Immersion

The Chronicles of the Manaar

By: L.R. Maley

Narrated by: David Pickering

It is difficult to say when the Immersion happened. There is little doubt as to where it began. It was in a village. Despite an impoverished life, the village held a community. A community that was rich in the love of life and each other. People that worked together to ensure that all were fed and taken care of. Some would say these conditions are the essence of an Immersion.

Mik and his friends are at that age when the future looks infinite in all its possibilities. Life in the Village has never seemed so good. This year they attend the county fair as adults. But there is a world outside that cares little for the country people and their yearly celebrations of life together. A world where monsters prey on innocents. A world of evil.

In the aftermath of the destruction of their world, 10 refugees struggle to stay alive. But the Immersion has happened, and they have a greater role yet to play.

©2022 Laurence Richard Maley (P)2023 Laurence Richard Maley

Amazing story and narrator

Immersed in the enchanting world crafted by L. R. Maley, I found myself captivated from the very start. The intricate characters, particularly the children and the fair, were expertly portrayed, each with a distinct essence. The narrative took an exhilarating turn post-fair, unleashing a cascade of events that held my attention effortlessly. The journey with these empowered teenagers, drawn into battles against witches and wars, blurred the line between youth and adulthood. Maley's adept world-building pulling me into the story from the fair to the climactic end of the war. The possibility of a continuation adds an exciting layer to the narrative. Tailored for young adults, the author skillfully maintains a vibe befitting the age group. The narration, a true highlight, delivered a flawless performance, dispelling any concerns of monotony or sluggish pacing. L. R. Marley's narrator truly elevated the experience, making it nothing short of extraordinary.

Epic storytelling at its finest

It is not very often that a story comes along that is this good. Immersion is about a group of friends that find themselves in a struggle between evil and... themselves. It turns out that they must become the good that opposes the evil. The friendship and love that they share is at the core of the power that finds them. This great tale has been paired with the perfect talent to bring it to life in the narrator, David Pickering. Pickerings use of accents to distinguish characters, and his added drama, make this a great story to listen to repeatedly. I find myself eagerly awaiting the next installment.

Wonderful Story, Excellent Narrator

Great Character development lead the story into a rollercoaster ride of action. I really got behind the characters as they faced their troubles. The narrator with genuine accents and an epic voice really added to my enjoyment.

Enjoyable

I believe an audience will immerse themselves in this story. The characters are young, but they grow to become the stuff of legends. Well worth the credit. 😁😁📖📖

The next Lord of the Rings!

It’s one of those books you don’t want the chapter to end and as you start getting close to the end you don’t want the book to end. It’s storyline and character building are just amazing! I can’t wait for the next book. 5/5

Great listen!

Author has a good twist on different use of “magic” users. I enjoyed the story line and the character traits. I can’t wait for the second book! The narrator did a great job too!

Unbreakable

From the beginning, Maley wove together a beautiful, close-knit village of hardworking parents/children/friends who loved and supported each other. Fond friendships, sweet budding romances, and it was easy to relate to so much already. These people are generous, kind, funny, and the epitome of good and you are sucked into their world of simplicity and innocence easily!

At this point you have a great layout of the world as they know it, the main characters, and a good idea of what to expect from the main characters; as in what kind of people they are and what kind of path they are likely to lead! However, when their village is attacked and they are torn from everything they know and love, their resilience, bravery, wisdom/growth and strong connections to each other will amaze you! On the run and forced to deal with enemies they'd never expect, they learn that some of them are gifted with magic (the lore of the immersed and the magical system in this world is easy to follow, yet original) and now will need to know what to do, where to go and who to trust on top of everything else. New friendships are formed and the safety of the survivors and themselves is key, but revenge is sweet and surely needed after all they've been though.

Maley doesn't forget to keep the core of the main characters strong and consistent throughout, he doesn't leave out the small details that make you feel for and with the main characters! This is set in a time where there are lords and ladies, knights and Kings men's, Bards and militant ranking. If you're not familiar with what a bard is, then simply put - a professional story teller - in this case, someone who traveled the lands and shared tales and stories of all that was going on and to spread news or etc.. With Maley's narration style, I felt like I was there at the bards feet listening to a fantastical story!


The narrator really helps bring the story to life! I like that his transitions are flawless which really helps to keep me engaged! He is able to incite the proper emotion, inflections help keep the characters voice separate and easy to follow.