“I lifted up my dad’s PDA, and counted off the seconds with the two thousand other people in the room. 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…”

The book blogging world had been responsible introducing me to some fantastic books and authors in the 12 months or so I’ve been part of it, and none more welcome than, the books of John Scalzi. Specifically those set in the Old Man’s War universe.

(And if any book blogger can assume more responsibility than any other, I need to lay that blame at Carl V’s feet, his appreciation of Scalzi’s work, was the tipping point that finally convinced me to give him a go. So I’ll just take a moment to thank Carl for his reviews, the four main novels that form the series, have provided some of the most reading enjoyment, I’ve had out of a series of books in any genre.)

I read the first three books in the series in paperback, but for this one I thought I’d try out a different format, and downloaded the audiobook, and I’m so pleased I did. Tavia Gilbert, delivers a thrilling narration and completely nails Zoe’s voice.

The events in Zoe’s Tale, run parallel to those in The Last Colony, but are viewed this time through the eyes of John and Jane’s adopted teenage daughter, Zoë Boutin-Perry.

Zoë’s biological father, was Charles Boutin, the Colonial Union traitor from the events detailed in The Ghost Brigades, created a device capable of giving a race of creatures, called the Obin, consciousness. The Obin worshipped him,  and when he died his daughter, Zoë, became a demigod to them.

So, traveling with Zoë and her family, to the new colony of Roanoke, are two representatives of the Odin, Hickory and Dickory.

We follow Zoë, as she makes new friends, settles in to the community and deals with the events as they start to unravel. Thankfully, Salzi chooses not to just rehash those events from a different point-of-view, but also flesh them out and give us new information.

As I mentioned earlier, Tavia Gilbert, narration is amazing, she perfectly caputures Zoë’s snarky sarcastic attituse with her friends, but also easily gets across the characater’s intellegence and compassion, her voice creaks with emotion at one point (if you’ve read either this book or The Lost Colony, you’ll know where) and as the reader/listener your emotions will be seriously shredded.

This is certainly going to be one of may favourite books of the year, and Zoë is one of my new favourite literary characters.

Rating:  

Other Reviews to Consider:

• Stainless Steel Droppings
• Devourer of Books

View my Reviews of the Rest of the Old Man’s War Universe

• [intlink id="old-mans-war-by-john-scalzi" type="post" /]
• [intlink id="the-ghost-brigades-by-john-scalzi" type="post" /]
• [intlink id="the-last-colony-by-john-scalzi" type="post" /]

Buy,Zoe’s Tale (Unabridged) from Amazon.