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City of Kings
- Narrated by: Rosa B. Watkinson
- Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins
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Publisher's summary
War makes monsters and corpses of us all.
For generations the blooded have ruled the Wilds, cultivating a lawless frontier and bleeding the good folk dry. The Black Thorn, once the most wanted outlaw the world has ever seen, is set on stopping them, and bringing an end to the great game that oppresses them all.
Crucible is the only blooded fortress left, but not for nothing is it called the City of Kings. Its defences are unbreakable, its walls unassailable, all built so one hundred can hold back a thousand. Worse yet, the Black Thorn is running out of time and there are darker things hiding underground, looking to turn the city into a tomb.
City of Kings is a stand alone novel set in Rob J. Hayes award winning First Earth setting. It is designed to be read independently of the other books in the setting, and is a fast paced look at a kingdom on the verge of regime change.
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- Books 1-3
- By: Keith C. Blackmore
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 40 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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Once every year, in the city of Sunja, gladiators Baylus, Goll, and Halm meet in the arena known as Sunja’s Pit. Their battles are epic, but deadlier still are the shadowy forces that conspire against them outside the Pit. Only by applying their brutally honed survival instincts can these brave warriors hope to win their freedom and exact grisly revenge upon their enemies.
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Narration is amazing, story is a joke
- By Vi on 12-11-22
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Mage's Blood
- The Moontide Quartet, Book 1
- By: David Hair
- Narrated by: Nick Podehl
- Length: 26 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Most of the time the Moontide Bridge lies deep below the sea, but every 12 years the tides sink and the bridge is revealed, its gates open for trade. The Magi are hell-bent on ruling this new world, and for the last two Moontides they have led armies across the bridge on "crusades of conquest". Now, the third Moontide is almost here, and this time the people of the East are ready for a fight... but it is three seemingly ordinary people that will decide the fate of the world.
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Nick Podehl
- By Logan on 01-05-15
By: David Hair
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Forever Fantasy Online
- Forever Fantasy Online, Book 1
- By: Rachel Aaron, Travis Bach
- Narrated by: Josh Hurley
- Length: 19 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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In the real world, twenty-one-year-old library sciences student Tina Anderson is invisible and under-appreciated, but in the VR-game Forever Fantasy Online she's Roxxy—the respected leader and main tank of a top-tier raiding guild. Her brother, James Anderson, has a similar problem. IRL he’s a college drop-out struggling under debt, but in FFO he's famous—an explorer known all over the world for doing every quest and collecting the rarest items.
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The cover art is great....
- By Johnny Jeppesen on 08-18-18
By: Rachel Aaron, and others
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For the Killing of Kings
- The Ring-Sworn Trilogy, Book 1
- By: Howard Andrew Jones
- Narrated by: Lori Prince
- Length: 16 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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Their peace was a fragile thing, but it had endured for seven years, mostly because the people of Darassus and the king of the Naor hordes believed his doom was foretold upon the edge of the great sword hung in the hall of champions. Unruly Naor clans might raid across the border, but the king himself would never lead his people to war so long as the blade remained in the hands of his enemies. But when squire Elenai’s aging uncovers evidence that the sword in their hall is a forgery, she’s forced to flee Darassus for her life, her only ally the reckless, disillusioned Kyrkenall.
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Great Story!
- By Aurora McMillian on 05-15-19
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Child of the Flames
- A Sword and Sorcery Saga
- By: D.W. Hawkins
- Narrated by: Malk Williams
- Length: 13 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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The Red Swords came with the sunrise and took everything Shawna Llewan held dear. Her family massacred, her home destroyed, she escapes with nothing but her mother’s heirloom and the desire for vengeance. When she’s found by Dormael, a Warlock of the Conclave, she learns that her mother’s keepsake - the very reason her family was killed - holds the power to unleash boundless destruction.
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Great start!
- By Gordon on 08-18-19
By: D.W. Hawkins
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Stalking the Beast
- By: Howard Andrew Jones
- Narrated by: Dina Pearlman
- Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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When a mysterious monster carves a path of destruction across the southern River Kingdoms, desperate townsfolk look to the famed elven ranger Elyana and her half-orc companion Drelm for salvation. For Drelm, however, the mission is about more than simple justice - it's about protecting the frontier town he's adopted as his home, and the woman he plans to marry.
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Amazing
- By Aaron on 04-10-20
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The Armored Saint
- By: Myke Cole
- Narrated by: Michi Barall
- Length: 7 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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After witnessing a horrendous slaughter, young Heloise opposes the Order and risks bringing their wrath down on herself, her family, and her village. She must confront the true risk that wizards pose to the world and weigh the safety of her people against justice.
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Written well, but uninteresting
- By Anonymous User on 03-26-18
By: Myke Cole
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Greek Mythology Explained
- A Deeper Look at Classical Greek Lore and Myth
- By: Marios Christou, David Ramenah
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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A fascinating take on classical Greek stories: Discover six classic Greek myths in this exciting retelling that paints both famous and lesser known characters in a whole new light. Follow the likes of Odysseus, Lamia, Bellerophon, Icarus, Medusa, and Artemis as their fates are revealed through bloody trials, gut-wrenching betrayals, sinister motives, and broken hearts.
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Adults only
- By Morgen La on 01-21-22
By: Marios Christou, and others
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The Troll Hunter
- By: Keith C. Blackmore
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 15 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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A warrior with a secret, a ruthless band of cutthroats, and a monster of ancient legend converge in this fantasy from the author of the Mountain Man series. It’s a time of war. After years of relentless battle, the tired nation of Sunja realizes its spine is close to breaking. Desperate for aid, the country’s king dispatches a company of soldiers to the north in a desperate plea for help from its neighbors.
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My opinion:Blackmore,is the best in the business!
- By eric on 07-10-19
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Stolen Lives
- Underhill Chronicles, Book 1
- By: Keith Ahrens
- Narrated by: Angelo Di Loreto
- Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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When Caleb reported for his normal shift, he never expected to go from the front seat of his ambulance to a bloody battlefield in a medieval Fey Realm. Kidnapped and beaten unconscious, he wakes up with a concussion and a fresh tattoo. While this might not be totally unusual for him, having the tattoo project the image of his stats and equipment like an old school tabletop RPG kind of is.
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First-Rate, First-Responder LitRPG
- By Phillip on 09-17-20
By: Keith Ahrens
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Breaking Gods
- Godbreaker, Book 1
- By: D. J. Molles
- Narrated by: Christian Rummel
- Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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In the beginning, the gods destroyed the world. Five hundred years later, things haven’t gotten much better for humans. The demigods that were left behind to guard over humanity have been using them as fodder for an endless civil war between themselves, and the humans just go on dutifully slaughtering each other, battle after battle. It’s not all bad, though. Perry McGown makes his living off those bloody, stinking battlefields. He works on a crew that reclaims all the spent shell casings. But if anyone found out that he was a deserter from the war, he’d be executed for heresy.
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Why does the author make it so hard to like the main character
- By Teressa Vanda on 10-02-19
By: D. J. Molles
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Blackwing
- Raven's Mark, Book 1
- By: Ed McDonald
- Narrated by: Colin Mace
- Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Bounty hunter Ryhalt Galharrow has breathed Misery dust for 20 bitter years. When he's ordered to locate a masked noblewoman at a frontier outpost, he finds himself caught in the middle of an attack by the Deep Kings, one that signifies they may no longer fear the Engine. Only a formidable show of power from the very woman he is seeking, Lady Ezabeth Tanza, repels the assault.
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A very strong start to a promising series
- By Twain on 10-22-17
By: Ed McDonald
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Rise of the Ranger
- The Echoes Saga, Book 1
- By: Philip C. Quaintrell
- Narrated by: Steven Brand
- Length: 15 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Mankind has lorded over the land of Illian for a thousand years, building on the ruins left by the elves, as if it were their birthright. A thousand years is a long time for an immortal race to see the truth of things, a truth that has remained unsaid for a millennium - elves are superior. They are faster, stronger, and connected to the magical realm in a way that man could never grasp. Illian should belong to them.
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Worth it
- By Ali on 03-24-18
What listeners say about City of Kings
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Al
- 09-01-19
An awesome grimdark experience
I received a free copy of the audiobook from the author in return for an honest review. This in no way impacts my opinions.
The City of Kings is the newest novel in the First Earth Saga, in a world Rob J Hayes has been building for a long time. If you haven’t read the author’s work before, have no fear of jumping in here, as the standalone is written in a way that includes characters from previous books, without excluding new readers (although I believe it does add to experience), he’s gotten good at skills like that. Anyway…
The Wildlings are on the verge of regaining their home, eh, the Wilds, from the Blooded who have ruled with an iron fist for too long. One final city stands in their way, the Crucible, home of the Brekovich (probably spelt wrongly) family, the worst of the Blooded. Rose, Black Thorn and company have the fortress in their sights, but have the tall order of getting inside. Not only do they face the army of Crucible, but there are worse things in their way on the outside. Can the Wildling scale the walls and end the Blooded, or will they fall at their last and biggest hurdle.
Worldbuilding
This is a world that has been many novels in the making, so you'd expect it to be polished, and it is, but if you expect it to be worn and hackneyed, you'd be wrong. The Wilds are a dangerous place, and close to crucible they are at their worst - those big walls are there for a reason. Along the way, our “heroes” have to face zombies (Yay! Zombies), and not those shuffling morons from the Walking Dead. These are more akin to the Draugr from Norse mythology, and all the more dangerous for it, There are some nasty-ass cave trolls and necromancers. As for Crucible, it is as imposing as it is impregnable, and the difference in “standard of living” of those who live within, and those who live without, is not lost on us.
Score - 4.5/5
Characters
All your favourites (at least those who survived) are here for this one - Black Thorn, Rose, Pern and many more, and there are some new ones to boot. But, intentionally or otherwise, the stars of this show (at least for me) are Henry and Anders. Henry, the cold-blooded assassin, is shocked by the horrors of war, and waxes philosophical on many occasions about war, humanity and other things often. Anders the disowned son of Niles Brekovich has his own reasons for being on the wrong side of Crucible’s walls, and we’re never quite sure of his loyalty. That being said, he’s a freakin’ hoot, and he is everything a hero of traditional epic fantasy isn’t, even more so than the crew of villains he has latched onto. But the one thing that will stay with you longer than any other part of this book, and that is the non-existent line between our heroes and their enemies. Sure, Black Thorn and Co are trying to free the Wilds from the oppression of the Blooded, but their modus operandi is far from noble. If you don’t believe me, wait until you’ve read the chilling ending to this one before you disagree.
Score - 5/5
Plot
I haven’t read all of the preceding books, so I can’t honestly state whether the plot ties everything up in a neat little bow, but it certainly fits with those I have. Within the confines of this book, the plot is relatively straightforward, although it is never really clear who will win, or if they did in fact win, while the author throws out lots of breadcrumbs to lure us into his next trap (novel).
Score - 4/5
Writing
Rob Hayes is the finest fantasy authors out there, self-published or otherwise, and while his grimdark stylings aren’t for everyone, there’s no denying he is skilled at this writing lark. His description of places and events, his crisply diverse characters, his skilled use of metaphor (check out the spider and fly) and his ramblings on the human condition are all very impressive, and he has just gotten better over the years. If I sound fanboyish, it’s because I am , but I don’t gush like this often, which says a lot about the author’s work. I realised I published this without mentioning the narrator, so she was no afterthought. Using a woman to voice a mainly male cast could be considered risky, but the narrator, Rosa B Watkinson, was terrific, and I couldn’t imagine another narrator, of any gender, doing a better job. I will definitely watch for her work in the future.
Score - 5/5
Personal Enjoyment
What else can I say? It’s pitch dark, funny but not jokey, with characters and events that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading. I would hate to be the next book on your TBR.
Score - 5/5
Verdict
Grimdark as it should be written.
Total Score - 23.5/25
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- NoOneSpecial
- 01-09-21
Well done narration
I won’t read the next one as it’s not of my taste. I like to know more about what’s going on with the creatures and the magic well before I’m half way through the book. I don’t have the patience for the pacing.
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- Brian M
- 08-10-19
Epic Standalone Fantasy
First thing to get out of the way, this book is populated by awful people doing brutal and horrific things against other awful people who have also been doing horrific things. Once you get your head around the fact that the characters are at best antiheroes it's easier to wrap your head around the story's contents. Basically there's a huge army led by a husband and wife duo (one was one of the most wanted men in the realm and his wife an ex prostitute). They've been destroying the Blooded (another group of not great people) to take back the Wildlands. And, this has worked pretty well, but they find themselves in front of the last vestige of the Blooded, but it's also a city thought to be impenetrable. And that's where we're at. Plenty of violence awaits as this ridiculous force of questionable characters fights to sack the city and destroy every last one of its inhabitants before the wife has her child (she's 9 months pregnant). The characters are fleshed out and developed well and Hayes is basically playing a game where he sees how much they can do before the reader/listener turn on them. And if you've already adjusted your expectations that they're playing on a different plane of morality it turns out it's quite a bit, and those characters are definitely the strength of the story. The violence and fighting is great in general, but the individual POV's are what makes it that much better. Then of course there's an ending that you're propelled towards despite understanding that throughout the story the potential stakes of that ending are raised, and it's fantastic.
I really enjoyed this story and am definitely going to make a concerted effort to seek out the Ties that Bind series that takes place in the same world with some of the same characters. I received the review code for this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this honest review.
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- Cindy
- 07-21-19
Intense
Intense and complex storyline.
It took most of story for me to get use to how the narrator portrays the characters. I kept wanting to say "take a breathe darlin, and slow down" I felt if I got distracted for a second I'd miss enough to go back and repeat chapter.
Hoping next release is more relaxed.
This audio was given to me free and I voluntarily gave this review.
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