Audiobook Review: Jake & the Giant by E.G. Foley!

• Written by: E.G. Foley
• Narrated by: Jamie du Pont MacKenzie
• Length: 11 hrs and 48 mins 
• • Series: The Gryphon Chronicles, Book 2
• Unabridged Audiobook



Release Date:01-20-14

Publisher: Foley Publications

NY Times and USA Today best-selling author E. G. Foley presents The Gryphon Chronicles, a new series of historical fantasy adventure novels that's as much fun for grownups as it is for kids!
Big Trouble...
Reunited with his aristocratic magical relatives, and finally getting used to his own supernatural powers, orphaned ex-pickpocket Jake Everton, the young Lord Griffon, travels on his first-ever holiday to beautiful Norway. There, at an amazing (steampunk!) Invention Convention, his cousin Archie, the boy genius, plans to unveil his marvelous new flying machine to the scientific world.
But legends of the Viking Age die hard in Scandinavia. Danger strikes as famous Victorian scientists start mysteriously disappearing. When Archie vanishes, too, Jake races to the rescue. With the help of his trusty pet Gryphon, he tracks the kidnapper to his lair-only to come face-to-face with an angry Norse giant!
From the whimsical steampunk oddities of the Invention Convention to wondrous worlds of Norse mythology, join Jake and his friends on a giant-sized adventure full of hair-raising dangers and big laughs!

My Thoughts:

Let's just talk about the awesomeness that is the narrator! Take a minute to bow down to his super powers ;) He is fan-freaking-tastic!! The amount of different voices he can do is phenomenal. It felt like I was listening to an audio that had multiple narrators, he is that good!! 

Now onto the book. I didn't think this would top book 1, but it did!! This had so much going on that it's impossible not to love. I mean, first and foremost we have the stunningly beautiful setting that is Norway! It's a beautiful place and the authors capture that perfectly. Then we have the Norse mythology! I love mythology, no matter where it's from but most of the mythology is Greek or Roman Gods, so it was nice to see the Norse Gods have their turn. 

We have giants, well one giant to start, Snorri! We have Yggdrasil. Valhalla. We have Odin, Thor and LOKI! Loki, as the trickster god, is up to his usual no good in this, and wants to bring about Ragnarok, but he needs the giants help. Loki will try anything to do it so we see plenty of antics from him! We also have scientists added into the mix! Some of the most famous are mentioned in the story and I absolutely loved that fact! Anyway, add all those together and you get this amazingly addictive read. 

Every single character in the book is well written and developed. Jake grows a lot and I loved seeing him take responsibility and try to do the right thing. Snorri was such a great character too. He was hilarious at times and the narrator really brought him to life. 

The plot was fast paced and engrossing. As I said, I loved the mythology of it but we still have a great story at the core. Jake and his cousin are willing to do what they can to help Snorri get home and save the day. Snorri isn't the brightest but the boys treat him with respect. 

In all, this was an entertaining, laugh out loud, engaging and engrossing read. Right from the start you are pulled into a land of myth and legend, of magic and mayhem and a land that you will fall in love with. It's definitely a series that all ages will enjoy and one that will firmly stay on my favourite shelf. I can not wait to listen to the next one!! Amazing book and an amazing narrator!!

*I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*