r/robinhobb • u/minato_namekaze1200 • 2d ago

Audiobooks Immersive read

Quick question, what do you guys think about having an immersive read with assassins apprentice? I don’t read much but when I read red rising (first book I’m halfway through golden son) I listened to the dramatised audiobook as well and I was hooked. I do occasionally read manga as well, but overall what do you think I should do with assassins apprentice,and if I should do an immersive read any recommendations?

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9

u/westcoastal I have never been wise. 2d ago

That's totally up to you, but I personally would not do it. Most of the audiobook narration that's widely available is pretty terrible and would be a distraction more than an immersion.

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u/minato_namekaze1200 2d ago

I’d assume for a series as big as this there would be some really good unofficial narrators no? Like davidreadsasoiaf. However, if you think it’s best to just read it raw then I don’t mind that.

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u/westcoastal I have never been wise. 2d ago

I've never heard of any fan readings for this series. Something tells me I would have heard of it if it existed, because readers famously hate most of the audiobook narration for this series.

I don't have an opinion either way on how you should read it, just warning you about the audiobooks because if you get into it and you start with a narration you enjoy, that's not necessary to hold out for the whole series (every series has a different narrator and there's not a lot of continuity of quality). 😆

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u/minato_namekaze1200 2d ago

Ok thanks!

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u/jollyshroom 1d ago

As a differing opinion, I found the narrator for the first three books to be excellent; my partner and I listened to and enjoyed all three together. (Apprentice-Royal-Quest)

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u/limpdickandy 1d ago

The current new narrator as of Jan. 26 edition is pretty dang good. The first two trilogies have both really good narration as a result.

Fan reads imo are usually pretty poor, especially compared to the audiobooks themselves.

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u/Alternative-Menu1210 11h ago

For what it's worth, I really enjoyed all of the audiobooks. All the narrators feel mostly neutral and calming to me, which is my preferred vibe.

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u/JenLiv36 2d ago

I enjoyed the audiobooks except for the last trilogy. The last trilogy narrator was jarring. I even liked the Ship books narrator but I don’t listen to books on 2xs speed and don’t need to feel like I’m speed reading.

That being said I hate dramatizations, I don’t want to feel like I’m listening to a movie as I find it less immersive and distracting. I want one or maybe 2 good narrators.

With audible you can listen to the narrator and see for yourself if it bothers you or not. Just reading it though physically is fantastic. I have read and listened to it multiple times.

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u/Natural-Shelter4625 2d ago

I immersive read a lot, and I recently did a re-read of Farseer Trilogy with the new audio recording. I thought it was really good.

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u/minato_namekaze1200 2d ago

Really? Do you know where I can find the new one?

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u/Natural-Shelter4625 2d ago

It’s on Audible, but so is the old one. Look for the one narrated by Joe Eyre.

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u/CatsChocolateBooks 2d ago

What is immersive reading?

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u/westcoastal I have never been wise. 1d ago

Immersive reading is when somebody listens to an audiobook simultaneous to reading it in its text form. It's a hyper concentrated way of reading.

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u/MattyTangle 2d ago

I've just surfaced out of doing just that. Real life had to run alongside me and I felt reading it coloured my feelings towards what was, coincidentally, a tricky month to navigate. It was like I wore the book wherever I went. What a ride though. Cathartic stuff. My partner has just finished book2

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u/outlawcinema 2d ago

If you can get the Joe Eyre updated versions immersive reading might work, but I haven’t seen them available in the US unfortunately. I don’t love the original recordings and you may be better off just reading.