Discover Best Sellers Audiobooks in Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Epic New Releases

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Title: Hand of Fire

Subtitle: Forgotten Realms: Shandril's Saga, Book 3

Author: Ed Greenwood

Narrator: James Patrick Cronin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 48 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-22-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 54 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Epic

Publisher's Summary:

The long-awaited conclusion to the Shandril's Saga trilogy.

The latest novel from Forgotten Realms creator and best-selling author Ed Greenwood is the third title in this newly created trilogy. This all-new novel concludes the storyline from two long-standing titles that were recently rereleased.

Be careful what you wish for.

Spellfire is the most powerful magic in the land.

Its a dangerous weapon in anyones hands.

In the wrong hands, it can destroy the world.

Shandril Shessair wanted a taste of adventure. She got spellfire, and now she's fleeing for her life across Faern, searching for somewhere to hide. More evil wizards, warriors, and priests than she can count are trying to get it from her, and they'll kill or enslave her without hesitation. Her last, desperate hope is to take refuge in the sheltered city of Silverymoon.

If she makes it that far.

Members Reviews:

tragedy

dragged out a long plotline then ends the story in needless tragedy because the characters and Spellfire can't exist for too long in his world without consuming the plot of all the stories.

was let down

little to no plot. poor narration.

expected much more from ed greenwood.

he should have just let the story end with crown of fire.

One long fight

This book is one long fight scene beginning to end. Couple that with the horrible performance by the reader makes this a really hard, almost painful listen. Voices are inconsistent and aweful. Magic, and especially Spellfore, are far too powerful and abundant. Cults that were out of the pursuit are suddenly back in without explanation. As poor as the book was, the performance was worse.

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Title: Tapestry of Dark Souls

Subtitle: Ravenloft: The Covenant, Book 4

Author: Elaine Bergstrom

Narrator: Christine Williams, Nick Sullivan

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-16-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 15 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Epic

Publisher's Summary:

Jonathan must destroy the Gathering Cloth, a web in which the darkest evils of Ravenloft are trapped, before the evil breaks him and dooms him to eternal darkness.

Members Reviews:

Not a bad story

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I absolutely love the Ravenloft world, so it's probably no surprise that the stories tend to let me down from time to time. At times, this story almost had the oppressively hopeless atmosphere right, at other times it seemed too much like your standard fantasy adventure fare. There were a few plot points I felt didn't really go anywhere, unless they were meant to be red herrings, and I feel they missed out on a lot of possibilities.

Overall I enjoyed it well enough, though if I had to recommend other novels from the Ravenloft series I'd pick "Vampire of the Mists," "I, Strahd" volumes 1 and 2, and "Knight of the Black Rose" over this one.

If youve listened to books by Elaine Bergstrom before, how does this one compare?

I have not listened to any of the others.

What about Christine Williams and Nick Sullivan s performance did you like?

I like that the narrative was split between a male reader for the male protagonist's section and a female reader for the female protagonist. This definitely helped with the immersion factor of the story.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

I would. I feel like it had a lot of potential for some of the more grisly effects we see in movies nowadays. Again, though, there were a lot of missed opportunities.

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Title: The Glasswrights' Master

Subtitle: Glasswrights, Book 5

Author: Mindy L. Klasky

Narrator: Julia Farhat

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 34 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-11-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Epic

Publisher's Summary:

The final battle...

Rani Trader has fled her homeland, escaping Morenia just as enemy armies invade. Encamped in the southern kingdom of Sarmonia, Rani must make the hardest bargain of her life - negotiating safety for herself, her beloved king, and his heir, even as she struggles to control mystical powers that rise within her. As armies line up for the final battle, Rani must fight to become the master of her fate - and her guild.

Members Reviews:

A powerful and emotional conclusion to a fine series

(Spoilers)

This stirring conclusion to a magnificent series is a powerful read that doesn't let you put it down!

The conclusion to the beautiful Glasswright's Series is a fitting end - all the loose ends are tied up, and the characters go through changes that help them, hurt them, and push them towards the finale.

The only recommendation I can make is that you read the other Glasswright's books before this - don't read it as a "stand alone" novel. Some details may be lost on you - such as exactly why Crestman is so furious with Rani, or the details of Rani and Tovin's past - if you do not read the entire series. Also, the end of the book is all the more bittersweet if you've known the characters for all 5 books.

The characters are beautifully written, and they are believeable to the core. Rani, Ranita, Rai... whatever you choose to call her - she is the remarkable hero in this tale. The king, Hal, goes through mental anguish that he thought he had overcome previously. The return of his rhymes is a chilling reminder of his fragile state, and Crestman's proclamation that Hal simply cannot exist without Rani have a ring of truth that chills the reader.

The imagery in the book of the Thousand Gods "visits" to Rani are vivid, and you can taste/hear/smell/feel/see the visions as clearly as Rani does.

I highly recommend this book to all Glasswright fans - if you haven't read the series yet, pick it up now!

Caps Off An Excellent Series

They're always saying that you can't judge a book by its cover, but effective and attractive cover art can go a long way toward selling a novel. I first became aware of Mindy Klasky's "Glasswright" series two years ago while shopping at Safeway and was immediately intrigued. At Mindy's web site I read the first chapter of each book then available, and I knew they were going to be very good. But, I learned long ago never to purchase an "in progress" series, for the sake of my own sanity.

When "The Glasswrights' Master" finally came out, I plowed through all five books in the span of a single week. Certainly, you'll want to read the others before this one. I'm hoping that the comments I'm about to make, as I briefly summarize the whole series to put "Master" in context, will not give away too many of the key plot points for those who are new to these books.

If there's one overriding theme of the "Glasswright" series that stands out for me, it has to be the vital importance of making the right choices, for the right reasons. My favorite character easily has to be the main protagonist, Rani Trader. She is a textbook example of how bad choices can destroy lives.

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Title: The Druid Queen

Subtitle: Forgotten Realms: Druidhome Trilogy, Book 3

Author: Douglas Niles

Narrator: Karen White

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-07-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Epic

Publisher's Summary:

Restored to his throne, King Tristan Kendrick must confront the fearful costs of his rescue from the Coral Kingdom. One of his daughters suffers tragically from the curse of an evil god, while the other must face a decision that will chart the destiny of the kingdom. At the same time, near the heart of Gwynneth, a new evil stirs.

Members Reviews:

Another enjoyable Forgotten Realms series

I enjoyed both the Moonshae Trilogy and the Druidhome Trilogy (the latter is set 20ish years later). My only complaint is the the ending of the Druidhome Trilogy felt a bit rushed. I don't expect Forgotten Realms books to knock me off my feet. I like that all of the books, by many authors, all exist in the same "world" so that they don't have to spend endless pages developing and presenting the milieu. I have a pile of Forgotten Realms source material and maps which helps while reading these books.

I read a lot of books

Most of the Forgotten Realms or D&D books I read are the same in that they are fine and good for passing the time. I find it's necessary to know all the background info in order to understand the next book that comes out. It was good, but nothing really exciting.

Adventure and romance.

Although I enjoyed the Moonshae Trilogy, I have to say that the Druidhome Trilogy is much better. I read all three books in two days, and I was wishing they were longer. Unlike other Forgotten Realms authors (most notably Ed Greenwood), Douglas Niles definitely has a well-developed plot, with a clear conflict that leads to a logical conclusion. Although the story itself is quite good, that wasn't really what kept me reading into the small hours of the night. Actually, it was the romance part of it--something which gets neglected in many other TSR novels. I found myself dying to know who Alicia would choose. All of the characters are extremely likeable (except maybe Deirdre), and I was happy to see that Newt, the fairy dragon returns in this trilogy. I highly suggest this trilogy to anyone who is a fan of the Forgotten Realms setting, and especially to those of us who wish the authors would pay more attention to developing love between their characters.

Audio Book is Missing a Chapter

This rating applies to the audible version. The reason for the one-star review is that the audio book is missing the second-to-last chapter of the book. It goes right from chapter 14 - Rockbound Ways to chapter 16 - Clash of the Avatars. Chapter 15 is missing entirely, so you will miss part of the story.

Waiting for the reprint

I have read the first trilogy ( The Moonshae Trilogy) and have gotten the first two in this trilogy but can't seem to find the last in the series. I am a serious collector and the books of the forgotten realms are my target. I have 42 in 1 time read condition and hope to complete the collection. I realize that it's going to be hard since TSR was bought out but any one that can direct me to a "source".....gimmee, gimmee, gimmee

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Title: Knights of the Sword

Subtitle: Dragonlance: Warriors, Book 3

Author: Roland Green

Narrator: Zach Villa

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 37 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-02-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 16 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Epic

Publisher's Summary:

The greatest order of chivalry in the history of Krynn.

After a knight has achieved the Order of the Crown, he must then begin his training in the virtues of courage and heroism in order to achieve the Order of the Sword.

This is the second tale of Sir Pirvan the Wayward, whose reluctant and inauspicious beginnings bore few clues to his potential as a Knight of the Sword or as a Knight of the Crown, nor as a mentor for another similarly dubious prospect for Krynn's greatest order of chivalry.

Roland J. Green is the author of the Starcruiser Shenandoah and Wandor series and numerous Conan novels, and is coauthor (with Jerr Pournelle) of the Jannisaries series.

The Warriors series details the exploits of the heroes and villains of the War of the Lance.

Members Reviews:

Boring

Underdeveloped characters that you don't really care about and a plot that really doesn't go anywhere.

Look forward to reading this

Glad I was able to fine this book. I have read volume 1 and have been looking for the last 2 in the serious. Looking forward to reading this.

Love the Pervin books

This started out as a little slow and definitely pulled up the intensity. ITs the first in a line of Pervin books.

Three Stars

Good book, entertaining. A litle lacking on substance.

Better related to Dragonlance world than its prequel

The author finally incorporated the unique features of Krynn in the sequel to the Knights of the Crown. In this book, the reader is introduced to an adventure set in the pre-Cataclysm Ansalon. There is the growing complacency among the humans, especially in the court of the PriestKing of Istar. There are the White, Red and Black Robes and the Towers of the wizards. Last but not least, there are the not-so-stuffy Knights who embarked on a mission to evacuate a too-successful band of bandits to prevent a potential war in Karthay.

Waydol, an exiled minotaur, went among the humans to learn of their strengths and weaknesses. In the course of his mission, he created a highly organised group of bandits that roamed the countryside of Karthay. Ever alert to the potential of expanding its power, the Istarian court despatched an army to Karthay to eradicate the bandits, threatening to take direct control of the distant region. Anxious to prevent a war between the Istarians and the Karthayians, Sir Pirvan the Wayward, along with his wife and old friends, embarked on a race against time to evacuate the bandits if the outlaws are willing, or to eliminate them before the Istarian army entrenches itself in Karthay. To meet Waydol, Pirvan had to travel over hostile countryside riddled with various outlaws, some in tacit support of Waydol, others finding the bounty on the minotaur too tempting.

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Title: Thornhold

Subtitle: Forgotten Realms: Songs & Swords, Book 4

Author: Elaine Cunningham

Narrator: Eric Michael Summerer

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 20 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-02-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 38 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Epic

Publisher's Summary:

All is not well in the City of Splendors. A new Zhentarim threat lurks in the shadows of Waterdeep. Roguish Harper Bronwyn is sent by Archmage Khelben Arunsun on a mission to meet her long-lost father and reclaim her bloodline's dangerous heritage. She uncovers a family secret that threatens to destroy not only Bronwyn, but the Harpers themselves!

Members Reviews:

Entertaining Book

Would you listen to Thornhold again? Why?

I would not listen to Thornhold again. While it was enjoyable the story was a little too convoluted. There are Paladins and evil sorcerers... girls being reunited with their fathers... the whole gambit. Oddly, I felt the daughter/father thing with Bronwin and her father closely resembled that of a certain half-elf female from the previous series entries. It was like the same situation with different characters. Eric Michael Summerer was terrific as always.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The conflict between the Harpers and Paladins was interesting. I didn't feel like the Harpers did anything wrong like many other reviewers (they did what they always do). The least interesting aspect was the family affairs that took place. I know it is FR but it seemed far fetched and played out.

Which character as performed by Eric Michael Summerer was your favorite?

Dwarf (sorry I forgot his name).

Any additional comments?

I'm finishing up the series... this book had promise with a different set of characters, but the author played the uninteresting family card for a few too many chapters. Learning about the Harpers and Paladins was nice though.

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Title: The Jewel of Turmish

Subtitle: Forgotten Realms: The Cities, Book 3

Author: Mel Odom

Narrator: Nicole Greevy

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 51 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-02-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 10 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Epic

Publisher's Summary:

Alaghn - The Jewel of Turmish

Preserving the balance of nature is a way of life for Haarn Brightoak, no matter what the cost, but even his dedication to the customs of the druid is put to the test when a long-dead evil returns to the world of the living. As this vile creature gathers its undead army, Haarn must decide if he will compromise his way of life to defend the city that has never welcomed him.

The third title in the swashbuckling The Cities series, this novel explores the Vilhon Reach, an area of the Forgotten Realms world that previously had little information written about it.

The Jewel of Turmish is the first Forgotten Realms novel from popular author Mel Odom since his trilogy of titles in The Threat from the Sea series.

Members Reviews:

A solid book, the experience lessened by narrator

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

i would recommend the book if you are interested in the D&D books or the forgotten realms campaign setting,i enjoyed the story when i was younger but my tastes have matured as i have, regardless its still a solid story and well paced, dont get me wrong Mel Odom is no Tolkien or Robert Holdstock but if you are someone who enjoys blow by blow accounts of fights, and simple characters with simple dialogue this may be the book for you but the drawling monotone and soulless perfomance of the narrator leaves much to be desired

Who was your favorite character and why?

Haarn Brightoak, the main protagonist is a good example of a true neutral character, most of the time, and im a sucker for druids so Haarn it is

How could the performance have been better?

a little bit of enthusiasm from the narrator would work wonders, as such she sounds like she doesnt want to be there reading for you, if you compare this narrator to say, Rob Inglis who narrated the unabridged fellowship, towers and return of the king, its apples and oranges, and in this case rotten apples, i am questioning now whether to buy the other forgotten realms books i like simply because they are narrated by soulless monotone Nicole Greevy a name that i will never forgive or forget, for lessening a book i so enjoyed in my childhood

Was The Jewel of Turmish worth the listening time?

the story is definately worth your time if you can stand the horrible narration

Any additional comments?

narrator is pretty crap, potentially ruining your whole experience

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Title: Plague of Spells

Subtitle: Forgotten Realms: Abolethic Sovereignty, Book 1

Author: Bruce R. Cordell

Narrator: John Pruden

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 58 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-02-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 36 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Epic

Publisher's Summary:

Lovecraftian Horror in Faern!

Blue fire sears the face of Faern, leaving the twisted and mutilated dead in its wake. But a rare few escape death - and suffer some mystical mutation. Raidon Kane is one of those who survives, the wake of blue fire burning the sigil of the amulet he wears into his chest and binding him with all the power and responsibility it entails. With everyone he knows and cares about dead, Raidon must find within himself the strength to lead the fight against the rise of an elder evil the likes of which would be the end of mortal kind.

Award-winning game designer Bruce R. Cordell depicts the rise of a monstrous nation of elder evil as only he can in this brand-new trilogy Abolethic Sovereignty. Dedicated to showcasing one of the most fascinating new aspects of the changed face of Faern, this trilogy is packed with the exciting battles, wizardry, and monsters that are the hallmark of Forgotten Realms novels as well as introducing a new never-before-seen element of Lovecraftian horror to Faern.

Members Reviews:

For the diehard and Spell Plague fans!

This book wasnt for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

If you are a fan of Bruce R. Cordell or really like learning about how the Spell Plague altered parts of the realms.

What could Bruce R. Cordell have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

I'm about 50 FR books deep. So, when you don't a book you wonder... "is it me or the book?" Bruce spins an interesting story but it gets off to a rocky start with the first 10 chapters flipping back and forth with three different characters (Chapter 1 is for character A, Chapter 2 covers character B etc). This made it really hard to follow what was happening and why. Obviously, the three characters and stories eventually twine together but it's too late.

What does John Pruden bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

John Pruden is great. I found this book based off of searching for more FR stuff done by Pruden. His Erevis Cale stuff is amazing.

You didnt love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The last quarter of the book was the best. More action oriented and the stories finally come together (still confusing but at least all the characters are happening in the same chapters).

Any additional comments?

I can't recommend this book (I was hoping to finish the series but now we'll see). I'm not even sure if Raidon Kane is a good main character because this was just an introduction and it's a hard sell to keep going in the series.

Not mandatory but does help to have some history/knowledge of the spell plague etc.

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Title: The Gates of Night

Subtitle: Eberron: Dreaming Dark, Book 3

Author: Keith Baker

Narrator: Brett Barry

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 5 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-02-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 28 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Epic

Publisher's Summary:

A band of war-weary soldiers have uncovered a plot that may tear the very fabric of reality forever. To save their own lives and to prevent a long-banished race of monsters from unleashing an army of horrors upon the waking world, they must reach the very heart of Dal Quor. To stop the cataclysm in time, they must fight their way to.

©2006 Wizards of the Coast LLC (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Members Reviews:

Great book and series but...

Narrator was changed from the first two books, which makes it difficult to stay connected - especially when words are pronounced differently than previously. Otherwise a great finish to the series.

really wish they hadn't changed the narrator

Keith Baker third book of this installment of the dreaming dark was okay wasn't as strong as his first two novels. the real criticism comes in that they change the narrator in the narrator's pronunciations as well as characterizations of voices is a lot worse in my opinion. if you liked the first two novels of the dreaming dark Trilogy I would recommend slogging through this one to know the end of the story. after about an hour or 3 into the novel I was able to adjust at this pace of the novel pick pick up. mr. Colville did a great job talking about the different planes.

Not All It Could Have Been

While I feel like this one has a more cohesive story than the second book in the series, it still ultimately falls quite a bit short of its potential. The first book in the series was quite good, especially up until the end, because it did a great job of introducing you to the world. This one stayed back in the land of more dime-a-dozen series tie-in novels.

I really like the world of Eberron, because of its blend of fantasy and sci-fi. But I think in order to truly capitalize on that you would have to have a, epic fantasy series set in the world to establish a "main" plot-line. These kind of books that are turned out by the franchise are really just popcorn fantasies, and I'm sure they satisfy a big part of the market. But what I really want to find is a series like this that is truly written with the art of the story in mind. It doesn't have to be epic and the stakes don't have to be huge. That was what worked in the first book - we were just concerned with the fates of the four main character. By the end of this book, our heroes are trying to save the entire world just like every other cliche genre fantasy series out there. And it doesn't even sell it to the readers. As other reviewers have stated, the ending just falls apart because it doesn't really have much backbone to it.

If it had been kept toned down, with a focus on characters and world-building, I would have been a lot more satisfied by this series.

Meh

What started as an excellent introduction to the realm of Eberron, quickly runs away and becomes so over the top that the story lost me.

Combine that with a change in Narrator led me to abandon this book. Not that Brett Barry did a poor job once he got his bearings.

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Title: Hammer and Axe

Subtitle: Dragonlance: Dwarven Nations, Book 2

Author: Dan Parkinson

Narrator: Allen O'Reilly

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-02-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 21 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Epic

Publisher's Summary:

The humans of Ergoth continue to encroach upon Thorbardin, but the worst threat to the dwarven fortress comes from a mysterious fog-beast and a covetous wizard. A Cobar, a kender, and a giant raptor add to the confusion as the dwarves are faced with wizards who command not only the forces of magic but thousands of mercenaries as well. And, unknown to the dwarves who valiantly fight the invaders, the beast has already claimed Thorbardin as its own.

Members Reviews:

Great second installment in a great trilogy

This is the second installment in the dwarven nations trilogy. It is by far the best of the three. It tells the tale of the bonded thanes in the first 90 years after their coming together to create a new land. During this era, the dwarves must fight magic users, and this book offers a great tale of conflict, tragedy, and victory. All in all, a very good tale of a nation overcoming a threat and coming together as a closer people. You will also see these people grow as leaders of their tribes. It is well-written and well-thought, and very enjoyable. Get it and enjoy tales of a growing dwarven world.

First time listening to the series. I have read ...

First time listening to the series. I have read almost every DragonLance book. Only issue I have with this Narration is that, the narrator's pronunciation of more than a few words was a little irritating.. i.e. Dwarf was pronounced Dorf, and Dwarven was pronounced Dorven. The "W" is not silent.

Four Stars

Great book about dwarves and the founding of Thorbardin.

Another Great Dwarven Tale

Dan Parkinson does a great job in this second book of the Dwarven Nations Trilogy. I think the Dwarves are one of the most interesting and entertaining races on Krynn, and Dan Parkinson does an excellent job bringing out the best in this novel. If you're at all interested in learning more about how the Dwarven nation was formed and evolved, read all three of these books!

Hammer and Axe - Book Review

I received the book it was in excellent condition and arrived very promptly. I am extremely pleased with both the promptness of the service and the care of the packaging. Excellent work guys!