The Desert and the Blade Audiobook By S. M. Stirling cover art

The Desert and the Blade

A Novel of the Change

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The Desert and the Blade

By: S. M. Stirling
Narrated by: Todd McLaren
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Reiko, empress of Japan, has allied herself with Princess Órlaith, heir to the High Kingdom of Montival, to find the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, the Grass-Cutting Sword, a legendary treasure of an ancient dynasty that confers valor and victory to its bearer. Órlaith understands all too well the power it signifies. Her own inherited blade, the Sword of the Lady, was both a burden and a danger to her father, Rudi Mackenzie, as it failed to save the king from being assassinated. But the fabled sword lies deep with the Valley of Death, and the search will be far from easy. And war is building in Montival and far beyond.

As Órlaith and Reiko encounter danger and wonder, Órlaith's mother, Queen Matildha, believes her daughter's alliance and quest has endangered the entire realm. There are factions both within and without Montival whose loyalty died with the king, and whispers of treachery and war grow ever louder. And the Malevolence that underlies the enemy will bend all its forces to destroy them.

©2015 S. M. Stirling (P)2015 Recorded Books Adventure Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction Royalty
Masterful Character Development • Great Storytelling • Engaging Series • Fantastic Culmination • Fantastic Voice Acting
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Wow!!! What a great ending to a fantastic book. Two High Queens and they’re “all in”! The riding of camels was so witty. Narration superb!

There’s nothing like camel 🐪 toe!

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Great job narrating all of the different accents and languages by the narrator. Another awesome installment in the Change novels!

Many good voices, great story

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Exceptionally well written, wonderfully narrated and beautifully framed on a world that manages to be alien, familiar and so very exciting all at the same time. Frankly it is OMHO the best installment of this epic series. Crown Princess Orlaith and Empress Reiko characters are masterfully developed and are rapidly becoming my favorites on the saga. The only minor issue I have with the book is that the last chapter felt rushed and provided little to explain Reiko's brother miraculous re-appearance with the mortal enemies of her people. Thank you Mr. Stirling and Mr. McLaren for another great work!

Outstanding! The BEST of the series!

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I could listen to Todd Maclaren doing Asian voices and arrow noises all day…pfffft…. Tung!!!!

Todd Maclaren doing Asian voices

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Great, this new installment redeemed the series. new generation of characters and new locations to explore!

Loved it!

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Great narration, feathering in old story lines, and new character accents on the previous characters and story lines!

A great culmination of the previous stories!

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To begin I've read all the books in this series as well as the "Nantucket" series before that, so obviously I enjoy his style and storytelling. But ,and I too hate when someone is full of praise for something and then drops a "but", for all of that there are times that the premise that for the good of mankind a "higher" power wipes out 99% of the world's population and leaves those remaining forever in a state feudal agrarianism, or at least until the next asteroid can be a little grating.

Continues the story

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Narrator should learn place name pronounciation. those from the west coast and especially the NW are cringing!

Good yarn

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Another amazeing edition to the series. Picked up right where the last one before conclufed.

Another Good One

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What do you think the narrator could have done better?

My only problem with this book is with the sound quality. While the narrator, Todd McLaren is excellent, when he speaks in the character's interior voices he whispers & it is difficult to hear, especially when listening in the car. I found myself constantly adjusting the volume when he switched between the modes of voice.

problems with sound quality

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