Book description
Codex Born Review
Jim C. Hines continues to blend bibliomancy with urban fantasy in Codex Born, the second installment of his Magic Ex Libris series, narrated with skillful pacing that brings the magical Upper Peninsula of Michigan vividly to life. Where the first book introduced us to Isaac Vainio and the libriomancers-those who can pull objects from books into the real world-this sequel deepens both the lore and the stakes.
Isaac, now working with the secretive organization known as the Porters, finally seems to have found his place. His relationship with the dryad Lena Greenwood adds warmth, while his restored ability to practice libriomancy hints at stability. Yet Hines swiftly disrupts this calm when Isaac, Lena, and psychiatrist Nidhi Shah are summoned to investigate a wendigo murder in a small Michigan town. What begins as a straightforward monster case spirals into something far more complex.
The discovery of an ancient enemy thought long extinct sets in motion a plot that questions the very foundations of the Porter organization. These adversaries possess a magic that overpowers Isaac's own, and their interest in Lena-herself a being born from the pages of a pulp novel-adds a deeply personal dimension to the conflict. Her unique origins, once a source of strength, become a vulnerability as enemies seek to exploit her past to dismantle everything the Porters have built.
Hines excels at weaving together action and introspection. Isaac's growing doubts about the Porters' methods and motivations lend moral weight to the narrative, transforming what could have been a simple good-versus-evil tale into a more nuanced exploration of power and legacy. The audiobook format enhances this complexity, with the narrator giving distinct voices to each character and maintaining tension during both quiet dialogue and magical confrontations.
The Upper Peninsula setting, rendered with attention to its rugged beauty and isolation, becomes more than backdrop-it's almost a character in its own right. As the story hurtles toward a magical war centuries in the making, the sense of escalating danger is palpable. Yet it's Isaac's internal struggle, his evolving understanding of magic and morality, that anchors the novel.
Codex Born doesn't merely continue a story-it expands the world while deepening its themes. Hines avoids the sophomore slump by raising the stakes without abandoning the humor, heart, and cleverness that made the first book a standout. For listeners who enjoy urban fantasy with a literary twist, this audiobook is a worthy investment.
Chip Queen
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Prone
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Curio
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Nice Gnome
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Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience