Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer
Series: The Shadow Master, Book 2
Length: 7 hrs and 50 mins
Release date: 30th -11-17

This book… is… well, it honestly sounds like the guy is thinking about what to write as he’s writing it.

It’s the 2nd book in ‘The Shadow Master’ series.  Villains rule being the 1st one.  That book was fairly average. Check out my original review for that book here.

Who would enjoy this book?
If you are in a bum mood, and don’t really want to concentrate on anything… then…this might be the book for you.  That’s why I was listening to it anyway.

Plot summary
Jackson Blackwell, The Shadowmaster, is in over his head this time. After his last adventure, where he tore fantasy novels a new one, Jackson has to deal with the repercussions of angry gods, angrier conspirators, and the wrath of his pregnant girlfriend!

(I know… actual consequences in a comedy/action series? How avant-garde! – I think. Okay look, I really don’t know what that means. I’ve always just wanted to say it and I’m too lazy to look it up.)

Thanks to a godly decree and a crafty clause, Jackson has been banished from his home. And the only universe kindly enough to take him in is one infested with comic-book-style superheroes and supervillains. A perfect place to cause mayhem, right? Well, it wouldn’t be much of a book if it were.

Comics don’t play by the rules, and Jackson has been tasked to do something unique. Whatever is a villain to do?

Follow the adventure of Jackson Blackwell as he attempts to manipulate his way back to the top while dealing with all manner of dark detectives, godly aliens, expensive power suits, and the most daunting challenge of all… looming parenthood.

©2017 Michael Gibson (P)2017 Amber Cove Publishing

Structure
This book… I guess, is trying to be edgy, it’s trying to deliver something new that’s not another reworked, re-imagined regurgitation of what has been done already.

And for this, it’s a noble gesture.

It tries for a bit of the whole Deadpool comic book style, breaking the 4th wall, and seemingly trying to go further than that.

At one point the Jackson Blackwell (main character) has an argument with the narrator, that’s… new.  Wasn’t particularly interesting. But it was new.

There’s a funny scene at the ending where the narrator makes fun of the audible end sequence message.  I thought that was a nice touch.

Narration/ performance
Fine. In fact, it was pretty good.  It’s just that the story was not for me that this may have reflected negatively on the narration.

Author
I’ve listened to this author for these 2 books.  And… well I wasn’t that impressed by the story at least.

What I do respect, is that it is something new and different.  He’s really gone out of his way to do that, which is refreshing.

I’ve started listening to another book of his called ‘To Beat the Devil’ and… its fantastic!

I almost can’t believe it was from the same author.

So, with all of this I would say definitely give the author a try.

Recommendation
This series is not for me, but it would be good for those that have come out of a fairly intense book, and really want to mellow out a bit.

The ‘To Beat the Devil’ book is amazing so far, and I would really recommend it.

Look out for more by this author, but not necessarily this series.

To listen to a sample of Villains Rule click here.

Get a free trial of audible with 2 free books, listen to books like this for free, & then if you want….just quit before 30 days & you get to keep everything… sounds like a pretty good deal to me.