Audiobook Review: Fated by Alyson Noel

Title: Fated
Series: Soul Seekers
Author: Alyson Noel
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press (MacMillan)
Release Date: May 22, 2012
Type: audiobook
Source: MacMillan audio
My rating: 

The first book in a magnificent new series about a girl who can navigate between the worlds of the living and the dead by #1 New York Times bestselling author Alyson Noël.

Lately strange things have been happening to Daire Santos. Animals follow her, crows mock her, and glowing people appear out of nowhere. Worried that Daire is having a nervous breakdown, her mother packs her off to stay in the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico with a grandmother she’s never met.

There she crosses paths with Dace, a gorgeous guy with unearthly blue eyes who she’s encountered before...but only in her dreams. And she’ll get to know her grandmother—a woman who recognizes Daire’s bizarre episodes for what they are. A call to her true destiny as a Soul Seeker, one who can navigate between the worlds of the living and the dead. Her grandmother immediately begins teaching her to harness her powers—but it’s an art that must be mastered quickly. Because Dace’s brother is an evil shape-shifter who’s out to steal her powers. Now Daire must embrace her fate as a Soul Seeker and find out if Dace is one guy she’s meant to be with...or if he’s allied with the enemy she’s destined to destroy. (from goodreads)


My Thoughts:


This is my second time listening to an audiobook, and I enjoyed it. The thing I notice when I listen to audiobooks is that people really depict books differently and how we read it varies the tone, the pacing, which ultimately leads to different imaginations. It’s really really interesting. I’m not a super fan of audiobooks, but I don’t entirely hate it also. I actually like it, but not so much as I’ll listed to it everyday. But I’m kinda liking the idea of listening to one audiobook per month, as it broadens my horizon (imagination).


The reader, Brittany Preston is quite an exquisite reader. I can totally see her as Daire, the main character. Absolutely talented. Her voice ranges in different octaves and stuff. She gets into character with each of the characters. As Daire, she’s a natural. As Dace, though I can distinguish her voice as a woman’s voicing as a man, but the feelings she gives to it is genuine. I just admire her talent, she did the narration so well. 


The story. Fated was not what I expected it to be. Though I think if I read it myself, I would have thought of it differently. Weird actually why I feel that way. Anyway, I didn’t really love the story, I didn’t feel that “hearbeat” I’m looking for in a book.. but I enjoyed listening to the audiobook. I also have to commend Alyson Noel for her vivid and enchanting descriptions in her book. Though the story’s premise didn’t captivate me that much, I must admit how the events occurred was pretty unique. The love story wasn’t a major in the story, but it’s more of Daire’s adventure and responsibility as a Seeker. 


I would recommend this book to readers who like the fictions with merging of different worlds, and those who seek enchanting fantasies.