Scourge

A Grim Doyle Adventure, Book 1

By: David H. Burton

Narrated by: R.C. Bray

Length: 6 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

Two dads, five siblings, and goggles! Grim Doyle has always known his life was not exactly "normal", and things get even more curious when he discovers a set of stones that sweep him and his family to the fantasy, steampunk world of Verne - a place they had escaped from years ago.

Now that they've returned, Grim and his siblings hide from the evil Lord Victor and his minions. And while learning about Jinns, Mystics, and the power of absinth they try to discover who is trying to kill them with the deadly Scourge.

©2010 David H. Burton (P)2012 David H. Burton

From Burton to Gilliam for the YA & Adult alike!

What about R. C. Bray’s performance did you like?

I enjoyed his almost 'in-the-know' delivery; like the stranger-from-the-outskirts-that's-really-a-gentle-soul that all the parents say to keep away from simply because they don't understand him... but he has one heck of a tale to tell!!!
Sounds like he was even part of the goings on at some point. Like he was a witness to it. Good stuff.

Any additional comments?

It's been a long time since I've read (heard) a book that took me back to my childhood. And I don't mean because it was like the books I read when I was young, but it actually made me feel like I was 10 or 12 years old again.

The little guy inside me had an absolutely blast listening to this book! Since the dawn of Harry Potter, there have been a lot of books that followed in its path (Percy Jackson, Eragon, and the like). I'd love it if Scourge were to receive the same type of attention.

This is truly groundbreaking stuff here that I can't highly recommend enough. It's put together so well and is so vivid. While similar in nature to the above-mentioned books, it also stands apart in it's creativity. The best way I can put it is if Terry Gilliam would direct Scourge as a movie, it could easily be his "Hugo."

I'm making it my mission to get this book into every area library it's that good. I really think kids from age 8 or 9 up through 14 or 15 would get a great thrill out of it. I think parents would find it equally as exciting. The humor is wity and wry - very 'English' and accessible to anyone with a sense of humor.

PLEASE DON'T PASS THIS ONE UP!!!

Well writen and well read.

If you could sum up Scourge in three words, what would they be?

Finely crafted and easy to get into.

What other book might you compare Scourge to and why?

Terry Pratchett's Johnny and the Dead or any of his YA novels. Like Terry Pratchett's books the author presents an easy prose that allows the read to become totally engrossed in the story.

What does R. C. Bray bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He is a master of voice and tone. He gave every character just the right amount of vocal interest. He is awesome.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. though I listened while driving to Maine, so periodically I had to stop.

Young adult sci-fi

I'm a fan of RC Bray as a narrator, but he can't save this awful story. It must be written for young adults. It starts out interestingly until it moves to the alternate reality that is marred by terrible characters only an 11 year old would appreciate. Not what I was expecting so I was disappointed. I didn't finish the book. Hopefully someone else can enjoy it for what it is.