ImprudenceAudiobook review by Paul Fiander
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Written by: Gail Carriger
Narrated by: Moira Quirk Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins Series: Custard Protocol, Book 2 Publisher: Hachette Audio |
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Why Should I …… Listen to Imprudence?
There is something captivating about the Victorian era, the mixture of discovery both technological and geographical allows for intriguing stories based in reality. However when you add a dash of the fantastical in the form of Steampunk then you can really go to town. Imprudence is one of the best examples of this mix I’ve listened to in quite a while. Gail Carriger has created a wonderful cast full of desires than often conflict with each other. On top of that the addition of the Supernatural feels oddly rather natural to the story. In Prudence (Rue) we have an engaging central figure who is not short of a comic one liner and a fascinating backstory. The narration by Moira Quirk reflects Rue's character in all aspects of her performance, though her French accent is a little wobbly. Although this is not the first book in the series new readers need not be afraid as the story is executed to allow entry to all. |
Review
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Coming into a series can be difficult and it's something I try not to do. My preference is always to start at the beginning and go from there. There are times where this is not totally necessary and Imprudence is a great example of this. In structure the narrative explains the world and characters so well you feel at home after a few chapters. That is not to say that some background knowledge of events and characters would not be useful but overall the enjoyment of the story is open to newer readers. Of course there are a few points as the story unfolds where things will surprise you but I'm pretty sure this is the same for old and new readers alike.
The story revolves around the adventures of the Spotted Custard (an Airshipof sorts) and it's rather unique captain Prudence (aka Rue). Rue is a rather odd duck as her heritage is something of a mix of Supernatural influences that have given her the power to tether herself to all manner of beasties. As she does this she takes on their form and leaves them a lot less capable than they were before. This allows are often awkward lead character the chance to shed the prudish nature of the Victorian era on more than one occasion. These are played for laughs and they generally never fail to raise a smirk at the very least. Although I was laughing out loud on more often than not. Rue is not the only source of interest for the reader as the Spotted Custard is full of characters that fill the book with all manner of material. From the slightly mundane French engineer to the more fantastical Were-Lioness who is as mysterious in human form as she in her shifted form, we are give a wide breadth to engage with. We spend a great deal of time with the crew as Rue moves from the streets of London to the sunnier and drier climes of Egypt. This journey is brought about by a rather unfortunate situation that threatens to destroy Rue’s already complicated family situation. This is well explained and thanks to a small twist of fate the answer needed is in the land of the Pyramids. When in Egypt the story kicks up a notch with meetings with Bedouin tribes and Battles for air supremacy. The action sequences are nicely handled though a little bit subdued as generally Rue finds a chance to chat with her fellow crew members (mostly Primrose) and keep the tone of the story firmly in the light hearted camp and rightly so. The depth of the story comes into play more with the crew’s interactions. In many ways this is a coming of age tale for Rue as she explores the world as well her own self. The idea of liberation comes through loud and clear especially with a Lady as the ship captain. Again the play on Victorian culture allows for more than a few raised eyebrows as Carriger does her best to play with the setting. |
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The narration by Moira Quirk is generally very good. Each character is very distinctive and she does a hurt voice better than most narrators I’ve listened to. My favorite part of the performance has to be the depiction of the deckhands where she gets to hop around the United kingdom in search of a comic tone. Her voice for Rue is just as strong though her French accent does leave a little to be desired. The full Audiobook lasts a smidge over 12 hours and during that time I never felt bored, though the story does take time to build. Again this comes from wanting to learn about the parameters of the world Carriger was putting in place as well as the narrative itself.
With a great mix of humour and characters, Gail Carriger has created wonderfully rich world for Rue to explore. The best part is as yet she does not know what manner of adventures await though I’m hoping Carrier does. If you are new to Steampunk then this is a great series to look into and though I always say start at the beginning, you can jump into to Imprudence and still enjoy the ride.
I listened to this book through Audiobooks.com, this was my first dive into the service and it certainly proved to be a flawless experience. You have the choice to listen via streaming or to download the book to your device. I used my phone which allowed me to take advantage of the supplied widget. Look out for a full review of Audiobooks.com in the coming weeks.
With a great mix of humour and characters, Gail Carriger has created wonderfully rich world for Rue to explore. The best part is as yet she does not know what manner of adventures await though I’m hoping Carrier does. If you are new to Steampunk then this is a great series to look into and though I always say start at the beginning, you can jump into to Imprudence and still enjoy the ride.
I listened to this book through Audiobooks.com, this was my first dive into the service and it certainly proved to be a flawless experience. You have the choice to listen via streaming or to download the book to your device. I used my phone which allowed me to take advantage of the supplied widget. Look out for a full review of Audiobooks.com in the coming weeks.
Review copy and Cover Image courtesy of Publisher
