At the Gates (Demon Squad, #3) by Tim Marquitz

At the Gates (Demon Squad, #3) Reviews

• 
  seak

  This series just keeps getting better and better and more and more epic. I love it so much. I can't get enough. I first compared this to Harry Dresden meets the movie Constantine and I think that's still a very fitting definition.
  
  
  
  God and the devil have called it quits and walked away. Angels and Demons are still around but don't really have any direction, leaving plenty of room for those who want power to go and take it. Thus enters our favorite nephew of Lucifer, Frank Trigg (don't call him Triggaltheron).
  
  At the Gates is book three in the Demon Squad series so check out
  Armageddon Bound and
  Resurrection before you read any further. See also the short story lead in to this book, At the Gates,
  Betrayal.
  
  At the Gates finds us right back where Resurrection left off. Scarlett's been beaten to within an inch of life and Heaven has been all but overrun by the angel Gabriel and his cronies. The final stand is in Eden, but the problem is getting back to Heaven.
  
  The Nephilim (half angel, half human), vampires, lycanthropes, and shape-changers have all joined the fight to add to the fun.
  
  Because of the turmoil in Heaven, the destruction is also leaking onto Earth through the Fall, which are deadly storms that let loose what look like ashes that destroy everything in their path.
  
  What I love about this series is that Frank is completely awesome, but he'd be the last to say that. In fact, he fully believes the world is in a bad way if it needs to depend on him. But it usually does.
  
  I also love that Tim takes things, like the Fall, that you've heard about (well, not necessarily) and makes them into a type of plot device. It's genius.
  
  The Demon Squad series just keeps getting better and better. I can't wait for more, but I guess we have to wait till December, which, let's be honest, is pretty quick as much as I want my Trigg dose now.
  
  4.5 out of 5 Stars
• 
  Jason

  5 Stars
  
  I devoured this book. I could not put it down, I did not want to be disturbed, and damn I din not want it to end. This book is the third in the Demon Squad series, and for those not familiar with it, you should check out the reviews to book one Armageddon Bound.
  
  
  Here:
  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68...
  
  My Review:
  http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
  
  
  This book was too me the best in the series by a long shot. It is better written as Tim Marquitz has clearly evolved as an Author. It is better structured. It is paced so fast that you will have trouble catching your breath. It is an exceptionally fun read that really grabbed my attention and my adoration. At The Gates is non-stop action and the stakes are even higher than ever before....Literally and figuratively as Heaven and life itself is what is at stake.
  
  
  I loved the story line centering on Angels and on a war for Heaven. Too me it is what makes this series so interesting, besides the fact that Frank is so damn cool. He is hard for us men to not love him as we all wish we could be him. Our hero Frank professes over and over again that he lives to “eat, fuck, and kill”….ha!
  I am not going to rehash the plot but rather take a moment as to why you should read this awesome urban fantasy series.
  
  
  First, this is a well done, kick as urban fantasy series that contains everything from werewolves and vamps, angels and demons, to monsters and ghosts and creatures galore. I love all fiction with a biblical twist, and Marquitz handles it like a champ and makes me want to read more. The Demon Squad series deals with urban fantasy in the same vain as Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden series. Everything including the kitchen sink can be found here, but all done and treated with a light hand, nothing taken too seriously.
  
  
  Second, the hero of our story, Frank “Triggaltheron”, is a larger than life mucho macho ass kicking, wise cracking, horny, scary mother fucker that can take a punch like no other. He is a real son of a bitch that loves being the thorn in the sides of his enemies, his employers, and even to his friends. He runs his life through his penis and his penis extension…his gun. Oh yeah did I mention that he also suffers from having a heart and a soft spot for people, and a major conscience to keep him in line. He is a man’s man, a demon actually that many will find themselves envious of. This series is worth reading to just see how well Marquitz fleshes out this cool character.
  
  
  Some quotes of Frank’s from this book:
  
  “There was just a part of me, a piece of my mother buried deep inside—her compassion, her selfless dedication to life—that felt the need to suffer with those I couldn’t save. It wanted to feel what they felt, to understand the horror that befell them. It needed me to know what they went through, so I would never forget. I needed to hurt to find the strength to prevent it from happening again.
  Either that or I’m just a masochist hiding behind the memories of my murdered mother. Either is possible.”
  
  
  Frank’s life in a nutshell:
  
  “That’s me: one step ahead, two thoughts behind.”
  
  
  And his humor:
  
  “With little more than tattered remnants of meat holding him in one piece, I pulled back my foot and soccer-kicked his head from his shoulders. It gave way with a wet ripping sound and flew up into the air, splattering my boot and the street with a warm, dark rain. I fought the urge to yell, “Goooooooooooooooaaaaaaaallllllll,” as his head split the frame of a nearby doorway.”
  
  Too funny!
  
  
  Third, Trigg is not the only one that uses humor though out this series. Marquitz writes these novels with a dark comedy, wise cracking, and satirical twist. He never takes things too seriously and uses comedy to keep things in check. The witty dialogue makes these a blast to read.
  
  
  Fourth and finally, but not necessarily all including, there are a ton of awesome secondary characters, scary bad guys, and of course Chatterbox too! There is a crazy smashing and bashing werebear, a sultry ass kicking, undead raising ex-girlfriend demon, an enforcer vampire named Katon that is even scarier as he is deadly with a sword. There are so many other amazing characters that I should mention from a magic wielding good guy and a muscle bound bad one, to mentalists of both alignments. There are wise old men, old angels, and old demons too. The gist of what I am saying is there are tons of awesome top notch characters here!!!
  
  
  Alright, enough gushing. Too me this is the best of the series as the action was unstoppable. The plot about the war for Heaven is my cup of fiction tea. Frank gets his ass kicked, Frank gets his ass kicked some more, yep you guessed it Frank gets his ass kicked even more, and yes Trigg lays out some major whoop ass along the way too! Thank you Tim Marquitz for these books…now for everyone else go buy them for your Kindle and get reading.
  
  
  
  
• 
  Mihir

  
  Full review over at
  Fantasy Book Critic
  
  ANALYSIS: It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Tim Marquitz’s Demon Squad series. There’s a perverse sense of humor which prevails in these books and almost exclusively at the expense of Frank Trigg, the series protagonist. In the previous two books Frank has had a rough ride of sorts however he’s finally getting settled at the end of the second book and the world does seem to be safe when the peaceful interlude is interrupted. His angel cousin Scarlett returns with news of a new war in heaven and if something isn't done about it, then the repercussions will be felt in all planes of existence.
  
  The book begins right of the bat and picks up probably seconds later than the moment wherein book II ends. Scarlett’s sudden appearance along with news of massive disturbances in Heaven unsettle Frank but before he can comprehend the facts, he has to deal with the folks following her who want her silenced. Frank doesn’t get much time to be friendly as they are deadly serious about acquiring their quarry. After effectively dealing with them, he learns more about the heavenly shenanigans and has to intercede to save Earth one more time.
  
  The story again hinges on the premise of the world ending however this time around not only does the Earth’s future hang in the future but also all other planes of existence. Scarlett’s short story Betrayal details some of the reasons as to the happenings in heaven and it will be helpful for readers to read it before they read this book. The cast of characters is also widened this time around as not only are the DRAC (Demonic Resistance And Containment) around but also other organizations come into the picture. However their agendas differ wildly from those of DRAC. The story is hinged on these events and then in typical Tim Marquitz fashion explodes and goes on to an action packed climax which also includes an epilogue cliffhanger to leave fans awaiting the fourth book in the Demon Squad series.
  
  Tim’s prose skills have definitely improved after the first volume in the Demon Squad series. The twisted humor is still present however one can say that it is properly contained within the story. The last book focused on the nether regions of existence and so this time around the plot focuses on the reverse plane. The plot is a twisted one wherein the explanation is built amidst the events which occur. The pace again like its predecessors, is of the express variety, often things occur alongside the action and this way there’s no downside. The exposition is also better handled and is much smoother in delivery this time around. One of my complaints for the previous books was that the action was often concentrated in El Paseo and rarely left that specific environment so this time it was heartening to notice that certain sections of the book occur in different locales than the usual American ones. This I feel is a certain growth on the author’s part. This book also manages to give the readers a curious look into Frank’s lineage and more questions are raised regarding Frank’s sire and his past. This also helps to deepen the mystery regarding Frank and perhaps point a future direction of the series.
  
  The book’s shortcomings are the same as the previous ones, these books are of the action-oriented variety and there’s not much of a difference here. They are primed at a certain type of reader and for those ones, it does entertain wildly. This is not to say that those who read these stories with an open mind, will not enjoy it. Readers should not go on certain things like say the cover which is a bit of a disappointment especially since the last one was such a terrific piece. The book’s ending again follows its predecessor’s pattern and this can cause consternation amongst readers as they are again left waiting to see what happens next.
  
  CONCLUSION: Continuing the trend begun in the earlier volumes, At The Gates manages to carry the tempo as well as provide enough surprises to keep readers entertained. Tim Marquitz again shows why the Demon Squad series is his best work and hopefully he shall continue to write and excel with this series and gives us more of Frank, the incorrigible rogue who is on the side of angels even if they aren’t so sure of his presence among them.
• 
  Jack

  Ok' I have found the major fault with these novels, they are so easy and fun to read ,the T.V. stays off and ya just don't put the story down!
  The main character is such a fun guy to run around with watching him get beat up and trying to the ...well doing what he feels he should at whatever time, he looks out for his friends, no matter how much bruising and wounds it cost's him and keeps on going quoting himself in hilarious ways, i have highlighted a few in every book, like the authors sense of humor.
  Books are really fun to read and bringing the hierarchy of angels and demons and plots for the earth make for a fun sometimes messy ride.
  We don't have much in the way of any romance or anything sparkly (thank you author)this is just another fun ride' The only thing that would make it jump up to a perfect ten is if "Joe Ledger" from (Mayberry's novels) came and helped out! the novels are fun and story is great and they are a good read just how they are, I feel lucky to have the next one ready to read.
  tried reading a few others in the "Urban" supernatural genre and I will not name authors but they just where not for me, I am not big into romance's and do not care if were' anythings get along with
  supernatural whatever's. nor' does the author, he gives us a great first person shooter that has its twists and many visits to the hospital on the way to save .. well whatever ' Fun books!
• 
  Mia

  The best Demon Squad book so far, though each book has proven to be better than the last.
  
  War is being waged in Heaven, angels divided into two main factions. As unlikely as it may seem, Frank Triggaltheron -- half-demon, almost-successor to Lucifer-- is called upon to help save Heaven. As if the task was not Herculean enough, other supernatural beings join the fray to make it a multi-sided fight. Not surprisingly, someone or the other from almost every faction has some score to settle with Frank on the way to achieving their particular nefarious objective.
  
  This is a more somber, restrained Trigg. He is still the perverted demon from the first book, but he has less time to indulge in such pleasures, even in his thoughts. The situation he is faced with is more dire and the consequences are staggering. With the stakes raised, Trigg has similarly upped his game. He is forced to be more focused, resourceful and pro-active. He is shaping to be a capable leader that his allies and enemies alike are giving a second look and according some respect, however grudgingly for some.
  
  In this third book, Tim Marquitz has expanded the cast and the battleground. The fight is appropriately shown to be global and encompassing any and all creatures. AT THE GATES is a more serious Demon Squad offering but still punctuated by the familiar breathtaking action.
  
  As long as Tim Marquitz keeps stepping up his game like this, I will eagerly read the next installment.
• 
  Gordon

  I really enjoyed this book, I think as an old Goth any story that has the Nephilim in it alsways gets my interest. The plot as always picked up from where the last on ended and Franks bad month continued! The whole concept of this book the fall of Heaven, the death of the tree of life etc really worked and made for a great read.
  
  Honestly I picked these books up on a Fantasy Book Reviews recommendation and have really enjoyed them all glad I picked the first on up now.
  
  
• 
  C.T. Phipps

  The Demon Squad series by Tim Marquitz is one of my favorite independent urban fantasy series. It's not as funny as The Dresden Files and focuses a little too much on world-ending threats versus stopping to let us know the characters but it's entertaining as hell (no pun intended). We also get a bit of focus on the heavenly side of the equation after spending two books getting to know the demonic.
  
  The premise of the series is God and the Devil have made peace, leaving the Earth to the human race before departing. This really upsets both angels and demons who have been preparing for Armageddon since almost before time began. Both sides have produced a number of psychotic fanatics and caught in-between is Frank "Triggaltheron" Trigg a.k.a The Devil's Nephew. Frank likes the world the way it is and has allied with monster-hunting group DRAC and those demons as well as angels who don't want everyone slaughtered in a M.A.D. situation.
  
  While Frank was able to preserve the peace in Armageddon Bound and took a dangerous player off the map in Resurrection, At the Gates has him utterly fail to predict the next problem's source: Heaven has fallen. Gabriel and Michael, most famous of all Christian archangels, have gone down the left-handed path and slaughtered the majority of all non-Armageddonist angels. The surviving peace-faction have barricaded themselves in the Garden of Eden for a last stand which may well end in the genocidal war everyone's been trying to avoid. Can Frank and his angelic cousin, Scarlett, save the universe? Well, there's at least five more books so let's hope so!
  
  I'll be honest, At the Gates isn't my favorite of the novels. This isn't because the book isn't entertaining. It has a delightfully off-kilter globe trotting Indiana Jones-esque plot to recover three rib-bones from Adam, Eve, and Lilith to provide a secret backdoor to Heaven. The stakes are also shown to be suitably high by having Sodom and Gomorrah fire reign down on humanity on a regular basis as the angels class. There's only a few aftermath moments but watching Frank look at a helpless humanity mourning its losses provides the book with a number of poignant moments.
  
  No, sadly, I think this book suffers a little bit because there's not enough of a page count devoted to the character's reaction to the War in Heaven. I recommend readers pick up either the first series omnibus To Hell and Back or buy the e-short story, Betrayal, separately. This short-story, starring Scarlett is really essential to appreciating the emotional gut-punch of Gabriel and Michael's betrayal as well as the issues involved in this conflict. Frank, sadly, just doesn't give enough of a damn about Heaven to make him a good POV for the conflict. I would have much preferred an entire book from Scarlett's perspective.
  
  Really, the War in Heaven could have been the background for a number of books without diminishing its story or importance. The events are all resolved in one book, however, before we really get a chance to appreciate the full scope. I also felt this was a missed opportunity for Scarlett and Frank to get closer. Then again, I'm a Scarlett/Frank shipper (cousins matter less when one is the former candidate for the Anti-Christ) so I'm admittedly biased. I'm very glad that we did get the perspectives we did and Scarlett's return to the series was most welcome. She's, easily, my favorite character in the series.
  
  The action, adventure, and spectacle in the book is all well-done. It reminds me strongly of the Christopher Walken Prophecy series. Massive gigantic stakes just off-screen while smaller people struggle with them. Frank, as always, is entertaining and able to wheel his deal out of most problems. I also like his relationship with Karra, as much as I prefer to ship him with Scarlett or Veronica, and enjoy reading about their interactions. I hope she'll play a bigger role in future books as she's arguably a better warrior than Frank and should have been on the front lines with him fighting the angel threat.
  
  Fans of the series will note Tim Marquitz is not afraid to kill long-standing characters. There are a number of shocking deaths in this volume of the franchise. This may turn some readers off but I think it contributes to the idea no one is safe and this is a book with genuine stakes. I also am a big fan of some twists we've found out about Frank's heritage as well as who becomes King of Heaven after events play out. Newcomer villain Azrael and the return of existing villain Gabriel both make the book exceptionally fun as well. They're both deliciously hateable and a joy to read about Frank opposing.
  
  In conclusion, this is a fun book but I hope we'll get more focus on the zany fun characters next time than apocalypses (is that even a word?).
  
  8.5/10
• 
  Ryan Lawler

  People who have read my reviews know that I have a bit of a soft spot for Frank "Triggaltheron" Trigg, the down on his luck demon who fights hordes of monsters so that he can continue to live a life of sexual depravity. So when Tim Marquitz sent me through a copy of At The Gates, the third book in the Demon Squad series and the second Demon Squad book this year, I immediately dropped everything I was reading to get my Frank fix. And I’m glad I did because At The Gates has emulated it’s predecessor, Marquitz again showing a marked improvement in writing skills, addressing the issues I had with Resurrection, and raising the stakes even higher for Frank.
  
  At The Gates follows on immediately from the events of Resurrection with his cousin Scarlett, mysteriously missing during the events of Resurrection, knocking on his door having been beaten to within an inch of her life. The message is clear, if they hurry they might just have enough time to save heaven. At the same time, mysterious purple storm clouds start appearing around the world, the innocuous snowflakes destroying everything they touch, wiping out entire cities and populations in the space of minutes. Thus begins a global treasure hunt on a strict deadline, Frank and his team scouring the globe for a set of ancient religious artefacts that will grant them entry to Heaven, hoping that from Heaven they can end the war and save the world.
  
  One of the big differences you will notice from the opening chapters is that Marquitz has taken Demon Squad global, removing that seemingly invisible partition between the mortal world and the supernatural world. The wars being fought by the supernaturals now have real world consequences, and these consequences are devastating for the human population. These world wide consequences have been introduced with purpose and forethought, raising the stakes and adding an extra dimension to Franks decision making rather than just self preservation. It is the direction this series needed to take and I am glad Marquitz was able to really embrace it and make it part of the story.
  
  The full cast of heroes from Resurrection are back, and this time we get to see much more of the motivations that drive them. Each character now feels far more rounded, particularly Scarlett whose despair at being left by God feels much more realistic this time around. Frank’s personality has also subtly changed this time around. He is still the sexually depraved pervert who feels much better when he has an unobstructed view of his cousins cleavage, but with his new found power he has become a bit of a leader, proactively seeking solutions to problems and making his own luck rather than just reacting to the situation and riding his luck wherever it takes him. It is nice to see Frank grow as a person while still retaining that part of his personality that make him Frank, and hopefully Marquitz can continue this trend in future books.
  
  The writing is still very much the same, this is a fast paced action oriented book that easily entertains. The prose here has improved out of sight since the first Demon Squad book, it is very slick and only rarely does Marquitz stray into those bad habits that marred the first book. The change in style from defeating the villain of the week to the global treasure hunt is reflected in the writing, the suspense filled scenes now enhanced by some spectacular locations and a new sense of urgency. The tone is also a lot more serious in this book but Frank’s personality used to much greater affect, providing some very witty and much needed comic relief during some of the darker moments. This is a book designed to thrill first, and it does a very good job of it.
  
  At The Gates is an entertaining read that exceeded my high expectations and is by far the best book in the series. The humour and sexualism has been slightly toned down in the face of some impossible odds, but this is still unmistakeably a Demon Squad book with more than enough Frank moments to make you laugh and cringe at the same time. These books are not for everyone and if you are not a fan of the series, At The Gates is probably not going to convert you. But those who are fans will love this book, rejoicing at getting a second helping of Frank within twelve months.
• 
  Jake

  How I rate--
  
  FIVE – the story has changed my life, the way I view the world, or has altered the way I write.
  FOUR – the story has exceeded my expectations, this is truly a fabulous weave.
  THREE – my expectations were met, I got exactly what I paid for.
  TWO – I was disappointed by this story and it wasn’t what I’d hoped for.
  ONE – I’m not going to save this one from upcoming Nazi Bar-B-Ques.
  
  So,
  
  ‘At the Gates’ is Tim Marquitz’s finest story yet. His characters have fleshed out immensely since the first story, the lay-out of his story is easier to read, the enemies his heroes must beat are 10x more powerful than anyone can fully comprehend. This is Tim’s best writing to date, (with that said, I have yet to read Echoes of the Past.)
  
  The world slowly decays
  Destruction fills my eyes
  Harboring the image
  Of a spiraling demise
  Burning winds release their fury
  Simulating judge and jury
  Drifting flurries of pain
  
  Those lyrics ran through my mind at several points while reading this book. Those lyrics are from the song Skeletons of Society by the band Slayer, and that is what Marquitz successfully conveyed though intense story-telling. Second only to Orwell’s 1984, I’ve never read a world as dire and hopeless as the one in At the Gates – and it just keeps getting worse.
  
  Heaven is under siege by its own crazy angels and the half-breed Nephilim, there is an impossible to beat were-bear named Grawwl causing a big pain in the ass for Frank and his friends, plus the angel of death has some stake to be played too. Snow storms of corrosive death rain upon the wicked and the righteous in this story – and that isn’t a metaphor. This story rips and tears, and then thoroughly surprises.
  
  My only detractors are the story has so many players, it is easy to get confused by some of the character names (angels particularly.) The second detractor is personal, but I completely understand as a professional. Frank’s overtly derogatory and sexist attitude had been greatly diminished. I understand why, but I’m saddened that this facet of the character has been greatly reduced. It was the brave and courageous move that had impressed so much upon me with Armageddon Bound, and to see Frank Trigg all grown up, is a little sad. But as a fan, know that Chatterbox will make up for it in so many ways. Oh yes, Chatterbox is back.
  
• 
  Nayan Patel

  The action and the humor still goes strong and the series keeps getting better. This is the third book in the series and with each book the author has only managed to delight me beyond my expectations.
  
  What I really love about this series is "no holds barred" Frank. Probably one of my all time favorite characters. I would heartily recommend this series to lovers of the Urban Fantasy genre or people who love a good action-humor series.
• 
  Maja (The Nocturnal Library)

  4.5 stars
• 
  Tyson

  My review
  here.
• 
  Chichipio

  More like 4.5, but not 5... yet.
• 
  Geoff

  Although it's badly edited, this is still a fun read.
  Grammatically-lacking, the author is the KING of dangling participles.
• 
  Carl Alves

  In this third installment in the Demon Squad series, Frank Trigg is once again trying to prevent the apocalypse from happening. It seems like he always has to prevent the world from ending. In this case, it is because heaven has fallen from a coup led by the Arch Angel Gabriel, and now various groups are fighting for supremacy in the heavens. They don’t seem particularly concerned that they might destroy humanity in the process. Fortunately, Frank and his allies have a fondness for people and don’t want to see all of them die.
  
  The novel is compact without a whole lot of wasted space. It moves at a quick pace and never has a point where it slows down. Frank is a well developed character who is a bit rough around the edges but still has a good heart. One thing I didn’t quite get was that it was established that he had newly acquired magical abilities, but he never seems to use them. I thought that was something that could have been more developed. I liked that there were a great many biblical references, but they weren’t depicted the same way that these biblical characters and references are traditionally depicted. It created an interesting juxtaposition. The ending of the novel was explosive, and just like the last novel, it sets up well for a sequel, where Frank will undoubtedly go through more harrowing events, take a beating, and keep on pushing through the pain to accomplish his goals.
  
  Carl Alves - author of Battle of the Soul
• 
  Rachel

  Rollicking demon battles.
• 
  Bookwyrm Speaks

  This series gets better with each book. More action, more character growth, secrets revealed, Snarky comments made!The Book starts with the Protagonist, Frank Trigg, the Devil's favorite nephew, sitting at home with his served zombie head roomie Chatterbox (yes, you heard that right) watching some, ah, adult entertainment at home, when theres a disturbance at the front door. When he answers the door, he is confronted with the sight of his cousin Scarlett, an angel, beat all to hell, telling him that Heaven has fallen, being chased by 3 Nephilim, half angel/human hybrids, looking to finish her off. Well, Franks rule is you don't f*** with his family, so he comes outside to confront them. With this, he is dragged into an epic conflict, a new civil war in heaven, with other interested parties trying to get into the action. These other parties include the vampires, Weres, Nephilim and Azreal, the Angel of Death. With all these major players looking to get into the action, with Frank right in the middle, it takes all of Franks ingenuity, cunning, and ability to give and take a beating to survive, All while trying to get his burgeoning romance with Karra, his first true love, in to gear.
  The plot is fast paced, never having a moment of lag. The characters are well thought out, acting like people actually would, not like cardboard cutouts. Azreal was especially well don, being creepily malevolent and vicious. There are some big changes in store for Frank and his friends, which are subtly foreshadowed with some really snappy dialogue that has real feeling. There are laugh out loud moments and moments you feel all broken up, a good trick in a book of this type. You can really associate and sympathize with the characters. Any fan of Urban Fantasies such as the Dresden Files and Simon R. Green's Nightside books should really enjoy these books. Again, Noah Levine's narration is spot on, really adding a whole new dimension to the books. He has vaulted into my top 5 audio narrators, up there with the likes of Michael Kramer, Luke Daniels, Jeffrey Kafer, and Michael Page.
• 
  Ken Selvia

  Better than the second book of the series. Noah Michael Levine is fast becoming one of my favorite narrators. He should teach narrating classes to would-be narrators. It occurs to me that many television/movie/stage actors are also narrators. I suppose some of them are capitalizing on their fame, and some even have excellent voices, but most importantly, they have spent years reading and rehearsing scripts, experimenting with voice inflections and emotion, and learning how to act a scene with other actors. Levine seems to bring that skill to his narration. He has read and reread the material before recording it, and he presents it with nuance a reader would totally miss. Kudos.