The Unleashing

Call of Crows, Book 1

By: Shelly Laurenston

Narrated by: Johanna Parker

Length: 11 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Kera Watson never expected to face death behind a Los Angeles coffee shop. Not after surviving two tours lugging an M16 around the Middle East. If it wasn't for her hot Viking customer showing up too late to help, nobody would even have seen her die. In uncountable years of service to the Allfather Odin, Ludvig "Vig" Rundstrom has never seen anyone kick ass with quite as much style as Kera. He knows one way to save her life - but she might not like it. Signing up with the Crows will get Kera a new set of battle buddies: cackling, gossiping, squabbling, party-hearty women. With wings. So not the marines. But Vig can't give up on someone as special as Kera.

With a storm of oh-crap magic speeding straight for LA, survival will depend on combining their strengths: Kera's discipline, Vig's loyalty...and the Crows' sheer love of battle. Boy, are they in trouble.

©2015 Shelly Laurenston (P)2015 Tantor

Meh, you have to suffer 80% of the book to start the story

The narrator was horrible, I someone else pointed out the weird southern accent, which doesn't make sense based in California.

Most of the book it's like listening to petty teenager brats simply complain with no reason or explanation. They tried to make the sorority house behave like a frat house. They are not the same. This went on for about 75% of the book, literally over 7 hrs of the 10 the books has. Absolutely unnecessary for the story.

When it started getting interesting, suddenly the scenes are supershort, incomplete and superficial. Why did we have to suffer through all of the detailed explanations on petty BS and then the author skims on the important stuff?

The story was good, once it actually started unraveling at about 90% into the book (I thought, FINALLY, let's see how much is left...less than 1 hr!!!). So, yeah, I'll try the second book to see where the underlying story goes. Don't really care about the "romance" part, which is really more like "hey you, the book threw us together, let's bang." No substance and really no need for only using crass words, sorry, that's not romance, it's only sex. Uninteresting.

Great world building and narration

I really enjoyed this story. I loved how the author built up a modern tale set in Los Angeles based loosely on Norse mythology. The narrator does an admirable job bring to life multiple characters. The romance between the two main characters concludes in this book but the building conflict in the overarching plot continues in the next book.

Fabulous!!!

Where does The Unleashing rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I rank it one of the very best audios I have listened to so far and I have listened to a lot. I love and have read all of Shelly's shifter romances but was reluctant to start this new series, especial to read but absolutely loved it. Maybe not to read but with the great narrator Johanna Parker, I could not lose.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Even though Kera is the main character, I almost always consider the hero my favorite in all the books I read. Vig was so "Viking". I loved that he loved Kera so much before death that he asked for her to become a crow after death. He was so patient, kind and thoughtful with her.

Which character – as performed by Johanna Parker – was your favorite?

Vig was my favorite voice done by Johanna. She has such a wonderful way with voices and gives each character their own personality.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I loved that when Kera died that her last thoughts were for her dog. She did not want to be resurrected without Brody Hawaii.

Magical

Very creative story. The narrator, not a bad performance either. If you are in need of a fantasy with creativity in the mix...I encourage you'all to listen. Ill be waiting for book 2 : )

Just not my cup of tea, I guess!

I struggled on how to rate this book. It’s well written, as well written as all of SL’s books. It’s just not the type of paranormal book I like. I struggled to get through this book because I found that my mind would wander and I’d have to back the book up because I was lost. I also don’t have a lot of knowledge about the Nordic Gods and Goddesses, so I had trouble keeping track of who was who.

I’m not sure if I’ll continue the series, if I decide to, it will be something I come back to.
-V from Kansas

Great Crow Book

Loved this story the performance of the book was great, but I do feel like there were some slight over pronunciation of some words and a forced raspy quality that I didnt care for. Overall the reading was good.

Wanted to love it but only kinda liked it

I really loved the Norse mythology angle. it's not something that happens a lot in urban fantasy. I actually liked being able to hear others points of views, but it would have been helpful if they were more clear on who's pov it was at any given time. It was a little confusing in some parts. Also, Kera was not what I expected and not in a good way. She came off as super entitled, spoiled, and controlling as all get out. her morals and her attitude didn't really match up. I'm going to risk buying the second book in the series because I do love the Norse mythology. 🤞🏻 It's a little less all over the place and Kera has calmed down some.

enjoyable with some burst out loud humor

I found the storyline intriguing, well researched, entertaining and funny. good development of the characters. recommended it to my wife.

Can't wait for the next part of the story!

Could not stop listening. Now have to get the next book today. Great story! Wonderful performance!

sudden ending

Good story but it just dropped off suddenly without any kind of ending.