The Forever: Part II Audiobook – The Forever Series, Book 3

I listened to The Forever, Part III on a late-night drive down the Oregon coast, rain whispering against my windshield and headlights cutting through the mist—a fittingly cinematic setting for such an epic continuation of Jon Ryan’s interstellar journey. There’s something about Craig Robertson’s blend of relentless action and existential introspection that demands your attention, refusing to let go until the final line (and even then, it lingers). I found myself pausing more than once just to take in the gravity of what Jon was facing—battles on scales both cosmic and personal.

Robertson throws us straight into chaos as Jon grapples with two overwhelming threats: the ever-brutal Berrillians and a haunting new enemy called the Last Nightmare. As someone who relishes layered sci-fi worlds, I was drawn immediately into this expanding universe—the fresh mythologies, dizzying stakes, and shifting alliances kept me rapt. What sets this installment apart isn’t just the explosive confrontations or imaginative tech (though there are plenty), but how raw and human Jon feels beneath his heroics. He is battered by trauma after trauma; every loss leaves its mark. His internal struggle—to save everyone at any cost without losing himself—hit close to home for me as a teacher who’s sometimes felt worn thin trying to do “just one more thing” for those I care about.

Robertson explores sacrifice not as a simple choice between right and wrong, but as an endless series of hard compromises that slowly change you. There were moments when I wanted to shout advice at Jon—urge him toward hope or caution—but his journey is honest in its uncertainty. Watching him forge uneasy alliances with former foes resonated with me; it reminded me that sometimes strength means reaching out across old divides for something bigger than ourselves.

One of my favorite elements was how vividly Scott Aiello brings every character alive. His performance is dynamic without being overblown—Jon’s sarcasm cuts through tense scenes with levity, but when fear or despair creeps in, you feel it simmering underneath Aiello’s delivery. He distinguishes personalities cleanly (especially among all those alien species!) so dialogue never becomes muddled or repetitive—a huge asset given the story’s scale.

My only minor complaint is that Part III leans heavily into battle sequences at times; while exhilarating, they occasionally threatened to overshadow some quieter emotional beats that made earlier books stand out for me. Still, those introspective pauses are present—and when they come (often mid-crisis), they land with double force because we’re so invested in whether Jon will emerge whole from each ordeal.

The world-building continues to impress: advanced tech blends seamlessly with metaphysical concepts like reality manipulation—it never feels forced or gimmicky. Every new threat ups the ante emotionally as well as physically; Robertson doesn’t shy away from showing what these crises do to people on both sides.

By the end (no spoilers!), I felt both satisfied by what had resolved and deeply anxious for what comes next—the perfect recipe for an ongoing saga! If you love science fiction that balances big questions about survival and humanity alongside rollicking space battles and grand alliances forged under pressure, The Forever series—and especially this third part—is not one you’ll want to miss.