime stories to sleep-starved children; Hunter, the young boy who calls her and has captured her heart; and the dreaded visits from government officials.
But as Fern begins to learn more about Hunter, doubts begin to surface. What are they both hiding? And who can be trusted?
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