Audiobook Review: Daisy's Run

Daisy’s Run is a hard novel because of the main character. I listened this on audiobook as part of an omnibus, so, despite my low rating, I will continue to listen the series.

I want to start with what works. I really like that our main character isn’t the cookie-cutter goodie-goodie. She’s actually a bigot towards cyborgs, which, to be clear, I don’t support bigots, but it was refreshing to see the perspective of someone who was. She’s also resilient. I also really like the setting of the ship and the way that some planets are described. In general, the prose is good, nothing too repetitive or overwritten.

However, there are several things that inhibit this book. First and foremost, there is nothing else good about the main character. On the contrary, she consistently and constantly avoids anyone who is willing to tell her the truth about this big mystery. We, the readers, know that there is something more going on that meets the eye—hell, Daisy knows that too! But this exact scenario plays out several times:

Character: Wait! Daisy, I can explain everything and it will all make sense.

Daisy: Yeah right! Hangs up

It’s exhausting because just when we think we’re going to get a breadcrumb of information it’s stolen by her lunacy. Also, this book suffers from what I call the “random sex scene” problem. I don’t mind there being sex in a novel, but I need to advance the plot or be relevant. Here, it could have been completely excised and the plot would be tighter without some of the fluff.

Another issue, and this didn’t impact me as much because of the narration on audiobook, but there is a good deal of head-hopping. We leave Daisy’s pov several times to see what other characters think, and I don’t think it serves the novel if done intentionally. Granted, some readers might not be bothered by this.

Also regarding the narration, at times the narrator’s voice sounded… off? I’m not sure how to describe it honestly. It’s not terrible, but two or three times it got me out of the story where I was like “why was it delivered like that?”

Lastly, the ending. The big reveal disappointed me. BUT, the smaller reveals that accompany it were much more satisfying and upped the rating. But the actual last scene and epilogue leave us in such a weird place. I wouldn’t be surprised if book two was actually another half of book one that was cut for some reason. I do believe that this author has a lot to offer, and, despite my problems with it, I am excited to continue the series.