Scan barcode
joshhall13's review
2.0
The style is unusual.
I didn't like the mix of the meta-story... the choose-your-own-adventure narration. I might have enjoyed it if it was the center of the story, but the real sci-fi story is buried between 2 other meta-stories. IDK.. not my thing.
The audio was performed well, though.
I didn't like the mix of the meta-story... the choose-your-own-adventure narration. I might have enjoyed it if it was the center of the story, but the real sci-fi story is buried between 2 other meta-stories. IDK.. not my thing.
The audio was performed well, though.
ratgrrrl's review
5.0
Utterly Blown Away
I am genuinely stunned after listening to this novella. I am baffled and moved and excited and genuinely frustrated that there is currently no more Ribay to get on Audible.
The levels of meta are only more ludicrous than the deftness, purpose, and heart with which they are wielded. I am long time enjoyer of choose your own adventures and roleplaying games, so picking this up at random and that being one of the central conceits was wonderful to see, especially with it being pulled off and subverted with aplomb.
The narrative of the story within the story is fantastic and the one-sided additions from the artificial intelligence narrator in conversation and collaboration with the silent reader is witty and poignant.
I'm completely flabbergasted with just how much I adored this.
Thank you!
I am genuinely stunned after listening to this novella. I am baffled and moved and excited and genuinely frustrated that there is currently no more Ribay to get on Audible.
The levels of meta are only more ludicrous than the deftness, purpose, and heart with which they are wielded. I am long time enjoyer of choose your own adventures and roleplaying games, so picking this up at random and that being one of the central conceits was wonderful to see, especially with it being pulled off and subverted with aplomb.
The narrative of the story within the story is fantastic and the one-sided additions from the artificial intelligence narrator in conversation and collaboration with the silent reader is witty and poignant.
I'm completely flabbergasted with just how much I adored this.
Thank you!
marvusxoloto's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
bloopers's review
2.0
An attempt on making a twist to a traditional CYOA (choose your own adventure) novel which had potential but ultimately fell flat. The first thing that comes to mind is the prologue which tells you to make a decision whenever a certain sound is played - fast forward to the next chapter, the sound plays, and I try to say something but quickly realize I don't have any actual control. Disappointing, but the premise of trying to figure out who we are and what happened to the world still intrigued me.
The Player or the person actually making the decisions tried to be important but in the end I only learned like three things about them. Also, there were times whenever they "said" something to the Narrator (they don't actually have a line of dialogue), I knew from the Narrator's reaction they said something hurtful so I just didn't connect with them as a person. But hey, I'm able to develop an opinion on a character without them never actually saying anything, so point to Ribay.
The Narrator (who I didn't realize was Manny Jacinto until now??) has a nice voice and personality, for the most part I didn't mind the interactions between the two. Their "conversations" (as mentioned before, Listener doesn't have any dialogue - a bit weird having a one-sided conversation but Jacinto's voice is nice so ehh) had the potential of becoming something which could make the reader
The sci-fi part of the story is decent, there wasn't any point where I was bored but I was always expecting more. It touched on certain themes relating to what Earth will be like in the future, but they're never really explored. In a word, forgettable.
Something I notice that comes up a lot is lost potential. Ignoring the fake CYOA aspect, the story could've been so much better. The conversations between the Listener and the Narrator didn't add anything, if so just consistently reminding the reader the story is fiction, losing immersion. There could've been some connection between the "real world" and the world in the sci-fi story but the opportunity was unfortunately not taken. Maybe there's something I'm missing, a piece of dialogue I just didn't understand, but oh well.
The Player or the person actually making the decisions tried to be important but in the end I only learned like three things about them. Also, there were times whenever they "said" something to the Narrator (they don't actually have a line of dialogue), I knew from the Narrator's reaction they said something hurtful so I just didn't connect with them as a person. But hey, I'm able to develop an opinion on a character without them never actually saying anything, so point to Ribay.
The Narrator (who I didn't realize was Manny Jacinto until now??) has a nice voice and personality, for the most part I didn't mind the interactions between the two. Their "conversations" (as mentioned before, Listener doesn't have any dialogue - a bit weird having a one-sided conversation but Jacinto's voice is nice so ehh) had the potential of becoming something which could make the reader
The sci-fi part of the story is decent, there wasn't any point where I was bored but I was always expecting more. It touched on certain themes relating to what Earth will be like in the future, but they're never really explored. In a word, forgettable.
Something I notice that comes up a lot is lost potential. Ignoring the fake CYOA aspect, the story could've been so much better. The conversations between the Listener and the Narrator didn't add anything, if so just consistently reminding the reader the story is fiction, losing immersion. There could've been some connection between the "real world" and the world in the sci-fi story but the opportunity was unfortunately not taken. Maybe there's something I'm missing, a piece of dialogue I just didn't understand, but oh well.
allanvdh's review
1.0
This book is boring. The book is intended to make you believe it’s interactive but it’s a narrator having really silly monologues with what’s supposed to be you.
red_sky's review
4.0
What a fun little adventure!
I listened to this with Patrick on a road trip, and I think that really enhanced my enjoyment of this book. Had I listened to it on my own it probably would have been a lower rating for me. However listening together and yelling at the narrator our choices and frustration was a lot of fun.
We were both disappointed to find out it wasn't actually a choose your own adventure. So buyer beware! Before you spend your hard earned money on this free book, it may not be what you think.
Overall it was a exciting, interesting, and meta journey from start to finish and I would definitely recommend! It's super short and great for a road trip.
I listened to this with Patrick on a road trip, and I think that really enhanced my enjoyment of this book. Had I listened to it on my own it probably would have been a lower rating for me. However listening together and yelling at the narrator our choices and frustration was a lot of fun.
We were both disappointed to find out it wasn't actually a choose your own adventure. So buyer beware! Before you spend your hard earned money on this free book, it may not be what you think.
Overall it was a exciting, interesting, and meta journey from start to finish and I would definitely recommend! It's super short and great for a road trip.
jacobjonk's review
4.0
A pretty interesting quick read that I thought offered some interesting ideas and concepts that worked very well as an audio drama without the audio elements being forced and distracting from the story as is often the case.
cameeroo's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
edensgrief's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0