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Ship of Magic
- The Liveship Traders, Book 1
- By: Robin Hobb
- Narrated by: Anne Flosnik
- Length: 35 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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Bingtown is a hub of exotic trade and home to a merchant nobility famed for its liveships---rare vessels carved from wizardwood, which ripens magically into sentient awareness. The fortunes of one of Bingtown's oldest families rest on the newly awakened liveship Vivacia. For Althea Vestrit, the ship is her rightful legacy unjustly denied her---a legacy she will risk anything to reclaim.
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Horrible Narrator
- By CP on 10-07-10
- Ship of Magic
- The Liveship Traders, Book 1
- By: Robin Hobb
- Narrated by: Anne Flosnik
Masterpiece
Reviewed: 06-02-25
'Assassin's Apprentice' and the 'Farseer Trilogy' was brilliant. 'Ship of Magic' stands on its shoulders and sees all the farther. Do yourself a favor: read this book and enjoy the absolute best that fantasy literature has to offer.
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Wizard's First Rule
- Sword of Truth, Book 1
- By: Terry Goodkind
- Narrated by: Sam Tsoutsouvas
- Length: 34 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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In the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard Cypher's forest sanctuary seeking help...and more. His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence. In a dark age it takes courage to live, and more than mere courage to challenge those who hold dominion, Richard and Kahlan must take up that challenge or become the next victims.
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This book is a blast
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 05-09-12
- Wizard's First Rule
- Sword of Truth, Book 1
- By: Terry Goodkind
- Narrated by: Sam Tsoutsouvas
Not Sure What All the Fuss is About
Reviewed: 04-17-25
This book is a clinic in plot and character motivation. Excellent characters and solid writing. Not the most original story, but easily unique enough to stand out of the crowd.
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We Men of Ash and Shadow
- The Vanguard Chronicles, Book 1
- By: HL Tinsley
- Narrated by: RJ Bayley
- Length: 11 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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We Men of Ash and Shadow is the first book in the Vanguard Series and follows the journey of protagonist, John Vanguard, through the dark and corrupt city of D’Orsee. A Grimdark gas lamp novel, We Men of Ash and Shadow explores themes of redemption, loyalty, and betrayal against the backdrop of a world where survival often means compromising your values. Amidst the gas lamp shadows former soldier-turned-mercenary John Vanguard hunts criminals at the behest of his corrupt employer, Captain Felix Sanquain.
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Total Rereadability
- By Twainy on 05-14-23
- We Men of Ash and Shadow
- The Vanguard Chronicles, Book 1
- By: HL Tinsley
- Narrated by: RJ Bayley
Reading Between The Lines
Reviewed: 12-27-24
The prose and atmospheric storytelling in this novel are incredible. While the plot does not boast a major goal for much of the narrative, the rich world and well-executed literary techniques are more than enough to satisfy while things get set up. Subtle similis and character juxtaposition abound in what is a undeniable proof that SFF can be just as artistic as any other genre.
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The Shadow of What Was Lost
- Licanius, Book 1
- By: James Islington
- Narrated by: Michael Kramer
- Length: 25 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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It has been 20 years since the end of the war. The dictatorial Augurs, once thought of almost as gods, were overthrown and wiped out during the conflict, their much-feared powers mysteriously failing them. Those who had ruled under them, men and women with a lesser ability known as the Gift, avoided the Augurs' fate only by submitting themselves to the rebellion's Four Tenets.
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Atrocious. Almost abusive.
- By Captain Spanky Of Nazareth on 06-10-20
- The Shadow of What Was Lost
- Licanius, Book 1
- By: James Islington
- Narrated by: Michael Kramer
Calculated and Convoluted
Reviewed: 08-09-24
Keep your notepad handy! There's a lot of moving parts here. ASOWWL is an exciting story with a little bit of everything we expect to see from the modern fantasy epic. A little bit Sanderson, a little bit Rothfuss, and a refreshing lack of the Martin darkness that's been poorly replicated time and again. What's left is a new, entertaining series on my second tier shelf next to authors like... well, the three I just named. If you're a fan of the books I've mentioned, you will enjoy this. If you find them overly complicated and daunting, this will likely be too. For fans of fantasy epics, I highly recommend it!
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The Black Company
- Chronicles of The Black Company, Book 1
- By: Glen Cook
- Narrated by: Marc Vietor
- Length: 10 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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Some feel the Lady, newly risen from centuries in thrall, stands between humankind and evil. Some feel she is evil itself. The hardbitten men of the Black Company take their pay and do what they must, burying their doubts with their dead - until the prophesy: The White Rose has been reborn, somewhere, to embody good once more. There must be a way for the Black Company to find her....
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Hard Boiled Morally Ambiguous Epic Fantasy
- By Jefferson on 03-18-11
- The Black Company
- Chronicles of The Black Company, Book 1
- By: Glen Cook
- Narrated by: Marc Vietor
Bleak, Blunt, and Beautiful... In a Way
Reviewed: 07-18-24
The Black Company is a fantastic story veiled in an odd, blunt, and pessimistic writing style. if you are looking for a happy adventure fantasy, this may not be for you. If you're looking for prose that will blow you away, this also may not be for you. Rather, the story offers a bleak tale about bad people working for bad people fighting bad people to stop bad people. Somewhere in between, you stumble across the occasional iota of humanity and hope the characters have the wisdom to recognize and preserve it. Overall, a solid read.
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Ashfall Legacy
- By: Pittacus Lore
- Narrated by: Andrew Eiden
- Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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Pittacus Lore finished telling the story of the Lorien Nine in the New York Times best-selling I Am Number Four and Lorien Legacies Reborn series. Now he’s back to recount an all-new adventure rooted in the real mysteries surrounding Roswell, New Mexico, that will enthrall fans of Brandon Sanderson, Jay Kristoff, and Amie Kaufman.
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Has nothing to do with Lorien. so don't expect it.
- By Thomas on 08-27-21
- Ashfall Legacy
- By: Pittacus Lore
- Narrated by: Andrew Eiden
Space Oddesies Are Hard...
Reviewed: 12-23-23
...and this one is done well. In a saturated market of mediocre planet hopping adventures, this one does a great job standing out from the crowd. It captures the immaturity of young adults without making them idiots or useless (something that's in far too much of the genre), which I appreciate very much. It's not perfect and has plenty of eye-rolling moments in both internal and external dialogue as well as with some of its tropes. However, if you're a fan of strange alien cultures, exciting plot pacing, and excellent narration, you will appreciate Ashfall Legacy.
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Perdido Street Station
- By: China Mieville
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 24 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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The metropolis of New Crobuzon sprawls at the center of the world. Humans and mutants and arcane races brood in the gloom beneath its chimneys, where the river is sluggish with unnatural effluent and foundries pound into the night. For a thousand years, the Parliament and its brutal militias have ruled over a vast economy of workers and artists, spies and soldiers, magicians, crooks, and junkies. Now a stranger has arrived, with a pocketful of gold and an impossible demand. And something unthinkable is released.
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Brilliant, wonderful book -- horrible recording
- By James on 08-19-09
- Perdido Street Station
- By: China Mieville
- Narrated by: John Lee
Bloated but Solid
Reviewed: 12-10-23
If you are a fan of Weird Fantasy, you will at least find this book interesting if not quite good. The story is excellent, the characters motivated and well crafted, and the weirdness the acrid flavor of an overcrowded metropolis of pollution, mutations, haphazardly grafted limbs, and mysterious fluids. If that's not your cup of tea, I don't blame you, but some will love it. My biggest criticism is that China Mieville is often too good of a description writer for his own good. Half this book is spent describing all the sights, sounds, tastes, smells, hallucinations, and unsightly activities of the city it takes place in. Sometimes, an interesting story happens too. So, if you have the patience for it, this book is wonderful. I'm happy I read it end to end, but don't go in expecting a page turner.
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The Eye of the World
- Book One of The Wheel of Time
- By: Robert Jordan
- Narrated by: Rosamund Pike
- Length: 32 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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Moiraine Damodred arrives in Emond’s Field on a quest to find the one prophesized to stand against The Dark One, a malicious entity sowing the seeds of chaos and destruction. When a vicious band of half men, half beasts invade the village seeking their master’s enemy, Moiraine persuades Rand al’Thor and his friends to leave their home and enter a larger unimaginable world filled with dangers waiting in the shadows and in the light.
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A fresh take on a classic
- By Sarazeen Saif Ahana on 11-18-21
- The Eye of the World
- Book One of The Wheel of Time
- By: Robert Jordan
- Narrated by: Rosamund Pike
Held Back By a Lackluster Lead
Reviewed: 09-26-23
Abruptly (get used to that word), this story impressed upon me one of the greatest problems plaguing YA novels: the clueless protagonist. The world is interesting, the characters dynamic, and the plot of solid quality and, at times, masterful execution. However, there's no way around it, Rand Al'thor is an idiot. Most of that is because he is a young farm boy, so there is a legitimate reason, but reason or no, you will be beating your head against a wall for much of this story wondering just how many times this cast can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
If you're curious about the narrator, 10/10! Perhaps some would consider her over dramatic at times, but her interpretation of the story and characters worked for me. Highly recommend this version to the classic.
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The Road
- By: Cormac McCarthy
- Narrated by: Tom Stechschulte
- Length: 6 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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America is a barren landscape of smoldering ashes, devoid of life except for those people still struggling to scratch out some type of existence. Amidst this destruction, a father and his young son walk, always toward the coast, but with no real understanding that circumstances will improve once they arrive. Still, they persevere, and their relationship comes to represent goodness in a world of utter devastation.
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ARE YOU CARRYING THE FIRE?
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 05-14-16
- The Road
- By: Cormac McCarthy
- Narrated by: Tom Stechschulte
I may not know their names...
Reviewed: 06-24-23
... but I cared for them more than the vast majority of characters in literature. Typical McCarthy, events just happen, no explanation for the world; not even names for the characters. This journey from East Tennessee to probably somewhere in the Carolinas won't stun you with the uniqueness of it's unfolding tragedy, but it will leave you touched. Beyond worth reading. Magnificent.
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Skyhunter
- By: Marie Lu
- Narrated by: Natalie Naudus
- Length: 11 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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Talin is a Striker, a member of an elite fighting force that stands as the last defense for the only free nation in the world: Mara. A refugee, Talin knows firsthand the horrors of the Federation, a world-dominating war machine responsible for destroying nation after nation with its terrifying army of mutant beasts known only as Ghosts. But when a mysterious prisoner is brought from the front to Mara's capital, Talin senses there’s more to him than meets the eye. Is he a spy from the Federation? What secrets is he hiding?
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Ghostly. Grueling. Gripping.
- By 🎧AudiobookFiend on 02-10-21
- Skyhunter
- By: Marie Lu
- Narrated by: Natalie Naudus
Unique enough to stand out, average enough to fade
Reviewed: 05-27-23
Skyhunter bids us follow a young woman incapable of speech due to a childhood injury as she fights through a losing war for a society viewing her as an unwanted refugee and foreigner. The writing style is serviceable, the twists and turns fine, the setting interesting enough to hold your attention, and the characters likeable without being memorable. Overall, it's a solid young adult post-apocalyptic(ish) story that is worth the read. But I'll probably find myself mixing the main character or villain up with another story a few years from now. Bottom line: above average.
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