A very nice, if oddball, tale

I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

The Book

The first thing you have to do when listening to this is realise its a very oddball concept, once you're past that then its easy to settle down and enjoy whats actually a good little story. The characters develop nicely as things go on and we see how Seg and Eck's relationship evolved and how Seg eventually takes her place in the cycle and returns to where she set out from at peace with her life and choices and able to see the good things from her own past now she shared her old mentors experiences.

The Production

The narrator is so easy to listen to, it's nice to have a good english accent reading a book and she reads with good emphasis, emotion and does character voices too. Great choice and definitely one to remember for other audiobooks.

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1 person found this helpful

Bizzarly enough witches meets plumbing in another world - It works

I was given this book for free, at my own request, to provide a hopefully unbiased review by the author.

Who would think that plumber witches would work out? Not me. In this world orphan girls can be taken under the wing of a plumbess (basically a plumber witch) and is trained up to become one themselves. The entire universe is wrapped in pipes and valves. These plumbess do everything from magically hunting down water sources, to delivering babies and even a dash of traditional plumbing. Plunger in hand much like a witches wand.

We don't see that much typical magic, discounting the gal who speaks to snakes and the miraculous ability to shove any item into any pipe regardless of size with sufficient motivation. The story wraps around a young woman, jumping back from time to time to explain her early life being trained up newly certified as a plumbess striking out into the world to make her own. Her quest is to find an employer and do her job, plumbing.

The people in the world initially seem fairly incapable. It seems to imply they cannot give birth or even dig a ditch to take a dump in without a plumbess to show them the light. Turns out that's not the case, the training to create a plumbess just starts at step one and we see that training well before we see any actual people going about their life.

If you like what you have heard so far this book may well be for you. The names can get a tad confusing since eveyone seems to have a one syllable name and those prone to mis-hearing things (myself) can end up halfway through the book confused as to which of two characters our main girl isn't a fan off. I think I'm off to give it another listen perhaps this time I will fully grasp who's who (and even dispite that it's a fabulous book). For me the only downside is that there doesn't seem to be any more of these books. I would love to see more books in this universe.

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Definitely an unusual read!

Excellent narration, the story meandered initially but was well worth plumbing the depths of the story!

Great listen for those looking for somethung a bit odder than regular fantasy, towards the stylings of Yathzee Croshaw.

The flaw was very well world-built, but story could have been longer

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young adult and fun listen

firstly I should say I receive this book for free and it is outside of what I would usually choose to listen to but I really enjoyed this story. the concept is fun, the characters are interesting and the story is engaging. so much so I am looking forward to a sequel if one is to be released.

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A story for our time.

Obligatory disclaimer: this book was offered to me.

The fantasy novel has always been a mirror held up to reality, and this story reflects the problems which preoccupy our cities: access to and use of water, treatment of waste, and to a lesser extent, the dignity of labour. It is also a coming-of-age story, and as such might find an audience among young adults who can handle a bit of gore.

I was mildly surprised when the book ended where it did, it must be said, but I daresay a sequel will clear up my many unanswered questions.

Alison Campbell has done a workmanlike and competent bit of narration, clear and easy to follow.

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Loved it!

It's a very thorough view of the world from one single aspect - plumming. Told as a story of the people who grow and learn to be masters of such a world. It's most definitely a fantasy novel, almost a children's story and it is delightful!

Narration is very very good, the whole world view is carried through the voice of the two main characters.

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