Get New Releases Audiobooks in Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

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Title: Empire State

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Adam Christopher

Narrator: Phil Gigante

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 3 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-01-12

Publisher: Angry Robot on Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 76 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

The Empire State is the other New York.

Its a parallel-universe, Prohibition-era world of mooks and shamuses that is the twisted magic mirror to our bustling Big Apple. Its a city where sinister characters lurk around every corner while the great superheroes who once kept the streets safe have fallen into deadly rivalries and feuds. Not that its colourful residents know anything about the real New York...until detective Rad Bradley makes a discovery that will change the lives of all its inhabitants.

Playing on the classic Gotham conventions of the Batman comics and HBOs Boardwalk Empire, debut author Adam Christopher has spun a smart and fast-paced superhero-noir adventure that will excite genre fans and general readers alike.

Critic Reviews:

A fascinating debut novel that meshes noir sensibilities and science fiction together, and keeps the reader guessing throughout. (Mike Stackpole, best-selling author of I, Jedi)

Destined to be a science fiction classic, Empire State is a breathtakingly original noir tale of intrigue, mystery, and quantum physics. (Diana Rowland, author of My Life as a White Trash Zombie)

Members Reviews:

What Do You Know About Nineteen Fifty?

That cover looks RAD, doesn't it? Weird, retro-pulpy SF goodness. And there's plenty of that in Empire State - a novel that's seemingly influenced by Philip K. Dick, Jonathan Lethem, and maybe even China Mieville. It's got superheroes, airships, giant robots, an alternate-alternate Prohibition NYC, and is filled with all kinds of cool ideas and twists.

There's a lack of confidence in the execution, though - the characters go to pains to make sure the reader/listener understands the Really Cool Thing that just happened, dulling the edges of said Really Cool Things. The set-up for the story drags to get the plot established. And the characters can't rise above their functions/archetype. Protagonist Rad Radley, P.I., is no Philip Marlowe (or even Conrad Metcalf), and his dialogue and actions make him feel more like a stock character than anything else - like he's going through the motions.

Not that it's a bad book. Once it gets going, there's lots of fun stuff and interesting ideas happening (it's wartime, you know?) - themes of duality and comic book action set-pieces, but I wanted it to soar, and instead it just glides. Still, I'll be curious to see where Adam Christopher goes next.

Phil Gigante's reading is like a classic, full-cast serial performed by one man, which is incredibly impressive, and his style really lent itself well to this book.

What Do You Know About Nineteen Fifty?

That cover looks RAD, doesn't it? Weird, retro-pulpy SF goodness. And there's plenty of that in Empire State - a novel that's seemingly influenced by Philip K. Dick, Jonathan Lethem, and maybe even China Mieville. It's got superheroes, airships, giant robots, an alternate-alternate Prohibition NYC, and is filled with all kinds of cool ideas and twists.

There's a lack of confidence in the execution, though - the characters go to pains to make sure the reader/listener understands the Really Cool Thing that just happened, dulling the edges of said Really Cool Things. The set-up for the story drags to get the plot established. And the characters can't rise above their functions/archetype.

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Title: Killing Rites

Subtitle: Book Four of the Black Sun's Daughter

Author: M. L. N. Hanover

Narrator: Suzy Jackson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-03-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 176 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Jayn Heller has discovered the source of her uncanny powers: something else is living inside her body. She's possessed. Of all her companions, she can only bring herself to confide in Ex, the former priest. They seek help from his old teacher and the circle of friends he left behind, hoping to cleanse Jayn before the parasite in her becomes too powerful.

Exs history and a new enemy combine to leave Jayn alone and on the run. Her friends, thinking that the rider with her has taken the reins, try to hunt her down, unaware of the danger theyre putting her in. Jayn must defeat the weight of the past and the murderous intent of another rider, and her only allies are a rogue vampire she once helped free and the nameless thing hiding inside her skin.

Members Reviews:

Grrrrr! Where is book 5?

Grrrrr! Where is book 5? I would really like to listen to what comes next.

Finally Some Answeres

Suddenly faced with a new reality, Jayne finds herself alone with Ex and possessed with one of the parasites she has fought so hard against. They seek help for her from Ex's past and Jayne finds she must make some excruciating decisions

Loved it

Loved the Book can't wait to listen to the other one. This series is great and very action packed.

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Title: The Shadow Reader

Subtitle: Shadow Reader, Book 1

Author: Sandy Williams

Narrator: Amy Rubinate

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 4 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-16-12

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 172 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

A Houston college student, McKenzie Lewis, can track fae by reading the shadows they leave behind. For years she has been working for the fae king, tracking rebels who would claim the Realm. Her job isn't her only secret. She's in love with Kyol, the King's sword master - but human and fae relationships are forbidden. When McKenzie is captured by Aren, the fierce rebel leader, she learns that not everything is as she thought. And McKenzie must decide who to trust and where she stands in the face of a cataclysmic civil war.

Critic Reviews:

"Featuring a gutsy heroine and plenty of fay lore, this urban fantasy debut should appeal to fans of Seanan McGuire's October Daye novels." (Library Journal)

Members Reviews:

A YA Fae story that I actually loved..

4.5 stars for this one. I normally don't care for Fae stories but this was different and enjoyable. MacKenzie was a really likable heroine. I haven't listened to Amy Rubinate before but she did a great job narrating this book. She made the heroine really enjoyable.

MacKenzie Lewis is a college student who doubles as a fae tracker for the Fae King. MacKenzie can Shadow Reader, a human GPS who can pinpoint the geographic location of any fae that fissures/teleports in front of her. The King has employed her for years to locate rebel fae who have been trying to cause an uprising in the kingdom.

After 10 years, MacKenzie was ready to retire as the King's shadow reader as she will try to just leave in the human realm. After 10 years of being in love with the King's Sword man Kyol, she is ready to try and meet human males and maybe meet someone who will help her get over Kyol. The king forbade fae to date humans, and so even though Kyol was in love with MacKenzie, he told her there will be no future for them as a couple.

On her last final exam, the rebel fae found MacKenzie and kidnapped her. Their leader Aren was convinced that he could get MacKenzie to work for their side if he could show tell her the rebel's side of the story. Plus, he has the gift of persuasion so he could charm her to "like" him enough to get him to do their bidding.

Aren shares with her truths the King and Kyol never shared with her in 10 years. He made his attraction to her clear and he insisted she learned Fae so she could hear the conversations the King and his council were having since they knew she didn't har Fae.

Slowly, MacKenzie and Aren started liking each other. Then Aren and the King's guards found her. MacKenzie was now in the position of making an informed decision. Does she continue working for the King and continue with Kyol as things were, OR does she switch allegiance to the rebels and see where this thing with Aren would go?

Plus, her life was at stake if she joined the losing side...which side was right in the war and which guy was right for her?

This book was action packed, angsty and a fresh perspective on the Fae. I liked all 3 main characters. I don't mind triangles, but these two guys are really good choices. Both men were warriors, loyal to their loved ones and to their respective cause. Poor Mackenzie, she had to make a choice. Great writing, great plot and I look forward to jumping into book 2.

Incredible new series

I enjoyed this new author and new series so very much. The story was fresh and interesting and kept me intrigued from the beginning.

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Title: Dancing with Bears

Subtitle: A Darger and Surplus Novel

Author: Michael Swanwick

Narrator: Stefan Rudnicki

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 34 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-28-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 10 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Dancing With Bears follows the adventures of notorious con-men Darger and Surplus: They''ve lied and cheated their way onto the caravan that is delivering a priceless gift from the Caliph of Baghdad to the Duke of Muscovy. The only thing harder than the journey to Muscovy is their arrival in Muscovy. An audience with the Duke seems impossible to obtain, and Darger and Surplus quickly become entangled in a morass of deceit and revolution. The only thing more dangerous than the convoluted political web surrounding Darger and Surplus is the gift itself, the Pearls of Byzantium, and Zoesophia, the governess sworn to protect their virtue.

Members Reviews:

Locke Lamora meets Dostoevsky after the apocalypse

It's a shame there are so few reviews of this audiobook, as this really was pretty fantastic. It's like: Scott Lynch's Locke Lamora meets Dostoevsky in the post-apocalypse. And as always Rudnicki is great, this one he gets to show off a range of Russian accents, cyber wolves, giants, genetically engineered bear-men and Neanderthals, and a fascinating, hilarious pair of con artists in Darger (British, what ho) and Surplus (a genetically uplifted dog, from Vermont, yeah I said it, Vermont). Really, really enjoyed it.

So, the events. Something like this, prior to the book: In the future, we create AI, and have a utopia for a time (some dispute whether this utopia reached, say, Russia or not, and for how long); the AI... yeah it grew to hate humanity. Hate hate hate. War. Destruction. Some AI is eventually exiled to the Internet/virtual world, others are physically cut off. (For example, chiefly in this story, the Russian spaceport of Baikonur. Which hates you, people. HATES you. Biding its time. Hating you.)

And then, unto this comes Darger and Surplus, somehow before the story starts having gotten themselves into the caravan of the ambassador of Byzantium heading to the Duke of Moscovy with a priceless gift. Crossing into Russia. Where Baikonur's cyberwolves have just started their own journey.

So many cons. Great world-building in Moscow, which has its own spiraling, interconnected, double-triple-quadruple-crossing schemes. In this "post-utopian" time we have some gene-splicing, and automatic weapons, and really, really, really, REALLY crazy new drugs, but horse and carriage transport.

"In Russia, there are no facts. Only competing conspiracy theories." (Paraphrase from memory one of MANY great one-liners liberally sprinkled in here on everything from politics to religion.) Just... highly recommended. Fun, smart, colorful, engaging. I really hope the forthcoming sequel (Chasing the Phoenix) comes to audio as well.

A great setup, a wandering middle, a cluttered end

What did you like best about Dancing with Bears? What did you like least?

Darger and Sir Plus (previously seen in the short stories The Dog Said Bow-Wow, The Cat Laughed to See Such Sport and Boys and Girls, Come Out to Play) are back from their previous adventures and as erudite and scheming as ever, with perfect dialogue and actions that befit a pair of confidence tricksters in a strange, dystopian Russia. The adjoining cast of characters, though numerous, manage to hold onto their own personalities and quirks and stretch the scope of the story to to barest limit of patience.

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Title: The Spirit Lens

Subtitle: A Novel of the Collegia Magica

Author: Carol Berg

Narrator: David DeVries

Format: Unabridged

Length: 17 hrs and 18 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-02-11

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 384 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

In a kingdom on the verge of a grand renaissance, where natural science has supplanted failing sorcery, someone aims to revive a savage rivalry...

For Portier de Savin-Duplais, failed student of magic, sorcery's decline into ambiguity and cheap illusion is but a culmination of life's bitter disappointments. Reduced to tending the library at Sabria's last collegia magica, he fights off despair with scholarship. But when the king of Sabria charges him to investigate an attempted murder that has disturbing magical resonances, Portier believes his dreams of a greater destiny might at last be fulfilled. As the king's new agente confide, Portier - much to his dismay - is partnered with the popinjay Ilario de Sylvae, the laughingstock of Sabria's court. Then the need to infiltrate a magical cabal leads Portier to Dante, a brooding, brilliant young sorcerer whose heretical ideas and penchant for violence threaten to expose the investigation before it's begun. But in an ever-shifting landscape of murders, betrayals, old secrets, and unholy sorcery, the three agentes will be forced to test the boundaries of magic, nature, and the divine...

Members Reviews:

First Rate

This is basically a police procedural placed in a world - filled with magic - that somewhat resembles Renaissance France. It does take a bit to get to the main plot line, but Berg's world building is as good as it gets. This is a literate and finely crafted tale, peopled with intriguing characters who are as fully realized as any I've come across.

To top it off, Mr. DeVries offers us an excellent narration. Bravo!

First in the Collegia Magica series

Carol Berg writes intricately detailed stories, and this is no exception. Despite the thick and lush detail, there are times when it seems not enough detail is given--especially when the protagonist arrives at some conclusion that the exposed train of thought does not justify. Still, it's a well written and entertaining story. The characters are believably human and drive the plot. I had a hard time trusting the narrator's rendition of Dante though. His character voice sounded too old to be a younger man than the protagonist. But otherwise it was performed very well. I haven't read the other books in the series yet. I hope some of the questions left dangling at the end of this one are answered later!

This trilogy is very fresh and original.

Many fantasy series are very predictable. There is the sword and sorcery type typified by Tolkien. There is the paranormal detective typified by Jim Butcher, etc. I found this trilogy to be quite different from any I had read before.

I liked it.... with some reservations.

Each of the three books in the trilogy is quite long (17, 18, and 21 hours), and in the early parts of each book, the story dragged a little for me. But each book comes to an exciting and unusual ending which very definitely justifies the long buildup.

I didn't always understand everything that happened. I suspect that this arose from lapses in my attention. If I had been reading rather than listening to this, I suspect I would have gone back from time to time to skim a few pages and figure out what I had missed. But you can't really skim in an audiobook, so I just plowed on and eventually I'd figure things out.

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Title: Magic on the Hunt

Subtitle: Allie Beckstrom Series, Book 6

Author: Devon Monk

Narrator: Emily Durante

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-30-11

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 102 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

There aren't many girls who can say they've gone into the realm of death and lived to tell the tale. But to restore her lover Zayvion's soul, Allison Beckstrom had to pay a bitter price - and things are about to get worse.

It turns out that the leader of the Authority, the council that decides what can - and can't - be done with magic, is being held hostage. But when the trail leads Allie and Zayvion to the secret prison where the Authority locks away magical criminals who are too dangerous to be held anywhere else, they find more than they bargained for. An undead magic user has possessed one of the prisoners, and he wants his freedom - and then some. Now Allie and Zayvion are the first line of defense against the chaos he's about to unleash on the city of Portland.

Members Reviews:

Series coming to a head?

Who was your favorite character and why?

Daniel Beckstrom, Allies not-quite-dead father, is getting to me. There is a person in my life exactly like him. Though my real life person may never learn I do think Daniel is catching on that he has to be the old dog that learns a new trick or he just may lose the daughter he truly does love. I dont get the sense that Allie is catching on to this yet, but there are still more books to come.

What does Emily Durante bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

I am increasingly fond of Emily Durante and in this book her talent is pushed to its measure. When one character possesses another and the narrator has to figure out how to voice 2-as-one, its challenging, but in this volume, several characters posses others and it gets confusing to even keep score. Durante made it easier by her voicings. I think this book would have been more difficult to follow in print.

Any additional comments?

When a series gets past #3 the back story has to be inserted cleverly at times to explain to new readers just what is going on. How an author does this is interesting to me because I read so many series. Introducing a new character who can say things about past events is often done, or have a present character explain something the new person doesnt know will inform the new reader to the backstory. Monk often has a character think about what has happened before as the view what is happening now to insert her necessary backstory. This is easy but I do think in this book #6, an editor missed some details of backstory that a reader like me finds slightly annoying. Someone picking up book #6 as the first Allie Beckstrom story would not notice anything odd.

Series coming to a head?

Who was your favorite character and why?

Daniel Beckstrom, Allie???s not-quite-dead father, is getting to me. There is a person in my life exactly like him. Though my real life person may never learn I do think Daniel is catching on that he has to be the old dog that learns a new trick or he just may lose the daughter he truly does love. I don???t get the sense that Allie is catching on to this yet, but there are still more books to come.

What does Emily Durante bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?

I am increasingly fond of Emily Durante and in this book her talent is pushed to its measure.

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Title: Low Town

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Daniel Polansky

Narrator: Rob Shapiro

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-16-11

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 129 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Drug dealers, hustlers, brothels, dirty politics, corrupt cops... and sorcery. Welcome to Low Town.

In the forgotten back alleys and flophouses that lie in the shadows of Rigus, the finest city of the Thirteen Lands, you will find Low Town. It is an ugly place, and its champion is an ugly man. Disgraced intelligence agent. Forgotten war hero. Independent drug dealer. After a fall from grace five years ago, a man known as the Warden leads a life of crime, addicted to cheap violence and expensive drugs. Every day is a constant hustle to find new customers and protect his turf from low-life competition like Tancred the Harelip and Ling Chi, the enigmatic crime lord of the heathens.

The Wardens life of drugged iniquity is shaken by his discovery of a murdered child down a dead-end street... setting him on a collision course with the life he left behind. As a former agent with Black Housethe secret policehe knows better than anyone that murder in Low Town is an everyday thing, the kind of crime that doesnt get investigated. To protect his home, he will take part in a dangerous game of deception between underworld bosses and the psychotic head of Black House, but the truth is far darker than he imagines. In Low Town, no one can be trusted.

Daniel Polansky has crafted a thrilling novel steeped in noir sensibilities and relentless action, and set in an original world of stunning imagination, leading to a gut-wrenching, unforeseeable conclusion. Low Town is an attention-grabbing debut that will leave listeners riveted... and hungry for more.

Critic Reviews:

"Polansky hits all the right notes in his intelligent first novel, a blend of dystopian fantasy and hard-boiled crime.... Sharp, noir-tinged dialogue and astute insights into class struggle mark Polansky as a writer with a future." (Publishers Weekly)

"A strong debut novel with a hero who doesn't waste time worrying about the moral implications of cutting someone's throat." (Kirkus)

Members Reviews:

Impressive debut ??? Fantasy Noir

One part Richard K. Morgan and one part China Mieville. This debut novel starts out strong with Rob Shapiro doing an excellent(!) job of bringing life to the seedy streets of Low town. It starts strong, but doesn???t finish as strong. The world building is riveting enough, but as a detective novel it kind of fizzles out towards the end. Still, I am suitably impressed with this young author and will be watching out for more of his works in the future

Great Listening Experience

This is one of those books that was made even better as an audiobook. An excellent narrator choice really made for a great listening experience.

The writing of the world and characters also made for a gritty noir detective novel.

I see there's 2 more books in this series, I wish they would release them in audiobook soon!

Noir and fantasy walk into a bar...

Would you listen to Low Town again? Why?

I've listened to it twice already. I think you discover something new each time.

Who was your favorite character and why?

It's hard to like anyone in Low Town, but Yancey sticks out as an OK dude.

Which character as performed by Rob Shapiro was your favorite?

Warden. Mr. Shapiro captured his voice perfectly.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Oh god. No executive would ever touch this.

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Title: The Alchemaster's Apprentice

Subtitle: A Culinary Tale from Zamonia by Optimus Yarnspinner

Author: Walter Moers, John Brownjohn (translator)

Narrator: Bronson Pinchot

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-04-11

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 53 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Malaisea, the unhealthiest town in the whole of Zamonia, is home to Echo the Crat, a multitalented creature resembling a cat in appearance but capable of speaking any language under the sun, human or animal. When his mistress dies, Echo finds himself out on the street. Dying of starvation, he is compelled to sign a contract with Ghoolion the Alchemaster, Malaiseas evil alchemist-in-chief. This fateful document gives Ghoolion the right to kill Echo at the next full moon and render him down for his fat, with which he hopes to brew an alchemical concoction that will make him immortal. In return, he promises to regale the little Crat with the most exquisite gastronomic delicacies until his time is up.

But Ghoolion has reckoned without Echos talent for survival and his ability to make new friends. These include the Leathermice, the Cogitating Eggs, the Golden Squirrel, the Cooked Ghost, Theodore T. Theodore the one-eyed Tuwituwu, and above all, Izanuela Anazazi, the last Uggly in Malaisea.

Walter Moers magnificent translation of Optimus Yarnspinners novel introduces us to yet another of Zamonias hotbeds of adventure: Malaisea, a place where sick is healthy, up is down, right is wrong, and Ghoolion the Alchemaster reigns supremeuntil Echo crosses his path.

Critic Reviews:

Cheerfully insane. Remains lively and inventive right through the final heroic battle between good and evil. (New York Times Book Review)

Members Reviews:

What a ride!

It's been a long time since I have given a book five stars, but this wonderful, original tale is well worth that rating! What at first seems a simple story of a bad bargain soon becomes an amusing romp with some of the most devilish edibles one can, or cannot imagine. I for one would love invisible caviar! All too soon good and evil and a rather horrifying crush come to light, and we are back in our mundane cars, armchairs, or beds..wishing we could hear it all over for the very first time again. No, this is not Camus, it's pure fun, and the narrator is quite simply exquisite.

vocal characterizations go from cute to grating

I'm only partway through this book, which has an interesting premise and likeable characters. However, the narrator's voice for certain characters is so annoying it is difficult to continue the book. Perhaps it's meant to be geared toward the juvenile.

upon 3rd reading

Its even better than the first time. The Zamonia series is smart, funny, dark ( def not for younger crowd ) and one of the best written series ever. My husband and I keep re-reading as there's nothing on tv this good. Bronson Pinchot's masterpieces found here. He's always amazing but his acting abilities shine here. Worth paying for!!! The illustrations in kindle are scary woodcuts. You won't regret the experience!

Imaginative Story

I'm very found of Walter Moers' books and this one does not disappoint. The only reason I'm not giving this one 5 stars is because the narration is ANNOYING! So annoying that it constantly takes me out of the story. The vocal characterizations are over the top and inconsistent. This story would've benefited from a much more subdued reading.

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Title: Ombria in Shadow

Author: Patricia A. McKillip

Narrator: Dina Pearlman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-25-11

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 56 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Ombria. It is a city that echoes with the footfalls of sapphire-heeled shoes...that holds its breath as a straw-haired apparition glides through its streets...that sees its dreams-and nightmares-take shape in the drawings of a bastard-heir. It is an enchanted time and place envisioned by World Fantasy Award winner Patricia A. McKillip, acclaimed author of The Tower at Stony Wood....

Critic Reviews:

World Fantasy Award, Best Novel, 2003

Members Reviews:

Very fairy tale :)

This story is very much in an adult fairy tale style (not "adult" as in: porn, XXX, etc. but rather thought/scope). LOL. Similiar to "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell" in style/desired effect ...but THIS author manages to pull off the delicate fairy tale atmosphere (in my opinion) without surrendering logic. The story is not quite as simple as it seems on the surface. I am going to have to go back, reread it and pay a tad bit MORE attention to a few details here and there. There is no attempt to explain how the magic works and none is needed (for the true fairy tale atmosphere) ...but there IS an underlying logic to the bones of the tale. Nice.

My Favorite McKillip Yet

Any additional comments?

I sometimes find the plots of Patricia A. McKillips books to be difficult to follow and lacking coherence, but she more than makes up for that with her wonderfully lyrical writing. She has the unique ability to paint vivid and fantastical images in your mind with her words that flow with rhythm and a living heartbeat.

This story I enjoyed thoroughly from beginning to end. It is loaded with McKillip's abstract concepts, but the story has a symmetry to it that makes it feel whole and complete in the end.

Beautifully read!

Patricia McKillip is magic, and the fabulous narration cinched it for me. I wasn't expecting to choose this book of McKillip's Audible selections, but Dina Pearlman's made this the winner and I'm glad it worked out that way.

Classic McKillip

McKillip is a uniquely good author. Her books are difficult to understand at parts, even for a fan like myself. Her writing style is sheer beauty, but she can occasionally be difficult to understand.

All McKillip's books are great

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Ombria in Shadow was an excellent story, narrated well and kept your interest. All McKillip's books are excellent. Some readers want more action, but action is too easy -- characters are what makes the story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Ombria in Shadow?

The witch's coming to really love another person and care what happened to her: her waxling.

Which character as performed by Dina Pearlman was your favorite?

The ancient witch.

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

I enjoyed taking time to listen and think about the next evenings sitting.

Any additional comments?

Great author!

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Title: The Bards of Bone Plain

Author: Patricia A. McKillip

Narrator: Marc Vietor, Charlotte Parry

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs

Language: English

Release date: 12-21-10

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 94 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

The newest novel from the World Fantasy Award-winning author of The Bell at Sealey Head. With "her exquisite grasp of the fantasist's craft" (Publishers Weekly), Patricia A. McKillip now invites readers to discover a place that may only exist in the mystical wisdom of poetry and music.

Scholar Phelan Cle is researching Bone Plain - which has been studied for the last 500 years, though no one has been able to locate it as a real place. Archaeologist Jonah Cle, Phelan's father, is also hunting through time, piecing history together from forgotten trinkets. His most eager disciple is Princess Beatrice, the king's youngest daughter. When they unearth a disk marked with ancient runes, Beatrice pursues the secrets of a lost language that she suddenly notices all around her, hidden in plain sight.

Editorial Reviews:

Veteran fantasy novelist Patricia A. McKillip crafts another rich, complex world in The Bards of Bone Plain, and narrators Marc Vietor and Charlotte Parry do a wonderful job of bringing it to life. Vietor and Parry make everything in Bone Plain, including the arcane and/or completely made-up words and character names, sound natural and inviting, like a tune you can easily pick up just by listening to a few bars. It helps that McKillip is focused on character over elaborate mythology, painting vivid pictures of the people of Caerau, an ancient city thats home to the pre-eminent school for bards. There Phelan Cle is completing his studies by putting together the bardic version of a dissertation, and McKillip has a little fun with the notion of graduate school drudgery in a fantasy world.

Phelans subject is the ancient bard Nairn, and the novel switches between the present and the past, chronicling Nairns long-ago adventures mostly as Phelan discovers more about them. McKillip crafts a range of memorable characters, including Phelans cranky but mysterious father Jonah; the kingdoms tomboy-ish princess, Beatrice; and Declan, Nairns mentor and keeper of mystical bardic secrets that hold far more power than merely producing sweet music. Unlike many fantasy novels, Bone Plain doesnt have the manufactured urgency of a quest or a war to propel it along; instead it plays out more like a fable, with the characters coming to significant but low-key revelations as the story progresses.

Vietor reads the bulk of the book with a friendly but authoritative tone, easily differentiating between characters without resorting to silly fantasy-world voices. Whenever McKillip switches to a short excerpt from Phelans research (mostly to open chapters about Nairn), Parry takes over in her mellifluous British accent, offering a nice change of pace and a simple way to delineate one style from another. The simple, elegant approach to narration matches McKillips writing style, making for a story thats as lovely to listen to as it is to experience.

Critic Reviews:

"The Bards of Bone Plain is another McKillip novel that leaves the reader in awe. Its a gorgeous story that celebrates the power of music, language, and love." (FantasyLiterature.com)

Members Reviews:

The power of music, language, and love

Patricia McKillip is a must-read author for any true lover of fantasy literature. With a voice all her own, she imbues her work ??? both the story and the style ??? with beauty, magic, and wonder.