maddelleine 's review for:

The Wandering Inn by Pirateaba

4.5

adventurous funny lighthearted slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Aaaaaand I fell down the rabbit hole!
I'm not sure if I would've been as hooked if I read the book instead of listening to it, but maybe I'll give it a shot with one of the next volumes. However, Andrea Parsneau does a tremendous job as narrator! 

Although it's a single narrator, the experience feels like a full cast and I'm not exaggerating. Case in point - do you know how, in a book, an author builds up to revealing a character (one that says a dramatic line and you need to read on to figure out who's speaking)? In the audiobook, the moment she starts talking, it's immediately identifiable. She gives nuances to species and then to each character in part. So that you either figure out the character or, if it's a new/ unknown character, it gets obvious pretty fast to at least what species they belong. One of the best narrators I've heard*.

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* I know some people complain about the narration. And I also know that this book is a second edition and has been re-recorded. So maybe the first try sounded terrible, but I'll never know
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The book is pretty long (and next one even longer... of a series of similar tomes which reached volume 16 at the time of writing), which might be discouraging for some. And even annoying for people who crave action and dynamism. But I honestly can't tell when the 45 hours (!) flew by and I reached the end.

<b> Don't start this if...</b>
As I said above, if you need a faster place, this is not the book for you. It's not full of static descriptions (which I don't like), but it's full of small activities (picking fruits, making pasta, playing chess etc.). I do love these and I could read all day about the (challenging) everyday, but I know some people don't.

Don't start it if the ONLY thing you want is cosy fiction. While this is mostly cosy, there are some heartbreaking moments and a tiny bit of gore. It's so rare, I was shocked every time, as I forgot this would also happen. 

Also don't start if you DON'T want cosy fiction :). As I just said - it is mostly cosy and this is the general vibe. It's not epic, it's not high fantasy, it's not grand. It's your run-of-the-mill, everyday people trying to make a living of their lives.

<b>What's to like</b>
It's a slice-of-life kind of book, with a human from our world who wakes up all of a sudden in an unknown place. A place where people level on skills, there's magic and there definitely isn't any of the technology of Earth. And humans aren't the only people (actually they're pretty scarce around there).

I enjoyed going back to this world each time I picked up the audiobook again. Not necessarily to see how the story advances, but to see what's up with the characters. For me it was like going to my favourite place, roaming around, getting lost among my new friends before returning to reality.

There is, of course, a story and a thread. Actually, at some point, several threads that eventually make sense together (partly; and I'm now eager to see how the story continues). But I don't think it's the kind of book which makes it a point to reach a conclusion. And if it were, it would be the most frustrating book. I imagine it will end at some point. But I'm happy to just keep on going until I have enough... and then leave it aside waiting for when I want to go back to Liscor or any of the other wonderful places the first book doesn't reach.

Now... I know Andrea Parsneau announced her retirement as narrator from the series. Which is heartbreaking considering how awesome she is. But that's a problem for when I finish the 16 she worked on. And maybe an opportunity to see who will continue her legacy.

Now off I go to get the next volumes. The tale must go on!