- Title:
- The Secret of Heaven
- Author:
- Felix Alexander
- Release:
- August 12, 2019
- Format:
- Audiobook
- Narrator:
- Seth Regis
- Series:
- Aiden Leonardo, Book 1
First off, two things that annoyed the holy hell out of me about this book is the author referring to the 1930s and 1940s as “The 30s and 40s.” Those decades weren’t even in the same century as us, let alone the same Millenium. 1949 was 70 years before this novel is set. People talk about the 1900s as if they were last week and it’s far past time people update their vernacular.
I’m knocking points off of this book for annoying writing. Green eyes in fiction have just becum just lazy writing for “pay attention to me”. Somebody wrote a blog post in 2012 pointing out this issue in fiction, meaning this has been an issue for over a decade. It’s lazy and uninspired. I highly doubt most people give random strangers eye colors a second thought in public, let alone bring it up constantly. Green-eyed people are rare, but that doesn’t make us a goddamn circus exhibit. That being said, at the very least, other characters’ eye colors were mentioned.
As for what I like about the book, literally everything else. It’s a thriller that’s actually thrilling. It’s rare, at least for me, where I’m actually listening to a thriller and hanging onto every word. It’s intense and exciting. I like how it weaves in actual historical fact with what appears to be a well-researched historical and religious myth. I think the world-building and secret society are very well done.
There was a bit of mystery involved, though I wasn’t trying to figure it out. I was just along for the ride. I was pleased with the reveals at the end and I’m excited for book 2.
The narration was a big ‘ol mixed bag. Everybody sounds (mostly) the same, I often had trouble telling who the hell was supposed to be speaking. The overall emoting was well done enough, but I got sick of the narrator constantly mispronouncing basic words. He doesn’t know the difference between O and 0. He kept saying things such as “5:O2”, hache, sawr, Fas-aide, Pry-us, Conquistators, etc. It was often that I had to guess what the hell word he was trying to say. There was a single instance I noted of repeated dialogue as well.
Overall, this is an easy “Read it!” from me, just get the physical or kindle version. The narration isn’t worth it.
NOTE: This copy was provided to me free of charge as a digital review copy. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone, I was not paid or requested to give this book a certain rating, suggestion, or approval.