Sands Audiobook By Kevin L. Nielsen cover art

Sands

Sharani Series, Book 1

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Sands

By: Kevin L. Nielsen
Narrated by: Tanya Eby
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For nine months of the year, the sands of the Sharani Desert are safe. The genesauri - giant, flying, serpentine monsters who hunt across the desert in enormous packs - lie dormant. The smallest of their kind is able to take down a single man with ease, and the largest is able to swallow entire clans.

The people of the desert have always been able to predict the creatures' appearance, but this year the genesauri have stopped following the rules. When the genesauri suddenly attack her clan, 17-year-old Lhaurel draws a sword in her people's defense - a forbidden practice for women of any clan - and is sentenced to death by her own people. Chained to a rock and left to be eaten by the next wave of genesauri, Lhaurel is rescued by a mysterious, elusive clan said to curse children at a glance, work unexplainable terrors, and disappear into the sands without a trace. With the fate of the clans hanging in the balance, Lhaurel discovers she possesses a rare and uncontrollable power - one that will be tested as the next deadly genesauri attack looms on the horizon and the clash between clans grows more inevitable by the hour.

©2015 Kevin L. Nielsen (P)2016 Tantor Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Science Fiction & Fantasy

Critic reviews

"With an engrossing world, vivid characters, and awesome creatures galore,

Sands is a fun ride!" (Jared Garrett, author of Best)
All stars
Most relevant  

Would you consider the audio edition of Sands to be better than the print version?

Audio will never serve better than print, but this performance does its very best to beat it and nearly succeeds!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Sands?

In a well written novel, the characters outshine the events. In Sands, the characters are the most memorable elements, thought nonstop action and mystery will keep you turning pages well into the night.

Which character – as performed by Tanya Eby – was your favorite?

Lhaurel, oh and Gavin!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

With power flowing unaware in her blood, will Lhaurel learn to harness her ability before those she loves are devoured by monsters?

Any additional comments?

Read this book! It's fantastic!

In a world deigned to kill her, she fears nothing!

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Kevin Nielsen weaves a fascinating tale that sucks you in and leaves you breathless. It's not enough to just own the audio book. You'll want this in every format available. The narration was clear and easy to follow, the story intriguing and fresh. Kevin's attention to detail and skill for world building is both inspiring and addicting. He has quickly become one of my favorite authors. From the first time I read Sands, I was hooked. I am a life-long fan and I can't wait to read (and hear) what happens next!

Listen again and again!

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Would you listen to Sands again? Why?

Yes--it was a fun story, brought to life by a great narrator.

Any additional comments?

In Sands, a young girl named Lhaurel has a stubborn, independent nature that often gets her into trouble when her free spirit clashes with her clan’s strict gender-role traditions. They live in a harsh, sandy desert landscape ruled by chauvinism and volatile inter-clan conflicts. When she commits a desperate act of rebellion–taking up a sword, as a woman, to save her friend’s life–her clan leaves her behind as food fodder for giant sand serpents called “genesauri” (which may or may not have been bioengineered to thwart an enemy of war in the not-so-distant past). An egalitarian clan of mystics has been watching her for many years and rescues her from this terrible fate to train in swordsmanship and break into her own powers. As things progress, it becomes clear that something, or someone, has triggered an early migration of genesauri and may be drawing them toward a barrier of magnetic rock surrounding an oasis that normally repulses them–toward the clans gathering there for refuge. And Lhaurel’s abilities make her something far more powerful and dangerous than what any of the other mystics first anticipated.

Nielsen has created an intriguing magical post-apocalyptic universe through the eyes of a strong female character, beautiful descriptions, well-placed action, and wholesome storytelling. Sands is a delightful adventure. The audiobook narrator, Tanya Eby, was a perfect fit for voicing the characters in this book and wonderful to listen to. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the audio narration, and I highly recommend it!

A Great Fantasy Adventure

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I would have loved this book if it weren't for the female character constantly not trusting but then giving in, it almost cost her her life and it did cost the lives of many people, because she had to Ponder and think about what was going on constantly. it seemed to make the book longer than it was. But all in all it was a good story. I just hate it how she would think through everything while people were dying, staring at things and trying to figure it out instead of acting on instinct. Other than that I guess I've read a lot of fantasy books, and this one bothered me a little

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