Customer Reviews

Torchwood: The Sin Eaters: A Torchwood Audio Original Narrated by Gareth David-Lloyd

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4 star:		(2)
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Like many fans of the TV series, I turn to the novels for the characters more than the plot. True to most Torchwood novels, this one suffers from a weak mystery, although it's entertaining. If I were rating the plot alone, I'd give it only 2 or 3 stars. If I were rating Gareth David-Lloyd's performance as a reader and "interpreter" of the text, I'd give him 5 stars. My overall rating is an averaged 4 stars.

What sets this audio book apart from previous ones is GDL's interpretation of characters and his marvelous reading voice. He gets characterizations spot on; it's easy to visualize characters having a conversation without wondering who's who. His reading voice alone is worth a listen; his familiarity with Torchwood's nuances of characterization just adds another reason to appreciate his performance. I hope that he'll read more audio books, both in the Torchwood series and other fiction.

The Sin Eaters offers glimpses into the Ianto/Jack or Gwen/Rhys dynamic that we haven't seen in the TV series. Rhys continues to grow as a supporting character; he's gradually becoming Gwen's true partner in every sense of the word. Janto fans should be happy with insights into Jack's "Ianto time" when the world doesn't need immediate saving. The story illustrates the playful side of Ianto's intelligence and does a good job of leading into "Children of Earth"'s exploration of the Ianto/Jack relationship.

The book is a quick "read" and entertaining. Although the plot may not be memorable, the experience of listening to GDL tell the story is. Add a few new character details, and you've got an enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours. I'd recommend this audio book to Torchwood fans in general and suggest it as a must-hear for GDL or Ianto fans.

The Sin Eaters is a fun Torchwood romp, giving us just that little bit more insight into the trio. Gareth did a fantastic job narrating the story, making it all the more fun to listen to.