The Electrical Menagerie Audiobook Review!

I finished this only this morning and it was INCREDIBLE! ❤

I just had the most delightful experience!

It’s somehow fitting that a story largely involved with theatrical performance should be brought to life in this way by a talented audio performer. It was wonderfully theatrical to listen to—the next best thing to seeing it on a screen. I LOVED it!

It’s a wild ride of adventure, imagination, flying trains and islands in the sky, electrical robots, a stardust-powered steampunk-feel, show-business and illusions, mystery and sabotage and insidious plots, an 1800s-feel, and one of my favorite things: a “buddy story.”

Mollie Reeder’s skillful tale is a story to touch the heart of any creative and anyone who’s ever dreamed of doing something MORE. It’s one of the most sheerly enjoyable books I’ve ever read, but it also has a depth to it that makes you re-examine life and learn new things about life and ourselves, through the adventures of these delightful characters who are wholly human—both making mistakes and committing feats of imagination and heroism. It inspires me to reach for the stars. And it makes me laugh, which is always important. 😉

I read The Electrical Menagerie when it first came out, and it joined the select ranks of one of my favorite books of all time. So to say I was excited for the chance to re-experience it, as an audiobook, is an understatement.

I started the audio version with caution, however. Would any rendition of this beloved book be able to do it justice?

But I needn’t have worried. While I still may prefer reading physical books, this audiobook was a sheer delight! I had SUCH a blast listening to it! It was like revisiting an old friend and it came alive anew. ^_^

Travis Baldree’s rendition of these larger-than-life characters was wonderful and I 100% enjoyed hearing them all come to life! The different accents were great fun (I particularly liked Miss Skyhawk’s voice) and Carthage and Huxley re-delighted me all over again! I was constantly smiling or laughing, even on this second reading. The other characters are incredible too, and the dramatic or exciting scenes soared.

I LOVE this book and Carthage and Huxley, who are both absolutely AWESOME characters in their totally different ways, and the sheer rich imagination of everything about The Electrical Menagerie.

This book gives me ALL THE FEELS. It made me laugh and it made me cry, in both its book and audiobook forms. (Now THAT is a feat.) I love the humor and the heart of it, how authentic and real it is—despite, or perhaps because of, the otherwordliness of it—touching the soul, but not in any artificial way, while making one smile.

I didn’t used to listen to many audiobooks but I’ve slowly been drawn into that world, and now I love them. It was fabulous to get to re-live this magnificent story while going about daily life.

I can only say that The Electrical Menagerie is an EXPERIENCE. “I’m Arbrook Huxley”—(er . . . Deborah O’Carroll)—“and you can quote me!” (All I need now is a sequel. ;))

I love that this book is now available in a new format to delight new readers—or should I say listeners? I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who needs a touch of stardust and wonder in their lives!

(Thanks to the author for the complimentary audiobook code. All opinions are 100% my own.)

Book Information & Links

Title: The Electrical Menagerie

Author: Mollie E. Reeder

Narrator: Travis Baldree

• Date read: April 30, 2019
• Rating: 5 stars
• Genre: Speculative Fiction / Steampunk
• Age: YA, adults, or anyone
• Year pub: 2018
• Length: 7 hours (312 pages)
• Series: The Celestial Isles, #1
• Fave character: Carthage and Huxley!
• Source: Audible via the author
• Links: Audiobook on Audible.com • Amazon Paperback • Amazon Kindle • Barnes & Noble • Goodreads • Goodreads Audio •Author’s Website (where you can get a free novelette featuring Carthage and Huxley via the newsletter!)
  

You may also enjoy my original review (including some favorite snarky quotes), 10 Reasons You Should Read The Electrical Menagerie by Mollie E. Reeder!

Audiobooks: yea or nay? And have you read this incredible book yet? I totally recommend it in ANY form! YOU NEED CARTHAGE AND HUXLEY IN YOUR LIFE.

Keep imagining! ❤

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The Electrical Menagerie Re-Cover Reveal! + Audiobook!

Guys, I’m SO excited to share with you the new cover for The Electrical Menagerie by Mollie E. Reeder — and also the fact that it is now an audiobook! *screaming in delight*

For those who don’t know, I absolutely ADORED The Electrical Menagerie (read my 10 reasons why you should read it!) and it was one of my top favorite reads of 2018!

And now it has a shiny new cover by the amazing Kirk DouPonce of DogEared Designs, and is being released TODAY as an audiobook narrated by Travis Baldree!

So I’m going to give you links and a cover in a minute. But first, here is a little about the book!

In brief, it’s a steampunk-ish tale set on floating islands with trains and electricals (sort of like robots) which are powered by stardust, and has one of my favorite fictional friendships of all time, namely Carthage and Huxley, and it’s suspenseful and HILARIOUS and a little like The Greatest Showman with a mystery, and I love it absolutely so so much! ❤

Here is the official blurb:

The Electrical Menagerie by Mollie E. Reeder

The Electrical Menagerie, one-of-a-kind robotic roadshow, is bankrupt.

Sylvester Carthage, illusionist and engineer, has the eccentric imagination the Menagerie needs to succeed creatively — but none of the people skills. Fast-talking Arbrook Huxley, meanwhile, has all the savvy the Menagerie needs to succeed commercially — but none of the scruples.

To save their show, Carthage & Huxley risk everything in a royal talent competition, vying for the once-in-a-lifetime chance to perform for the Future Celestial Queen. In this stardust-and-spark-powered empire of floating islands and flying trains, The Electrical Menagerie’s bid at fame and fortune means weathering the glamorous and cutthroat world of critics, high society, and rival magicians — but with real conspiracy lurking beneath tabloid controversy, there’s more at stake in this contest than the prize.

Behind the glittery haze of flash paper and mirrors, every competitor has something to hide… and it’s the lies Carthage & Huxley tell each other that may cost them everything.

And now the cover!

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Yes, I’m making you wait. Yes, I’m evil. XD

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But really, what’s a cover reveal without a bit of silly teasing? 😛

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AND HERE IT IS.

AAAAHH. ISN’T IT GORGEOUS?? I’m in love! ❤ I’M SO EXCITED. IT’S PERFECT. I love that Endeavor the elephant is on it, and the little Carthage and Huxley on top, and the setting with the cobblestones and carriages is absolutely perfect, and the feel and just I CAN’T. IT’S MAKING ME SO HAPPY. I can’t stop screaming! *may possible need to get a new paperback copy* XD

If you haven’t picked this book up yet, YOU TOTALLY NEED TO. It was one of the top three best books I read all last year! Do check it out! ❤

Pick up the ebook/paperback or the shiny new audiobook version!

What do you think of the new cover? I ADORE IT. *screaming* It’s the perfect new face for my dear friends Carthage and Huxley! (I’m officially Huxley’s #1 Fan, just so you know. 😉 ) And are you excited about the audiobook? Because I think it’s going to be incredible! 😀 Talk to meee!