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

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Title: A Local Habitation

Subtitle: An October Daye Novel

Author: Seanan McGuire

Narrator: Mary Robinette Kowal

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-22-10

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1065 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

October Toby Daye is a changeling, the daughter of Amandine of the fae and a mortal man. Like her mother, she is gifted in blood magic, able to read what has happened to a person through a mere taste of blood.

Half-human, half-fae, outsiders from birth, most changelings are second-class children of Faerie, spending their lives fighting for the respect of their immortal relations. Toby is the only changeling who has earned knighthood, and she re-earns that position every day, undertaking assignments for her liege, Sylvester, the Duke of the Shadowed Hills.

Now Sylvester has asked her to go to the County of Tamed Lightning otherwise known as Fremont, California to make sure that all is well with his niece, Countess January OLeary, whom he has not been able to contact. It seems like a simple enough assignment but when dealing with the realm of Faerie, nothing is ever as simple as it seems.

January runs a company that produces computer fantasy games, and her domain is a buffer between Sylvesters realm and a rival duchy whose ruler is looking for an opportunity to seize control. And that is the least of Januarys problems. For Tamed Lightning has somehow been cut off from the other domains, and now someone has begun to murder Januarys key people. If Toby cant find and stop the killer soon, she may well become the next victim.

Members Reviews:

What a fantastic book!

This is a great read! Fantastic addition to the genre--October Daye is a different kind of protagonist and her world is quite unique! I'm looking forward to reading more from this series. The only thing I am disappointed with is finding out this is the SECOND book in the series and audible only has this one so far.

Silicon Valley Faeries

Seanan really hits her stride here, and the series gets moving.

OK, Look. Seanan ENJOYS torturing her characters. Toby gets run ragged from the first minute to the last. When it looks like something good is about to happen to her - It's not.

And I LOVE it.

It's a good mystery, with enjoyable characters and my favorite narrator on Audible (sorry Evil Wil Wheaton). I really enjoy this series.

For all audio book lovers!

If you like urban fantasy noir, you can do no better than Seanan McGuire's "October Daye" series. If you like good audio reading, Mary Robinette Kowal is your lady. Her voice characterizations are spot on. You never have to wonder who is actually speaking now.

Start with "Rosemary and Rue" and continue on from there.

What A Story!!

A Local Habitation is the second installment of this series (which should definitely be read in order). Another amazing story with narration that is well-done and consistent with the first book. I can't recommend this series enough! I am already anticipating the the third book that is releasing in September.

Great Story, Ehh Narration

This is my second October Daye book, and frankly, upon finishing the first, I was hoping that the second and following books would have a different narrator. Unfortunately, where other books have okay text and a under-expressive narration, this one has great text, and a hugely overacting narrator. It'd be great if she pulled it back by about... oh.. 25-50%. I love the stories, but it's hard to concentrate on the text itself when -every- -single- word is so overly emphasized.

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Title: Black Magic Sanction

Subtitle: Rachel Morgan, Book 8

Author: Kim Harrison

Narrator: Marguerite Gavin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 19 hrs and 6 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-23-10

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2807 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

In New York Times best-selling author Kim Harrisons most complex and nuanced adventure yet, bounty hunter and witch Rachel Morgan fights a deadly battlemind, body, and soul.

Rachel Morgan has fought and hunted vampires, werewolves, banshees, demons, and other supernatural dangers as both witch and bounty hunterand lived to tell the tale. But shes never faced off against her own kind, until now. Denounced and shunned for dealing with demons and black magic, her best hope is life imprisonment-at worst, a forced lobotomy and genetic slavery. Only her enemies are strong enough to help her win her freedom, but trust comes hard when it hinges on the unscrupulous tycoon Trent Kalamack, the demon Algaliarept, and an ex-boyfriend turned thief.It takes a witch to catch a witch, but survival bears a heavy price.

Members Reviews:

Ms Morgan is back, finally

Rachel Morgan is back and Marguerite Gavin does her usual great job in pulling us through yet another Hollows episode. Kim Harrison is one of the few modern authors who strive to make this niche genre that is Urban Fantasy so much better with each novel she puts out. While this is novel is certainly a big step above the norm of Urban Fantasy it is not the best novel in this series by far.

Rachel Morgan has in the previous seven novels established herself as a powerful entity in the Hollows universe, she has overcome trial after trial refusing to join any of the factions but rather sticking to her small band of friends including Ivy the vampire and Jenks the pixie. But this independence comes at a cost, she has been shunned by the witches, Trent the elf hates her and the vampires demand results on her research. In short she cannot continue to stand out so prominently in society and still keep disregarding politics.

Rachel spends this entire novel playing catch up jumping from location to location trying to fix this, she is summoned left and right and faces both assassins and corrupt witches and I can't help but think that Harrison uses this novel more to solve existing plotlines rather than have Rachel do a proper "run". Still, I wait with baited breath for the next novel in the series. I have a feeling the series could take an exciting turn once all the factions again are satisfied and Rachel can continue to do what she does best. Kicking ass and taking names

If only Kim Harris could write faster!

Kim Harris’ new novel “Black Magic Sanction” hits the ground running and does not stop! This installment of Hollows series is an emotional ride. If you are thinking about starting a new series that will keep you up listening to the stories all night long, that please take a look this Kim Harris series. But be warned, once you start the first book, your monthly credits will not come quick enough! By the way, you could start with this book, she does a very good job of tucking in just enough recap, but don’t. Experience the story from the beginning.

Good series - 2 credits ??

Hello,

I have enjoyed all the books in this series. 2 credits however indicates greed on someones part. It is a file I downloaded from Audible. No CD's, packaging or any other hardware that adds cost. So when I see a price of 2 credits I wonder why this book costs more then 99% of the other books on Audible? If not for that issue the overall rating would be 5 credits.

Try it; Y'll like it :)

I really like this series.

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Title: The Last Unicorn

Author: Peter S. Beagle

Narrator: Peter S. Beagle

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 24 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-23-10

Publisher: Conlan Press

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 921 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

A unicorn, a haphazard wizard, and a spunky scullery woman journey to the dreaded kingdom of Haggaard, an evil ruler who, with the help of a bull-shaped demon, imprisons all the unicorns of the world.

This is an unabridged audiobook of Peter S. Beagle's classic fantasy novel, read by the author, and featuring original music by Jeff Slingluff. It was engineered at MondoMedia Studios in San Francisco by Jim Lively, and produced by Connor Cochran and Jim Lively.

The Last Unicorn is one of the great fantasy novels of the 20th Century. Since its publication in 1968 it has never been out of print, with six million-plus copies sold around the world, and it has been translated into more than 20 languages. The animated movie version, released in 1982, has been seen by hundreds of millions of people, and after 25 years is still showing regularly on cable and satellite television in more than a dozen countries.

Critic Reviews:

"The plot is a classic quest structure - an impossible goal, a motley company, heroes, villains, monsters, magic, desperate chances, bittersweet success....What makes The Last Unicorn unique is the way Mr. Beagle transcends the ordinary fantasy quest trope with his incomparable storytelling skill." (The Green Man Review)

"The Last Unicorn is one of the true classics of fantasy, ranking with Tolkien's The Hobbit, Le Guin's Earthsea Trilogy, and Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Beagle writes a shimmering prose-poetry, the voice of fairy tales and childhood." (Amazon.com review)

Members Reviews:

My favorite movie on the page

I finally got around to reading this (20+ years later). I loved this movie as a child. It was one of those tapes that I wore out move than once. It was delightful to finally read the book. I was impressed with how closely the movie followed the book, and I greatly enjoyed the additional richness in the text. The narration by the author works very well, and I listened from start to finish without pause. Excellent fantasy read in general especially for anyone who grew up in the 80's.

Unicorns rediscovered!

If you could sum up The Last Unicorn in three words, what would they be?

A great story!

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed the music lead at each chapter. The music reflected how I felt when I read this story so long ago. It also brought back to my mind scenes from the movie. The story is as appropriate today as it was when first published.

What does Peter S. Beagle bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Peter S. Beagle's voice sounded a lot like I mentally visualized the wizard's voice to sound like. I enjoyed his reading very much! I was a little reluctant at first due to having been put off by other authors reading their work.

Any additional comments?

Listen and enjoy!

I have always loved this story.

I have watched the animated movie for years, so many times I can recite the dialogue. The book and movie are very close, almost word for word, so as I listened I could see the movie scenes in my head. Great book, great story.

You couldn't ask for a better fairy tale.

This isn't so much a novel as a novel-length work of spiritual poetry. Hm, that might turn off some people. I don't mean it's inaccessible; quite the opposite. The language is often stunningly beautiful.

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Title: Dragon Keeper

Author: Robin Hobb

Narrator: Anne Flosnik

Format: Unabridged

Length: 20 hrs and 29 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-26-10

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1152 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

After many years, dragons have hatched again outside the ancient city of Cassarick. But something is wrong with the creatures; each is inferior or weak in some way, and many die. Tending these stunted dragons has left the people of the surrounding area weary. The Traders Council, the city's leadership, fears that if the Rain Wilders stop providing for the young dragons, the hungry and neglected creatures will rampage and destroy Cassarick. To avert catastrophe, the council rules to relocate the young dragons to "a better location" up river, and residents are recruited to escort the valuable yet fearsome creatures on the arduous journey. Among them are Thymara, an unschooled Rain Wilds girl of sixteen, and Alise, a wealthy, educated, and deeply unsatisfied Bingtown Trader's wife.

Witnessed from the viewpoints of these two very different women, Dragon Keeper tells the story of this disparate band of humans and dragons as they make their way along the toxic and inhospitable Rain Wild River in search of their new home---the ancient, long-lost city of Kelsingra.

Members Reviews:

Read Live Ships first!

Where does Dragon Keeper rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

Dragon Keeper is in my top 10% of the hundreds I've read/listened to.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Dragon Keeper?

I don't do memorable moments - I like the entire story or else I don't like it, and I love this one.

What does Anne Flosnik bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

I had a hard time getting used to this reader in the Live Ships series, but have come to appreciate her excellent continuation of voices even in this series. She is talented, but different. Different is not negative.

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

Yes - but sure couldn't!

Any additional comments?

I strongly suggest that potential readers listen to Hobb's Live Ships series first. The Dragon series is an indirect completion (or continuation?) of that first series and a greater understanding and appreciation will be the result of reading Live Ships first. The Live Ships series is one of the most inventive I've ever read. I don't think I would have appreciated this as much had I not already known the roots.

I love more from Robin Hobb

Robin Hobb is an author I can never get enough of. I love how her adventure tales are character driven and always tinged with bittersweet. This one is no different and I look forward to part 2. I really like how she gently reminds the readers of details in books past without turning it into an obvious summary. I haven't read Liveship Traders in years, but her hints refreshed the plots instantly. I do suggest you read the Liveship tales first before starting on this book.

My main issue with the book is how abruptly it ended! I realize Hobb always writes in series and expected this to be continued, but this wasn't even a cliffhanger. It just seemed to skid to a halt in mid-scene. I was so confused I made sure I didn't have a chapter in my Library left to download. Very unsatisfying not to have some little mini wrap-up so the reader knows that yes, this section of tale is coming to an end.

The reader was mostly good. She has an odd vocal habit of drawing out the last syllables of words in the end of paragraphs. For example: "...we have been richer, that's for surrrreee".

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Title: On the Edge

Subtitle: The Edge, Book 1

Author: Ilona Andrews

Narrator: Renée Raudman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-07-10

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2410 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Rose Drayton lives on the Edge, between the world of the Broken (where people drive cars, shop at Wal-Mart, and magic is a fairy tale) and the Weird (where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny). Only Edgers like Rose can easily travel from one world to the next, but they never truly belong in either. Rose thought if she practiced her magic, she could build a better life for herself. But things didn't turn out how she planned, and now she works a minimum wage, off-the-books job in the Broken just to survive.

Then Declan Camarine, a blueblood noble straight out of the deepest part of the Weird, comes into her life, determined to have her (and her power). But when a terrible danger invades the Edge from the Weird, a flood of creatures hungry for magic, Declan and Rose must work together to destroy them - or they'll devour the Edge and everyone in it.

Critic Reviews:

"[E]ngaging urban fantasy....Andrews has created a complex plot and convincing characters that will keep the pages turning." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Refreshing

I read and listen to a lot of books and usually stick to the genres that keep my personal interest. The problem with that is after so many books you really notice how similar, unoriginal, most book are. The more books I go through the harder it is for me to remember what an individual book was about, or I finding myself telling someone something funny I read and I cant remember who said it or what book it was from. But, this book was really refreshing. Normally I would have over looked it due to the horrible cover and the just ok summary but when I finally started to listen to it I couldnt stop. This is a book I would listen to again and I will finish the series. I just hope the second book is as good as the first.

Great alternative for PNR fans wanting more action

In a lot of ways this book felt like the Fantasy equivalent of Paranormal Romance; its less action-y than Ilona Andrews KATE DANIELS series, but the sex scenes are not left to the imagination (unlike in Urban Fantasy) and the strong world-building continues to be at the forefront of their writing. The romance is as far from insta-love as you can get which is a definite plus, and the ending was satisfying, although I was hoping for a second installment before jumping to another couple because I felt the HEA was somewhat incomplete.

Many of my fellow readers struggled with the backwoods aspect of this story, but personally, I found Rose very relatable. Being a bit of a hick myself, I appreciated the country bumpkin humour and the Edgers different way of doing things. I liked the well thought out explanations for Draytons mistrust of men, and the courtship challenges made for one of the more interesting wooing pursuits that I have ever read. Roses dedication to her brothers, her mad flash skills, and snark made her the perfect heroine for this tale. Her strong personality helped dull the aristocratic high-handedness of the story, and the women-are-possessions mentality became almost comical when applied to Drayton.

THE EDGE universe was amazing, as expected. I enjoyed learning all of the ins and outs of the Broken, the Edge, and the Weird.

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Title: Shades of Grey

Author: Jasper Fforde

Narrator: John Lee

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 34 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-03-09

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 822 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

As long as anyone can remember, society has been ruled by a Colortocracy. From the underground feedpipes that keep the municipal park green to the healing hues viewed to cure illness to a social hierarchy based upon one's limited color perception, society is dominated by color. In this world, you are what you can see.

Young Eddie Russett has no ambition to be anything other than a loyal drone of the Collective. With his better-than-average red perception, he could well marry Constance Oxblood and inherit the string works; he may even have enough red perception to make prefect.

For Eddie, life looks colorful. Life looks good.But everything changes when he moves with his father, a respected swatchman, to East Carmine. There, he falls in love with a Grey named Jane who opens his eyes to the painful truth behind his seemingly perfect, rigidly controlled society.

Curiosity - a dangerous trait to display in a society that demands total conformity - gets the better of Eddie, who beings to wonder: Why are there not enough spoons to go around? Why is everything - and everyone - barcoded? What happened to all the people who never returned from High Saffron? And why, when you begin to question the world around you, do black-and-white certainties reduce themselves to shades of grey?

Part satire, part romance, part revolutionary thriller, this is the new world from the creative and comic genius of Jasper Fforde.

Editorial Reviews:

If you have not yet listened to one of the hundred stories voiced by award-winning narrator John Lee, or looked into one of the dozen books by best-selling author Jasper Fforde, you have been seriously missing out. If you are already a devotee of Lee or a fan of Fforde, the opening volley in this brave new series will not disappoint in the slightest. A dystopian vision in the vein of Orwell with the trademark comic sensibility Ffforde developed in his Thursday Next detective series, Shades of Grey introduces Eddie Russett: a naïve young man whose devotion to the Collective of the Colortocracy is upset by his sudden love for the cynical Jane Grey.

Janes grey status put her at the bottom of their societys totem pole, and although Eddies red status doesnt put him much higher, he has an above-average red color-perception that keeps him in the running to marry the snooty Constance Oxblood. In a world where you are what you see, Janes mysterious knowledge and headstrong attitude are a revelation. As Eddie winds his way through the color ranks on the fringes of the Collective, he learns that things are not always what they seem.

It takes a very versatile narrator to give voice to this broadly unusual society, and Lee narrates the cast of diversely colored characters with shocking ease and consistency. There are a dozen different English accents in here and twice as many tones, from the sly villainy of the Gamboge family to the whimsical librarian, Mrs. Lapis Lazuli, to the overbearing teen princess, Violet deMauve. Lee leaves no silly stone unturned as he dances around the often hilarious and exclamatory dialogue with precision. He is undoubtedly up to the task of steering Eddie through the challenges that he will face as this new series progresses, having already brought to light and life a number of strange citizens, arbitrary rules, and paradoxical happenings.

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Title: Unseen Academicals: Discworld #32

Author: Terry Pratchett

Narrator: Stephen Briggs

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 42 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-06-09

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1629 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

The prospect of the Big Match draws in a street urchin with a wonderful talent for kicking a tin can, a maker of jolly good pies, a dim but beautiful young woman, who might just turn out to be the greatest fashion model there has ever been, and the mysterious Mr. Nutt (and no one knows anything much about Mr. Nutt, not even Mr. Nutt, which worries him, too.)

As the match approaches, four lives are entangled and changed forever. Because the thing about footballï¿¿ï¿¿ï¿¿the important thing about football - is that it is not just about football.

Here we go! Here we go! Here we go!

Critic Reviews:

"At its heart, this is an intelligent, cheeky love letter to football, its fans and the unifying power of sports." (Publishers Weekly)

"In short, this is as busy and as daft as any other Discworld yarn, which means it is the quintessence of daft. Nobody writes fantasy funnier than Pratchett." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

Another good book from Pratchett

I've loved nearly all of Terry Pratchett's work, and this one is no exception. While his stories and characters have matured over the course of his career, it is nice to see him return to the wizards on Unseen University.

I'm not much a sports fan, so the football theme is not really my cup of tea, but this book did manage to make it fun and interesting to me. Seeing the character growth of Ponder Stibbins was a particular joy.

On the other hand, unlike several of the more recent Discworld books, this one does not really move the world plot forward at all. With Pratchett's career's end on the horizon, I hope to see at least some glimpse of the coming future of the Disc. In this sense, the book did not deliver.

Typical Pratchett...

...in that, he never takes a book off. Every once in a while, I see a title from him and it gives me pause "Football... or, in American culture, soccer...?" But, its Pratchett telling the story, and I read on. I was not disappointed in the least. UA is funny, entertaining and has the hallmark real-world undercurrent, this time its social justice, which always give his stories weight and substance. Since Terry has no peers, and thus it is impossible to compare his work against anything other than his previous work, I would give this book an 8 out of 10 on the Pratchett scale. Read it. In fact, read them all.

Punch-in-the-arm fun

While not as laugh out loud funny as Thud or Going Postal, this latest Discworld romp skewers the worlds of academic tenure, sports, and high fashion, and has its fair share of chuckles. The dry, witty voice of narrator Briggs is uniquely suited to the material. Two thumbs and two big toes, straight up.

Top of the line

I know a lot of purists disdain the later Discworld novels, but I love how Pratchett keeps incorporating new races into the Ankh-Morpork metropolis. Reading (and listening) to these later novels help me to remember how to be a human being.

Best for Soccer Fans

I'm still looking for the Discworld novel as good as Going Postal. This wasn't it. Also, I think it helps to be a soccer fanatic to truly appreciate the humor here. Because of the soccer story line, it took a while for me to warm up to this, but in the end I enjoyed it.

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Title: Kushiel's Avatar

Author: Jacqueline Carey

Narrator: Anne Flosnik

Format: Unabridged

Length: 31 hrs and 25 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-25-09

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 848 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Phèdre nó Delaunay is a woman pricked by Kushiel's Dart, chosen to forever experience pain and pleasure as one. Her path has been strange and dangerous, and through it all the devoted swordsman Joscelin has been at her side. Her very nature is a torturous thing for them both, but he is sworn to her and he has never violated his vow: to protect and serve.

But Phèdre's plans put Joscelin's pledge to the test, for she has never forgotten her childhood friend Hyacinthe. She has spent ten long years searching for the key to free him from his eternal indenture, a bargain he struck with the gods - to take Phèdre's place as a sacrifice and save a nation. Phèdre cannot forgive - herself or the gods. She is determined to seize one last hope to redeem her friend, even if it means her death.

The search will bring Phèdre and Joscelin across the world, to distant courts where madness reigns and souls are currency, and down a fabled river to a land forgotten by most of the world.And to a power so mighty that none dare speak its name.

Members Reviews:

Lushly-written and engrossing

This is one of my favorite fantasy series, and Anne Flosnik's narration really helps to bring Phedre, Joscelin, Imriel, Melisande, and others to life. The first Kushiel trilogy comes to triumphant conclusion as Phedre and Joscelin embark on a quest to find the kidnapped boy Imriel, son of Melisande and third in line to the throne. Their search leads them to Ptolemaic Egypt, then to Khebbel-im-Akkad, as they pursue a dangerous and degrading undercover mission to the harem of a mad cult leader.

Carey's alternate-history Europe, where Christianity remained a minor Jewish cult and Islam never rose in the Middle East, is brilliantly realized, as are her landscapes and cultures. The D/s themes and frank sexuality of these books mean they're not for everyone, but they are an amazing escape to another world... Highly recommended, and I look forward to starting the next Kushiel trilogy.

Fine writing marred by self indulgence

Carey is obviously a gifted writer in many different ways. The world she has created (actually just a variant of our own but with a new cast of characters) is richly researched, reimagined and rendered. Her plotting is as sure handed as it is intricate. And she mines some pretty unorthodox psycho sexual material fearlessly. Her characters are engaging and consistent. Now if she could just shake her self indulgent penchant for spending huge amounts of time reminisciing about the events in her previous Kushial stories, she would cut the length of her book by thirty percent, move it along at a much more enjoyable pace and lose nothing. If I want the details of what went before, I will read the books I have missed. I came very close to giving up on this one by the end of the first section. Happily the story finally began to happen, gradually, at that point, though there were still far too many flashbacks for my taste. Between those flashbacks there was a really good book.

Dark and epic!

Note: It is possible to read this book as a stand alone as relevant events from Book 1 and Book 2 are reflected upon in enough detail for a reader of Book 3 to grasp the point.

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Title: Kushiel's Chosen

Author: Jacqueline Carey

Narrator: Anne Flosnik

Format: Unabridged

Length: 27 hrs and 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-26-09

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1145 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

When she stumbled upon a plot that threatened the very foundations of her homeland, she gave up almost everything she held dear to save it. She survived, and lived to have others tell her story, and if they embellished the tale with fabric of mythical splendor, they weren't far off the mark. The hands of the gods weigh heavily upon Phèdre's brow, and they are not finished with her. While the young queen who sits upon the throne is well loved by the people, there are those who believe another should wear the crown...and those who escaped the wrath of the mighty are not yet done with their schemes for power and revenge.

Critic Reviews:

"There is seemingly something for everyone here: a great love story, intense spirituality, high eroticism, and lots of adventure, intrigue, and swordplay." (Booklist Starred Review)

"Reminiscent of the best efforts of Tanith Lee and Anne Rice.... Highly recommended." (Library Journal)

Members Reviews:

Great second book in the series

This is a very long book, too long. However, if you liked Kushiel's dart, this book will satisfy. The story has great twists and turns and the narrator is very good.

Perhaps even better than Book 1.

Note: It is possible to read this book as a stand alone as relevant events from Book 1 are reflected upon in enough detail for a reader of Book 2 to grasp the point. However, I highly recommend reading Book 1 as it is just so damn good!

We return once again to the alternate history of Terre DAnge (France) and the surrounding lands. Book 2 picks up several months after Book 1 ended. Melisande Sharhizai is still at large. However, very early in Book 2 our heroine Phedre receives a challenge of sorts from Melisande her sangoire cloak is returned to her via a carrier from Caerdicca Unitas (Italy) and more specifically La Serenissima (Venice). Phedre truly believes that Terre DAnge and the queen (Ysandre) are in danger so long as Melisande is free. The challenge sets in motion events that will change Phedres life forever.

Here we have another masterfully crafted book from Jacqueline Carey. Sometimes sequels arent near as good as the first in the series but this series holds its own weight as it progresses. I have read this book several times now and this is my second time listening to it. First, I love how the characters continue to grow and how the world continues to expand as Phedres travels take her further afield. Second, Melisande continues to make a most worthy opponent. Phedre definitely has her work cut out for her in this book!

Once again, we are told the story through Phedres eyes. She was raised in the Court of the Night Blooming flowers and being subservient and unseen (expect maybe as a pretty plaything) comes easily to her. She polished off her training in Anafiel Delaunays house where she learned history, politics, languages, and how to think in a rational manner. Both served her well in Book 1 and they do so again in Book 2. Yet this journey she comes to understand her powers a bit more her will power to live, her ability to forgive, her strength to deny Melisande. That which yields, is not always weak (a quote from Kushiels Dart).

There were two interesting themes that twined throughout the novel: loyalty and grief.

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Title: White Witch, Black Curse

Subtitle: The Hollows, Book 7

Author: Kim Harrison

Narrator: Marguerite Gavin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 18 hrs and 33 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-24-09

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2860 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

But when her lover was murdered, it left a deeper wound than Rachel ever imagined, and now she won't rest until his death is solved . . . and avenged. Whatever the cost.

Yet the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and when a new predator moves to the apex of the Inderlander food chain, Rachel's past comes back to haunt her. Literally.

Members Reviews:

Welcome back Marquerite Gavin!

This series continues to get better with each new book. Just when you thought a storyline was left unresolved, it comes back again along with new lines to keep the reader's interest peaked. It was fantastic to have Marquerite Gavin back as the narrator -- terms and character names are pronounced correctly again :) Can't wait for the next one.

How many times can you say "I'm sorry"

Kim Harrison has done it again. I love the way she tied up several loose ends while starting some fresh new ones. Margarete Gavin is the BEST! I can't wait for the next installment. I just have one pet peeve about Rachels character. The constant "I'm sorry" got real old after the 10th one. Half the apologies didn't make any sense. Rachels character development seems to have stalled. She's grown in power but remains stuck between her apologies and the tedious "it's not my fault" whining. It was fine in the first few installments but now, its just old.

Series is Stalling

Well, not much has happened with the overall plot of this series. Jinx the pixie is still as funny as ever, and is probably the smartest character but Rachel and Ivy are still not very bright or mature and make bad dating choices. Rachel still refuses to kill monsters that are threatening her friends and killing people. If she simply bought a sniper rifle her life would be much, much easier. There was actually an interesting plot in previous books involving the history of witches, elves and demons which the author pretty much ignores in favor of introducing a not very scary monster that nobody thinks to simply shoot! This series started ok, but really needs a some character development, and some more exciting plots. This series is still an ok filler between books from more talented modern fantasy authors like Charlaine Harrison, and Jim Butcher.

thank goodness

Thank You, Thank You for bringing back Marguerite! The last book was good but really frustrating when the narrator doesnt say the names the same. I love this series and hope Rachel lives on forever!

Good Book..and original narrator back...Yippeee

I'm really enjoying the series. It's interesting and I just love the characters. :-) I am SO GLAD they brought back Marguerite to narrate. The pronunciations and character voices you've come to love are there again. :-)