Audiobook Review: Heartborn

Author: Terry Maggert

Narrator: Julia Whelan

Length: 6h 20m

Publisher: Terry Maggert

Genre: Fantasy

Her guardian angel was pushed.
Keiron was never meant to be anything other than a hero. Born high above in a place of war and deception, he is Heartborn, a being of purity and goodness in a place where violence and deceit are just around every corner.
His disappearance will spark a war he cannot see, for Keiron has pierced the light of days to save a girl he has never met, for reasons he cannot understand. Livvy Foster is seventeen, brave, and broken. With half a heart, she bears the scars of a lifetime of pain and little hope of survival.
Until Keiron arrives.
In the middle of a brewing war and Livvy’s failing heart, Keiron will risk everything for Livvy, because a Heartborn’s life can only end in one way: Sacrifice.
Fall with Livvy and Keiron as they seek the truth about her heart, and his power, and what it means to love someone who will give their very life to save you.

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Born in 1968, I discovered fishing shortly after walking, a boon, considering I lived in South Florida. After a brief move to Kentucky, my family trekked back to the Sunshine State. I had the good fortune to attend high school in idyllic upstate New York, where I learned about a mythical substance known as “Seasons”. After two or three failed attempts at college, I bought a bar. That was fun because I love beer, but, then, I eventually met someone smarter than me (a common event), and, in this case, she married me and convinced me to go back to school–which I did, with enthusiasm. I earned a Master’s Degree in History and rediscovered my love for writing. My novels explore dark fantasy, immortality, and the nature of love as we know it. I live near Nashville, Tennessee, with the aforementioned wife, son, and herd, and, when I’m not writing, I teach history, grow wildly enthusiastic tomato plants, and restore my 1967 Mustang.

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Julia Whelan is an actor, writer, and audiobook narrator. She is perhaps most well known for her acting work on ABC’s Once and Again and her award-winning narration of over 200 audiobooks (including Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl). Her debut novel is forthcoming.

After a healthy career as a child actor, Whelan attended Middlebury College and Oxford University, graduating with a degree in English and Creative Writing.

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I was quite confused about this story and I must admit I even lost track of the action several times. The audiobook was a welcome, as the narrator did a wonderful job of voice acting.

If I were to summarize the plot, it all starts with Keiron’s decision to save Livvy’s life. Being a Wind angel, with the purest heart, his destiny is to sacrifice himself for the well being of others. He will come to Earth from his home in the sky so he can meet his fate. Livvy was born with half of her heart and has endured several treatments and hoped for a suitable donor all her life. But it seems to be more to the story than that.

The writing was great, even if sometimes I felt it went too deep in details regarding some of the characters’ past. We find out a lot about the difficulties Livvy has had because of her condition. This makes the reader feel sympathy towards her, even if she has never looked for pity from anyone. The instant attraction between her and Keiron can be understood to a point. He did come for her specifically and she could feel his pull. But at some point, it all moved too fast.

While on Earth Keiron had his own path to follow un in the Sky his family has to fight the council to defend one of Keiron’s brothers – the one who clipped his wings and pushed him down to Earth. I didn’t understand the need for this action, as I did not understand why didn’t they just explain the situation. And the accused son is nowhere to be found since the beginning of the book.

The ending lost me a little, as we find out what exactly was the relationship between Livvy and the other world, I didn’t get that either. I am seriously thinking of listening to the audiobook again to see what I’m missing.

The narrator was amazing! The voice acting was in perfect accordance with each character’s personality. She was a definite plus and for this reason I gave this book 4 star.

Well, let me just say that I do plan on listening to it again. This is a series that I intend to follow, as it has great potential. This is not my first book by Terry Maggert, but is definitely the best I’ve listened to. He is indeed a great writer and this series is more complex. Oh, and I hope the next book will also be narrated by Julia Whelan