Story *** Performance ***** Overall ****
**** Challenging Survival Review by Rox Burkey
Ray Harris-Kein combines the elements of post-apocalyptic sci-fi and the Wild West in ‘Nothing is Beautiful ‘. Set on Earth after the Great Oil Crisis, the story follows Sharkey, his family, and friends as they navigate a world filled with dangers from other tribes, wild animals, and mysterious portals. The characters in Lawrence’s small settlement are torn between the struggle for survival and the desire for more, adding depth to the narrative.
Sharkey, a young and determined character, is the heart of the story. His relentless pursuit of a better life leads to heartbreak and death among his friends and family. Despite the harsh consequences, Sharkey remains undeterred, driven by the belief that survival in this world is only possible through unity. However, Nothing is Beautiful is thought-provoking nature is occasionally overshadowed by inconsistent dialogue and plot shifts, making it challenging to follow the journey of the multiple groups.
One of the best voice actors, Jack deGolia, delivers an unblemished rendition. The voices are perfect for the characters, and the excellent pacing and intonations help make this a good listen. A few hours of listening to Jack deGolia is never bad.
Fans of dystopian sci-fi will enjoy the addition of the Western lifestyle to this story of love, hate, fear, and overcoming adversity.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ray Harris-Keim grew up in Lawrence, Kansas, enjoying fantastic and fantastical adventures with supportive, creative parents, driving around thinking up new worlds, new characters, and new stories. Ray breeds exotic snakes and enjoys riding their two horses in their free time. Nothing Is Beautiful is the first book in a planned trilogy.
ABOUT THE NARRATOR
Jack deGolia has narrated over 160 audiobooks for ACX, Spoken Realms, Findaway Voices, Deyan Audio, Blackstone Audio and Tantor. My voice acting provides captivating reads for mysteries, scifi, biography, history, general nonfiction, and modern fiction. Best of all, I’m the “voice of character,” providing not only character voices, but acting skill to give those voices believable life. Enjoy my work by searching for Jack deGolia, at Audible or by clicking on the highlighted text at the Audible logo below left. Since 2014, I’ve been an “Audible Approved Producer,” cited for the quality of my audiobook production. In 2021, I won the Society of Voice Arts & Sciences (SOVAS) award for Best History Narration, and in 2018, I won AudioFile Magazine’s Earphones Award for excellence in an audiobook. I’ve been nominated by SOVAS for best mystery narration of the year.
