Discover Best Sellers Audiobooks in Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Epic Top 100

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Titel: Der Hobbit

Autor:: J.R.R. Tolkien

Erzähler: Gert Heidenreich

Format: Unabridged

Spieldauer: 10 hrs and 58 mins

Sprache: Deutsch

Veröffentlichungsdatum: 11-16-11

Herausgeber: Der Hörverlag

Bewertung: 5 von 5 von 37 Stimmen

Kategorien: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Epic

Zusammenfassung des Herausgebers:

Gert Heidenreich, die Stimme J.R.R. Tolkiens, erzählt, wie Bilbo sich vom ängstlichen Hobbit zum mutigen Meisterdieb mausert. Wort für Wort ist jetzt das Schicksal Mittelerdes und somit das Tolkiensche Werk zu hören.

Mitglieder Bewertungen:

Great for Language Comprehension Practice

I like to listen to books in other languages for language practice.

This works best if it is a book that I have already listened to/read in English,

as then the material is more familiar.

For new languages, I will often try to listen to a book in parallel:

say, 15 minutes of English, then 15 minutes of the other languages, etc.

As of yet, there is a fairly limited selection of foreign language audiobooks available in the U.S. store, and an even smaller selection that are available in both English and a variety of other languages.

(And, for some reason, the Spanish ones seem often to be abridged, which makes them much less useful for this type of "rosetta stone" parallel listening practice.)

But it is slowly getting better.

Congratulations to Audible for slowly increasing its foreign language material,

and here is hoping that it will continue to do so.

And perhaps some books in Mandarin and Arabic also?

Excellent story

Story, narration and pace were all great. I recommend this for anyone learning German. Viel Spaß!

An Enjoyable Listen

A great story in English or in German. Well worth a listen. I am learning German and I have listen to this story several times. Each time I listen to it the more I understand and the better the story gets.

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Title: Marion Zimmer Bradley's Ancestors of Avalon

Subtitle: Avalon Series #5

Author: Diana L. Paxson

Narrator: Rosalyn Landor

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-10-11

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 83 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Epic

Publisher's Summary:

Tiriki is a Guardian of the Light, but she has grown up in the shadow of the curse of Atlantis. Graceful and gifted, she is the beloved wife and partner of Micail, a spiritual leader and prince. But when disaster divides them, she must find her own path in a new land, and the world she discovers could change her innermost desires forever. Will she find Micail? And if they are reunited, can they find love once again? Damisa has inherited royal blood and royal pride. In Atlantis she was only an acolyte, but in the new land she could become a queen. She is fierce and ambitious despite her tender years, but her heart remains torn. Will she choose the path of the priestess or the path of power?

Hints of this mysterious past have haunted all the novels of Avalon, but until now the full sweep of this rich history has not been revealed. Peopled with the remarkable women who have always inhabited Avalon and set in a world of wondrous enchantment, Marion Zimmer Bradley's Ancestors of Avalon is another spectacular epic that is sure to please Bradley's many ardent fans and anyone who loves spellbinding stories of romance and myth.

Critic Reviews:

"An elegant stylist, Paxson captures the awe, tragedy and resounding mystery of ancient Britain and mist-enshrouded Atlantis." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Fun Entry in the Series

???Ancestors of Avalon??? is just what the title promises, an early episode in the story that culminates in the classic ???The Mists of Avalon.??? It is the sequel to ???Fall of Atlantis,??? an early story by Marion Zimmer Bradley (written before ???Mists??? although published afterward).

The priests and acolytes of the Atlantean temples of light must flee once again as another group of Atlantic islands is destroyed by earthquakes and volcanos (there is some evil deity at work here, but his role was unclear to me, perhaps because I didn???t read ???Fall???). Tiriki and Micail (wife and husband, priestess and priest, temple guardians) are separated in their flight. Both of their ships reach Britain???s south shore but make landfall at different locations, and each believes the other is dead. Tirike becomes a leader among the people of the marsh, who venerate the Great Goddess and guard her sacred mound and spirit gate that will become the Isle of Avalon. Micail falls in with a conquest-minded group of Atlantean males who want to use his magic powers to, well, get more power. He oversees the raising of Stonehenge. Will he find Tirike? Will realize the error of his ways?

I???m not sure why I made this selection; I read ???Mists??? but have had little interest in the other prequels. Perhaps some atavistic interest in Atlantis kicked in. It???s not a great book; the characters are so shallow and interchangeable that I gave up trying to tell most of them apart. However, there are some lovely lines of poetry embedded in a fast-paced story that is surprisingly enjoyable, and I was pulled in by Rosalyn Landor???s hypnotic narration. I totally agree with the reviewer who recommended re-recording ???Mists??? with Landor as narrator, she???s great.

P.S.

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Title: Shadowmarch

Subtitle: Shadowmarch, Volume I

Author: Tad Williams

Narrator: Dick Hill

Format: Unabridged

Length: 29 hrs and 23 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-02-10

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 550 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Epic

Publisher's Summary:

For generations the misty Shadowline has marked the boundary between the lands of men and the lost northern lands that are the lair of their inhuman enemies, the ageless Qar. But now that boundary line is moving outward, threatening to engulf the northernmost land in which humans still live - the kingdom of Southmarch.

For centuries, the Eddon family has ruled in ancient, forbidding Southmarch Castle, guarding the border against the Qar's return, but now this powerful royal line has been dealt a devastating blow. The monarch, King Olin, is being held captive in a distant land, and it falls to his inexperienced heirs to lead their people in a time of growing danger and dread.

It is on the two youngest Eddons that the heaviest burdens fall. The twins Barrick and Briony, who in such evil times have only each other, may lose even that bond as darkness closes over them. As the Qars power reaches out across their land, will Southmarch Castle, the only home theyve ever known, become in fact what it has long been called - Shadowmarch?

Members Reviews:

It's the characters that matter...

As a longtime reader of fantasy novels, I understand that the first book in a series is many times a bit slower paced than the later books. The author has to paint the picture of an entire world and the characters and things within it. This book however was a bit of a yawner. Williams is a tallented writer as far as describing things in the universe that he has created, but he falls far far short on character development.

There are four main story lines in the book, with most of the book concentrating on the two most uninteresting characters in the story. A spoiled prince and princess. There is a pretty good storyline about a mysterious orphan boy and a dwarf (for lack of a better word). I'd like to fiind out what happens to them. I never will though, because after thirty plus hours of listening, I don't think I could take another book with the same boring characters.

You can have an interesting story and universe, but if you don't fill it with interesting characters, characters that readers will care about, then you just have a long boring slog to the end.

The narrator does a fine job on the book. He gives the characters very definable voices and livens things up. But try as he might, this book still falls short on several different levels.

Favorite authors lately: Robin Hobb, Jim Butcher, Guy Gavriel Kay. If you are a fan of these three authors I reccomend you stay away from this one.

By Far, NOT Williams' Best

I love Tad Williams. His Otherland series is one of my top three series. This series, however, is dreadfully slow. I've tried to get through it twice and keep listening to another book instead. I've finally restarted it with the goal of perservering and finishing the thing. Its a long slog through slow plot, whiny characters and annoying writing. I have always thought Williams to be an excellent writer, but the writing in this book is bad to the point of distraction. The characters are unbelievable, cardboard and just plan annoying.

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Title: The House of Gaian

Author: Anne Bishop

Narrator: Erik Synnestvedt

Format: Unabridged

Length: 17 hrs and 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-01-10

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 91 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Epic

Publisher's Summary:

It began as a witch-hunt. But the Master Inquisitor's plans to eliminate all traces of female power in the world have expanded to crushing the Sylvalan barons who oppose him - and to destroying the wellspring of magic in the Mother's Hills.

Members Reviews:

I wish it wasn't over

I loved this series. Yes, it lags at times, it beats you over the head with themes, it even wraps up a little too nicely. But you know what, none of that matters. It has characters to love almost like you love your own family. Ari, Breanna, Selena--they are the sisters I wish I had. Lyrra, Morag, Ashk--they are your much loved aunts. Falco is that sweet young man you always wanted to date. Liam, Murtag, Aiden are those men you stare at from afar knowing they are out of your reach. The evil is justifiably disturbing; their endings are appropriate. The series is a trilogy and needs to be read as such. I am glad I was able to read them back to back. The little things in these books matter--a brother's love for his sister, the kindness of strangers to Aiden and Lyrra, the musical horse, the silly dog Idjit who died protecting a child, the friendships between women. These are grand stories in the best style of fantasy, but read them for the little things, too.

A perfect story told Threefold

These three books will delight anyone interested in real Wiccan, Druids ,Paganism, worship of the earth and karma. Anyone with an open mind that loves a bardic story, strong characterization (both good and evil) and the concept "Ever mind the rule of three, what you send out comes back to thee". , will laugh, cry, fear, hate, love and be joyful throughout each and every book

I have read almost all of Anne Bishops work I can find. This trilogy is one of the best ever. And the things you read, see, hear and experience is beyond compare. The Fae explained in a creditable manner, the Earth Mother and her sons and daughters, rebirth..... Anything and everything I have always believed in from a child to a 72 year old is contained within this trilogy. Yes 3 books

So what are you waiting for? Go, be immersed and truly experience wonder within your mind.

Merry meet and Merry part and Merry meet again.

Great trilogy

I loved this series. This one starts a bit different, but it needs to for it to work. Good weaving of words into a tale of a land with hope.

Beautiful ending

As a longtime fan of Anne's ring series, I thought to try more of her books. I am so glad I did! Though book 1 started slow to me. I got into the storyline and the well developed characters. Even though the series closed as I have not shopped further, I can see so so many more books based on this series. " So as it has written, more let it be."

A magical tapestry with rich character development and story lines.

This is the third book of the trilogy. I cannot imagine it as a stand alone story but, it continues the many story lines developed in the previous books and brings them to a great conclusion. The world and inhabitants in it are both familiar and foreign. The use of magic and multiple races fleshed out the story and is an excellent study of good vs evil and the power of greed to corrupt previously 'rational' people.

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Title: Orcs

Author: Stan Nicholls

Narrator: John Lee

Format: Unabridged

Length: 24 hrs and 43 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-26-10

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 96 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Epic

Publisher's Summary:

"LOOK AT ME. LOOK AT THE ORC."

"There is fear and hatred in your eyes. To you I am a monster, a skulker in the shadows, a fiend to scare your children with. A creature to be hunted down and slaughtered llike a beast in the fields.

"It is time you pay heed to the beast. And see the beast in yourself. I have your fear. But I have earned your respect.

"Hear my story. Feel the flow of blood and be thankful. Thankful that it was me, not you, who bore the sword. Thankful to the Orcs: born to fight, destined to win peace for all."

Combining the international best-selling trilogy Bodyguard of Lightning, Legion of Thunder, and Warriors of the Tempest - plus a new short story previously available only in a small-press anthology - Orcs presents the entire story of Stryke and his band of Orcs. A fast-moving, action-packed, tongue-in-cheek saga of Orc valor and human treachery.

Critic Reviews:

"Nicholls captures adventure fantasy at its very best.... This edition...will be a cult classic with quest fantasy fans on both sides of the Pond." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Overlooked but enjoyable series

I would love to listen to this series again. In the scifi world some authors and books go unheard because they aren't part of a well known catalogue. This is one of those series. I was introduced to the Orcs a few years ago by a man the is very picky about his fiction. I took the time to read it and then to purchase it on audial book and I have never been disappointed.

The characters are well formed and well developed. Strike is an Orc leader that allows you to actually get behind and route for the Orc cause. Something very foreign to me (and most) because of how Orcs are portrayed in most mainstream fantasy. The writing is excellent. The narration is done very well, also. The reader adds the little bits that make the characters come to life in the way you would expect from reading the books.

Overall, this series will continue to be overlooked because of the fact that there is no Orc movie and the casual reader will be distracted by the fancy worlds that make it onto the big screen. This statement is a shame to me, because this, may not be a well known read, but it was one of the best trilogies I have read in while. Hopefully Orcs will enjoy more exposure in the future and more people will enjoy what is a wonderful experience.

Great story, really enjoyed some of the characters

Really great story, really likes trying to figure out the powers of the stars before they were revealed. take the time to listen to this one. or ever read it

perfect fantasy

loved iy a great fantasy tale with realistic views on combat and everday life. great

bodacious story

excellent story. good characters. bodacious listen. must read for any lovers of fantasy. buy this!

interesting take on a classic genre

a unique take on the classic fantasy setting I really enjoyed the story told here if for no other reason then it stands apart from the typical fantasy tale

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Title: At the Gates of Darkness

Subtitle: Book Two of the Demonwar Saga

Author: Raymond E. Feist

Narrator: Richard Ferrone

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-26-10

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 174 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Epic

Publisher's Summary:

Ten years after the terrible Darkwar finally ended, catastrophe once again threatens to engulf Midkemia and Kelewan, as the demon hordes continue their relentless quest to infiltrate this realm of magic and wonder.

To protect their world from the savage demon hordes, the Black Sorcerer Pug and Midkemias clandestine protectors, the Conclave of Shadows, forged an uneasy alliance of formidable magical talents. Together, this brave band of wizards, demon masters, warriors, and elves defeated the brutal Demon King Maarg and turned back the onrushing death tide. But Maargs fall has not stopped the demonic onslaught, and danger now looms greater than ever before.

Amid the barren ridges of the Valley of Lost Men, in the shadows of an ancient Keshian fortress, the fearsome demon Dahun and the mad necromancer Belasco have joined forces, creating an unstoppable union of deathly black magics that even Pug and a united Conclave may not be strong enough to withstand. Battling the Demon Legion has taken a heavy blood toll on the valiant and dedicated magician, claiming the lives of nearly all those he loves. Though he is racked by despair and rage, Pug knows that the time for mourning must wait.

Putting aside his pain, he and the Conclave and their allies the cold-blooded master spy Jim Dasher; the fearsome young Knight Adamant Sandreena; her former lover the necromancer Amirantha; two renegade Star Elves; and Pugs surviving son, Magnus must marshal their resources against this latest threat. None can forget the dozens of worlds overrun by the demon plague and the millions of dead left behind in their wake.

At the gates of darkness, where shadows hide even deeper shadows, these magical defenders will face what is sure to be the bloodiest, nastiest fight their land has ever seen. And as evil, mayhem, and dark magic are unleashed, none can predict if they and Midkemia itself will survive.

Members Reviews:

Great Book OK Narrator

As usual Feist brings his best. My only criticism is I thought it ended abrubtly even knowing there would be a book 3. Richard Ferrone, the reader here is much less able than the reader for book one; John Meagher. Characters become much less interesting and harder to tell apart. Pronunciations are different than what I and Meagher thought them to be.

I still give it 5 stars due to my un-dieing love for FEIST

Somewhat tedious

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

Only if they had already read the other books, and the first book of this series.

What did you like best about this story?

Too much detail in battles, I don't need to hear about every blow. Almost seems as if the book is being padded out with excess words.

The ending just leads into the next series.

What didnt you like about Richard Ferrones performance?

I didn't like the narration, and he pronounces some of the names so differently I thought they were different people for a while.

No third book

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

No third book No third book No third book No third book No third book

What could Raymond E. Feist have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

No third book

How did the narrator detract from the book?

No third book

What character would you cut from At the Gates of Darkness?

No third book

Any additional comments?

No third book

Series changed reader

Would you try another book from Raymond E.

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Title: Dragon Haven

Subtitle: The Rain Wild Chronicles, Book 2

Author: Robin Hobb

Narrator: Jacqui Crago

Format: Unabridged

Length: 20 hrs and 54 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-11-10

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 116 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Epic

Publisher's Summary:

The dragon keepers and the fledgling dragons are forging a passage up the treacherous Rain Wild River. They are in search of the mythical Elderling city of Kelsingra, and are accompanied by the liveship Tarman, its captain, Leftrin, and a group of hunters who must search the forests for game with which to keep the dragons fed.

With them are Alise, who has escaped her cold marriage to the cruel libertine Hest Finbok in order to continue her study of dragons, and Hest's amanuensis, the Bingtown dandy Sedric.

Rivalries and romances are already threatening to disrupt the band of explorers, but external forces may prove to be even more dangerous. Chalcedean merchants are keen to lay hands on dragon blood and organs to turn them to medicines and profit. Their traitor has infiltrated the expedition and will stop at nothing to obtain the coveted body parts.

And then there are the Rain Wilds themselves: mysterious, unstable, and ever perilous, its mighty river running with acid, its jungle impenetrable, and its waterways uncharted. Will the expedition reach their destination unscathed? Does the city of Kelsingra even exist?

Only one thing is certain: the journey will leave none of the dragons nor their human companions unchanged by the experience.

Members Reviews:

A love stor where every woman is unbelievabl naive

Hardly anything happens in this book. Almost all the plot has to do with one or another love story. To make it even more frustrating the female characters are unbelievable naive.

This book was a disappointment after the great start of the series.

Also the narrater should have listened to the first book and kept similar pronunciation of names as the first narrator. Very confusing when a city and people "change" name from on book to the next.

Definitely not Robin Hobbs best series

What would have made Dragon Haven better?

Characters that are not superficial, naive and most of the time plain stupid. Characters not having to be force feed the obvious facts in front of them to understand simple concepts.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Ok but hampered by the material

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment - I have read many of Robin Hobbs' books and enjoyed them. This was weak and the homosexual threads added nothing to book and were poorly written. I found myself cringing because of the absurdities as I listened.

Really worth the effort i think.

Good book with interestingly moral problems so make desicsions on. I liked it alot. Good buy

Change of narrator is difficult to get accustomed

Where does Dragon Haven rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

Id say in the top 25 percentile. Great book from an awesome author.

What other book might you compare Dragon Haven to and why?

The clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel comes to mind, both books featuring strong young female characters growing up in adverse environments and harsh settings.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

The narration isn't bad and the readers voice grow on you after a while. The change of narrators between books is always difficult to get accustomed to with some varying discrepancy in pronunciation, especially in names.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Greff is a dickhead but I also felt sorry for him.

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Title: The Summoner

Subtitle: Chronicles of the Necromancer, Book 1

Author: Gail Z. Martin

Narrator: Peter Ganim, Gail Z. Martin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 17 hrs and 32 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-29-09

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 496 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Epic

Publisher's Summary:

The comfortable world of Martris Drayke, second son of King Bricen of Margolan, is shattered when his older half-brother, Jared, and Jareds dark mage, Foor Arontala, kill the king and seize the throne. Tris is the only surviving member of the royal family aside from Jared the traitor, and he flees with three friends: Soterius, captain of the guard; Carroway, the courts master bard; and Harrtuck, a member of the royal guard.

Tris harbors a deep secret. In a land where spirits walk openly and influence the affairs of the living, he suspects he may be the mage heir to the power of his grandmother, Bava Kaa, once the greatest sorceress of her age. Such magic would make Tris a Summoner, the rarest of magic gifts, capable of arbitrating between the living and the dead.

BONUS AUDIO: Includes an exclusive introduction written and read by author Gail Z. Martin.

Members Reviews:

How do I put this...

Well, to be brief: DO NOT BUY THIS. I think most of the critiques of the narration are accurate. This guy's reading doesn't flow very well. The pauses are in all the wrong spots, and he emphasizes words in such a way that the meaning of the sentence is altered. If it weren't for his (American) accent, I'd assume he wasn't a native speaker. Not to mention he doesn't use the voice that the author describes. He'll use a strange high pitch voice when the author mentions the character is whispering. Odd. The whole thing is choppy at best.

That being said, I'm doubtful that even a superior narrator could do much for this story. It's INCREDIBLY one-dimensional; there's no depth here at all. I felt like I was watching some second rate TV show where the characters have to complete a series of inane quests in order to save the world (think 24, or better yet, the TV version of the Sword of Truth - and yes, the plot in that show IS bad).

Additionally, there's a lack of any glimpses into the character's psychology. Essentially we get a laundry list of the facts that compose the story; there's no internal struggle or personal burden that the characters have to get past. This contributes to a lack of connection with the characters, and ultimately results in the reader not caring who lives or dies in this world because he doesn't know anyone who "lives" there. Dunno if that resonates with anyone else.

I could go on, with other things I don't like, but I'll close with one last point: To be honest, I wouldn't really mind these mediocrities, if there was at least one redeeming factor out there somewhere. I mean, couldn't you have a cool system of magic, or a vivid world, or, or...SOMETHING??? Not here.

Go check out the Mistborn trilogy if you haven't. It's about 27.54 times better than this. Give or take.

good story, decent narrator

Okay, I admit that this narration is not as wonderful as seen with huge series books like LoTR or Harry Potter, but I keep seeing very bad reviews of narration (as for this book) which, when I get into the book, are perfectly acceptable. I have to give the narration reviews a far worse review than the narrators themselves. My recommendation is: listen to the sample, if it doesn't really turn you off, ignore the narration comments.

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Title: King Kelson's Bride

Subtitle: A Novel of the Deryni

Author: Katherine Kurtz

Narrator: Nick Sullivan

Format: Unabridged

Length: 18 hrs and 25 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-22-09

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 84 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Epic

Publisher's Summary:

Speculation runs rampant throughout the kingdom of Gwynedd as to when, and to whom, King Kelson will finally be wed. As a rival monarch takes his place on the throne of a nearby land, it becomes more imperative than ever that Kelson produce a long-awaited heir.

Friends and enemies alike have a candidate for queen. Some put forth their ideas with passion; some with cold calculation. But while his councilors are busy trotting out potential possibilities, Kelson's heart is heavy. Two women have already been taken from his grasp - one by death and one by duplicity. Now, he must choose with his head, not his heart, for he is wed to his beloved Gwynedd by oaths far more binding than any marriage vows.

With the mystical Deryni blood flowing through his veins, Kelson can only hope for a woman whose power and conviction are equal to his own. Love is set aside for duty - and Kelson the king must make the choice that Kelson the man cannot.

Critic Reviews:

"Kurtz's strengths lie in her patient accumulation of telling detail, well-articulated plots, and believable magics. Should bring the fans flocking, and attract newcomers too." (Kirkus Reviews)

Members Reviews:

Wraps up King Kelson's story

3.5 stars. Originally posted at Fantasy Literature.

Katherine Kurtz published Deryni Rising, her first novel about young King Kelson, in 1970 and published The Quest for Saint Camber, which seemed to be the final story in the HISTORIES OF KING KELSON in 1986. Then, eleven years later, she published King Kelsons Bride, a story that ties up many loose ends and answers a few questions about how life turned out for Kelson Haldane. There will be spoilers for the previous books here, so you may want to skip this review until youve read up to this point.

King Kelsons Bride begins about three years after the events of The Quest for Saint Camber. There are two major events going on in Kelsons life right now and they will become intricately intertwined in this story.

The first is that its now time for Liam, the prince of one of Kelsons vassal states, to return home after serving as a squire to Kelsons uncle Nigel for the past several years. Initially Liam was something of a royal hostage, but Kelson figured that befriending Liam and allowing him to serve as a squire would teach Liam their ways and would help unite their kingdoms when Liam returned home to rule. When Kelson and his entourage escort Liam home and prepare to attend his coronation ceremony, they discover that treachery is afoot. The uncle who has been acting as regent for Liam doesnt want to give up the throne.

Meanwhile, Kelson is being pressured to choose a wife so that he can secure his own throne with an heir. So far, Kelson has been unlucky in love. His first wife was killed on their wedding day and his second fiancée, a woman he still loves, was stolen from him. With Liam coming to power in a vassal state that Kelson isnt sure he can trust, lonely Kelson realizes that he must give up on the idea of marrying for love and must simply choose an acceptable woman who will give him the greatest political advantage.

In many ways, King Kelsons Bride is a romance novel. By the end, there are several happy couples, though Im not going to tell you whether Kelson ends up happy or not. But its not all romance. The storyline involving the treachery against Liam is the major part of the plot and its mostly an exciting story.

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Title: The Red Wolf Conspiracy

Author: Robert V. S. Redick

Narrator: Michael Page

Format: Unabridged

Length: 19 hrs and 16 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-05-09

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 357 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Epic

Publisher's Summary:

Already a publishing sensation in England,

©2009 Robert V.S. Redick; (P)2009 Tantor

Critic Reviews:

"Redick's debut presents a unique setting for an epic fantasy and includes memorable characters. With comparisons to George R. R. Martin and Philip Pullman, this is highly recommended." (Library Journal)

Members Reviews:

Very Good

The narrator made this book for me. The story is very good--I've read the two books in the series so far--but Michael Page brought it alive in a way few narrators can.

The description of this book compares the writer with George Martin, but that is extremely misleading. George Martin is a good writer, true, but his stories have no clear-cut heroes, no good guys or bad guys, which makes it difficult to root for any of them. This disconnection between the reader and the characters makes one enjoy the story, admire the art of prose, and marvel at the characterization, but lacks a certain something that makes his books truly great.

But this isn't a review of George Martin.

Robert Redick's books are about people who recognize the corruption within their respective empires and amongst their respective peoples, and rather than submitting for the sake of solidarity, choose to do the right thing. Unlike other fantasy books, where the enemy is a demon, or someone possessed by evil magic, the enemies are people who think they have the right to rule unjustly, and treat the world like crap due to some sense of entitlement.

Robert Redick's ability to make the fight for good feel like a true struggle for the protagonists is amazing. I found a few of the good guys rather obnoxious, which can make the story difficult to get through at times, but overall, I'm very glad I purchased these books. I will warn you, though, that the series isn't complete, yet, and the second book ends on a rather extreme cliffhanger.

All the same, a definite must read for any fantasy reader.

Excellent.

I rarely write reviews on books. In fact, I rarely write reviews on anything. However, The Red Wolf Conspiracy earns the boon of my efforts. I am a science fiction and fantasy veteran. I have been actively reading books from these genres for the past 28 years so I feel I can offer an informed opinion. In addition, I have been listening to one or two audiobooks per month for the past two years or more. Over that time, I have come across many books that I might not have read otherwise. The Red Wolf Conspiracy audiobook rates among my favorites for many reasons. The complex story holds interest without feeling contrived. The characters are engaging and allow the reader to develop an desire to know more about them. The narrator, Michael Page, creates an wonderful ambience with beautifully fleshed out characters and an attractive English accent. Finally, Robert Redick's story allows the reader to dive deeply into a robust, many faceted, fantasy leaving them wanting more.

Brilliant start for a series- unique and engaging

The Red Wolf Conspiracy is the 1st book in a 4-part sprawling epic fantasy. It is an intriguing story woven mostly around the voyage of an ancient and huge ship and the secret of it's real purpose. The narrative of the story comes from several viewpoints in the way of 1st person journal entries of the crew to family members, but is mostly centered around one of the lowest deckhands, nearly a slave and a young boy.