Weak follow up

I really enjoyed AHM's first novel but I almost gave up on this one. An interesting premise but let down by an excess of expositional dialogue which seems clumsy and the narration isn't great either.

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1 person found this helpful

Love the Flow of This Book

Love the first person style of this book.

Solid, well defined characters, backdrop you can imagine being in.

Has a creepy feeling of inevitable doom.

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A slow decline into brilliance

Slow starting as most novels are, The Sanctuary takes some time to truly kick into it's focus. Much like the portraits painted in the beginning, the fictional aspect is there to aid the true story beneath. One accurately told from the perspective going through that journey. The person, no matter how young or old they painted to be, is still a person. With their own complications and fine details.
Narration was wonderful, as not to let the next step be hinted towards with the same passion only a creator could have of their own work.

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Excellent original & well-written book

I got this on a whim as a regular No Such Thing As A Fish listener, without any particular expectations. It’s the best book I’ve read this year, reminiscent of some of my favourite classic sci fi, like Huxley, John Christopher, Wyndham. Bit annoying that the author is able to write so well as well as being part of such a good and completely different style podcast!

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2 people found this helpful

Wasn’t for me

Well read/narrated by the author and I’m sure this story appeals to some people but I didn’t find it very gripping at all. I wanted to finish it because I hate leaving books half listened to and also because I felt something could change and it suddenly become fascinating but it wasn’t for me. It felt like a real mixture of books I’ve read before in different genres a touch of the magical/other worldly, a bit potentially ‘scary’ cult , new world promises and gullible followers etc but missing something gritty.

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Loved it

Really interesting and gripping story, didn’t want to put it down. Cleverly written and, although meant to be in the future, seemed almost relevant to the present times. I thought the narration was very good as well. Would like to read more of this author.

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Great read

really enjoyed this - had me utterly gripped throughout. I definitely want to read more by this author

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Couldn't stop listening

Fantastic, kept me hooked from the first till the last chapter. Also love when books are read by their author, makes everything so clear.

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6 people found this helpful

Enthralling and Captivating

I go for a walk everyday for about an hour and listen to Audible while I walk. The Sanctuary is so enthralling that I found myself walking for longer and longer because I didn’t want to stop listening - I needed to know what happens next.
I consider The Sanctuary to be in the same class as Animal Farm and 1984

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Enjoyable, but…

I enjoyed this book up until the “everything falls into place” moment, which I don’t think I liked! I’m still a bit conflicted by it. The actual ending was good, and definitely needed, but the page before the ending may have been better left out. All in all an enjoyable book and I liked the narration.

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