Listen to Top 100 Audiobooks in Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

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Title: The Dragon's Path

Subtitle: Dagger and Coin, Book 1

Author: Daniel Abraham

Narrator: Pete Bradbury

Format: Unabridged

Length: 17 hrs and 22 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-04-11

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 2222 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Popular author Daniel Abrahams works have been nominated for the Hugo Award and the World Fantasy Award. In The Dragons Path, former soldier Marcus is now a mercenarybut he wants nothing to do with the coming war. So instead of fighting, he elects to guard a caravan carrying the wealth of a nation out of the war zonewith the assistance of an unusual orphan girl named Cithrin.

Members Reviews:

A Subtle, Smart, and All-Around Great Epic Fantasy

I read this book when it came out last year, and enjoyed it, but the characters lingered with me more than I would???ve expected. So much so, I ended up picking it up in audio to revisit it in anticipation of the sequel coming out. And now I???ve spent several days grinning so much that my face hurts.

For those looking for an epic fantasy filled with bloodbaths, this is probably not your ticket. There are battles and swordfights, and people die, but generally, the action tends to take place in dark alleys and small rooms filled with quiet, desperate moments. It focuses a lot on the journey of its characters, and what???s best about these characters is how sympathetic they all are - even the characters with despicable beliefs, or those who go on to do despicable things. They all think they???re heroes, and even if we don't agree, we understand why they think that.

From the acting troupe that gets hired on to pretend to be caravan guards, to the orphan girl brought up as a ward of the bank, to the political maneuvering that places an unlikely character in power, Daniel Abraham is clearly having a lot of fun playing with the tropes of the genre, all the while creating something unique. Abraham (who co-wrote Leviathan Wakes under the pseudonym James S.A. Corey) has become one of the top authors I watch for in the SF/F field.

I loved listening to Pete Bradbury???s narration ??? his voice has a natural gravity that lends itself to epic fantasy, and it really added to the story???s atmosphere.

I???m glad I listened to it ??? I certainly picked up on a lot more hints and themes Abraham had layered in, and I???m really looking forward to his follow-up The King???s Blood, and listening to these books over and over again.

Surprisingly enjoyable

The Dragon's Path was an enjoyable story, if not terribly original in plot. It felt very traditional--at first--in that all the usual fantasy tropes were in place. This is not a bad thing, however, when done properly. Daniel Abraham knows his business. I was hooked to the story after the first few paragraphs in chapter one. Marcus, Cithrin, Geder, and Dawson are fully-fleshed characters. The world they inhabit is mysterious, intriguing, and colorful.

If you enjoy Joe Abercrombie or George R.R. Martin, The Dragon's Path is right up your alley. Only don't expect a ton of action. This is book one, and is setting the stage for things to come. It doesn't stand well on its own.

A lot of the focus is on economics and banking, which I found refreshing for a fantasy. (Those of you upset with this should have paid attention to the series title: Dagger and Coin.) This different approach to fantasy is where The Dragon's Path shines. It feels traditional out of the gate, and then rises above the same old stuff by its conclusion.

A credit well-spent. (Oh, and the narrator is perfect for this story.

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Title: World of Warcraft: Wolfheart

Author: Richard A. Knaak

Narrator: Scott Brick

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 45 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-13-11

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1167 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

New York Times best-selling author Richard A. Knaak continues the thrilling story begun in the record-breaking MMO game expansion World of Warcraft: Cataclysm in this new audiobook!

Members Reviews:

Worgens and Orcs and Elves, Oh My!

What made the experience of listening to World of Warcraft: Wolfheart the most enjoyable?

Wolfheart is a well-created audible book. It was professionally put together with the chapters ending with well-recognized music from World of Warcraft. It added a great touch to the reading performance and lets you know you were coming to the end of a chapter.Scott Brick did a great job voicing the different characters of the book, especially King Genn Greymane as a Worgen, but was a bit too soft and annoying as Tyrande Whisperwind. (She's a soft-spoken character as it is, so it just annoying all around.) Mr. Brick was great keeping the pace of the story moving along, though he recited the book in a bit of Shakespearean opulent way that made me giggle sometimes. I kept thinking to myself,

What did you like best about this story?

King Varian Wrynn by far steals the show in the book. Nearly every scene he's involved in is my favorite. The battle at the end is great!

Which character as performed by Scott Brick was your favorite?

As I mentioned earlier, I truly enjoyed Scott's performance as King Genn Greymane. The added snarls when Greymane was in worgen form were such a good touch to an already great performance. It was thrilling. His masterful performance as the outspoken King Varian was perfect. Another favorite.Scott also did excellent performing as the orcs, in particularly Garrosh Hellscream and the One-eyed Briln.

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

The scene where all the Alliance members were gathered and were considering the addition of the worgen into the Alliance. King Varian Wrynn totally steals the scenes here. The political drama that explosively unfolded was jaw-dropping. One of the best parts of the whole story.

Any additional comments?

Wolfheart is a great story, but not without its flaws. It's a war story, a tragedy, a murder mystery, and political drama. Overall, a great story to enjoy. However, the whole Maiev Shadowsong murder mystery story line rides nearly parallel to the rest of the story. While it's a worthwhile story to be told for sure, it aggravates how it doesn't quite cross lines with the overall arc of the story. I also wasn't too pleased that the one focus on this book I really wanted to delve into - King Varian Wrynn, the man whose eyes are on the cover of this book - the Wolfheart himself - doesn't make an appearance until like Chapter 11. Arg! However, when he does show up...WHOA! The wait is nearly worth it. This is not my first audible book, but it is the first I've actually completed from start to finish as fast as I could within a couple of days.

Wolfheart's great, but not what you think.

Where does World of Warcraft: Wolfheart rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

When you see the title Wolfheart, coupled with piercing human eyes, you think "My name is Varian Wrynn, but I am also Lo'Gosh." And you would be right, except Varian's story is not the plot of this book. The plot is the Horde's encroachment into the Night Elves' Ashenvale led by Garrosh Hellscream.

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Title: Confessions of a D-List Supervillain

Author: Jim Bernheimer

Narrator: Jeffrey Kafer, Talmadge Ragan

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 46 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-18-11

Publisher: Perfect Voices

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2509 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Exploding from the pages of Horror, Humor, and Heroes, Volume One - its the full length adventures of the one and only Mechani-Cal! So grab your battlesuit and prepare to get a little nasty.

"Being a supervillain means never having to say youre sorry - unless its to the judge or the parole board. Even then, you dont really have to. Its not like its going to change the outcome or anything." Those are the words of Calvin Matthew Stringel, better known as Mechani-Cal. Hes a down-on-his-luck armored villain. Follow his exploits as he gets swept up in a world domination scheme gone wrong and ends up working for these weak willed, mercy loving heroes. Immerse yourself in epic battles and see what its like to be an outsider looking in at a world that few have ever experienced. Climb into Cals battlesuit and join him on his journey. Will he avoid selling out his principles for a paycheck and a pardon? Can he resist the camaraderie of being on a super team? Does he fall prey to the ample charms of the beautiful Olympian Aphrodite? How will he survive the jealous schemes of Ultraweapon, who wears armor so powerful it makes Cals look like a museum piece?

See the world of righteous do-gooders through the eyes of someone who doesnt particularly care for them. Revel in his sarcasm and hang on for one wild ride! Just remember: losing an argument with a group of rioters isnt a good excuse to start lobbing tear gas indiscriminately at them. Youve only got so many rounds and its going to be a long day, so make sure you get as many as possible with each one.

Members Reviews:

Everyman villain tries to make good. Fun stuff!

This is a sideways take on the traditional superhero/supervillain story. Some other reviewers have said that lacks originality, but being a comic (ahem, graphic novel) nerd, I consider it a genre. And it's a genre I dig.

This tale follows Cal, a supervillain who is just getting by, but is eminently likeable despite his illicit career path. When his circumstances change and he winds up playing on the good guys' team, he finds all sorts of hurdles. It's a fun story, but that's not to say he doesn't have to deal with some real problems. Still I'd say it's lighthearted overall and an engaging listen.

Not Quite The Avengers, But Just As Much Fun...

Superheroes and Villans seem the be the rage these days, especially with the Avengers, The Dark Knight, Spiderman and Kick-Ass all having their day in the sun. With that in mind, I can't help but say that I've always had a soft spot for well-written stories about superheroes and their antithesis, their arch-enemy villain. I've always savored a battle royal, sometimes to the death, where fantastic powers housed in finite and flawed men and women come to bear, where in the end, only one champion is left standing.

This is definitely a story of flawed heroes and villains.

Without giving much away, I CAN say that the story starts out with a world completely conquered, heroes and villains alike, and one very flawed anti-hero must choose the harder, more difficult road to bring humanity back from the brink.

Yep, that's where it STARTS.

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Title: The Well of Ascension

Subtitle: Mistborn, Book 2

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Narrator: Michael Kramer

Format: Unabridged

Length: 29 hrs and 3 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-18-11

Publisher: Orion Publishing Group Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 643 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

The impossible has happened. The Lord Ruler is dead has been vanquished. But so too is Kelsier, the man who masterminded the triumph. The awesome task of rebuilding the world has been left to his protege Vin; a one-time street urchin, now the most powerful Mistborn in the land. Worryingly for her Vin has become the focus of a new religion, a development that leaves her intensely uneasy. More worryingly still the mists have become unpredictable since the Lord Ruler died and a strange vaprous entity is stalking Vin. As the siege of Luthadel intensifies the ancient legend of the Well of Ascension offers the only glimmer of hope. But no-one knows where it is or what it can do

Members Reviews:

Brandon Sanderson 5 stars all the way :-)

I have gone through all of your books and they all should be given 5 stars. It would be awesome if you could release all your books on Audible for us Aussies. By the way...... I can't wait for the next "The Way Of Kings" book.

Slow Start...

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

I would (at least I'd recommend starting the series with the first book). Starts off rather slow and never quite reaches the heights of the first book of the series, but all in all a good continuation of the Mistborn saga. The final chapters of Well of Ascension point to an even more compelling storyline to come in the last book, but it stands well on its own too.

Who was your favorite character and why?

OreSeur - The growth of the relationship between Vin and OreSeur is quite interesting and provides much of the early to middle part of the book's interest.

Have you listened to any of Michael Kramers other performances before? How does this one compare?

The previous novel in the series; both of them are very good performances.

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

Yes. Unable to do so for the initial half (a little too slow), but the last half I read in one sitting.

A bit meh

The relationship conflict in this book really killed it for me. There was a mix of arrogance and insecurity from Elland and Vin that I found really frustrating to read. I very quickly lost interest in these two characters because of it. Not great, considering they're the main characters.

The few instances we get to see Breeze's POV were really good, however.

I also found the couple of scenes where the Terris people were studying together to be really amateur method of info dumping the reader. They were a grind to read.

But again, the main issue I had was with Vin and Ellend.

An amazing read

The book starts out slow but the gradual buildup is definitely worth it. I expected a cliche good bs evil fantasy but the story surpassed my expectations.

great addition to the series

slow to get started, but amazing ending!! can't wait to listen to the last book in the trilogy. narration is excellent!

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Title: The Lies of Locke Lamora

Author: Scott Lynch

Narrator: Michael Page

Format: Unabridged

Length: 22 hrs and 3 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-21-11

Publisher: Orion

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1137 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

They say that the Thorn of Camorr can beat anyone in a fight. They say he steals from the rich and gives to the poor. They say he's part man, part myth, and mostly street-corner rumor. And they are wrong on every count. Only averagely tall, slender, and god-awful with a sword, Locke Lamora is the fabled Thorn, and the greatest weapons at his disposal are his wit and cunning.

He steals from the rich - they're the only ones worth stealing from - but the poor can go steal for themselves. What Locke cons, wheedles and tricks into his possession is strictly for him and his band of fellow con-artists and thieves: the Gentleman Bastards. Together their domain is the city of Camorr. Built of Elderglass by a race no-one remembers, it's a city of shifting revels, filthy canals, baroque palaces, and crowded cemeteries. Home to Dons, merchants, soldiers, beggars, cripples, and feral children. And to Capa Barsavi, the criminal mastermind who runs the city.

Members Reviews:

Most entertaining listen!

I have listed to a large number of audiobooks over recent years, many of them of them excellent - however, this is the first time I have been sufficiently motivated to actually write a review. This was just a perfect combination of original story, entertaining witty characters and a wonderful narrator. Michael Page's range and consistency of voices brought the whole thing to life.

A slight warning is in order to those of a nervous disposition, however - the story contains occasional graphic descriptions of violence and frequent "colourful" language.

Great

It was a great book. Story kept you intrigued the whole time. It's a fascinating mix between The Italian Job / Oceans Eleven / Clever Crime with fantasy and a fascinating city-scape.

Definitely worth reading. The narrator does a great job too. Very good reading

Now completely hooked on gentleman bastards!

I bought this audiobook completely off others recommendation on audible and was really surprised. I'm now completely hooked on this series and am in high anticipation for the release of the third book.

As others have said: think fantasy mixed with a dash of oceans 11 with a plot line that is rarely predictable. Great characters but be warned there is a fair bit of violence and swearing - but nothing I found overtly graphic or gratuitous. The narrator is amazing and really hits the tone of the books. Personally I imagine this to be set in something like medieval Venice with its many gangs and political intricacies (with a bit of magic and alchemy thrown in). However Lynch is great at not making these aspects too complicated for his readers/listeners to follow.

Highly enjoyable!

Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Bloody

The Lies of Locke Lamora (2006) by Scott Lynch is a suspenseful scam and revenge story set in a colorful and brutal fantasy world, a little like The Sting meets The Revenger???s Tragedy in a Joe Abercrombie novel. Locke Lamora is the leader of a gang of seemingly small-time thieves that actually executes complex and high-yield con-schemes utilizing their skills of prevarication and impersonation and targeting the proud nobility of the Italian-esque city-state of Camorr.

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Title: Debt of Bones

Author: Terry Goodkind

Narrator: Sam Tsoutsouvas

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 18 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-16-10

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 822 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Abby is trapped, not only between both sides of the war, but in a mortal conflict between two powerful men. For Zedd, who commands power most men can only imagine, granting Abby's request would mean forsaking his sacred duty. With the storm of the final battle about to save the life of a child...but neither can escape the shadow of an ancient betrayal.

With time running out, their only choice may be a debt of bones. The world - for Zedd, for Abby, for everyone - will never again be the same.

Members Reviews:

Wonderful back story

I really liked this book. It filled in so many places and questions about Zed and his history. It gave a great explanation of how the great barriors were put up and why. It shows a playful side of wizard life in the wizards keep. There is a wonderful connection that is made around the confessors and their duties in the new world. If you are a fan of the Wizards First Rule and the Sword of truth series, you will enjoy learning some of the reasons why things are as they are in the midlands. I recomend this one.

Bags! This is a good prequel.

Would you listen to Debt of Bones again? Why?

Yes! This is a good prequel to the Sword of Truth Series. It is a bit short though. I would have loved to get to know more of the characters during that time. But, Zedd alone makes up for this. It was great to know the younger wizard.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Zedd! Bags! He is truly the Trickster!

What about Sam Tsoutsouvass performance did you like?

His performance was spot on!

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

The trick.

A debt that needs to be paid

Debt of Bones is the story of a sorceress' daughter Abby and the First Wizard Zed. Abby has a debt of bones owing and she wants Zed to pay it by saving her family from the clutches of the D'Haran army. Zed is trying to end the war between D'Hara led by Panis Rahl and the Midlands. Debt of Bones tells the story of the origin of the boundaries between D'Hara, the Westlands and the Midlands. It also reveals the role Zed played in the death of Richard's grandfather Panis Rahl and introduces us to Richard's mother, Zed's daughter as a child. It is brilliantly narrated by Sam Tsoutsouvas who captures the emotion of the characters and is a great little prequel to Wizard's First Rule the first book in the Sword of Truth series written by Terry Goodkind. I recommend that readers new to Terry Goodkind read and listen to Wizard's First Rule before Debt of Bones, so they will have a stronger understanding of what the story is about.

Great Reader and fun story

After reading so many 16-20 hour books in this series, this is a fun "intermission" to enjoy. It's a little bit mystery, feel-good fiction, fantasy and comedy. It's actually like a sitcom made to whet your taste buds for the binge-watchable series (without spoilers)!

Tha beginning!!!

Great story about Zed, a young Zed. Tells the story of the boundaries,how they got put up. Zed is a powerful funny start up first wizard. A great book and short,a sTart to finish book.

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Title: Who Fears Death

Author: Nnedi Okorafor

Narrator: Anne Flosnik

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 15 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-29-10

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 507 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

In a far future, post-nuclear-holocaust Africa, genocide plagues one region. The aggressors, the Nuru, have decided to follow the Great Book and exterminate the Okeke. But when the only surviving member of a slain Okeke village is brutally raped, she manages to escape, wandering farther into the desert.

She gives birth to a baby girl with hair and skin the color of sand and instinctively knows that her daughter is different. She names her daughter Onyesonwu, which means "Who Fears Death?" in an ancient African tongue.

Reared under the tutelage of a mysterious and traditional shaman, Onyesonwu discovers her magical destiny - to end the genocide of her people. The journey to fulfill her destiny will force her to grapple with nature, tradition, history, true love, the spiritual mysteries of her culture - and eventually death itself.

Critic Reviews:

"Okorafor examines a host of evils in her chillingly realistic talegender and racial inequality share top billing, along with female genital mutilation and complacency in the face of destructive traditionand winds these disparate concepts together into a fantastical, magical blend of grand storytelling." (

Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

A journey.

This book is a journey, and it is at times an intentionally uncomfortable one. Set in a (far?) future subsaharan Africa, racially-based genocides continue between the Nuru and the Okeke. An "Ewu" girl (the result of the rape of an Okeke by a Nuru man) is given the name Onyesonwu -- "Who Fears Death". This book has magic -- in particular: shape-shifting, and traveling to The Wilderness, the space where spirits go after life -- and sand, and violence -- though this is not a book "about" magic, or sand -- and scenes which are both unsettling and gripping. The narration from Anne Flosnik here is quite primal; we feel the pain and, as often, anger of Onyesonwu and her companions and adversaries.

Okorafor's world is one where some technology remains -- portable computers with maps, water collection devices -- but this is not at all a book about technology. It is about people, and in particular the roles of women (and men) in a highly tribal culture. There are ruins -- old, paved roads -- but this is not a book about the past. It is also not a book about the future. It is a book which is quite present, and is highly recommended to readers with an interest in something beyond the beaten path, whether coming from an interest in fantasy or more mainstream fiction, and the willingness to travel on unfamiliar and rocky ground.

Don't miss this one!

If you could sum up Who Fears Death in three words, what would they be?

Powerful, absorbing, refreshing

What was one of the most memorable moments of Who Fears Death?

When Onyesonwu, Luyu, and Mwita take shelter in the "haunted" cave

Have you listened to any of Anne Flosniks other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, I have listened to Anne Flosnik's narration of Robin Hobb's Rail Wilds trilogy. To be honest, I found her narration of those novels quite irritating, and thought she did a much better job with Who Fears Death.

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Title: Rosemary and Rue

Subtitle: An October Daye Novel, Book 1

Author: Seanan McGuire

Narrator: Mary Robinette Kowal

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 20 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-08-10

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1697 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

The world of Faerie never disappeared: it merely went into hiding, continuing to exist parallel to our own. Secrecy is the key to Faeries survivalbut no secret can be kept forever, and when the fae and mortal worlds collide, changelings are born. Half-human, half-fae, outsiders from birth, these second-class children of Faerie spend their lives fighting for the respect of their immortal relations. Or, in the case of October Toby Daye, rejecting it completely.

After getting burned by both sides of her heritage, Toby has denied the fae world, retreating into a normal life. Unfortunately for her, Faerie has other ideas. The murder of Countess Evening Winterrose, one of the secret regents of the San Francisco Bay Area, pulls Toby back into the fae world. Unable to resist Evenings dying curse, which binds her to investigate, Toby is forced to resume her old position as knight errant to the Duke of Shadowed Hills and begin renewing old alliances that may prove her only hope of solving the mystery...before the curse catches up with her.

Critic Reviews:

"Well researched, sharply told, highly atmospheric and as brutal as any pulp detective tale, this promising start to a new urban fantasy series is sure to appeal to fans of Jim Butcher or Kim Harrison." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

A fairy tale with grit.

An amazing beginning to a wonderful series. A fairy tale for adults. McGuire does a great job building this world and giving characters some nice depth, without sacrificing action or a nice pace to the story. The narrator was very good and enhanced McGuire's work. Very entertaining. I have already downloaded the second book (A Local Habitation) and look forward to the third book which should be released in September.

Missed Matched Pair

I am currently on my third attempt to make it through this novel. I've put some thought into why Rosemary and Rue isn't working for me. I know that audible reviewers giving negative feedback are rarely appreciated, but here are my thoughts. It seems that McGuire has some fun ideas for her story line. In this case, however, they fall flat. From the opening scene, I found myself a little curious to see what would happen next but mostly completely unaffected by the main character. There is absolutely no character development and I kept thinking "Why is she doing this?" "Why should we care?" "Why so dramatic?" The narrator adds to this sense of blah. Its like watching a soap opera with monotone actors. You know there should be some drama in there somewhere, but can find it in the performance. I can only recommend this book if you are ready for a strange pity party. There are so many fun options in this genre. I would definitely recommend the Mercedes Thompson Series by Patricia Briggs, The Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris or Stray by Rachel Vincent long before I sent you to Rosemary and Rue. Good reading

A little slow

Listened for Fun (Audible)

Overall Rating: 2.50

Story Rating: 2.00

Character Rating: 3.00

Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)

First Thought when Finished: Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire had interesting characters but it took 70% of the book before anything happened.

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Title: Heir to the Shadows

Subtitle: Black Jewels, Book 2

Author: Anne Bishop

Narrator: John Sharian

Format: Unabridged

Length: 18 hrs and 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-02-10

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 813 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

In this violently passionate, "darkly fascinating world", the Blood rule: a race of witches and warlocks whose power is channeled through magical jewels. Ambitions unfurl in this second novel of series, as the realm's dreams of a liberator have finally been made flesh: Jaenelle, singled out by prophecy as the living embodiment of magic, is haunted by the cruel battles the Blood have fought over her - for not all of them await her as their Savior.

Nothing, however, can deflect her from her destiny - and the day of reckoning looms near. When her memories return. When her magic matures. When she is forced to accept her fate. On that day, the dark Realms will know what it means to be ruled by Witch.

Critic Reviews:

"Bishop subverts readers' expectations; the 'darkest' powers reside in virtuous characters, demons and vampires are kindly, and Jaenelle's adolescence is more comically normal than horrific. Her vibrant characters and descriptions will keep readers hooked, anxiously awaiting what promises to be a riveting conclusion." (Amazon.com review)

Members Reviews:

Everything is in place for an earth-shaking payoff

It took me a full year to build up the courage to listen to HEIR TO THE SHADOWS after being thoroughly traumatized by book 1. I really love Anne Bishops THE OTHERS series, and Im a firm believer in second chances when it comes to authors, so after twelve months of mental preparation, here we go again. Its with a massive sigh of relief that I write this review because A) no nightmares & B) this installment was a vast improvement upon the previous one. It was slow paced, and was more about the dialogue than the action, but were definitely getting somewhere.

This novel concentrated on Jaenelles road to recovery; after two years in a coma, she must battle her way back to sanity, and then take the necessary steps in order to become the Queen she was meant to be. The story followed Angelline from the age of twelve to twenty, so its best to minimize the number of sessions spent reading this book in order to avoid confusing the timeline. Lots of character development takes place, both where the protagonist was concerned as well as the secondaries, and all of the chess pieces were brought to the fore, including the kindredwolves, unicorns & dragons!

Even though THE BLACK JEWELS series now has nine volumes under its wing, it was originally a trilogy, so this installment felt like it was the limbo between books 1 & 3 which explains its lack of major intrigue. By the end of this novel everything was in place for an earth-shaking payoff, except the love interest. Daemon Sadi was off in cuckoo land, but other than that I was able to better appreciate Bishops Dark Fantasy because this story was minus the truly heinous tidbits; however that doesnt mean that the author dons kid gloves. Every character is still fair game.

John Sharians narration didnt creep me out nearly as much as it did in DAUGHTER OF THE BLOOD. I still question the producers decision to go with a male voice for this series, but Angellines entourage is a sausage fest, so with the more disturbing aspects behind us, hes growing on me.

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Title: Split Infinity

Subtitle: Apprentice Adept Series, Book 1

Author: Piers Anthony

Narrator: Traber Burns

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 11 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-11-10

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1272 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

On the technological, decadent world of Proton, someone was trying to destroy Stile, serf and master Gamesman. His only escape lay in Phaze, a world totally ruled by magic. Soon he learned that his alternate self had already been murdered, and that he was next. On Proton, his fate depended on winning the great Games. On Phaze, he must master magic to survive. And if he used any magic at all, his friends were determined to kill him at once!

Critic Reviews:

"To solve his own demise, Stiles must travel between the two realities, each abounding with the expected confusions and unexpected plot twists for which Anthony is famous. An artful blending of SF and fantasy clichés and situations, Split Infinity shows Piers Anthony at the top of his ingenious game(s)." (Amazon.com review)

Members Reviews:

Favorite Piers Anthony Series

This is by far my favorite Piers Anthony Series. It has one of the best plots involving science fiction and fantasy of any author in either genre. The dialog sometimes is a little stilted but it's a fun adventure and is great for those who aren't die-hard fantasy fans. The overall plot involving a world with two different "frames"--one of science and one of fantasy--is wonderfully done and easily justifies the three books. The last book in the series, Juxtaposition, is a roller coaster ride of increasing stakes as the hero overcomes his enemies and saves both worlds. This series is really meant for adults and older teens as it includes nudity and nongraphic sexuality. There is no "bad language" but the themes are very much adult-oriented. I wish someone would buy the movie rights to this series as it would make an awesome set of movies to rival the best fantasy/sci fi out there.

I didn't like the narrator very much at first but he kind of grew on me. By the third book I actually enjoyed listening to him. He has a rather "bland" voice but is able to differentiate some of the characters so you can tell who is who. If you like reading and have the time I recommend reading this series first. But if you don't, definitely get the audio book and give the first book a little bit of time. It starts slow but picks up pretty fast and then never stops until the end!

In short, if you like Piers Anthony, you will LOVE this series. It's his best by far. And if you've never read Piers Anthony before, read this series first! It's far superior to his other works.

A clever idea well executed

What made the experience of listening to Split Infinity the most enjoyable?

I remember reading this as a teenager. I bought a bunch of Piers Anthony books in audio format and most of his storys have not held up particularly well as an adult. This one actually was as good as I remembered.

What did you like best about this story?

The concept is original and the most compelling part of the story.

Which character as performed by Traber Burns was your favorite?

None really, Piers Anthony characters are pretty flimsy at best. The stories are more world or scenario driven.

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

No.

Any additional comments?

This is a great concept and a good book. Be forewarned that the quality of the writing in this series falls off in the remaining books. Personally, I found the third book a waste of time, except to get closure with the series.