Audio Review. Rose under Fire - Elizabeth Wein

Rose Justice is a young pilot with the Air Transport Auxiliary during the Second World War. On her way back from a semi-secret flight in the waning days of the war, Rose is captured by the Germans and ends up in Ravensbrück, the notorious Nazi women's concentration camp. There, she meets an unforgettable group of women, including a once glamorous and celebrated French detective novelist whose Jewish husband and three young sons have been killed; a resilient young girl who was a human guinea pig for Nazi doctors trying to learn how to treat German war wounds; and a Nachthexen, or Night Witch, a female fighter pilot and military ace for the Soviet air force.

These damaged women must bond together to help each other survive. In this companion volume to the critically acclaimed novel Code Name Verity, Elizabeth Wein continues to explore themes of friendship and loyalty, right and wrong, and unwavering bravery in the face of indescribable evil. 

My thoughts:

Another book that almost took a year to finish. But this time it was because I  put it on my old mp3 player. Big mistake, it kept jumping around chapters so I gave up. And then I listened to other audiobooks, and then I came back to this one now and then. I am bad at focusing sometimes. But hey at least it worked coming back to now and then.

Edit. This was before my mastering of audiobooks, some of this pre-sched posts are old

Rosie is a pilot during WWII. She is a civilian, but she ends up in Ravensbruck. There is a lot before and after too. Before she ended up there and how she is trying to deal with it afterwards.

The Ravensbruck time introduces us to the rabbits, medical experimented on by the nazis, and many more women. Friendships are made and they help each other survive. Loyalty in a horrible place where people are dying left and right.

Conclusion:
A good story and I liked the friendships made in this awful place.

Sasha Pick. The narrator did a good job. She was nice listening too.

Audiobook, Unabridged, 10-12 hours?
Published June 1st 2013 by Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd
Code Name Verity #2
Historical fiction / YA
Own

Audio Reviews: Code Name Verity, The Jester, Professional Integrity

Oct. 11th, 1943—A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. One of the girls has a chance at survival. The other has lost the game before it's barely begun.

When “Verity” is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn’t stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she’s living a spy’s worst nightmare. Her Nazi interrogators give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution.

As she intricately weaves her confession, Verity uncovers her past, how she became friends with the pilot Maddie, and why she left Maddie in the wrecked fuselage of their plane. On each new scrap of paper, Verity battles for her life, confronting her views on courage and failure and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from the enemy? 

My thoughts:

There are things in this review I can not tell, things that happen later, but I really can not say anything, so I will focus on the story being told in the beginning.

We have Maddie, who loves flying and working on engines. She is working on getting her license, and she is a woman in a man's world, but she loves it. But then obviously the war starts and she she will join in the only way she can. Ferrying planes. We also see how she meet her best friend Queenie.

But all of this is told in France, when the Gestapo is trying to get out every piece of information. Having her write it on whatever they can find. And the story is told. The crash, life in England, info on planes and such.

And there is also another story told, but hey, I already said I could not speak of it...

It took me almost a year to listen to it. Not that it was bad, but because I first had the book on my old phone, and then I got a new one and sigh, not compatible since I refuse to upgrade to win10 cos that sucks. SO put it in my old mp3 player...and yes it took some time to listen to it. But I was never bored, I think I had a rocky start but can not remember. I even started crying when out walking once cos it got sad, and I am so glad I did not meet anyone on that walk.

Is this YA? I guess so, bloody sad YA if so. With the torture and well war and so on...

Conclusion:
But it was good, and the narrator did a great job.

cover
meh

Audiobook, 10 pages
Published June 6th 2012 by Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd
Code Name Verity #1
Historical fiction / YA
OWN
Morven Christie (Narrator), Lucy Gaskell (Narrator)

WHO WILL HAVE THE LAST LAUGH?
Stop me if you’ve heard this one. A thief, a candlemaker, an ex-mercenary, and a pig farmer walk into a trap…and what happens to them is no joke. When Riyria is hired to retrieve a jester’s treasure, Royce and Hadrian must match wits with a dwarf who proves to be anything but a fool. Difficult choices will need to be made, and in the end those who laugh last do so because they are the only ones to survive.

My thoughts:
A short story with Royce and Hadrian in a tight spot. There is humour, and a good little adventure. I can't say a lot really. They were like stuck in a cave most of the time trying to get out. It was good, and I have missed these guys.

Audible Audio, unabridged Audible download, 33 pages
Published January 17th 2014 by Audible Studios
Riyria #2.5, The Riyria Chronicles
Tim Gerard Reynolds (Narrator)
Fantasy
Own

Several years have passed since the war-weary mercenary Hadrian and cynical ex-assassin Royce joined forces to start their thieves-for-hire organization better known as Riyria. Things have gone well enough for the team as they do "jobs" for various nobles throughout Elan. Usually that means stealing something, but when a young heiress asks them to steal her…well, that's a first for the pair. All is not as it seems, but Royce is determined to get the bottom of what's actually going on. After all, he has his professional integrity at stake.

Originally released in the Blackguards anthology published by Ragnarok Publications, this is a standalone short story of 10,800 words. No prior knowledge of The Riyria Revelations or The Riyria Chronicles is required to enjoy it.

My thoughts:
A great narration.

Hadrian and Royce is an awesome pairing. They do bring out the best and worst in each other ;)

I like Sullivan's dry wit.

And last, a good little story to listen to

Audible Audio, unabridged Aubible download, 1 page
Published June 3rd 2015 by Audible Studios
Riyria #2.6, The Riyria Chronicles
Fantasy
Own