Atreyu

My first Fonda Lee book. I love birds and fantasy, and had been on the prowl for a novella. So I was thrilled when I came across this ebook from my local Library. Felt a bit like destiny.

I can't give this book enough praises! The lore behind the Rocs and Manticores is fascinating. The prose is so fluid and descriptive that it allowed me to picture the Deceiver's creation in my mind like it were a movie; with it's drapping black tongue and ugly ape-like face and quil covered hide

Zahra is naturally my favorite Roc. 😉 I loved that we got to learn how they're caught and tamed-but-not-really and the hard work that goes into it. The hunts were always tense but exciting to read.

I borrowed this 2-Narrator Audiobook from my local library through Libby.

It's not normally something I read/listen too but I had been looking for something shorter and stumbled upon this on Amazon. It's the first book by Ray Naylor I've checked out.

Overall, I enjoyed it. I liked Ray Naylor's take on "what happens if we stick the copied memories of dead humans and place them in an animals and other tube grown humans" trope. I do wish he had spent a little bit more time exploring it though; perhaps answering what I consider to be one of the ultimate questions: Do the those carrying the copied memories have a soul? Can we even call those living with the copied memories human?

I do wonder what sort of life Damira would end up having, years after the story ends. Will she have offspring? Will her offspring have the same level of intelligence as her? In the book Damira views the memories of Mammoths as something physically solid; so perhaps they can and will be passed down. That they are more than just creatures of instincts.

Perhaps Ray wants us to decide for ourselves.

It took me a couple of chapters to get used to Stephen Rudnicki's voice, as it's rather grating and harsh. But I'm glad I stuck it out, because I think both he and Gabrielle de Cuir were perfect narrators for this story and the characters they voiced.