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

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Title: The Midnight Queen

Author: Sylvia Izzo Hunter

Narrator: Julian Elfer

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-02-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 36 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

In the hallowed halls of Oxfords Merlin College, the most talented - and highest born - sons of the Kingdom of Britain are taught the intricacies of magickal theory. But what dazzles can also destroy, as Gray Marshall is about to discover.

Grays deep talent for magick has won him a place at Merlin College. But when he accompanies four fellow students on a mysterious midnight errand that ends in disaster and death, he is sent away in disgrace - and without a trace of his power. He must spend the summer under the watchful eye of his domineering professor, Appius Callender, working in the gardens of Callenders country estate and hoping to recover his abilities. And it is there, toiling away on a summer afternoon, that he meets the professors daughter.

Even though she has no talent of her own, Sophie Callender longs to be educated in the lore of magick. Her father has kept her isolated at the estate and forbidden her interest; everyone knows that teaching arcane magickal theory to women is the height of impropriety. But against her fathers wishes, Sophie has studied his ancient volumes on the subject. And in the tall, stammering, yet oddly charming Gray, she finally finds someone who encourages her interest and awakens new ideas and feelings.

Sophie and Grays meeting touches off a series of events that begins to unravel secrets about each of them. And after the kings closest advisor pays the professor a closed-door visit, they begin to wonder if what Gray witnessed in Oxford might be even more sinister than it seemed. They are determined to find out, no matter the cost.

Members Reviews:

A fabulous listen!

This listen was even better than I had hoped for. The story was clever and clean. I hope this is just the start of a new magical series. I could hardly wait to get back to it each time. The performance was delightful. This girl loves a nice accent.

Fantasy with mystery

An alternative world fantasy story which is really a mystery story as well. Summer vacation adventure very nice to listen to during a summer vacation. The story is very nice with unexpected twists. The performance was also very good. Looking forward to book 2.

Yawn

Would you try another book from Sylvia Izzo Hunter and/or Julian Elfer?

Noooo, this was such a yawn. Just kept going on with nothing really happening and I never felt engaged with any of the characters. Not sure if it was the narrators reading or the story, but probably both. I gave up and I love stories with magic in them!

Has The Midnight Queen turned you off from other books in this genre?

If I hadn't read other better ones it might have done.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

I think his reading was slightly dead and cold, he didn't make the listener engage or care about anyone. His reading lacked emotion.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Midnight Queen?

Most of them, the story needed to get to the point.

Any additional comments?

Very disappointing, I thought this was going to be another discovery of witches. It was not!

Unnecessarily Long, tedious.

Simple story dragged out to the point of becoming uninteresting. Formal language became tiresome and distraction.

Excellent

An interesting alternate history in which magic is prime rather than science and technology.

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Title: Fated

Subtitle: Alex Verus, Book 1

Author: Benedict Jacka

Narrator: Gildart Jackson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 33 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-02-14

Publisher: Hachette Audio UK

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 52 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Camden, North London: A tangled, mangled junction of train lines, roads, and waterways. Where minor celebrities hang out with minor criminals and where tourists and moody teenagers mingle.

In the heart of Camden, where rail meets road meets leyline, you might find the Arcana Emporium, run by one Alex Verus. He won't sell you a wand or mix you a potion, but if you know what you're looking for, he might just be able to help. That's if he's not too busy avoiding his would-be apprentice, foiling the Dark, outwitting the Light, and investigating a mysterious relic that has just turned up at the British Museum.

Fated is the first book in a major new series starring probability mage Alex Verus, for fans of Jim Butcher and Ben Aaronovitch.

Critic Reviews:

"Harry Dresden would like Alex Verus tremendously - and be a little nervous around him. I just added Benedict Jacka to my must-read list. Fated is an excellent novel, a gorgeously realized world with a uniquely powerful, vulnerable protagonist. Books this good remind me why I got into the storytelling business in the first place" (Jim Butcher)

"Filled with tense and compelling writing" (SFX)

"Jacka writes a deft thrill-ride of an urban fantasy - a stay-up-all-night read. Alex Verus is a very smart man surviving in a very dangerous world." (Patricia Briggs)

"London's hidden wizardly community spell-blast each other entertainingly in this urban fantasy romp. Fated is highly enjoyable" (Sun)

"Fated is an excellent example of not just great urban fantasy but also of brilliant story-telling. There is a near perfect mix of everything and it has been masterfully crafted with a meticulous eye for those pieces of humanity that make a great protagonist and a fantastic story" (FANTASY FACTION)

"A novel with a very good plotline, and fascinating characters" (BOOKCHICKCITY)

Members Reviews:

Excellent gritty fantasy

I came across this book/reading by accident on the audible website and I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook. I enjoyed the nature of the main character who deals with magic without the endless psychological self examination of Harry Dresden. Whilst there are a number of books in this genre I thought the author showed a great imagination in creating and populating his alternate world. I thought there were elements of Neil Gaimans Neverwherein the book. I also enjoyed the world weary voice of the presenter, I think he gave Alex Verus a complex personality which suited the text. Good audiobook.

Hated the fake posh English accent

Loved the book but was very disappointed with the narration, the fake Shakespearean English accent given the main character completely discredited the performance and was not at all compatible with the authors' character who is living in today's London, not the Middle ages. As a result I was not able to enjoy the audiobook. I will read the rest of the series on my Kindle.

Better than I expected

very well written and well read. I was pleasantly surprised by how good a story it was after reading some of the reviews. while not being as London has the Rivers of London and as funny like the Iron Druid and Dresden Files.

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Title: Strike of the Sweepers

Subtitle: Janitors, Book 4

Author: Tyler Whitesides

Narrator: Tyler Whitesides

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 49 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-11-14

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 59 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

The stakes have never been higher, and you've never seen squeegees do this before! It is a wild and slightly unsanitary ride as Spencer, Daisy, and the rebels find themselves chased by Mr Clean's new and terrifying breed of toxite - the Sweepers. Time is short. With the fable Manualis Custodem in hand, Spencer must figure out how to summon the founding witches if they ever hope to mop up and save education.

Members Reviews:

great book, fun to read to my younger kids.

we really loved this book. my kids like that it takes place at school and they imagine they could be the young characters.

Great book!

have enjoyed the series! looking forward to the next book. just keeping this review simple

Best book ever!

Everything is 100% perfect

Great narrating!

Great story!

Great everything!

Great characters!

Great humor!

I love Bookworm so much!

AWESOME!!!!!!!!

Another fun installment

What made the experience of listening to Strike of the Sweepers the most enjoyable?

The humor in the book was great!

What does Tyler Whitesides bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Tyler voices the characters so differently that it adds a new depth of personality to them that I may not get otherwise from just reading it to myself.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I chuckled a few times.

Any additional comments?

I would have liked to see more of Rho and less of Daisy (Daisy's random comments aren''t that fun anymore - they've started to get annoying.) Some plot twists you could see coming a mile away but some were a total surprise and those are the ones that made the book enjoyable for me.

I was happy to see this released early - I didn't expect it out until the hard copy comes out on Sept 9th!

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Title: The Hawk and His Boy

Subtitle: The Tormay Trilogy, Book 1

Author: Christopher Bunn

Narrator: Wayne Farrell

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 14 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-07-14

Publisher: Christopher Bunn

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 20 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

The Beginning of an Epic Adventure

Jute can break into any house, climb any wall, and steal anything--and he just got hired for what he thinks is an easy burglary job. The only problem is, if he succeeds, the Thieves Guild is going to murder him. He just doesn't know that. Not yet. Being a thief always came easy for him, but it's a lot harder now, particularly when everyone wants him dead. Hiding out in the city of Hearne, Jute finds some strange allies in an old wizard and a talking hawk. Together, they uncover an ancient secret of terrifying power. All Jute needs to do is stay alive long enough to figure out why's there's a price on his head, why a deadly shadow is stalking him, and why the Dark is haunting his dreams. Also, why on earth is the wind talking to him? The Hawk And His Boy is the first book of The Tormay Trilogy. The trilogy continues with The Shadow At The Gate, and concludes with The Wicked Day.

Members Reviews:

An Amazing Fantasy Novel

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

I would absolutely recommend this audiobook to my friends. I adore this book. The story was so good. I could close my eyes and visualize the setting, the characters, the entire feel of the story.

What other book might you compare The Hawk and His Boy to and why?

I don't off-hand know of other books I would compare this to. Maybe, but only maybe Piers Anthony whom I read when I was younger. This is much, much better though in my opinion.

Have you listened to any of Wayne Farrells other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes I have listened to other works by Wayne Farrell and I think he's a wonderful voice actor. He's one of my favorites. If someone is reading this who hasn't listened to his work I would highly recommend giving it a listen.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No extreme reaction, just pure enjoyment. It was like a movie. The characters were really vivid and the descriptions placed me at the scenes. This was a super listen.

Any additional comments?

I can't wait until the next audiobook in the Tormay Trilogy becomes available. I will definitely want to listen to it.

I received this audiobook foc in exchange for an unbiased review.

The hawk and his boy

I couldn't stop listening to the book one & can't wait for book two

I would recommend to friends

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Title: Skin Game

Subtitle: The Dresden Files

Author: Jim Butcher

Narrator: James Marsters

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 49 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-27-14

Publisher: Hachette Audio UK

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 277 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard, is about to have a very bad day. As Winter Knight to the Queen of Air and Darkness, Harry never knows what the scheming Mab might want him to do. Usually, it's something awful.

This time, it's worse than that. Mab's involved Harry in a smash-and-grab heist run by one of his most despised enemies, to recover the literal Holy Grail from the vaults of the greatest treasure horde in the world - which belongs to the one and only Hades, Lord of the Underworld.

Dresden's always been tricky, but he's going to have to up his backstabbing game to survive this mess - assuming his own allies don't end up killing him before his enemies get the chance....

Critic Reviews:

"Any new Butcher story is a joy" (Tor.com)

"Addictive page-turners" (SciFiNow)

"If there is an author that defines urban fantasy, it is Jim Butcher" (Fresh Fiction)

"Think Buffy the Vampire Slayer starring Philip Marlowe" (Entertainment Weekly)

"Butcher's storytelling is satisfying on a level that's bone deep" (Io9)

"Extremely well-written and addictive . . . the best urban fantasy series being published" (Walker of Worlds)

"An outstanding series" (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

Another solid addition to the Dresden Files.

An excellent reading by the voice of Harry Dresden (I've decided that is now James Marsters persona). I've blitzed through 7gh all 15 audio books in the main series this past month and love them all.

Fantastic!

James Marsters gives a brilliant performance of a beautifully written story. Everyone should experience this!

Another fantastic read

This was as expected awesome. As always Jim Butcher is a genius and brings the reader to a remarkable world and story. James Master does a great performance as usual and is well suited to the story. A must listen book :)

Exalent story told brilliantly

I love the Dresden files and the narration is as excellent as always. X x x x x x x

Best Dresden book yet!

If you could sum up Skin Game in three words, what would they be?

Non stop action!

What did you like best about this story?

One of the best Dresden Files books in the series. Liked how it brings back so many characters from previous books and intertwines them in ways I didn't see coming.

What about James Marsterss performance did you like?

He nailed Dresden again!

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

Hell's Bells man!

Any additional comments?

Keep them coming!

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Title: Forsworn: A Powder Mage Novella

Author: Brian McClellan

Narrator: Julie Hoverson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 8 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-02-14

Publisher: Brian McClellan

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 90 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Erika ja Leora is a powder mage in northern Kez, a place where that particular sorcery is punishable by death. She is only protected by her family name and her position as heir to a duchy.

When she decides to help a young commoner-a powder mage marked for death, fugitive from the law-she puts her life and family reputation at risk and sets off to deliver her new ward to the safety of Adro while playing cat and mouse with the king's own mage hunters and their captain, Duke Nikslaus.

Members Reviews:

Escape from the Kez

This is a great little novella starring two unlikely allies, one Noble born and the other fugitive, as the try to escape from the Mage Hunters if the Kez. Filled with gripping action and a fair bit of tension, it will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Good short story, subpar narration

Would have preferred the narrator from the original trilogy. This narrator pronounced key things differently to the point it was hard to tell what she was talking about.

enjoyable powder mage story

Would you consider the audio edition of Forsworn: A Powder Mage Novella to be better than the print version?

Nope. The narrator was rather annoying, and that made it difficult to keep listening. I actually considered returning the audiobook and purchasing the written story. I will say, however, that she was better in this story than she was in the Girl from Hrusch Avenue.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Erika's grandfather. He was spunky. And you have to love a good villain- Nikslaus is a fantastic antagonist for Erika.

What three words best describe Julie Hoversons voice?

inappropriately prepared and modulated. I don't think the and should count as a word ;-)

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

Yes, although i had to grit my teeth at times about the narrator.

Any additional comments?

It's too bad that the narrator detracted from the story. The story itself is really good, and I am excited to read/ hear more of the Powder Mage adventures!

A great addition

Story 4.5/5

This was a great little back story about Tamas wife Erika when she was younger and still living in Kez with her Duke father. She is a very strong female character, who would have been great in the main Powder Mage trilogy. As usual with McClellan you get some fantastic action scenes, and everything moves along at a fast pace, adding to all of the excitement.

We obviously get a bit more out of this audiobook, being a novella rather than a short story, and this is a very nice addition to your Brian McClellan collection if you are as much of a fan as I am. Obviously you wont want to waste a credit on it, but I believe it was worth purchasing in a 40% off sale.

Performance 4.5/5

Julie Hoverson did a great job, She can do mens voices very well, and all characters are distinctly recognised. All of the action was well told, and she helped to set the atmosphere of the fear and bravery during the fights.

Overall 4.5/5

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Title: Dead Streets

Subtitle: Matt Richter, Book 2

Author: Tim Waggoner

Narrator: John Banks

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-21-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 37 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Youve got to keep your head to survive in Nekropolis. Its a shame Victor Baron couldnt manage that. Now everyone wants a piece of him. Zombie detective Matt Richter and his glamourous she-vampire companion Devona are back on the case, with another wild and wonderful investigation.

Tim Waggoner is a novelist and college professor.

Members Reviews:

I really enjoyed the book

I don't normally like mystery-ish type books but with the splash of fantasy/sci-fi, it made it interesting. The narrator did a fantastic job reading the book and brought each character to life. I can appreciate the fact that I was able to tell each character apart by the use of voice without having to be told who is speaking....

Not so Dead Streets

Listening to the first few chapters, I thought OH NO.. Male with a problem, can't be physically intimate with his significant other, starts comparing himself to another male, a male who is what he thinks he wants. I gave a sigh but continued. I was in for a big but good disappointment. The story drastically changed. The excitement started. The story changed. The story became a fun, interesting follow up to book 1. There were still references to zombie Matt Richter's comparing himself to a living, fully functional human male. He and his significant other work through their problems while they work to get Matt's head reattached, get out of a prison that has never had an escape and unite in solving the mystery. The scene where the two (while in a joint hallucination) are with their twin children, in a nice little house is sad. The major mystery is solved. The heroes are sitting at the end of the story discussing what they perceive as an unfulfillable dream. They are verbally working out a mutual resolve to this. The unexpected happens. No, Matt must remain a zombie. You have to listen to the audio to find out.

Enjoyable, if not predictable

An enjoyable read (listen), with enough humour and action to keep you interested throughout. Once again not too complex and not too long, despite some filler.

great series

This is a wonderful series with great narration from John Banks who seems to be enjoying him self in the story. The characters are really strange but very believable in this strange city.

I am looking forward to listening to the third book in the trilogy and hope it is as good as the previous two.

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Title: Strangeness and Charm

Subtitle: The Courts of the Feyre, Book 3

Author: Mike Shevdon

Narrator: Nigel Carrington

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-14-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 73 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Alex has been saved from the fate that awaited her in Bedlam, but in freeing her, Niall has released others of their kind into the population. Now, as Warder, he must find them and persuade them to swap their new-found liberty for security in the courts - but is the price of sanctuary to swap one cage for another?

Mike Shevdon lives in Bedfordshire, England, with his wife and son, where he pursues the various masteries of weapons, technology, and cookery. His love of Fantasy & amp;SF started in the '70s with C S Lewis, Robert Heinlein, and Isaac Asimov and continued through Alan Garner, Ursula Le Guin, and Barbara Hambly. More recent influences include Mike Carey, Phil Rickman, Neil Gaiman, and Robert Crais, among many others. He has studied martial arts for many years, mainly aikido and archery. Friends have sometimes remarked that his pastimes always seem to involve something sharp or pointy.

Members Reviews:

Whiny dialog throughout

I very much enjoyed the first two books in this series. This book contained too much whiny dialog by most of the characters. At one point or another, each character has a whiny exchange with another character. Blackbird loses her edge and becomes a jealous whiny new mom, Alex is a one dimensional whiny teen, and even our hero, Niles, whines throughout! I'm hoping the author got all the whining out of his system with this book. If the next one is a whine fest I won't be able to finish it.

Strangely charming

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

Yes-ish.

The world Mike Shevdon has created is intriguing and leaves me wanting to know more about the universe and its mystical denizens. However the key characters are really beginning to rankle! Yes I should have realized that complex characterisation was never an objective when the main character morphed (almost overnight) from a pitiful 42 year old, divorced accountant to an immortal, magic-wielding ninja-fairy, capable of seducing heavenly, orgasm-inducing nymph-babes within hours of meeting them, but... The inconsistency in the behavior of key characters really detracts from the story. Niall may be an ass-kicking superhero, but geez can't he whinge! One minute he's the epitome of calm, devastatingly-cool hero, the next he's a whining sissy who can't get a word in edge ways when his ex wife starts berating him for leaving the toilet seat up (or something). As for Blackbird who swings from all-powerful matriarch to wet lettuce and back (sometimes in the same monologue)... The other characters fade to beige as shallow stereotypes (Sgt. Maj. Garvin, terminally teenage Alex, almost all of the true fairy).

Despite wanting to shout at Niall to just use his nukes in every scene rather than dilly-dallying around like some morally overbearing broken record the books are actually quite fun. I can't wait to listen to the next one!! And Mike... We need a montage. :)

What about Nigel Carringtons performance did you like?

Awesome. Fantastic narration. Not sure I like young Blackbird's Belfast twang and I can't tell the difference between grumpy Niall and Garvin sometimes, but 10/10 for really good, engaging narration.

Do you think Strangeness and Charm needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Absolutely.

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Title: The Road to Bedlam

Subtitle: The Courts of the Feyre, Book 2

Author: Mike Shevdon

Narrator: Nigel Carrington

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 44 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-04-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 89 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

The sequel to Sixty-One Nails.

"There's been an accident. It's your daughter." But Alex isn't dead. She's been snatched because she came into her magical power early. Her father, Niall Petersen, must use his own wayward magic to track her down and save her from the madness of Bedlam.

Mike Shevdon lives in Bedfordshire, England, with his wife and son, where he pursues the various masteries of weapons, technology, and cookery. His love of Fantasy and SF started in the 70s with C S Lewis, Robert Heinlein, and Isaac Asimov, and continued through Alan Garner, Ursula Le Guin, and Barbara Hambly. More recent influences include Mike Carey, Phil Rickman, Neil Gaiman, and Robert Crais, among many others. He has studied martial arts for many years, mainly aikido and archery. Friends have sometimes remarked that his pastimes always seem to involve something sharp or pointy.

Members Reviews:

Poor story compared to first volume

Would you try another book from Mike Shevdon and/or Nigel Carrington?

Would probably read another book, but not from this series. The first book was great, well written, well read and almost believable. Volume 2 however, gradually descended into a nonsense plot - even though the writing quality and the reader remained excellent.

Would you ever listen to anything by Mike Shevdon again?

Yes

What does Nigel Carrington bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Good pace, diction, style and character differentiation.

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

The first half was almost as good as book I. The plot line on the "rescue" was ridiculous in the second half.

Solid urban fantasy (B+ 4-part series); book 2 = B

Note: In this review, I discuss the four-part series as a whole, in addition to main focus on this book. There are purposefully vague references to some of these things below, to provide examples without creating spoilers.

-

Short version: First book is decent, second is fairly good, but investment pays off as the following 2 books just get better and better. Book 2 = B. Overall series = A-. If youre into contemporary/urban fantasy, I would definitely recommend picking this series.

-

Story (B+): If you like dynamic characters that really grow and change as the story unfolds, then this might not be the book/series for you. If you like urban fantasy that has a pretty cool story, then pick this one up. In that it centers on a normal contemporary guy who tumbles into a surreal world, its somewhat reminiscent of Neverwhere (by Neil Gaiman), but without quite hitting the mark. There were few times when I thought it almost got started to approach a similar level of suspense/tension/emotion/thought, but fell just a little short for some reason I cant quite put my finger on (which is probably why Im not a writer). Then again, I think its really not fair to compare other authors to Neil Gaiman (hes just too good).

As mentioned right up front, not terribly dynamic main charactersthis is primarily a plot-driven book. Fortunately its quite an enjoyable plot. At the same time, Id suggest practicing a little suspension of disbelief and maybe suspension of a bit of logic too (just a touch). There are odd little incongruities, or at least little things that could be patched up a bit better.

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Title: Prince of the Blood

Author: Raymond E. Feist

Narrator: Peter Joyce

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 54 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-27-14

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 39 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Set 20 years after the events of the Riftwar, Prince of the Blood follows the adventures of Prince Arutha's sons in the dangerously unstable Great Empire of Kesh. Twenty years have passed since the end of the Riftwar. Prince Borric con Doin and his twin brother Erland have been summoned back to their father's court in Krondor. Prince Arutha has decided he needs to tame his spirited progeny and teach them statecraft and responsibility.

Shortly after they arrive home, therefore, he orders them to Kesh, to represent the Isles at the Empress' 75th jubilee. But before the new ambassadors depart, they are attacked. The foiled assassin's suicide reawakens fears that the Nighthawks - a brotherhood of killers for hire - are active once more. But the truth is far more disturbing: The assassin was a member of the Royal House of Kesh.

Despite the dangers, Borric and Erland's mission continues, it being vital to sustaining the fragile peace between the two nations. But the brothers have little idea of the exotic world of Kesh, the strange players at this alien court, nor the hidden forces intent upon tearing the empire apart.

Critic Reviews:

"Epic scope vivid imagination a significant contribution to the growth of the field of fantasy." (Washington Post)"Well-written intelligent intriguing." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Great Story

Great story and definitely recommended .. but .

a terrible narrator compared to the narrator who did the first few books of Raymond E Feist.

Nevertheless .. a book you shpuld read even if you don't listen to it.

Perfect match between story and story teller

Read most of these books when they firSt came out and now they occupy my driving time Peters narration pitches every nuance

Almost perfect

Another great story by Feist. Not as 'epic' as his previous novels it nonetheless has the strong, constantly evolving characters that I have come to love within Feists writings.

The narrator again annoys me with the pronunciation of some names and words but does a very good job of differentiating characters.

entertaining and a nice diversion

very good performance from Peter Joyce who brought a thoroughly entertaining tale to life.

moving the focus to Kesh enriches the world of Midkemia and this is where Feist is at his best.

Worth the read or listen

Excellent

Another excellent story from Raymond E. Feist, that makes you feel the full range of emotions.