Today, I’m sharing a review of Third Eye by Felicia Day. This is an audio drama, not technically an audiobook and it has a full cast of voice actors. It took me a few days to get through this story, listening as I did menial chores like the dishes, and I loved it. There are a lot of hilarious moments and references throughout the story that I really loved and it definitely kept me interested.
Felicia Day has always been somewhat of a trendsetter. She’s fantastic at creating her own opportunities and I’ve been a fan for a while. I loved The Guild and her non-fiction books, so I had a feeling I would love this one as well. I think if you liked the sense of humor from The Guild then you will also love Third Eye.
“Book” Description:
2024 Audie Award winner for Audio Drama
Get ready for a hilarious fantasy adventure crafted by master storyteller Felicia Day. This epic and captivating audio experience is performed by an incredible ensemble cast including Felicia herself, Wil Wheaton, Sean Astin, LilyPichu, London Hughes, and the incomparable Neil Gaiman as The Narrator.
Once upon a time, in the magical land of San Francisco, there lived a not-so-ordinary girl named Laurel Pettigrew. She was supposed to be the Chosen One. The plan was simple: She would vanquish the great evil Tybus in an epic battle. But destiny had other ideas, and Laurel’s performance in the whole heroics department was a colossal flop.
Now, instead of being a legendary hero, Laurel’s the resident pariah of the magic realm. And what’s worse, the dark wizard Tybus swooped in, took over the realm, and forced all supernatural creatures to live under his tyrannical rule. He’s even stripped away the magical powers of those who refused to join his wicked cause. Yeah, everyone hates her. Well, everyone except her two roomies—Sybil, the sassiest diva of a fairy, who could throw shade with the flick of a wing. And Frank, the vampire who rocks a bald spot and a serious paunch. They are the real MVPs, the ride-or-die buddies who have her back, no matter how many colossal fails she racks up.
And it’s all about to get even weirder. Along comes Kate, a Normie who somehow knows more about Laurel than Laurel knows about herself. Turns out, she’s got some secrets up her sleeve that might just give Laurel a shot at redemption and a chance to rewrite her destiny.
Third Eye is a side-splitting adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Laurel and her ragtag team of misfits must embark on a wild journey to take down Tybus. It’s a treacherous path, but they’ll have to put their differences aside and work together. Get ready to laugh, gasp, and cheer as they stumble their way toward an epic showdown.
The full cast includes Felicia Day, Neil Gaiman, Christopher Judge, Carolyn Seymour, Laraine Newman, Wil Wheaton, Danny Pudi, Sean Astin, LilyPichu, London Hughes, Alan Tudyk, Nyima Funk, Hudson Yang, Amir Talai, Sean Giambrone, Jade Hykush, Janet Varney, Lila Sage Bromley, Amy Okuda, Phil LaMarr, Steve Agee, Kate Miccuci, Jeff Lewis, Troy Baker, Harvey Guillen, Weird Al Yankovic, Kristian Nairn, and Jonah Ray Rodrigues.
The Characters
I’ve said it before but I’m a very character-driven reader. I want to be invested in the characters, more than anything, and I want to be able to root for them, hate them, laugh with them, whatever. I just want to feel like I’m right alongside the rag-tag group of would-be heroes and enjoying every moment. This story is fantastic at this.
I loved loved loved Sean Astin’s character, Frank, and I didn’t expect that at all. It took me a few chapters to warm up to him but once you get to know him, you’ll notice that he has some of the funniest lines in the story and Sean Astin definitely brought him to life. Right alongside him is Sybil, played by London Hughes, who I liked immediately and continued to enjoy throughout the whole story. Every character stays true to who they are set up to be at the beginning, while still having character growth throughout the story. They are consistent, funny, and engaging, and I wished I could hop right into Third Eye and peruse their odd assortment of candles, essential oils, and crystals.
I have to mention these two characters because I knew I would love Felicia Day’s character, Laurel, before I even pressed play – but I couldn’t be sure how the rest of the cast would go and whether they would maintain chemistry with each other in this format. But they absolutely do.
The Story
This story includes quite a few different fantasy tropes, but I think Felicia Day manages to do it well. Yes, it’s a “Chosen One” story, but it doesn’t feel played out. Especially since Laurel is known, from the very first few chapters, as The Failure. She is truly hated by everyone in the realm and Felicia Day works her own kind of magic to make these moments not only funny but suspenseful at times and entertaining always.
Is it Worth a Listen?
This story runs for about 7 hours. If you are gearing up for a road trip, need something to listen to while tackling a big closet clean out, or you just like nerdy fantasy stories with a strong dollop of humor, then you need to grab this story. I noticed some reviews weren’t super impressed with the overall story. but almost everyone loved the characters. I liked the story, but if you are going in it for a Game of Thrones-level “burning down the castle” scene then you might be mildly disappointed. Personally, I liked it because there’s plenty of room for the story to continue in the future and all of the major plot points get wrapped up. It’s everything I wanted out of an urban fantasy and more.
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