The House of Power - Couverture souple

In reading The House of Power, Jonathon Davis does an admirable job of truly sounding like several different people of many ages. The echoing effect in parts of the CD audio provides an otherworldly flavor that helps one to suspend disbelief and enter Edgar's world of Atherton. Davis's reading voice is well modulated, easy to understand with excellent diction, and flowing with a moderate and enjoyable pace. The musical selections help to propel the story forward. By the end of the first disk, it is difficult not to continue the entire 8 hours at once.

Edgar lives in the desolate Tabletop, a place overshadowed by the mysterious Highlands. No one from Tabletop has ever been to the Highlands until Edgar successfully climbs up and finds a world opposite to his. He soon finds out the two worlds are, catastrophically, merging. Listening to this tale is a fully rounded experience. Carman's novel is engaging, and Jonathan Davis's narration is masterful. His cadence is a delight, and he moves gracefully from the stentorian tones of the rulers of the Highlands to the boyishness of Edgar to the resonant voice of the omniscient narrator. Dramatic points in the story are further enhanced by a sweeping musical score. Finally, bonus material includes illustrations from the book, studio photos, and more. M.R.P. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 07]

Listening to the House of Power is a great way for the whole family to enjoy it all at once - which is what I suggest doing as this is a book that can lead to many deep discussions. Johnathan Davis has a wonderful voice that keeps the listener's attention. There is also a wonderful score underlying the more dramatic parts of the text, helping create an entertainment experience similar to watching an epic movie. Patrick Carman's imaginative world of Atherton will not soon be rivaled. I highly recommend this gripping unabridged audiobook for road trips this summer, or just for a break from the typical family entetainment. (BookLoons Reviews Ricki Marking-Camuto 2007)

Three worlds are colliding....
Power is shifting......
Nothing will ever be the same again.....

Edgar, a gifted climber, is a lonely boy scaling the perilous cliffs that separate the three realms of Atherton: a humble fig grove, a mysterious highland world of untold beauty and sinister secrets, and a vast wasteland where he must confront an unspeakable danger that could destroy the people of Atherton. When Edgar discovers a book which contains the history of Atherton's origins and ultimate apocalypse, his world - quite literally - begins to turn inside out.