Very disappointing

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I'm surprised by the positive reviews this book received. It's very average. The concept is fabulous and in the right hands this should be an absolute block buster. However the writing lacks depth and the characters are largely underdeveloped. A good comparison would be Anne rice's interview with the vampire as a perfect demonstration of how beauty can be found in the macabre but this falls significantly short. The narration certainly did not help my enjoyment of this book with constant swallowing sounds and an unnecessary tendency to pronounce every foreign place name in a thick 'local' accent. Very unprofessional to leave all these additional sounds on the final edit. Could have been so much better on numerous levels.

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11 people found this helpful

Breathtaking, brilliant and beautiful

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An intriguing and exciting supernatural thriller that grabs your attention from its opening words and never lets go. Written in beautifully evocative prose, The String Diaries is full of characters that draw you in, and scenes that feel as though you’re there in the heart of the story.

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10 people found this helpful

Brilliant! Highly recommended.

If you could sum up The String Diaries in three words, what would they be?

Gripping
Fast-paced
Superb

What was one of the most memorable moments of The String Diaries?

When Hannah did't know if Nate really was Nate and she had to verify him quickly

Which character – as performed by Gemma Whelan – was your favourite?

Hannah

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes, it made me feel tense, anxious, excited, sad and happy! (Not all at once)

Any additional comments?

Really enjoyed this audio book. It's taught thriller, describing a centuries old obsessional chase and a fight for survival, with a wonderful twist on the gothic horror genre. Couldn't wait to start listening again and bereft when it finished. Please god there will be many more books in the series.

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9 people found this helpful

Constantly exciting

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Very clever storyline and well written with just enough suspense through the whole book to keep me constantly listening.

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8 people found this helpful

Really enjoyed this, couldn't stop listening.

This is an engrossing story told across three timelines which are drawn together in a satisfying way. The characters are believable and I very quickly cared about what was going to happen to them. I'm not a huge fan of historical novels but the strand in Hungary in the 1800s was interesting and I liked the way the folklore was developed. The story develops at a rattling pace and I found myself wondering what was going to happen next and eagerly getting into the car for the next installment.Interestingly, despite not liking the pursuer, I found myself feeling sympathy with him by the end.

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8 people found this helpful

I have traveled oceans of time to be with you

Supernatural story that is different and intriguing, with some truly charming characters and a fairy tale kind of charm, that keeps you interested and preoccupied for the character for most of the book, it maintains a level of suspense that most books do not achieve, but loses steam when the plot developments make it hard to sustain believability, it is more to do with motivation than the supernatural part of the tale.

A good read, that delivers more thrills and action than most books of this kind.

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7 people found this helpful

fabulous book do not miss this one.

This is a fab book, it is captivating to the end and the story line is superb. I could not stop listening to it and was upset when it finished. I have never heard of Stephen LLoyd Jones before but will look out for him in the future

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7 people found this helpful

DISAPPOINTING

I felt let down by this book. I am not an avid fan of fantasy fiction but I do like to step outside my usual purchases sometimes. It wasn't this Genre that brokered my disappointment. From the beginning I couldn't get it out of my head that the writer was probably a 6th former. It felt naïve but not in a good way, it was fast-paced but without depth. And then there was the narrator who was mostly good but really, how about doing some research pronunciation before embarking. Balliol and rowlock were the two major mis-pronunciation. Call me a pedant but I believe if you are putting this into the public realm then we deserve attention to this sort of detail.

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7 people found this helpful

great story, bad editing

This is well written. Separate timelines and pov's woven well. great build of tension and suspense. I'd highly recommend it for a binge listen.

There are some problems with the narration, the narrator does a good job, however there ate numerous swallowing sounds- throat clearing , quite loud and a bit off putting.

Also the Irish accent was pretty awful, is that how dara o brian, Ardal o hanlon, Liam neeson or Graham Norton speaks? I think it would be worth updating these accents, also the Irish character mentions leprechauns, seriously, leprechauns.

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7 people found this helpful

Give it time

It is a slow start, but it's worth the wait.

You know a couple and their child are stranded in Snowdonia, something is after them, but you don't know what. The author cleverly ups the tension with each chapter as you flit between Hungary, Paris and Cambridge; all the time wanting to know what is chasing at their heels.

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6 people found this helpful