Discover Popular Titles Full Audiobooks in Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

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Title: Senlin Ascends

Subtitle: The Books of Babel, Book 1

Author: Josiah Bancroft

Narrator: John Banks

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 13 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-18-18

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Mild-mannered headmaster Thomas Senlin prefers his adventures to be safely contained within the pages of a book. So when he loses his new bride shortly after embarking on the honeymoon of their dreams, he is ill-prepared for the trouble that follows.

To find her, Senlin must enter the Tower of Babel - a world of geniuses and tyrants, of menace and wonder, of unusual animals and mysterious machines. He must endure betrayal, assassination attempts and the long guns of a flying fortress. And if he hopes to ever see his wife again, he will have to do more than just survive...this quiet man of letters must become a man of action.

Critic Reviews:

"One of my favourite books of all time." (Mark Lawrence)

"An extraordinary debut that is well worthy of the hype. A beautifully written, highly engaging page-turning masterpiece." (Fantasy Book Review)

"Thomas Senlin is the most unlikely yet likeable hero since a certain hobbit rushed out of Bag End leaving his second breakfast half-finished and entirely unwashed-up." (Fantasy Faction)

Members Reviews:

Stupendous Steampunk Tale

I loved so very many things about this book. I give a lot of 4 star reviews, but my 5 stars come out pretty sparingly. This book earned 5 stars from me without a problem!

This is Book 1 of a planned 4 book series. Book 2 is available for now, but Books 3 and 4 are not yet out.

This was initially published as an indie book and it was somewhat recently picked up for a big publishing contract. I think there are a lot of amazing authors and works in the indie space right now (probably more now than ever before), but one thing you see a lot is books that lack that last bit of polish or prose that could be just a little cleaner. Not so here, this book is incredibly polished and Bancroft's imagery and phrasing is phenomenally good. I noticed in the afterward that his poetry had been published in multiple outlets before and that made me have an "ah ha" moment. Although I'm not a huge poetry fan, I do think that authors with a poetry background write some of the most elegant and image-rich prose (see Guy Gavriel Kay for another fine example).

On to the book itself! As the series name indicates, this book revolves around the Tower of Babel. Although we initially get some biblical references (shekels, the tower itself) the book has a much more late 1800s/steampunk vibe to it. Our protagonist is a schoolteacher, Thomas Senlin, who is newly married to a much younger bride, Marya. For their honeymoon they head off by train to the legendary Tower of Babel, armed with Senlin's memorized trivia and, he thought, encyclopedic knowledge of the place gleaned from the Everyman's Guide to the Tower of Babel.

Unfortunately for Senlin and Marya, the Guide maaaaay not have been the most accurate publication around. Nearly as soon as they reach the Tower (or get as close as the train can take them) they become separated in the madhouse bazaar that surrounds the foot of the Tower. From there Senlin embarks on his quest to find his lost love, Marya and reunite with her. Senlin's naivete in the face of the realities of the Tower lead him through some interesting lessons and experiences.

The Tower is divided into ringdoms, one per level, with them stacked on top of each other like a layer cake.

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Title: The Autumn Prince

Subtitle: Age of Sigmar

Author: Guy Haley

Narrator: John Banks, Tim Bruce, Beth Chalmers, Steve Conlin, Melvyn Rawlinson, Luis Soto

Format: Original Recording

Length: 27 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-10-18

Publisher: Black Library

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Lured into the cursed city of Shadespire by the promise of the secret of cheating death, the aelf wanderer Prince Maesa seeks the Katophrane Thanaton. Surrounded by the spirits of the dead who cannot die, trapped in the last moments before the city's destruction, Maesa nears his goal...but just why does a nigh-immortal aelf seek this power over death?

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Title: Black Box Inc.

Subtitle: Black Box Inc. Series, Book 1

Author: Jake Bible

Narrator: J. Scott Bennett

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-22-17

Publisher: Jake Bible Fiction

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 8 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Bram Stoker Award-nominated author.

Need to hide something from the fae?

Got a tricky trans-dimensional delivery to make?

Need a big ball of magic that can destroy the world?

Call Black Box, Inc.

The world as we know it is gone. Since the "extradimensional happening", every creature, monster, and fairy tale goblin has turned Asheville, North Carolina, into their personal playground. An uneasy truce exists between the races, but Chase Lawters unique ability puts him squarely in the crosshairs of treachery, feuds, and monsters looking to make a buck on black market goods. Chase is the only known being who can pull material from between dimensions and shape it into whatever he likes - like boxes. Like boxes in which folks hide smoking guns and severed heads. Only Chase can hide the boxes, and only Chase can recover them from the Dim. All for a tidy sum, of course.

His crack team - a yeti, a zombie, and a fae-trained assassin - have his back. What could possibly go wrong?

Jake Bible, Bram Stoker Award-nominated novelist and author of the best-selling Z-Burbia series, short story writer, independent screenwriter, podcaster, and inventor of the drabble novel, has entertained thousands with his horror and sci/fi tales. He reaches audiences of all ages with his uncanny ability to write a wide range of characters and genres.

Other series by Jake Bible: the best-selling Salvage Merc One, the Apex Trilogy, the Mega series, and the Reign of Four series. Jake lives in the wonderfully weird Asheville, North Carolina. Connect with Jake on Facebook, Twitter, and his website: jakebible.com.

Members Reviews:

Supernatural Postal Dimensional Roullette A-Team

On an Earth where a paranormal event described only as "The Happening" allows for 2-way (or more) dimensional travel, beings and locations from myth, folklore, paranormal sightings, and even religious writings are explained away as actually being visitors from, or peeks into other dimensions that some ignorant human just had to go and tell everybody about. So in this new world where a monster from a horror movie could be sitting at the next table over from you in a restaurant, or a wrong step in a pothole could send you to a frozen wasteland, "normal" changes from minute to minute. This also gives the author carte blanche to call upon or make up anyone, anywhere, anywhen.

Black Box Inc. is actually a team of unlikely friends, all with their own specialties and proclivities. They essentially offer a safety deposit box, and sometimes transport service to their clients for the right price. This team that has obviously done many jobs in the past bickers like family as they try to keep their business afloat. Their language and gestures are sometimes crude and profane, and the places they visit range from the gruesomely violent to the pornographically immodest. Luckily although the audience is made aware of these details, it is never graphic enough or overly-emphasized enough to overwhelm the story as a whole.

The main character Chase Lawter from who's point of view the story is told is the classic lovable scoundrel with a heart of gold... almost. He is at the same time both lucky enough that one minute trouble slides off of him and he seems like he can think, talk or charm his way out of anything, and then unlucky enough that the next minute trouble is chewing him up and getting drool all over him.

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Title: Flicker

Subtitle: Ember in Space, Book 1

Author: Rebecca Rode

Narrator: Stacey Glemboski

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-10-17

Publisher: Author Rebecca Rode

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 31 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Getting sold to the empire was never part of the plan.

Ember lives two very different lives. By day, she's a mysterious Roma future-teller, and by night, she struggles to care for her sick father. All she wants is the power to control her own life - no arranged marriage, no more poverty. Her future-reading talent is what will get her there. But when the Empire discovers her gift, Ember's life changes forever.

Ember soon finds her innocent talent is far more dangerous than she believed. The Empire wants to turn her into a deadly weapon. But Ember has plans of her own, and they don't include living under the Empire's control.

Because even the best weapons can backfire.

Members Reviews:

Flicker is more of a Flare of a good book

Stacey does a fabulous job narrating this book.

This was mostly fast paced and interesting. The flaws are with the main character, Ember. Like how can she be so ignorant about the war between Empire and the Union?

(The deathbed confession from her dad about Earth being in the outer reaches don't hold water because she's scared of the visiting, important soldiers.) I'm also confused how she's geld captive for so long and doesn't ask questions or flicker everyone to find the answers. Lack of world building doesn't even offer explanations if or how news or communication are delivered.

Ember has a fluid personality. Or multi personality. One minute, she wants to be strong and defiant; the next she's a crumpled mess. One moment, she wants to walk behind a man, as she was brought up; the next she wants to be a mouthy, back talking, I'll-tell-you--you-don't-tell-me-what-to-do - only she's clueless and has no plan nor support. One minute, I have to have my dad; the next, she'd rather sacrifice him than kill a stranger. One moment, she defies a plan to escape (yeah, I know, right?) cuz she thinks she can come up with a better plan within the next several hours (she has never planned ANYTHING) and falls asleep (without hatching a plausible plan nor enlisting help) only to wake up beyond the time limit and the Union is caught in the cross hairs (really, they relied on a girl who has not proven her worth? How are they even fighting a war without contingency plans if X doesn't happen by YZ time?)

I liked the story. The delivery was less than mediocre.

As most trilogies, it's a continuation of the war and where did everyone she knew from the ship go?

Three stars for the book - it held promise, no character development, flimsy romance (oh you beyrayed me and lied to me but let me sulk and not confront you until you keep chasing me around, trying to explain) where he loves her (instalove on his part. Wtf? He told her she needed to shield herself but never teaches her how) and morons fighting a war ...

It's baffling. As much as I enjoy Stacey's narration, I'll be skipping the rest of this series.

A space fantasy with potential...

I have mixed feelings about this book. In some ways, Id like to read the sequel before making a judgment. I think some its weaknesses could be part of a longer character/plot development thats yet to come. And I will likely read the second book. In the meantime though, lets look at the elements of this novel and what troubled me.

The easiest point is the narration which is excellent.

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Title: Bloodstone

Subtitle: Jon Shannow, Book 3

Author: David Gemmell

Narrator: Christian Rodska

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-26-17

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 11 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

The tyrannical rule of the Deacon and his Jerusalem Riders has unleashed upon the world a sea of bigotry and hatred, where Unbelievers and Mutants are massacred in the name of God and Peace. And the long-vanished Jerusalem Man is now considered a saint of the new order.

To speak ill of his memory is heresy. But when the church in Pilgrim's Valley is burnt to the ground and its congregation is slaughtered, a rider appears and hunts down the killers. And word spreads - the Jerusalem Man is back!

Hunted and alone, Jon Shannow must battle the forces of the Deacon - and face a terrible enemy from another universe, a dark god who feeds on the souls of worlds.

Members Reviews:

That's a Wrap on a Great Series

What did you love best about Bloodstone?

I've become a fan of the western fantasy genre.

What did you like best about this story?

The twists and turns the story takes and the way it plays back on itself.

What does Christian Rodska bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Rodska does a great job of voicing Shannow and bringing the whole world to life.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

This was a book that I want to sip. While I would have been happy to listen to it in one sitting, knowing that this was the end and that there would be no further stories in this world made me want to savor it.

Any additional comments?

Book three in the Jon Shannow series and the end of his part in the Sipstrassi, the Stones of Power. After 20 years of peace and pacifism, Jon Caid is pushed too far and laid low. Thus making room for, Jon Shannow, the legendary Jerusalem Man, to return for a deadly showdown with the fiendish Deacon, the vicious Jerusalem Riders, and a monstrous god that feeds on souls.

Let's see what we have here... We've got magic in the Sipstrassi. It's a post-apocalyptic world after the "turn". It's a western. There's time travel. A bunch of religion. There's dimension travel. There's an exploration of pacifism vs the way of the gun. And it's all done so well. I really enjoyed this book, and the whole series. But then I expected to, David Gemmell being one of my favorite authors.Christian Rodska does a great job with the narration and really captures the feel of the story.

I want more. But alas, we lost David Gemmell a few years back, so there will be no further tales from him. This was a very satisfying conclusion to a very good series. If you're looking for something in the western, fantasy, post-apocalypse, suspenseful action genre, this should fit the bill nicely. Heck, read or listen to the whole series about a post-apocalyptic gunslinger that is known as the Jerusalem Man on his quest for that lost, fabled city.

great story!

loved the story and the delivery. I think that I don't like Beth now that I am finished with the series. I mean it only takes a few heartbeats for her to get over the loss of people that she supposedly loves. I feel like I took it harder than her. also the tie in of their world and ours is much fun.

ps I remember reading someone else's review and my review of there review is less than dog$h!t on my boot heel. I liked the narrator.

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Title: A Pocketful of Crows

Author: Joanne M Harris

Narrator: Joanne M Harris

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-19-17

Publisher: Orion

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

I am as brown as brown can be,

And my eyes as black as sloe;

I am as brisk as brisk can be,

And wild as forest doe.

(The Child Ballads, 295)

So begins a beautiful tale of love, loss and revenge. Following the seasons, A Pocketful of Crows balances youth and age, wisdom and passion, and draws on nature and folklore to weave a stunning modern mythology around a nameless wild girl.

Only love could draw her into the world of named, tamed things. And it seems only revenge will be powerful enough to let her escape.

This is a stunning and original modern fairy tale.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

Members Reviews:

A beautiful and quick read

A departure from Harris' usual writing - this is far more lyrical and poetic, reminiscent of old fairy tales. I found it powerful and uplifting. A beautiful and quick read.

Beautiful fairy-folk-tale

With 'A Pocketful of Crows' Joanne Harris delivers a poetic story about a tragic love, but also about the circle of life and nature. Weaving together a magic fairy tale and folklore we follow a nameless wild girl living in the woods, far away from the village of the 'Folk', where she lives in the disguise of animals. Until one day, she meets a handsome young man and they fall in love. However, it is not meant to be, and too late realizes the girl that her place is not among the village Folk, but in nature. But now she is bound by the name that was given to her, and in order to be free again, she not only has to forget everything, but also to bring a sacrifice. Only at the end she realizes that every end marks a beginning, and what important role she has to play in nature's circle of life.

Like a calendar, the chapters follow the months of the year with a short rhyme from the 'Child Ballads' or some old saying of wisdom introducing each one. The book was a fast read, and every now and then I had to slow down to truly appreciate the poetic nature of the story.

(Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of the book, all opinions are my own)

A very good book. Written for a younger reader but I ...

Joanne has done it again. A very good book. Written for a younger reader but I really enjoyed it.

The story line is good and the illustrations are beautiful.

A magical fairy tale of love and betrayal, ending in revenge and freedom.

The unnamed brown girls, (as this is the folk way) lives in the forest and is deeply connected to nature. She falls in love with a young man who lives in the village and will inherit his fatherâs castle and estate.

He betrays her and she must use spells and charms to gain her freedom, but this is at a price.

Anyone who loves magic and fantasy must read this book

Loved it.

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Title: Deadlands: Boneyard

Author: Seanan McGuire

Narrator: Emily Bauer

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 27 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-17-17

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 35 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

From the twisted mind of Seanan McGuire comes Deadlands: Boneyard - the newest audiobook based on the hit Weird West RPG franchise Deadlands!

Step right up to see the oddities and marvels of The Blackstone Family Circus and Travelling Wonder Show! Gasp at pit wasps the size of a man's forearm. Beware the pumpkin-headed corn stalker, lest it plant its roots in you!

Annie Pearl is the keeper of oddities, the mistress of monsters. Her unique collection of creatures is one of the circus' star attractions, drawing wide-eyed crowds at every small frontier town they visit. But Annie is also a woman running from her past...and the mother of a mute young daughter, Adeline, whom she will do anything to protect.

Hoping to fill its coffers before winter sets in, the circus steers its wagons to The Clearing, a remote community deep in the Oregon wilderness, surrounded by an ominous dark wood. Word is that a travelling show can turn a tidy profit at The Clearing, but there are whispers, too, of unexplained disappearances that afflict one out of every four shows that pass through the town.

The Clearing has it secrets, and so does Annie. And it may take everything she has to save her daughter - and the circus - from both.

Deadlands: Boneyard is a gripping audiobook of the Weird West, set in the haunted frontier of Deadlands, the award-winning game from Pinnacle Entertainment Group.

Members Reviews:

new universe, no disappointments!

EXCELLENT! This just goes to show that whatever Seanan writes, she kills. (no pun intended) I'm not usually so quick to pick up westerns of any ilk, but I knew this book would not disappoint.

Please keep signing Seanan so we can keep buying her work!

not bad Deadlands story

the book was pretty true to Deadlands, I like the horror aspects and the twists in the story.

Slow start to an interesting yarn

The story starts slow, but has a good ending. It didn't feel very Deadlands for about half the book, weird west yes just not Deadlands. The story doesn't suffer for that however.

Great fantasy thriller

Top of the line narration with an excellent storyline made for one of my best audible book purchases

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Title: Archangel's Viper

Subtitle: The Guild Hunter Series, Book 10

Author: Nalini Singh

Narrator: Justine Eyre

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 57 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-28-17

Publisher: Orion Publishing Group Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 14 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Enter New York Times best-selling author Nalini Singh's breathtakingly passionate Guild Hunter world with the story of a woman who isn't a vampire or an angel...or human....

Once a broken girl known as Sorrow, Holly Chang now prowls the shadowy grey underground of the city for the angels. But it's not her winged allies who make her a wanted woman - it's the unknown power coursing through her veins. Brutalised by an insane archangel, she was left with the bloodlust of a vampire, the ability to mesmerise her prey, and a poisonous bite. Now someone has put a bounty on her head....

Venom is one of the Seven, Archangel Raphael's private guard, and he's as infuriating as he is seductive. A centuries-old vampire, his fangs dispense a poison deadlier than Holly's. But even if Venom can protect Holly from those hunting her, he might not be able to save himself - because the strange, violent power inside Holly is awakening.... No one is safe.

Read by Justine Eyre.

Members Reviews:

Disappointed

I love the guild hunter series so was very extremely excited to read the next installment. Main character Holly was a bore, no substance. Interaction between Holly and Venom felt disingenuous and immature. Felt as if author rushed this one and then lost her way half way through. Very disappointed.....

Fantastic

absolutely loved it can wait for the next book. Both claim characters were really engaging

Another great story

This series goes from strength to strength. An adventure, mystery and, of course, a love story. Listened to it in 2 sessions. I didn't want it to end

just another one of her classics

not going to spoil it for you but it's just another great book from such a great author you will fall in love with this book just like all the others you won't want to put it down I so recommend this PS so awesome

Dreadful narration

Painful to listen to, please sample first to see if you like the voice sound.

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Title: The Beheading: Warhammer 40,000

Subtitle: The Beast Arises, Book 12

Author: Guy Haley

Narrator: Gareth Armstrong

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 34 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-27-17

Publisher: Black Library

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 17 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Across the length and breadth of the galaxy, humankind celebrates its salvation and relishes the prospect of a return to peace. But the war against the orks has driven the political bedrock of the Imperium, exposing its rotten core.

One man, one powerful man, decides he has the solution and launches a campaign of destruction so terrible that thousands of years later his actions will still be viewed with horror.

Members Reviews:

Pretty good closing to the series!

It connected all the loose ends and put the Imperium on the road to recovery.

Loved it

I loved it!!! I recommend it to others that enjoy the Warhammer 40k Series!

Wonderful

A very good ending to a fantastic story!

I really enjoyed the whole series and I though this book was a great way to end it. I really enjoy Guys writing and I think that it was the right choice to have him end it.

I really hope they do more 12 book series like this in the future.

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Title: The Secret of the Swamp King

Subtitle: Wilderking Trilogy, Book Two

Author: Jonathan Rogers

Narrator: Jonathan Rogers

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 41 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-16-17

Publisher: Rabbit Room Press

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 24 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

As book two of The Wilderking Trilogy opens, Aidan is living in the court of King Darrow. He has become best friends with Darrow's son Steren, and he enjoys great favor among the courtiers. But King Darrow's suspicion is growing, and his insecurity causes him to hate the young man who saved his kingdom. Concerned about his king's spiral into ever-darker moods, Aidan asks what he can do to help. Darrow sends him on an impossible adventure to the recesses of Feechiefen Swamp, thinking he is sending Aidan to his death. After all, no Corenwalder has ever returned from Feechiefen alive. But Aidan's fate is not sealed yet, for Aidan has allies among the feechiefolk who know him as the hero, Pantherbane.

Members Reviews:

A Thrilling sequel

Even better than the first! An amazing journey through the jungles of loyalty and betrayal. We sat around the fire in South African summer night air, listening with our teenage boys. A meaningful and lasting moment.

The Enjoyment Continues

This is the second book of the series; if you havent read book 1 Id advise you to start there. While I think you could pick up here and move forward, it would be smoother to have the background of Book 1. Plus its so enjoyable that Id hate for you to miss one book of the series (of which I found myself wanting more after completing).

This book is narrated by its author- and he is very easy to listen too. He did an excellent job in both the writing and performance.

The story its self is written at a middle grade level so kids can enjoy it. However it also makes an easy - but interesting - read for adults.

AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY

A Delightful Listen

I am listening to this series before I pass them to my son, & I cannot get through them quickly enough. The gospel undertones through a Davidic type main character make the story rich in thought provoking depth & character development. Again, the author as the narrator is phenomenal. I was hoping for a few more barks of the bog owl, but the feechifolk battle cries sustained me. This series is rapidly becoming a top favorite of mine.

Love! Love! Love!

We are in love with this series and to have it read by the author is such a treat! Great narration of a wonderful story!!