“Divinity 36” (Tinkered Starsong Book 1) by Gail Carriger
Audiobook Narrated by Michael Lesley
Having been a long-time fan of Gail Carriger, ever since I stumbled upon the audiobook for Carriger’s The 5th Gender, I was ecstatic to find out the author had released a brand new, three-book series based in the same universe.
Narrated, once again, by the supremely talented Michael Lesley, this book comes to life with Lesley’s exceptional skills of not only voice work, but the uncanny ability to inject each character with personality that makes them distinct and individual, making for a rich listening experience.
Synopsis
Divinity 36 introduces us to Phex, a human working as a barista on a tiny moon. Phex is tinkered – genetically modified before birth – but was rejected as a child as ‘imperfect’ and forced to grow up in the most horrifying conditions before escaping his oppressive birthplace and starting life new as a refugee working on a far away moon.
His skills acquired during his troubled youth lead to him being ‘discovered’ by an alien acolyte seeking talent for the Divinity – a kind of intergalactic entertainment powerhouse where music, celebrity and religious worship become one.
Phex doesn’t know what to do. No one has offered to make him a god before, nor has he ever sought out fame or hoped for anything more than a job and a safe place to sleep at night. But given the enormity of the opportunity being offered, Phex decides to throw caution to the wind and give it a try.
As the story progresses, readers are treated to the ups and downs of Phex’s journey as he trains to be selected as a demigod, all the while making his first ever true friends. As the potentials grow closer and form pantheons (groups of divine performers) their lives are forever changed as they are, one-by-one, either selected or rejected by the Divinity. But what is the secret behind the mysterious alien species who are turning people into gods and winning over the hearts and souls of billions of worshipers across the galaxy? Are their intentions pure or is the Divinity and it’s pantheons of gods part of some master plan?
Review
I listened to Divinity 36 in my car over a number of weeks, whenever I had a long drive to get through. I soon found myself finding excuses to go on longer drives so I could have a chance to catch up with Phex and his pals. Eventually, I started listening to a chapter or two each night before bed. While not a book filled with page-turning action, Divinity 36 focuses of character development and exceptional world-building that really sucks you into the story.
If you’ve read Carriger’s earlier book, Crudrat, you’ll already have a head start on this universe and particularly insight into Phex’s traumatic backstory, but it’s not essential reading to understand what’s going on. That being said, the Tinkered Stars books (including Crudrat and The 5th Gender) wonderfully reference each other in subtle ways, rewarding readers with little nods here and there.
All in all, if you like the idea of a space opera (with actual singing and dancing!) with an interesting array of characters and an engaging story arc, Divinity 36 is a great jumping on point to a literary universe that will keep you engaged for years to come.
Rating: 5 out of 5 (Tinkered) Stars
Audiobook edition available via Audible and other digital retailers.
Print and eBook editions also available.
Alex Leslie - Author 
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