Disperse

I’ll be honest: *Disperse* isn’t a *fun* listen, but it’s a *compelling* one—like watching a train wreck where you’re one of the passengers. The story follows a ragtag group of survivors fleeing a collapsing empire, and Sinclair excels at making their desperation *visceral*. There’s no chosen-one nonsense here; the protagonists are flawed, often unlikeable, and their magic comes with a body count. The standout sequence—a battle where a mage burns through his own lifespan to fuel a spell—left me wincing. It’s that kind of book: one where victories feel like losses, and every “win” has a butcher’s bill. Tim Campbell’s performance is mostly excellent, though I docked half a star for his occasional over-emphasis on *every* dramatic beat. His gravelly baritone suits the tone, but in quieter moments, his delivery can verge on *too* deliberate, as if he’s afraid we’ll miss the weight of a line. That said, his character voices are distinct, and he nails the exhausted sarcasm of the group’s de facto leader. The sound design is minimal but effective—no intrusive music, just the occasional ambient crackle of a dying fire or distant scream to underscore the isolation. My biggest critique? The ending. Without spoilers: it’s thematically consistent but *emotionally* unsatisfying in a way that feels intentional… though I’m not sure that’s a compliment. If you like your fantasy bleak, clever, and unrelenting, this is your audiobook. If you need a glimmer of hope? Maybe pack a comfort read for after.