FROBBLES [IOS] – REVIEW (80%)

Frobbles is an interactive book with games and activities and is published by Top That!.

“Join little characters learning BIG lessons about growing up in this positive attitude app for preschoolers! Packed with interactive features, animated stories, celebrity narration and a whole host of fun characters, The Froobles app is an essential download for your child’s digital library.”

This application currently offers four books tin the library, the first book is Free and the others can be purchased for £2.99. Froobles reminded me a little of Disney’s Read-Along books, which is not a bad thing as they have generally been good application.

Each of the books offer several interactive options. You can select an animated cartoon, the e-book, make a “movie”, painting and six games.

This book / cartoon is nicely done with a nice animated story or a story book you read to your child. it is a nice story which lasts around five or so minutes. It is nicely read by Johnny Vaughan.

The make a movie, basically is a sticker book with limited stickers and backgrounds and then you can record your voice over it. A bit basic, but may get improved on over time.

Painting is your usual drawing book with some of the backgrounds etc available.

The six games are really from pre-school children doing matching games and spellings.

My daughter who is four loved the book and has played with it several times, my son who is almost eight liked it, but the activities were a bit too young for him to really enjoy.

On the upside:

• Universal for iPad and iPhone.
• Nicely drawn and some nice use of animation.
• Looks of things to see and do.

On the downside:

• Lacks a little interaction of the book side of things.
• I did have the app crash on me a few times in the inactive games.

Overall, this is a very nice interactive application. You are not just getting an e-book you are getting a cartoon, colouring book and pre-shool games. It is well worth the download for the free book alone. If you child love the free book then you may spend the £2.99 on the other books available. It is a considered purchase as the e-books are also available on the iBook Store for £1.49 each, so if your kids like the books and no to keen on the activities it may be worth picking them up on iBooks instead.

Rating: 80%

Size: 99.4 MB

Price (at time of review): Free (With in-app purchases for additional books)

Link: Froobles – Top That!

 

THE BALLAD OF IRON PERCY [PODCAST] – REVIEW (70%)

The Ballad of Iron Percy is a fantasy tale released by Podiobooks.com.

“Pandemona stands accused of being a Pak Shar – a dangerous and seductive demon previously seen only in Veil mythology. With her scarlet skin, lithe tail, and dainty set of horns, she certainly looks the part. Her way with words and alluring demeanor only serve to underscore this perception. Under Halan law, the punishment for being a demon is death by fire at the stake, but Pandemona is entitled to a fair trial by Lord Wilmore and the colony’s Curate before she can be convicted and executed.”

This podcast is written by Edward Clark and read by Veronica Giguere.

The story tells the tale of Lord Percival Wilmore and his son, as he tries to decided the verdict on Pandemona a creature that looks like a demon, but seems to be fairly innocent. The book covers the interviews with Pandemona and the events that take place around those interviews.

Although this is set in a fantasy world with its own religions etc, it does touch on the the religious side a fair bit, what would a religious group do if a real-life demon was found today?

The books has been completely released, so you can listen without having to wait for a new chapter to be released.

The recording quality of the podcast is lets this one down, there is an issue with the records which means that the voice track is too quiet to listen to on an iPhone, but is OK through the Mac speakers. and the story is nicely read by the Veronica Giguere, with only a few mistakes left in.

On the upside:

• Interesting story line.
• Solid piece of Fantasy writing

On the downside:

• A little dark and sexy at times.
• The end was a little disappointing.
• Poor quality recording caused issues when listening on the iPhone.

Overall, this is well written piece of Fantasy that made for an interesting listen. The sound recording let this one down for me, as I could not listen on the move. The story kept me interested, but left things a bit unfinished at the end. It is well worth a listen and will keep your interest. 

Rating: 70%

Average Running Time: 20-50 minutes per episode

Price (at time of review): Free

Link: The Ballad of Iron Percy – A free audiobook by Edward Clark

 

STORM OVER WARLOCK [PODCAST] – REVIEW (75%)

Storm over Warlock is a tale of man’s survival on an alien planet released by Podiobooks.com.

“The Throg task force struck the Terran survey camp a few minutes after dawn, without warning, and with a deadly precision which argued that the aliens had fully reconnoitered and prepared that attack. Eye-searing lances of energy lashed back and forth across the base with methodical accuracy. And a single cowering witness, flattened on a ledge in the heights above, knew that when the last of those yellow-red bolts fell, nothing human would be left alive down there.”

This podcast is written by Andre Norton and read by Mark Douglas Nelson.

The story tells the tale of the planet Warlock that is attacked by an alien force and the few human survivors who try to adapt and survive on this very harsh planet.

The books has been completely released, so you can listen without having to wait for a new chapter to be released.

The recording quality of the podcast is very good and the story is nicely read by the author.

On the upside:

• Good presentation.
• Solid piece of Sci-Fi.

On the downside:

• A little dark at times.

Overall, this is well written piece of Sci-Fi that has mostly stood the test of time. It is well read by Mr Nelson, but lacks the life that some others readers give to a reading. Worth downloading 

Rating: 75%

Average Running Time: 40-50 minutes per episode

Price (at time of review): Free

Link: Storm Over Warlock – A free audiobook by Andre Norton

 

BILLIBUB BADDINGS (SINGING SWORD) [PODCAST] – REVIEW (83%)

Billibub Baddings and the Case of the Singing Sword is a fantasy / 1930’s mash up released by Podiobooks.com.

This podcast is written and read by Tee Morris.

The story tells the story of Billibub Baddings a dwarf from a fantasy land of Elves, Orcs and Trolls who is pulled through a portal only to find himself in 1929 Chicago in the middle of Prohibition. He becomes a Private Eye who is asked to investigate a very interesting case.

The books has been completely released, so you can listen without having to wait for a new chapter to be released.

The recording quality of the podcast is very good and the story is nicely read by the author.

On the upside:

• Good presentation.
• Involving and well paced Storyline.
• Interesting mix of Fantasy and 1930’s Gumshoe.

On the downside:

• A little dark at times.

Overall, this is an interest mix and genres and works surprisingly well. I enjoyed the story and liked the way that 1930’s Chicago reacted and tried to deal with a real life dwarf and magic in their city.

Rating: 83%

Average Running Time: 40-50 minutes per episode

Price (at time of review): Free

Link: Billibub Baddings and the Case of the Singing Sword – A free audiobook by Tee Morris

 

THE SECRET WORLD CHRONICLES, BOOK FOUR [PODCAST] – REVIEW (75%)

The Secret World Chronicles, Book Four: World Divided is a selection of linked super hero tales released by Podiobooks.com

This book follows from the previous books in the series, using many of the heroes for the previous books, closing up some story lines and now beginning to focus on some characters more.

The stories are written by the one of the original authors, Mercedes Lackey along with Dennis Lee and Cody Martin.

The story continues to evolve and you really need to listen to the previous podcasts as there is no recap or character reintroduction. This book begins to merge storylines and focusing more on the main character. There are a few new character, but the focus is on the characters highlighted in the previous books.

The book well read by Veronica Giguere and seems better editted then the previous books, also like book 3 there is a minor recording issue, but only on the outtro, so did not effect the main body of the book.

On the upside:

• Not your standard super hero novel.
• Continuation of a great tale.
• Lots of characters to enjoy.

On the downside:

• Not a stand alone storyline, need to have listened to previous books.

Overall, this is a good audio book / podcast. I enjoyed the story lines and was left looking forward to the next book in the series. Some of the characters are becoming “as real” as some of the Marvel / DC character leading characters.

Rating: 75%

Average Running Time: 30 minutes per episode

Price (at time of review): Free

Link: The Secret World Chronicle, Book Four: World Divided – A free audiobook by Mercedes Lackey, Dennis Lee, and Cody Martin