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5+ stars for The Last Descendant by Shirley McCoy #audiobookreview #audiobooks #fantasyromance



Title: The Last Descendant

Author: Shirley McCoy

Narrator: Shirley Ponthieu McCoy

Genre: Fantasy Romance, Fantasy, Romantic Adventure


Book Blurb:


Dr. Thomas Avery is the last direct descendent of Merlin the magician. He is the most powerful mage on the planet, but is he the only one? Thomas enlists scientist, Dr. Jessilyn Matthews, to help him find out. Yet, it is not just a desire to discover whether he is the only person on earth with magical power that drives him.


Baylor, ruler of demons and all that is dark, is rising after 1000 years. Only Merlin was able to defeat Baylor and his dark forces, but at the price of Camelot’s destruction and the death of King Arthur. Thomas dares not face Baylor alone. He must find others, others with power, give them training and convince them to fight. It is the only way to push back the dark, restore the balance and ensure that light rules for the next millennia. When Dr. Jessilyn Matthews got a call from Dr. Avery asking if she was interested in doing some research together, she had no idea what she would be getting into.


Founding a magic school? Building an army? Starting a passionate affair? These possibilities never occurred to her. Yet, for Thomas she embraced them all, for Thomas and the light. With Baylor holding ever more sway over the students attending the newly founded Avery Institute, and with the dark rising, she can only hope her faith and the faith of the other descendants will be enough to defeat Baylor and his dark forces once and for all. Enjoy the romance, fantasy, and adventure of The Last Descendant.


My Review:


Story Impressions –

When I started listening to this audiobook, I had no expectation. Wow, what an incredible book! Filled with fantasy, romance, adventure, and magic, this book will ensnare you in its clutches. The world-building is epic, and the characters will sweep you away. What truly makes this such an unforgettable story is its originality. You’ve heard the stories of Merlin and King Arthur but nothing like this. Trust me, you’ll want to sit down and savor this brilliant audiobook.


Narrator’s overall voice –

I wasn’t sure how this would work, an author narrating her own book. I was pleasantly surprised. Shirley McCoy is a wonderful narrator, and her voice transforms to different characters with ease. She pauses in just the right spots for dramatic emphasis. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to her.


Does the narrator fit the characters?

Yes, she fits the characters.


Narrator’s reading style –

She narrates effortlessly and makes for an immersive reading experience.


Narrator’s impact on reading experience –

Because she is the author, she adds dramatic flair where she has it written so the listener is transported into the story.


Narrator’s pacing –

The pacing is good and even.


Audiobook flow –

The flow of this audiobook is professional and effortless.


What makes this audiobook unique –

The storyline is what makes this audiobook unique. It will grip any listener.


Would I recommend this audiobook –

Yes! YES! YES!


My Rating: 5+ stars


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Author Biography:


Shirley grew up in Baton Rouge, LA and started writing at an early age. Always talkative, when she was eleven she began to put her thoughts on paper, writing stories inspired by some of her favorite writers, Laura Ingalls Wilder and Madeline L'Engle. As she grew older, she developed a love of romance and in 2009 she decided to try her hand at paranormal romance. The result was The Smoke and the Flame and its sequel, The Wind and the Fire. The Smoke and the Flame is the first novel she has ever completed, although she has written several unpublished screenplays. Shirley graduated from Nicholls State University where she majored in History and minored in English. Since graduating (she doesn't like to think about how long ago that was) she has worked at some of the best libraries in the Baton Rouge area. She makes her home there and enjoys spending time with family members that live in town as well as with those that live out of town. She also loves seeing movies, reading, and going to the park with her niece in her free time. Currently, Shirley is hard at work on her newest venture, tentatively titled Dragon Song.


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Reviewed by: Nancy

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