The Atomic Sea, Part Four : The Atomic Sea

This series gets better, and better with every part. I'm totally invested in these character now. The good and the bad.... don't think I ever like a bad guy before. :)

As always spoilers follow...

Okay so this has to have been one of the most emotional and hard parts for me to listen to and I shall tell you why.

Three major dynamics are at play here for me, and they're emotionally very strong, which is what the writer's been building for. And he's done a great job.

Avery and his daughter... Such deep seeded background and emotion for us to follow here. Every situation is marred by these characters pasts, if only they could move past some of what happend to them and look to a better future. This book shows how tough a decision that is actually to do in real life. It's a constant battle for Avery to think of the bigger picture and not just his daughter, who he would die for.

Sheridon and Avery - I have to say here. I do not hate Sheridon AT all. Her goals aren't that far stretched for me to actually believe now that she is trying to fight for a better world but in her own way, within her own closed in life. She's emotionally scared just as Avery is, and she's actually finally shown some real emotion here, which took some horrendous amount of courage for her. I'm admit I was almost on the verge of tears for her because Avery does the 'right' thing in his world and takes back the device.

Avery and Layanna - Again another huge dynamic here, that really tugs at the heart strings. They've almost broken up because Layanna accepted sacrifices to finish the device (the device to save the world) and Avery can't get over that horrid thought that she ate some innocent lives. There is such a bigger picture issue here for everyone that it's hard to grasp everything in your own head untill you actually sit and think about it. So much action, travel and so many decisions to be made.

For Layanna seeing her husband and son after all these years is awful. They hate her, but don't, and that's difficult for her. But the one thing it does do is bring Avery and Layanna back together, phew. I don't want them to suffer any longer...

Janx and Hildra, well they're still such fun and wonderful characters on their own, Janx with his stories, and Hildra with her swagger, and need for hildebrand. you can't help but love them all. I do hope this journey isn't going to be any harder on these four.

Overall. This is a series that has your head in the clouds one minute with it's wonderful descriptive sea creatures from another dimension, then back down in hell as we realise they're more horrid in nature than beautiful. Such terrible sickening things they do to people. ugggh the writer really makes you want to vomit sometimes. Yet, I have to say its as fascinating as it is horrid.

Ray's performance in this part I totally believe is the best I've heard from him so far. The book itself has so many emotional scenes, that his effort in delivery of them is 100% so thick with feeling that you can't help but be right there with the characters in their world. Feel the devastation they're going through and then sometimes (very rare) the joy at that emotion.

This is a long series, and my only wish was there were some better breaks in-between the books. But, I guess because it's so long there kinda isn't many good places to stop...

Looking forward to the next in the series... come on guys!