Review: Read or listen to audio book - great story
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 28, 2013
James Dupree wins an elven slave, Loren, in a card game, it's a deliberate act as he needs the elf slave to guide him in his search through the Lands Between for his families stolen Luck. Without the return of the Luck his family faces ruin. Loren, the elf, doesn't trust James, or humans at all, too used to being abused he expects James to do the same.James doesn't like keeping Loren a slave he is ashamed and full of guilt and as such treats Loren with as much respect as he can, and when he starts to realise he is attracted to Loren he knows he can't act on it as that would be reprehensible. I liked James; he was a decent, honourable man. Loren was a surprisingly strong character, kidnapped and forced into service as a pleasure slave; he is angry and doesn't trust James at all. Gradually as they travel the Lands Between looking for the Luck an understanding develops between them which sustain them when trouble strikes. Can they find the stolen Luck and return prosperity to the Dupree Lands, and then where does it leave master and slave?The story is told in a slow descriptive way, this comes out well in the audiobook, the reader has time to absorb each scene, especially important if you are listening to an audio recording of a book you haven't read. The worlds are well developed and the conflict between the mortal and Elven world is simply explained allowing the reader to follow along quite easily.The Stolen Luck by Shawna Reppert is well written, interesting, with captivating characters and wonderful world building, a perfect fantasy tale with a very satisfying ending.For lovers of audiobooks The Stolen Luck is highly recommended. Charles Carr is an excellent reader; he uses different voices for the characters and reads the story with just the right tone and inflection, and at a perfect pace. In an audiobook I honestly feel the quality of the reader is far more important than the quality of the story and while the story is good and interesting, Charles Carr's narration is superb. The audiobook runs for just over 8 hours, and I rate it as one of the best audiobooks I've ever listened to. Carina Press is consistent as one of the best producers of audiobooks. I loved this story, and would happily listen to it again; in fact I'm sure a sunny beach beckons very soon.Josie's 4 sweet pea review appears at mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index.php/?p=13008