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

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Title: Entangled

Author: Graham Hancock

Narrator: Khristine Hvam, Graham Hancock - introduction

Format: Unabridged

Length: 17 hrs and 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-12-11

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 485 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Graham Hancock has spent decades researching and writing some of the most ambitious and successful nonfiction investigations into ancient civilizations and wisdom. Entangled uses all of Hancock's skills and knowledge to propel a fantasy adventure like nothing else preceding it. This is a time-slip novel, alternating between present-day California, Brazil, and prehistoric Spain, with two teenage female protagonists who must come together to avert an incredibly bloodthirsty takeover of the human race.

Entangled is the first book in a trilogy relating the story of an unrelentingly evil master magician named Sulpa who is on the loose and determined to destroy humanity. Leoni, a troubled teen from modern-day Los Angeles, and Ria, a young woman who lives in Stone Age Spain, meet in a parallel dimension outside the flow of time to stop Sulpa's spectacular, deadly materialization in the modern world. Riding a growing wave of interest in parallel dimensions and imaginary worlds (The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Golden Compass are recent Hollywood examples), Entangled will have immediate appeal to readers and listeners of Philip Pullman, Stephen King, Neil Gaiman,and Kate Mosse, among others.

But Entangled has the added merit of being grounded in solid anthropological and scientific research. Hancock calls on his years of research into cutting-edge issues, including the "Neanderthal enigma", the nature of consciousness, the many-worlds interpretation of quantum physics, parallel realms, time travel, and near-death and out-of-body experiences.

Members Reviews:

Great Story

What did you love best about Entangled?

What drew me to this book was the background behind it and the wonderful work of Graham Hancock. I first heard about this from his feature on the Joe Rogan Podcast where he explained in short where he came up with the motive to write the book. He said while drinking Ayahuasca one time he had asked the spirit of the plant what it wanted him to do, and, apparently, it asked him to tell this story. Some may think that sounds like a great marketing platform to sell the book, but from what I know of Graham Hancock I would doubt his motives would be so self-serving.. others may not agree, but this of course is all just opinion. If this story indeed originated from the spirit of the ayahuasca plant than I would think it relatively true or at least based in truth.

I've personally had many thoughts of visiting South America and the Amazon to see a shaman of an indigenous culture in order to experience ayahuasca in a proper setting, and this book gave me great insight into what one could expect of such an experience. I'd say one of the best things I took away from this was the insight into the direness of an ayahuasca experience itself, and how seriously it must be taken.. I knew this beforehand, but wasn't sure why exactly, and this book does a great job of laying that out towards the end with an actual shaman's perspective in the matter.

What does Khristine Hvam and Graham Hancock (Introduction) bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

The introduction by Graham sets it up nicely for what you can expect and how to filter it. I found the reader to be reminiscent of my childhood listening to a teacher or librarian reading a book to children in animated language and impersonations..

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Title: The Riddle-Master of Hed

Subtitle: Riddle-Master Trilogy, Book 1

Author: Patricia A. McKillip

Narrator: Simon Prebble

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-25-11

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 478 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Long ago, the wizards had vanished from the world, and all knowledge was left hidden in riddles. Morgon, prince of the simple farmers of Hed, proved himself a master of such riddles when he staked his life to win a crown from the dead Lord of Aum.But now ancient, evil forces were threatening him. Shape changers began replacing friends until no man could be trusted. So Morgon was forced to flee to hostile kingdoms, seeking the High One who ruled from mysterious Erlenstar Mountain. Beside him went Deth, the High One's Harper. Ahead lay strange encounters and terrifying adventures. And with him always was the greatest of unsolved riddles - the nature of the three stars on his forehead that seemed to drive him toward his ultimate destiny.

Members Reviews:

The riddle master of hed

I first read this book when it was published in the 70s.

I listen to it now because of a childhood memory.

The audio recording is good. The narrator does a great job, however the story is a beginners effort in my opinion. her next two books in the series go over much better

Not Sure if I liked it

Any additional comments?

Not sure how much I actually enjoyed this story. At times I found it quite interesting, while at other times I was bored. And I got tired of it in the last few chapters particularly.

Book 3 is better, but do start here

I found my mind wandering a bit, but I hung in there and was glad I did, because book 3 was worth it. I liked the relationship development in book 3. Poignant. There are some scenes of high-octane, adrenaline-pumping survival and grim death across the series, but these books feel more like old-fashioned classic fantasy (whatever that is). The pace feels slightly slower, more mystical, more nature-based, and not as non-stop bloody action-packed as some fantasy series.

This book ends on a cliff. This series includes numerous twists, so it's best to make no assumptions about events or characters.

The audio narration by Simon Prebble was not bad, but nor did it enhance the story. I could barely hear a difference between voices for Ohm, Danan, Har, and Deth, for example.

As with many fantasies, invented names for characters and places are hard to differentiate and remember via audio. In this case, I found it hard to hear the difference between similar-sounding words of one or two syllables: An, Aum, Ohm, El, Iff, Nun, Tel, Tol, Hed, Har, Hel, Herun, Hlurle, Heureu, Rood, Rork, Ymris, Yrth, etc. To better comprehend, I referred to a VERY helpful website: wizzley (dot) com (slash) riddle-master

A Favorite Series

I love this series. About a quarter of the way through this first audio book, I bought the rest of the trilogy, knowing that I wouldn't be able to stand any waiting between them.

What I loved about this series:

There is a lot of back story and history to this world. Past events are constantly referred to, but don't mean anything to you, until later in the series. It creates a rich environment the encourages re-reads.

The magic is awesome. In this world, magic is common, but not possessed by all. It has many variations that tend to follow bloodlines, or is restricted by rules. The major element of magic here is a thing called land rule, which is sort of akin to kings passing on their crown to the next heir, only that depending on the region, that 'crown' embodies a multitude of magics and powers specific to that kingdom.

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Title: Somewhere in Time

Author: Richard Matheson

Narrator: Scott Brick

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-16-10

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 214 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Written by one of the grand masters of modern fantasy, Somewhere in Time is the moving, romantic story of a modern man whose powerful love for a woman he has never met allows him to literally transcend time.

A dying young playwright staying in a turn-of-the-century hotel becomes captivated by a painting of a beautiful stage actress from the previous century. Obsessed, he begins to study everything he can about the woman and her time and becomes convinced he belongs with her. Through self-hypnosis, he transports himself to 1896, where he finds the soul mate he was fated to meet. But will he be able to stay?

Somewhere in Time won the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel and was the basis for the 1980 cult classic movie starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour.

Critic Reviews:

The author who influenced me the most as a writer was Richard Matheson. (Stephen King)

Stylish and gripping, [Richard Mathesons] stories not only entertain but touch the mind and heart. (Dean Koontz)

Richard Matheson is one of the most respected living American fantasy/science fiction/horror writersMatheson could not write a bad book if he tried. (Hartford Courant)

Members Reviews:

Worth Returning To Again and Again

Bid Time Return (the original title of this book) has been one of my favorite books for over 3 decades. I first read it when it was published in 1975 and I've read it many times since. In fact, I own 3 tattered paperback copies and treasure them all. Apparently after the lovely Christopher Reeve/Jane Seymour movie, Somewhere In Time, was released it was decided to change the book title to match the movie for future editions. That's okay. If familiarity with the movie title will get more people to read this very moving, gentle story, it gets my vote.

It is the story of a young man, terminally ill, who takes one last road-trip. He has no real destination in mind. He's just driving. On a whim, he stops at the Hotel Del Coronado for the night. While there he explores the hotel. In 'The Hall of History," he falls in love/becomes obssessed with the photographic portrait of an actress, Elise McKenna, from the late 19th century...and there the tale truly begins.

I am always hesitant to listen to a book I already love in the print edition. Seldom do they meet my expectations of how the voices should sound or words be delivered. However, Scott Brick gets 5 stars all his own for his narration. Somewhere in Time is a first-person story. It is utterly dependent on the reader/listener believing the narrator *is* the speaker. Don't believe the narrator, the story, no matter how well written, will fail. So you can only imagine how stunned I was when I started listening and realized I was actually hearing Richard Collier's voice the way I had imagined it for over 30 years. It took my breath away. Mr. Brick isn't narrating the book, he *is* Richard Collier.

I know that I will listen to this book again and again, once I stop crying over the ending. According to Scott Brick, he had to re-record the last 3 pages because he was crying, too. What more can you ask of a beautiful, romantic story than to be carried away by the emotions it invokes.

Timeless and Amazing

This has to be the most beautiful story I have ever read. I enjoyed every moment of it.

Great story, wrong narrator

This is the first I've heard the story that one of my favorite movies was based on.

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Title: The Player of Games

Subtitle: Culture Series, Book 2

Author: Iain M. Banks

Narrator: Peter Kenny

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 26 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-02-10

Publisher: Hachette Audio UK

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 233 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

The Culture - a human/machine symbiotic society - has thrown up many great Game Players, and one of the greatest is Gurgeh: Jernau Morat Gurgeh, The Player of Games, master of every board, computer, and strategy.

Bored with success, Gurgeh travels to the Empire of Azad, cruel and incredibly wealthy, to try their fabulous game... a game so complex, so like life itself, that the winner becomes emperor. Mocked, blackmailed, almost murdered, Gurgeh accepts the game, and with it the challenge of his life - and very possibly his death.

Members Reviews:

A Worthwhile listen

I thoroughly enjoyed, Peter Kenny's rendition of Iain M. Banks' "The Player of Games." Kenny's interpretation, especially his unbelievable mimicking of different drone-like voices, brought the book to life.

"Consider Phlebas," the first Culture novel where man and machine lives in a symbiotic relationship, is in my view, only an introduction to the background aspects necessary to understand this book.

The main character, Gergey, an over comfortable citizen of the Culture, is given a chance to get his cage rattled by playing the game of his life! But like the mysterious narrator tells you in the beginning, it is a story about a battle that was not a battle and a game that turned out not to be a game.

While going with Gergey on this "rollercoaster ride," experiencing how he comes to life, experience emotions he has never felt before, something at the back of the listener's mind keeps on gnawing at you, "Who is this mysterious narrator?" The book plays its own game with you, the question is, will you win or it.

This book comes highly recommended.

excellent story with an unexpected twist

i was kept in the dark for the whole time not knowing what to expect in the end but indeed wasnt disappointed with the ending. the start of the story is a bit slow but once the motion starts rolling I began to engross into it.

interesting story with a gripping climax

the story does a great job of engaging the reader throughout, and the narrator really makes it come to life.

Entertaining sci-fi story and world!

This story is set in an intriguing and fascinating world (Culture). It gives exciting perspectives on our own society!

The narrator did a great job, making all the characters vivid through convincing and diverse voices.

"All reality is a game"

In Iain M. Banks' second Culture novel, The Player of Games (1988), a playful narrator tells the story of Jernau Morat Gurgeh, a jaded 60-year old master game player living in the Culture, a vast interstellar civilization that appears to be something of a utopia. If anything can be said to run such a sprawling and creatively anarchic civilization that solved interstellar travel over 11,000 years ago, the Culture is run by its AI "Minds," spaceships that give themselves clever names like Cargo Cult, Little Rascal, So Much for Subtlety, Of Course I Still Love You, Kiss My Ass, and Just Read the Instructions, and range from modest military models to vast habitats accommodating billions of people.

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Title: I Shall Wear Midnight

Subtitle: Discworld Book 38, (Discworld Childrens Book 5)

Author: Terry Pratchett

Narrator: Stephen Briggs

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-30-10

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 268 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Tiffany Aching, the young witch from The Wee Free Men, A Hat Full of Sky, and Wintersmith is back in a new adventure featuring Discworld characters both familiar to fans (such as Tiffany, the Wee Free Men, Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg) and new (meet Wee Mad Arthur, the Nac Mac Feegle on the City Watch whose only previous appearance was a brief cameo in Feet of Clay, and city witch Mrs Proust - a fabulous Pratchett creation). Oh, and there's a magic book or two, a twist through time, a Cunning Man - and a Giant Man of chalk....

Members Reviews:

A captivating tale with lots of surprises.

Tiffany undertakes numerous tasks in her own quiet and efficient way while facing an unseen enemy. New friends and old favorites are to be found in this intriguing and delightful story.

Tiffany growing up

Yes, perhaps needed for Tiffany's development as a character, but I hope she soon gets a sense of humour. She is soooo serious. Luckily there are other characters who lighten it up a bit. Love the new boyfriend.

Pratchett and Briggs maintain consistent quality

Tiffany Aching continues her progress towards mature "hagdom" - all the old favourite characters from this subseries are there and there are plotlines that prove that Tiffany's life is not destined to be a fairy tale.

Fun Read

Not as good as most of Terry pratchett's books but still a very fun book. The narration is great and the story is great and an easy listen. Love his books and enjoyed this one as well.

Perfect Pratchett

I've always loved the Discworld books and this one is no diffrent. The characters are as engaging, funny and, in some cases, mad as ever and the story is one you can really get into. It?s great to see how much Tiffany has grown since the fist time we met her (frying pan in hand) but how she is still very much the same person she?s always been.

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Title: The Innocent Mage

Author: Karen Miller

Narrator: Kirby Heyborne

Format: Unabridged

Length: 20 hrs and 42 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-11-10

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 617 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

"The Innocent Mage is come, and we stand at the beginning of the end of everything." Being a fisherman like his father isn't a bad life, but it's not the one that Asher wants. Despite his humble roots, Asher has grand dreams. And they call him to Dorana, home of princes, beggars, and the warrior mages who have protected the kingdom for generations. Little does Asher know, however, that his arrival in the city is being closely watched by members of the Circle, people dedicated to preserving an ancient magic. Asher might have come to the city to make his fortune, but he will find his destiny.

Critic Reviews:

"A solid epic that posits political intrigue, ethereal prophecies and a rags-to-riches hero against a vivid if familiar fantasy backdrop." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Great emotion, though the plot's a bit lacking

I have mixed feelings about this book, because while I liked the characters and felt deeply for them, there wasn't much in the way of originality here. The highlight was Asher, who defies the likable farm boy stereotype by being belligerent, selfish, self-centered...and entirely fascinating to watch crash through his version of life. His friendship with Gar is a great buddy story, but the rest of the plot lines are less defined. Also, this is only half of a book, so beware the blatant cliffhanger.

Kirby Heyborne did an excellent job at narration, and I loved his portrayal of Asher. His narration was a good part of my enjoying this story.

Heroic Fantasy well written

This was my first experience with Karen Miller's work. I enjoyed both books in this series very much. This is Fantasy with characters I could understand, a lot of raw emotion, and a rich background story only hinted at. Looking at the other books available, I can see that the history behind the Innocent Mage is out there as well. Miller breaks a couple 'rules' of writing and does it very well. She writes in dialect, and she calls real things by made up names. These rules are meant to be broken, but it takes a good fantasy writer to do it. She succeeds. The narrator of these books handled the dialect very well but does not return to read the series that comes after, and that may be a difficult switch. I was looking for long fantasy novels where I could get involved with the characters and not have my attention wander. Miller gave me that and I will continue to read her novels. The only criticism I have is that she seems to be dancing around a religious allegory and that was a bit distracting. I may be confusing the basic progression of "The Hero's Journey" with religious allegory... something to think about. It may also just be my imagination, and if so, she has touched on an issue in Fantasy I strongly believe in. We have to be able to believe in the character's world before we can believe in them. If it is too alien, we shouldn't just be dropped into the deep end unless we already know how to swim. That doesn't say it very well, but I've read books where I've drowned, and a few brilliant works that I have learned to swim in. I prefer to wade in and swim out to the deep end when I'm comfortable. These are well worth the time to listen to.

Dissapointed.

Paper thin characters and plot. The villain was so very thin I thought it was a ruse and that something deeper and more interesting was waiting to be revealed.

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Title: The Wee Free Men

Author: Terry Pratchett

Narrator: Stephen Briggs

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 14 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-22-10

Publisher: Random House AudioBooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 205 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Up on the chalk downs they call The Wold, witches are banned - ever since the Baron's son vanished in the woods. Anyway, as all witches know, chalk's no good for magic.

Nine-year-old Tiffany Aching thinks her Granny Aching - a wise shepherd - might have been a witch, but now Granny Aching is dead, and it's up to Tiffany to work it all out when strange things begin happening: a fairy-tale monster in the stream, a headless horseman, and, strangest of all, the tiny blue men in kilts, the Wee Free Men, who have come looking for the new 'hag'. These are the Nac Mac Feegles, the pictsies, who like nothing better than thievin', fightin' and drinkin'.

Then Tiffany's young brother goes missing and Tiffany and the Wee Free Men must join forces to save him from the Queen of the Fairies.

Members Reviews:

Wonderful entertainment for bright pre-teens

This was a great pick for a bookish 11-year-old who is a big Monty Python and Douglas Adams fan. It gets the big thumbs-up from me (his mother), too.

Characteristically Terry Pratchett--funny and sharp, and deceptively wise and touching in parts. Tiffany, who is 9 when this starts, is a terrific girl character: brave, resourceful and the hero of the piece. The Wee Free Men are hilarious; just part of the charm of Stephen Briggs' excellent narration.

You do have to be on your game: the Men, aka Nac Mac Feegles aka pictsies, have thick Scottish accents. And Pratchett trusts his readers to keep up, rather than spoon-feeding them. For me, that makes it all the more enjoyable.

I chose this hoping it would work for my 9-y-o daughter as well. She enjoyed the first few hours, but did lose interest a little, perhaps due to listening in interrupted sessions rather than on a long car journey. But the 11-y-o just loved it, and is still quoting from it.

Loved the accents

Very very enjoyable. I laughed out loud a number of time. The Wee Free Men are really funny and have made all English into Scottish in my head today. I can strongly recommend the audiobook. Stephen Briggs has done a great job with this one!

Fantastic

Great book, loved listening to Briggs. From now on I know exactly what a Nac MacFeegle sounds like.

Loved It!

What made the experience of listening to The Wee Free Men the most enjoyable?

Really funny story, which in my opinion is his funniest!

What about Stephen Briggss performance did you like?

This performance did the story justice!

Wee Free Men

Would you consider the audio edition of The Wee Free Men to be better than the print version?

Rarely do I enjoy listening to performances of a material more than actually reading the book. This was one case. The narrator was amazing, hilarious, and engaging.

What did you like best about this story?

Quirky fun story, as most Pratchett novels are. I laughed out loud in quite a few places. Well worth the read, especially for any Pratchett fan.

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Title: Phaze Doubt

Subtitle: Apprentice Adept Series, Book 7

Author: Piers Anthony

Narrator: Traber Burns

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-11-10

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 186 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

The merged worlds of Phaze and Proton face a new threat from an invading force - leaving the fate of the two planets in the hands of Nepe and Flach, two children possessing magical powers.

Members Reviews:

More and More twists

So many twists, I don't know where he comes up with them. I really enjoy reading his books and losing myself in another world.

Rendition accuracy

I very much have been enjoying listening to the Adept series. The reader is excellent. I look forward to reading the series again.

they should make a movie about apprentice adept

the whole story is ever good and everything in it

the narration and all should check it out highly recommend it especially out of phaze

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Title: Tales of the Otherworld

Author: Kelley Armstrong

Narrator: Mia Barron, Erik Davies

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-13-10

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 421 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Have you ever wondered how lone wolf Clayton Danvers finally got bitten by the last thing he ever expected: love? Or how the hot-blooded bad-girl witch Eve Levine managed to ensnare the cold, ruthless corporate sorcerer Kristof Nast in one of the Otherworlds most unlikely pairings? Now, Otherworld readers can share these moments with some of their favorite charactersas well as catching welcome glimpses into the minds of some of the lesser-known players.

This Anthology contains "Birthright", "Beginnings", "Ghosts", "Expectations", "Wedding Bell Hell", "The Case of El Chupacabra" and a new story narrated by Eve.

Members Reviews:

A must for a fan

I have read most of the stories included in this anthology on the author's website, when it was posted there for free. It was nice to read them again and enjoy the background prospective of the characters in her books.

Stories:

Rebirth (How Aaron became a vampire)= interesting

Bewitched (How Eve and Kristof Nast met and became involved)=was really touching

Birthright (How Logan came to Stonehaven)=nice back story

Beginnings (How Elena became werewolf)

=for a fan this story is a must! gives good back ground to Elena and how Clay thinks

Expectations (A short story of Lucas)= nice!

Ghosts (A self reflection by Jeremy during Bitten)= kind of sad but makes you love Jeremy even more

Wedding Bell Hell (Paige&Lucas's wedding)=funny and insightful

The Case of El Chupacabra (Paige&Lucas's investigation)=interesting and gives background to how P&L got their office.

I especially loved reading Paige's wedding and laughed out loud at some parts. Now that I don't hate Eve after reading about her, it was nice to know how she met Savannah's dad.

I don't know if the first time reader will enjoy this book as much. Since the stories here were written for fans so that they can enjoy the added depth to the characters of her otherworld stories. For the fans of the series this book is a must for new comers. I recommend they read the main stories first. For the fans, I would strongly recommend this book!

You'll love it if you love the Otherworld

Rebirth (35.7 Minutes) - Read by Erik - Aaron POV on how he was turned into a vampire. We met Aaron at the end of Stolen. Bewitched (1.8 Hours) - Read by Mia - Eve's POV short on how she met Christoph and how she ends up pregnant with Savanah. I'm not a huge Eve fan so not sure I've listened to this yet. I need to give this a shot and then listen. Birthright (27.1 Minutes) - Read by Erik - Logan's POV - This is a short on how Logan first meets Clay and Jeremy and finds out he is a werewolf. Beginnings (5.1 Hours) - Read by Mia for Elena POV and Erik for Clay's POV - I love going back and listening to this short - one of my favorites for falling asleep to. This tells the story of how Clay and Elena meet, get together, and Elena gets bitten. To me, this short alone was worth getting the audiobook! It's also nice getting more of Logan and seeing how close he and Elena get. This story is told from alternating Clay / Elena POVs. Expectations - (27.4 minutes) - Lucas centric short with him tracking down a grimoire. Ghosts - (17.5 minutes) Wedding Bell Blues - (39 minutes) - Page & Lucas wedding.

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Title: The Wizard of London

Subtitle: Elemental Masters

Author: Mercedes Lackey

Narrator: Michelle Ford

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 44 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-16-09

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 344 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

This latest latest Elemental Masters novel is set in Victorian England and is based on the fairy tale "The Snow Queen".

Critic Reviews:

"Interestingly drawn characters hold our attention to the end, even if the good ones are very, very good, and the bad are full-blown villains." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

wonderful!

The Elemental Masters have been fantastic companions during my (rather boring) house cleaning exercises. If only I could get a brownie to help me!

excellent rendition

I love this work by Mercedes Lackey. The narrator also foods an excellent job. Pure joy.

Pleasant but....

Much as I love these tales, this is the weakest of the Elemental Masters novels. Most of the story involves Sarah and Nan, young, magically-talented girls who come to live at the Harton School in London, run by the also-talented Isabelle Harton and her husband. Sarah has been sent home to England "for her health" from her parents' hospital in Africa, along with her remarkably wise and capable African Gray parrot, simply called Gray. Nan is taken in from the streets, where she has been living a tenuous life with her drunken and drug-addicted mother, and she becomes a valued friend to Sarah and an asset to the School, even as she begins to learn how to manage her ordinary and extra-ordinary talents.

Also living in London is Lord Alderscroft, the so-called Wizard of London and a Fire Master, head of the Elemental Masters group. However, Alderscroft has come under the influence of Cordelia, a secretive and powerful Master. She has gradually cut him off from all of his ordinary enjoyment of life and his friends and surrounded him with a crowd of the politically influential, since she hopes to accompany Alderscroft as he rises to political power and influence. And then she begins to crave even more power, power beyond the usual reach of women in this Edwardian era.

This is a weak adaptation of the Ice Queen tale, with Alderscroft as the stricken boy, and while the adventures of Sarah and Nan are interesting, the story really hasn't got the weight of Ms Lackey's usual plots. The narrator does a creditable job with slightly different voices and reads at a reasonable pace.

Young adolescent literature

This is a perfectly pleasant fantasy book for bright twelve-year-olds. I would happily read it to a niece or a nephew, but as an adult read it is a good deal short of satisfying. The narration is competent but a trifle cloying, perhaps even for twelve-year-old ears. I have enjoyed several of Lackey's books, but I probably should have investigated a little more deeply before I snapped this one up when I saw it on sale.

For those looking for whimsy and a Victorian London setting in a fantasy tale, I would strongly recommend "Neverwhere" by Neil Gaiman, a book which will delight young people and adults alike.

Wonderful beginning!

I loved the friendship between Sarah and Nan. Also, the paranormal aspects are fascinating and, in my opinion, accurate. The best friends trope has always been one that has attracted me. I especially liked the danger the girls went into and out of. After a while, though, the stories seem to become a bit slow. It became less about the girls and more about the school's headmistress. I like her as a character, but I like the girls better.