The only redeeming quality about this book is the narration. Jennifer Hale just kills it. Her performance is 5 stars. I would have DNF’d this one if I read a physical copy.
It’s wildy disappointing and underwhelming. I really enjoyed To Sleep in A Sea of Stars but this one just feels unfinished. The characters aren’t likable and all they due is argue and walk forever in a barren wasteland. The Martian, this is not.

Fractal Noise has awesome world building and well developed characters. The female protagonist is determined and strong.
This book is one that got my thoughts rolling, and is a great contribution to the series.

Lesson Learned & Interesting Discourse

When I first joined NetGalley I didn't anticipate being approved for many books and went "request" happy only to then get overwhelmed by those I was approved for very quickly. I was not familiar with the system and am new to this world and missed some important information. Unfortunately I also became aware of the controversy surrounding this book's cover. As someone in higher education I believe I have to set an example for our students and community but I did not learn of the dialogue surrounding AI covers stealing art and artists personal style until after I was approved for this book. I was very interested to listen/read to it so I had hoped that there would be another statement made to rectify the situation. I do not believe the author should be punished with negative reviews however I understand many in the book community view it as a valid form of feedback and their only way to protest that which they see as an egregious error and affront to the artistic community. Having weighed my options I wanted to honor the fact that I was offered an ARC and was going to give it a listen and an honest review but it has since been archived and I do not think I will be buying the book due to the cover controversy. At this time I am not leaving this review anywhere else as I do not want to negatively impact authors but I also want to support artists in the struggle against replacing their life's work with AI. Again, thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the opportunity to read this and learn my lesson about the archive dates!

Fractal Noise is an exciting and thought-provoking science fiction novel that tells the story of a young woman named Selena, who discovers that reality is not what it seems.

Christopher Paolini does an excellent job of creating a rich and complex world that is both immersive and believable. The characters are also well-developed, with Selena being a particularly strong and relatable protagonist who is both intelligent and resourceful.

The plot is well-structured, with plenty of twists and turns that keep readers engaged. The pacing is also perfect, with just the right amount of action and character development to keep the story moving forward.

One of the notable aspects of Fractal Noise is Paolini's exploration of the nature of reality and consciousness. The author delves into the philosophical and metaphysical implications of his story, challenging readers to question their own perceptions of the world around them.

Overall, Fractal Noise is an excellent read that is sure to appeal to fans of science fiction and philosophy. The book is well-written, with a richly imagined world and well-developed characters. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and engaging science fiction novel.

I was gifted with an advance audio copy of this book by the publisher. The audio recording definitely contains elements that enhance the experience for this title. While it deals with first contact and space exploration, this story focuses heavily on grief and religion, as it relates to the meaning of life. The first part of the book moves slowly and focuses on the main character's grief. The second half of the book moves much more quickly. There is additional appendix content at the end that is helpful for understanding the story. I found the religion elements a little clumsy and heavy handed. This book has a single narrator. This was my first experience with the FractalVerse. I really enjoyed the hard science portions and the exploration storyline.

'Fractal Noise: A Fractalverse Novel' by Christopher Paolini is an excellent return to the series. The audiobook has a great narrator and ads some special effects. If you read the first one you won't want to miss the follow up.

This is the Fractalverse, and we have four primary characters on a ship who are on a very difficult journey. We have Alex, whose story is told in his point of view and he is a very unhappy man. Then there is Talia whose religious beliefs have a strong, if uncomfortable effect on the other crew members. There are also Pushkin and Chen and they play important roles as well.

Personally, Alex was the most interesting character to me. He suffered great loss and he was willed digital memories of his life with his family. While the journey they are on is wrought with danger, the story often segued to a series of "episodes" of Alex's previous life. It was impossible not to feel moved for the love he had and for the love he lost.

As mentioned, their journey is dangerous and at any moment they could all lose their lives. Having already listened to the long but more than engaging To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, it was interesting to read what is the prequel for that amazing audiobook. I personally cannot wait for the next book in the Fractalverse series, and I do hope it is another long one like book one.

Not only was Fractal Noise excellently narrated by Jennifer Hale, the added special sound effects were amazing. In fact, there was a constant THUD, THUD, THUD sound throughout that increased my heartrate each and every time. The story itself was intense, and these extra features made it utterly compelling.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

This audiobook was soooo good! The narrator and the ambient sounds. The first boom of the hole I was hooked. It’s a wild sci-fi ride that begs the answer to the question “are we really alone in the universe”.
I now need to have this book on my shelf. Thank you for letting me listen to this book!

I received this from Netgalley the audio for an hi onset review!! Jennifer Hale did an excellent job. This was better then the other book! I give it 🎧🎧🎧🎧ok ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It a good suspenseful space thriller , that Michael Crichton would’ve been proud .. it gave me Sphere vibes from Michael Crichton oh, the main protagonist his name is Alex Crichton . lotta special effects with her voice a lot of
THUD THUD
The recording went dark.. then a turtle appeared

Book Summary:

Alex is lost. He's a xenobiologist in space – but that isn't the problem. The problem is that Alex doesn't know how to live without his wife. So he signed up on tour and put himself out there – literally.

Now he and his crew are circling Talos VII, and there's a problem. Well, maybe not a problem. Not yet. There's a massive hole, and it's emitting sound on a scale you wouldn't believe. Given the choice to run or investigate, Alex would rather look into the mystery.

My Review:

So, Fractal Noise is the prequel to To Sleep in a Sea of Stars. To be honest, I never considered the original novel needing a prequel – but I certainly wasn't going to complain about more from this world (er, universe).

That said, I don't believe Fractal Noise holds a candle to the original. It's still a decent read; it doesn't have the same magic if that makes sense. For me, the biggest problem had to be some of the storytelling decisions. I understand that static (and other factors) made communication difficult, but this, in turn, did make it harder to read certain scenes. Ironically, there is one place where this format worked really well – Thud. You know what I'm talking about if you've read the book.

Alex's internal dilemma and how it flowed outwardly fascinated me. I almost wish there had been more room to explore these concepts. I do believe that the addition of other crewmates resulted in too much to work with (and thus portray). But that's just me.

**I didn't hear about the AI art controversy revolving around Fractal Noise until after I finished the book. I'm not thrilled with this new trend and hope somebody puts a stop to it sooner rather than later. My review of the book is not reflective of this opinion or vice versa.

Highlights:
Part of a Series
Science Fiction
Existential Crisis in Space

Trigger Warnings:
Graphic Injuries
Death of a Loved One
Mental State
Suicidal Ideation

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Tor Books, Christopher Paolini, and Jennifer Hale (audio narrator) for the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook of Fractal Noise in exchange for an honest review.

Fractal Noise is a companion piece to (and technically a prequel to the events of) Paolini's larger adult sci-fi novel, To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, only a portion of what is to come with the Fractalverse. I love the novel-length of Fractal Noise and it's pacing is perfectly exciting.

This novel follows Alex, a xenobiologist who continues the work of his wife after she passes away. Finding meaning in continuing her work is how he fights his depresssion, and there is a lot to explore and say about being a xenobiologist. 

With a designated crew specific to the task, Alex and co. explore a strange hole on Talos VII, a seemingly uninhabited planet. The hole emits what they dub as fractal noise, and messes up their coms and equipment when they get closer to explore it. While thinking it may be nature-made, a hint at alien life (called tutrles for their appearance) indicates that the hole might be created by intelligent lifeforms.

The space exploration and realism with the possibilities of extraterrestrial life and planet exploration makes this quite a fascinating novel. The audiobook is something to highlight, as it includes BOOM sounds and even cracks out with communication interference, giving it a radio-drama and realistic feel.

An exceptional novel to include in the Fractalverse, and as a Paolini and space odyssey fan, I find that more to come is expected and highly anticipated.

Audiobook/SciFi/Unabridged: Wow, just wow, from the awesome cover to the last line. Christopher Paolini, from his Eragon start, is such a talent. The book is so is well written with rich characters. I did the audio with the boom of mysterious hole going every few minutes. It really added to the setting. I liked that there were so many unanswered questions, especially on some of the characters behaviors, because like in real life, people are strange.
The end of the book has a glossary of terms, but the book is so well written and explained that you really don't need it.

What initially attracted me to Fractal Noise was that the narration was being done by voice acting legend Jennifer Hale, who I've listened to a lot over the years, and I'm glad I listened to the audiobook as it made for a richer experience for myself.

This was an engaging adventure of scientists trying to explore a fractal anomaly on an unknown alien planet. It did start slightly slow, but picks up after the first couple of chapters, with plenty of character banter and development, first on the starship, but after the first quarter, narrows mostly down to the expedition crew of four. I enjoyed the characters various personalities, with Alex having to ponder on the sudden loss of his wife as he's going on the trip he knew she would have loved. Talia was another favorite, her faith strong despite her tragic past. I enjoyed the world building that was given in pieces, and built a lived-in futuristic universe with peace and conflict, even though most of the action is on a hostile alien planet, where things descend into worse shape the closer they get to the hole. And things do get nasty. There is some hard science that might turn some people away, but it's not to the point that if you don't have a science degree, you'll be unable to read the book. This is the first time reading something by Christopher Paolini, which means I did not read To Sleep in a Sea of Stars prior. I don't think I missed anything by not reading TSIASOS first, especially since this is a prequel. There's also some gore and lots of f-bombs, so it might not be great for younger readers. I was also okay with the ending, but wish there was a little more to it.

If I had to rate the book on the performance alone, it's 10/10, Hale does great work and her excellent vocal range and inflections are on full display here. It kept me engaged on an extra layer, where I think I might have gotten bored in some sections otherwise. The production quality is great with some original music and sound effects, as well as the static effects on some communication. I also love the thuds as described in the story that get more frequent and louder as the story continues. This feels like a one-woman audio drama!

At the end, there's some terminology and a timeline read by Hale, along with Paolini reading the acknowledgments himself.

If you're into science explorations into the unknown with some character introspection and don't mind hard sci-fi, check out the audiobook, it's a whole experience! It's about 10 hours long, so not too long. And I will be checking out TSIASOS at some point.

Rating: 3.95 leaves out of 5
-Characters: 3/5
-Cover (plus art): 4.5/5
-Story: 4/5
-Writing: 4.75/5
Genre: Scifi/Fantasy
Type: Audiobook
Worth?: Yeah

Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book.

I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this book since SciFi isn't really up my alley and getting into it was kind of so so. It never really drew me in to continue reading until maybe the 60-ish%. Christopher was great and describing a lot of scenery and creatures. I was also intrigued by some of the elements and what Alex gets to see.

Alex was your average guy who went hard on the mourning side, so much so I had to kind of roll my eyes. Yes, I get losing someone hurt. Been there, done that... but I also know that you shouldn't drag others down because of it.

Either way, I found myself all in all liking it.

I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook. Jennifer Hale is so talented and did a fantastic job with this book. I really liked the cast of characters. The main character struggles with having just lost his wife and is looking for purpose. I think this lent itself to a tone that invites the reader to really engage in with the story and think more deeply about things. I loved the ways that Paolini handled all of the sciencey aspects of the story. I was always interested enough to keep listening. I found the story to be though provoking and engaging. I definitely recommend listening to the audio version of this one!

So this was lacking in character development and story line. I was dissappointed, but I feel like it had a great premise. Maybe 1 will be better.

To Sleep In a Sea of Stars was a really fantastic start to the Fractalverse series. I wasn't sure what to expect after the ending of the first book, and this certainly wasn't it. Instead of getting a direct sequel, Fractal Noise seems to be a prequel or companion novella detailing the exploration of an alien feature discovered on an uninhabited planet called Talos VII—a 50km pit, its curve just as perfect as it is unnatural. The story follows a small team as they land on the planet and trek out to the location to discover what secrets this alien megaproject holds.
However, this team is dragging a lot of demons with them, and as the stress and danger of the situation increases, the more the team's cohesion falls apart.
This story is relatively short and not particularly heavy on plot the way the previous book was. Fractal Noise is more of a psychological horror filled character study. What really made this story sing for me was the production of the audiobook. This instead simply read, there are many audio effects used to give the story a more immersive feel, where you can hear the static of the breaking comms, the thud of the pit, etc. I think that was very necessary to really drive home the horror and mounting stress of the story. Considering the entire book is essentially just a group of people walking for days in a terrifying, dangerous and inhospitable landscape, the audio effects really elevate the experience. I think this is well worth picking up.
Check it out!

I guess I need to start my review with yes, I know the cover is AI art, and no, this review is not based on that cover but the book itself.

Fractal Noise is (essentially) a prequel to To Sleep in a Sea of Stars that follows Alex prior to his meeting Kira. Alex is mourning the loss of his wife and he sets out a a mission to find out who built this strange hole on Talos VII.

Sigh. Of all the stories Paolini could have told, he chooses this one? Alex is the literal worst and does little else but relive all the ways he screwed up his marriage before she died. Who asked for this story? I sure didn't. I wanted to read Gregorovich's story, and probably a lot of other people did as well. Besides Alex, all of the other characters were flat, and I couldn't connect to any of them.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. Jennifer Hale does an amazing job as always, but this book was just not for me.

"Some things are more important than one person."

"That is the sort of reasoning that leads to death camps."

"Hope is how we all survive."

I never had an experience like the one listening to the stunning creative introspective Fractal Noise by outstanding author Christopher Paolini. It's science fiction that's truly other worldly taking place on a supposedly uninhabited planet but it's the flow of the story, the existential dialogue, the human flaws, the awakening of life after trauma, and the discovery of our own empathy that makes it an experience like no other.

A once in a lifetime anomaly is discovered; a circular pit that is by purposeful design. So many questions. Why was it made? What does it do? Who created it? Does it have the meaning of the universe...of life?

A 4 member crew investigates including Alex, a xenobiologist, who is grieving the death of his wife. He's going for her, for answers on life...and death. What they don't expect is the noise. There's a pulsating blast emitting every 10.6 seconds from the pit. They hear it in their helmets and feel it in their bones. It vibrates more, gets louder as they get closer. It effects them mentally, physically and emotionally.The best part we the audience hear it too and it changes everything from just reading the story to experiencing it!

All the kudos for narrator Jennifer Hale who not only has to perform different genders but different species. But it's her performance of a grief stricken Alex and what he endures to find life, not just alien but his own, that left me in awe.

This story is a standalone prequel to the brilliant To Sleep In A Sea Of Stars. Good SciFi is fun. Great SciFi leaves you stunned with its wondrous imagination; an example is Fractal Noise.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from MacMillan Audio via #netgalley for a fair & honest review. All opinions are my own.

Let’s get this out of the way: I love a survival narrative. I want authors to let me in on the planning, the risk calculations, the troubleshooting and scrappy problem-solving necessary for surviving in harsh conditions. Paolini delivers on this interest early on in Fractal Noise. The Adamura is a company ship exploring the outer reaches of known space in search of terraform-friendly planets. Instead, they find the anomaly—an unrecognizable, seemingly not naturally occurring…thing that most on board agree deserves a closer look. A team is assembled, a barely manageable plan to land and traverse on foot a hostile, largely unknown terrain is established, and the journey begins.

Paolini reveals more of the characters as they begin their trek across an alien landscape. Weaved in between descriptions of the slow, meticulous crawl towards the anomaly are rambling debates between two mission members, Talia and Pushkin, on the topic of beauty, intelligent design and human purpose. The story is told from the point of view of Alex, a mission member who has recently lost his wife in an accident. Between impassioned existential debates between Talia and Pushkin, Paolini’s main character takes us on forays into Alex’s memories of his wife and his battle with grief.

At this point in the novel I found myself waiting to find out why the three central characters were so unlikable. Often, unlikable characters are unlikable for a purpose—they teach a lesson, or exist in contrast to another character. I never did discover any particular reason these characters were so deeply irritating, leaving me to assume it wasn’t intentional. Even before entering the stressful environment on the planet’s surface, they pick at each other, are rude, or, in the case of Alex, so wrapped up in internal turmoil as to be uninvolved entirely with his shipmates.

In addition to general unlikability, a frustrating sexism informs the ever-increasing tension between Talia and Pushkin. Alex observes Pushkin’s aggressiveness and even violence mostly uncritically. He is quick to characterize Talia’s clipped and demanding orders as provocations, entirely overlooking her position as mission lead. What I read as Talia’s efforts to maintain control and keep the mission moving ahead, per her authority to do so, Alex observes as unnecessary aggression.

The exciting survival narrative in the beginning of Fractal never quite makes up for the flat characters, uninteresting existential debates, and casual sexism. I really enjoyed To Sleep in a Sea of Stars. Fractal Noise does not match that novel in skill, pacing or interest. This novel is not worth your time.