Oh man, where to start with this review. I had so much fun listening to this book. This audio like nothing I’ve ever listened to. I was laughing hysterically throughout the whole book. I have to highly recommend to listen to the sample that’s on Audible. I don’t normally listen to a sample once I’m familiar with a narrator, but Jeffrey Kafer pointed it out to me, so I gave it a try. Please don’t leave this page without listening to the sample. Really. You must listen to this sample.
So, without going into all the things that happen in this book, let me tell you why I think this series is so much fun. One, the main character, Jackson Blackwell, the Shadow Master, is very much aware that he is the lead character in a book. He does talk to the reader. He also makes fun of indie authors, book reviewers, the Oxford comma and even pokes some fun at the narrator (which the narrator does retaliate on. Be sure to listen to the very end, like until the Audible guy comes back on.).
How can you go wrong with chapter titles like these?
Chapter One: Where I Counsel Cthulhu, Procrastinate, and Entertain the Thought of Killing Dr. Phil
Chapter Four: Where I Scold a Faded Beauty and Ponder the Aerodynamic Impracticality of Giant Wieners and Big Boobs
Chapter Five and a Half: Where I Make an Impression
Yes, there are a couple of half chapters in the book, which are fun.
Then there are some really fun Superhero Fun Facts throughout the book:
Superhero Fun Fact #3: In Batman Beyond 2.0 #28, it was revealed that not only Batman and Batgirl have sex while she and Robin/Nightwing were on a break. Batman also got her pregnant. Guess the greatest detective couldn’t deduce when to pull out.
And yes, these fun facts are actual facts, not something the author made up.
I want to also point out that you should also check out the sample ebook. Jeffrey Kafer wrote the forward for the print book (which isn’t in the audiobook). It is really great.
If you want a fun heroes and villains story, told by the villain, then you must give this series a try. I highly recommend the audiobook, because Jeffrey Kafer does an amazing job (and there’s a little extra in the audiobook, where Kafer said and I quote “we had way more fun that we had any right to have.”).
Narration
Jeffrey Kafer nails the narration of this series. I love how he reads Jackson Blackwell. You can almost feel him looking up at the audience when Blackwell starts talking to the reader. I also loved how he handled this book, especially with the special audiobook parts. If you haven’t tried him yet, you must check him out. He has quickly moved his way on the list of my favorite narrators.
**I like to thank the narrator for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.