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

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Title: Trail of Dead

Subtitle: A Scarlett Bernard Novel, 2

Author: Melissa F. Olson

Narrator: Amy McFadden

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 7 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-04-13

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1058 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

As a null, Scarlett Bernard possesses a rare ability to counteract the supernatural by instantly neutralizing spells and magical forces. For years she has used her gift to scrub crime scenes of any magical traces, helping the powerful paranormal communities of Los Angeles stay hidden. But after LAPD detective Jesse Cruz discovered Scarlett's secret, he made a bargain with her: solve a particularly grisly murder case, and he would stay silent about the city's unearthly underworld. So when two witches are found dead a few days before Christmas, Scarlett is once again strong-armed into assisting the investigation. She soon finds a connection between the murders and her former mentor, Olivia, a null who mysteriously turned into a vampire, who harbors her own sinister agenda. Now Scarlett must revisit her painful past to find Olivia - unless the blood-drenched present claims her life first.

Members Reviews:

Mostly background story to advance overall series

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

I would, but only if they really enjoyed the first book and wanted to read the whole series. This book did provide a lot of background to Scarletts life and character, and helped advance the overall series plot. It didnt add a lot as a standalone story though.

Do you think Trail of Dead needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Yes. The ending has a lot of information and action that needs follow-up and explanation.

Any additional comments?

I spent a lot of time hoping that Eli would have a bigger presence. We got to see lots of Jesse, and I have to admit that I was getting bored of him. I wanted some beta werewolf to break up the monotony of the interactions between Scarlett and Jesse. Sadly, Eli was barely present in the story. He did make an appearance at the end with some surprise twists.

Not for adults

I am too old to enjoy teen angst, so I really can't stand that same lack of maturity in someone who is supposed to be an adult, albeit a young one. "Ooooh, I'm just so DAMAGED!" "Ooooh, a crazy woman became obsessed with me and killed my parents before I even knew she existed so my parents' deaths were ALL MY FAULT!!" "Ooooh, a crazy vampire is obsessed with me and is threatening my friends, therefore my friends are at risk ALL BECAUSE OF ME!!!" Get over yourself, Scarlett. The only saving grace is that occasionally -- though not nearly enough -- one of her friends will call her out on her BS. But then that makes it seem like the author knows how immature and self-absorbed the main character is and carries on with it anyway. The story was able to carry me through the first book and make me want to see what happened next, but I'm not sure I will even be able to finish the second one. Perhaps Scarlett will mature in a later book, but I'll never know.

It gets better!

Oh my god, this is so good! This is one of the few books that my wife and I enjoy together. There are some wonderful twists and turns, as well as some real investigation from Jesse Cruz.

Not quite as good as the first book, but decent

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

There are many other books I would suggest first, but I would not dissuade friends from this book.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The ending was good.

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Title: Endless Knight: Arcana Chronicles, Book 2

Author: Kresley Cole

Narrator: Emma Galvin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-01-13

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1521 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

In this seductive follow-up to Poison Princess, New York Times best-selling author Kresley Cole takes us deeper into the dark world of the Arcana Chronicles.

With threats lurking around every corner, Evie is forced to trust her newfound alliance. Together they must fight not only other Arcana, but also Bagmen zombies, post-apocalyptic storms, and cannibals.

Members Reviews:

Thrilling!

Well Kresley Cole does it again! Another thrilling, sexy, fun, romantic adventure and one outstanding sequel. I never thought the 2nd book would ever come close to Poison Princess but much like her IAD series they just keep getting better and better. This story has so many twists and turns and I didnt see that coming moments. I was literally on the edge of my seat for the entire listen.

The world building, character development and plot twists are pure genius. Nothing feels contrived or forced just to move the plot along. Endless Knight has a lot more action and is a little darker than the first book. The Arcana are starting to form alliances as battle lines are drawn in a fight to the death. Throw in some bagmen, militia and cannibals and you have a non-stop, thrilling adventure.

Definitely a 5 star listen!

Fast-paced and sexy! Can't wait for the next book!

If you could sum up Endless Knight in three words, what would they be?

Nail-biter (that's one word, right?), steamy, surprising. Or maybe "Your Death awaits"?

What was one of the most memorable moments of Endless Knight?

There are so many...I can't narrow it down to just one! Endless Knight is cover-to-cover action. Without giving any spoilers, my favourite moment comes towards the end of the book, when Evie learns just how skilled Death really is. Wow. In fact, I loved almost all of the interaction between Evie and Death in the second half of the book.

Other memorable moments include meeting new Arcana (both friend and foe), Evie going hardcore Empress and coming into her powers, and Jack and Evie "checking the perimeter".

Have you listened to any of Emma Galvins other performances before? How does this one compare?

Emma Galvin is one of my favourite narrators. I wouldn't have discovered Poison Princess (the predecessor to Endless Knight) if I hadn't been so impressed with her other audio performances and sought out audiobooks narrated by her. She makes the story come alive.

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

Yes! I nearly did too.

Any additional comments?

The world that Kresley Cole has built for Endless Knight (and the first book in the series, Poison Princess), from the tarot card players (Arcana) to the post-apocalyptic world, is fascinating.

I would have given the story five stars but the cliffhanger ending was too abrupt for my liking. I like suspense and I understand that it builds anticipation for the next book, but it left me feeling like the book was unfinished.

And for adults wondering if Endless Knight is age-appropriate, other than the ages of the main characters, I wouldn't even classify this as young adult. There's way more sexual content than I'd feel comfortable letting my teen read, but I loved it.

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Title: The Tyrant's Law

Author: Daniel Abraham

Narrator: Pete Bradbury

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 24 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-03-13

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1010 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

The great war cannot be stopped. The tyrant Geder Palliako had led his nation to war, but every victory has called forth another conflict. Now the greater war spreads out before him, and he is bent on bringing peace. No matter how many people he has to kill to do it. Cithrin bel Sarcour, rogue banker of the Medean Bank, has returned to the fold. Her apprenticeship has placed her in the path of war, but the greater dangers are the ones in her past and in her soul.

Widowed and disgraced at the heart of the Empire, Clara Kalliam has become a loyal traitor, defending her nation against itself. And in the shadows of the world, Captain Marcus Wester tracks an ancient secret that will change the war in ways not even he can forsee.

Members Reviews:

When those who know the truth tell lies.

Book three continues the war against the Spider Goddess. All main POV characters are back advancing their storylines as you would expect:

Master Kit has recruited Marcus Wester and the two of them set off to slay the Spider Goddess. Of course Master Kit knows that the priests of the Spider Goddess are not spreading truth because he shares their same powers, but is he certain that he knows the actual truth? Probably.

Cithrin continues to learn the banking trade from another Magistra, this time in a different city than Porte Oliva. However, much like in her past, no matter where she goes the war comes to her and she is forced to make difficult choices.

Clara Kalliam is no longer the family matriarch and now must find her way without the support of the family that she kept together for so long. Much like Dawson before her, she considers the prospect of trying to save the nation of Antea by betraying it.

And finally, Geder Palliako remains at the center of it all. Still manipulated by the priests, he drives Antea's armies forward from victory to victory spreading "truth". As the chosen of the Goddess he brings peace to the world through war and conquest.

This is the third book in a planned 5 book story arc and it reveals that the truth is not what it seems to be, which results in many of the characters having to adapt to their ever-changing understanding of the struggle before them.

Pete Bradbury is excellent once again and if you have already listened to the first 2 books then you will feel right at home with this one.

No Let Down As Series Continues

This series has really grown on me, and The Tyrant's Law is no exception. While often an epic fantasy series will become bogged down in middle books, this series grows stronger and better with each book.

This book continues in the format of the last two, with the chapters divided among four main characters, Cithrin, the voice of the Madean Bank, Captain Wester, her body guard and friend, Geder, the naive minor noble who has made his way to power with the help of a dark foreign priest, and with the death of her husband, Clara now takes over as a main character in the book, and it is her story that drive much of the tale here.

The story itself broadens out, while at the same time, brings into focus the direction each character's role within the story. Geder continues to be manipulated by the Spider Preist, and his extreme paranoia sparks a deadly reign. The other characters conspire to bring him down, with Clara seeking to topple him from within, and Cithrin without. Captain Wester and Master Kip seek a long lost magical weapon to use against him.

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Title: Son of the Shadows

Subtitle: Sevenwaters, Book 2

Author: Juliet Marillier

Narrator: Rosalyn Landor

Format: Unabridged

Length: 22 hrs and 10 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-27-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 619 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Beautiful Sorcha is the courageous young woman who risked all to save her family from a wicked curse and whose love shattered generations of hate and bridged two cultures. It is from her sacrifice that Sorcha's brothers were brought home to their ancestral fortress Sevenwaters, and her life has known much joy. But not all the brothers were able to fully escape the spell that transformed them into swans, and it is left to Sorcha's daughter, Liadan, to help fulfill the destiny of the Sevenwaters clan. Beloved child and dutiful daughter, Liadan embarks on a journey that shows her just how hard-won was the peace that she has known all her life.

Liadan will need all of her courage to help save her family, for there are dark forces and ancient powers conspiring to destroy this family's peace - and their world. And she will need all of her strength to stand up to those she loves best, for in the finding of her own true love, Liadan's course may doom them all...or be their salvation.

Members Reviews:

Fantastic Narration, Beautiful Story

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

Resoundingly, yes. This is a story that is better to listen to than to read (and I typically don't even enjoy audiobooks). While recovering from a concussion, I downloaded a few of my favorite books (under doctor's orders not to read). I couldn't get into others, but this narration was fantastic and I found myself totally captivated for most of the story.

At the same time, there are just a few parts that drag. Hang on through them, because the story is worth it!

What about Rosalyn Landors performance did you like?

I loved this narrator. She's fantastic -- I was sometimes amazed at her ability to do different voices and had to check to see whether she was the sole narrator. She was the voice of Liadan.

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

Oh, quite a few, but I don't want to spoil it.

Mediocre

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Well, I always listen to audiobooks when I'm doing something else, so it was good enough for that. I wouldn't suggest this book for devoting all your time to.

Would you be willing to try another book from Juliet Marillier? Why or why not?

I would because I like the first book a lot. This book was much more mediocre, so it makes me less enthusiastic.

What does Rosalyn Landor bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Her accent makes it feel more authentic, like you are hearing this book around a camp fire.

Could you see Son of the Shadows being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No. Just, no.

Any additional comments?

This book starts out well enough and I enjoyed it. Yet the longer it dragged on, the more boring it became. I feel like this book is longer than the story can truly sustain.

Great book!

Where does Son of the Shadows rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

One of the best! Absolutely great to listen to.

Any additional comments?

Rosalyn Landor did an amazing job.

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Title: Heart of Obsidian

Subtitle: Psy-Changeling, Book 12

Author: Nalini Singh

Narrator: Angela Dawe

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 8 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-04-13

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 996 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

In 2006, Nalini Singh introduced the beguiling and sensual Psy-Changeling world in Slave to Sensation, which spawned a series that has had readers and critics cheering. Throughout the incredible 11-book run there has been one question that has tantalized Nalini's legion of fans. Now, in the eagerly awaited 12th book in the series, Nalini Singh finally reveals the answer to the biggest Psy-Changeling mystery - an answer so surprising we wouldn't dare spoil it. Even if we knew.

Members Reviews:

Amazing read, but be warned...

What did you like best about this story?

This book contains the three elements that are always the key to a good read, in my opinion;

First, dynamic characters. Though due to the nature of Kaleb and Sahara's backstories, it takes a while to get to know them well enough to be truly invested in their happily ever after. Especially Kaleb, because with his past, and his motivations shrouded in mystery, he comes across as a morally ambivalent (at best!) character for most of the book.

Second, an intricate plot. Singh introduced Sahara's abduction waaaaaay back in Visions of Heat, but the mention was so brief you would almost certainly miss it. Is it possible she has been planning this storyline for several years? She has definitely been developing the mystery around Kaleb for the last few books. And even as far as halfway through the novel I was still not quite sure what-all was going on--a nice change from so many books where everything is laid out in the first three chapters and you spend the rest of the book just waiting for the characters to figure it out.

Third, an amazingly complex, evolving world to provide backstory, conflict and infinite possibilities. Without crossing the line into providing so many details as to be overwhelming, Singh has created a futuristic world to serve as a backdrop for this series that is vibrant, fascinating and unforgettable.

Have you listened to any of Angela Dawes other performances before? How does this one compare?

AD is a fantastic narrator. She has narrated the entire series and has kept her voices and character interpretations consistent throughout. Her pacing is good, and she dramatizes dialogue without overacting, which is always appreciated!

Any additional comments?

This is a fantastic book, worthy of Singh's talent and the grand scope of this series. However, be warned; do not read this book if you are only going to be able to lend it half an ear--you really need to concentrate, because the story moves quickly and there is a lot going on in every chapter. I tried to listen while grading my students' math tests and finally had to give up and rewind because I kept missing things!

Also, this story is not a light-hearted romantic comfort read. It is quite dark in places, as both protagonists have tortured pasts which effect them on every level. This novel is also distinctly short of those cute, amusing, funny pack interactions we are so used to enjoying in many of the other Psy-Changeling books. Be warned! You'll love the story,but this is definitely not the book to start if you're in the mood for a fluffy summer romance.

Highly Anticipated

If you're not a fan of the series, this probably isn't the book to start with. It is, however, a wonderful series, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who loves smart paranormal romance.

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Title: Return of the High Fae

Subtitle: Vegas Fae Stories

Author: Tom Keller

Narrator: Andrew Troth

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 4 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-14-13

Publisher: Tom Keller

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 270 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Ex-cop turned private investigator Robert Hoskins always enjoyed the stories his grandmother had told him as a child, stories of the Dryad that lived in the tree, the Faeries in the garden, and the magical world that was created in his imagination. He always enjoyed them; he just never thought that they were true. Robert's childhood world of magic becomes real when a chance encounter with a local casino mob boss introduces him to the world he was born into, the world that was hidden from him, the world of the Fae. But he's not easily convinced.

From disbelief to acceptance, Robert encounters a variety of mythical beings. From Faeries and Norse legends to the Oracle at Delphi, from Mermaids to Werewolves to everything in between, Robert's world has definitely changed. While his path through that world appears chosen he soon learns that the beings that reside in the world of his grandmother's stories aren't that much different than those of the mortal world. Good and evil still battle one another and it's time to take sides.

What should Robert do when the world around him stops making sense? When he has to find out from a Dwarf that his dog is descended from Fae hunting dogs. When he knows that corporations and even the mob don't run Vegas, it's the Fae. When the prettiest girls he meets are over 3,000 years old and some of them drink blood. And that stripper, is she really a Faery? Let's not even go there. What should Robert do when he learns that strength in his new world is measured in magic, and he doesn't have a clue how to wield it?

Do Demons, Gods, Elves, and Faeries really exist? Are Vampires truly the children of Lilith? Robert didn't believe it at first either....

Members Reviews:

I Must Be Butter 'Cause I'm On a Roll!

Another winner! I actually found this book on "Amazon" while browsing the kindle selection and was glad to see it was available on audible. For Tom Keller's first effort it's hard to believe how solid and well written this novel is. This book is slightly unique compared to other magic oriented UF novels because in this story the protagonist, "Robert" has lived his whole life without ever knowing or using his magical capabilities. "Robert" learns that he is actually a very powerful "high Fae" (basically a God) and with the help of his Aunt and some new found friends he slowly learns how to use his magic and he discovers (to the extreme shock of everyone around him) just how powerful he is. What I like most about this book is that it's character driven, all the "players" in this story were interesting with very likeable personalities(even the pet dog). The narration by Andrew Roth was very good making the audio experience that much more enjoyable. I was impressed enough with this first book in the series to take a chance with book 2 when it's released. Good job Tom Keller!

If any of you guys are fans of the Iron Druid Chronicles or the Dresden Files you might want to check this book out- they're kind of along the same lines.

Entertaining!

Would you listen to Return of the High Fae again? Why?

Absolutely! Nothing is better than listening to a great book while driving to work or school. The Narrator, Andrew Troth, did a fantastic job.

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Title: Dreams and Shadows

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: C. Robert Cargill

Narrator: Vikas Adam

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 46 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-26-13

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 110 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

A brilliantly crafted modern tale from acclaimed film critic and screenwriter C. Robert Cargill - part Neil Gaiman, part Guillermo Del Toro, part William S. Burroughs - that charts the lives of two boys from their star-crossed childhood in the realm of magic and mystery to their anguished adulthoods

There is another world than our own - one no closer than a kiss and one no further than our nightmares - where all the stuff of which dreams are made is real and magic is just a step away. But once you see that world, you will never be the same.

Dreams and Shadows takes us beyond this veil. Once bold explorers and youthful denizens of this magical realm, Ewan is now an Austin musician who just met his dream girl, and Colby, meanwhile, cannot escape the consequences of an innocent wish. But while Ewan and Colby left the Limestone Kingdom as children, it has never forgotten them. And in a world where angels relax on rooftops, whiskey-swilling genies argue metaphysics with foul-mouthed wizards, and monsters in the shadows feed on fear, you can never outrun your fate.

Dreams and Shadows is a stunning and evocative debut about the magic and monsters in our world and in our self.

Members Reviews:

An Amazing Book

This was a very enjoyable escape; I enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would. Not only is the story itself wonderfully engaging, gripping, comic and tragic, but the narration itself, by Vikas Adam, has to be one of the best readings I've ever heard -- and I've heard many. Vikas' command of the characters, and their voices -- amazingly in childhood and adulthood -- is superb. I can only hope he reads other books that I have an interest in.

As for the story itself: it's a fairy tale, a modern-age fairy tell in an urban environment that grabs on tightly to its roots in the netherworld. I have a hard time describing it, and the only thing that comes close is to think if the Brothers Grimm time-traveled into our present age, to write a fairy tale that intermixes the beauty and harshness of the fairy world with the beauty and harshness of present-day urban America.

My only hope now is that if AMC were to ever make this into a series, please consider Steve Buscemi as the Fallen Angel Bertrand. :)

FUN! IMAGINATIVE! and REFRESHINGLY DIFFERENT!

What did you like about this audiobook?

I really enjoyed this novel because the storyline is creative and engaging. The author merges two realms as his settings or this story and it is done with clarity and plausibility. The story follows 2 boys in 2 vastly different worlds and evolves as their unexpected meeting leads them both along an unexpected path together. The characters have depth and are well developed with relatable qualities. These fantastic beings within the story are based in traditional folklore, giving the reader some familiarity and enhancing their believability; but they also have original characteristics that make this story unique. The writing is well structured and witty with a surprising humor and just the right touch of mystery. Unlike many fantasy novels, Dreams and Shadows is concluded well but leaves you wanting to see where else they can go. I look forward to reading/listening to this book again. Dreams and Shadows is a great debut novel for this innovative new author.

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Title: The Blue Sword

Author: Robin McKinley

Narrator: Diane Warren

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-11-13

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 545 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Harry Crewe, the Homelander orphan girl, is pleased with her new home. Life in Istan is certainly easy, but a voice in her ear whispers that the home of her heart is among the Hillfolk, among the descendants of Lady Aerin, who once wielded Gonturan, the Blue Sword.

Members Reviews:

Groundbreaking, interestingly dated, & odd

In 1982, when this book was published, I loved it without reservations. It broke new ground mixing magic and alternate history, it had a capable, self-aware heroine, and it built an exotically evocative, engaging, and appealing world.

Thirty-one years later, listening to Diane Warren's excellent performance, I realized that all those things are still true--but there's more to it. Time has brought some disturbing threads and nuances to the surface of the story, as a whole body of other works grew up following in this one's footsteps, and as capable, self-aware heroines became normal instead of oddities. Noticing those disturbing threads adds richness and complexity that, if anything, reinforces simple enjoyment of the story.

To write this book with this heroine and this plot, McKinley had to fight her way out of confining cultural expectations and stereotypes. She succeeded amazingly well--but the lingering strands of those expectations and stereotypes still show. They certainly don't undermine the book's quality or the importance of what McKinley accomplished, but they do add a kind of fey light that casts odd shadows (rather like the heroine's dual vision in the story itself). The book, caught at the hinge of a literary turning point, is, honestly, rather odd.

In some ways, this is a book about possession. The main characters perform brave, unexpected, history-changing deeds--but usually when they perform them, their will and choice is compromised by being under the influence-compulsion-control of another force. In some ways, it's a book about abduction. The main character is kidnapped, and although McKinley carefully foreshadows and justifies the character's change of allegiance, there are still queasy echoes of the Stockholm syndrome in the shift of her loyalty and affection.

Ultimately, it's a tribute to McKinley's accomplishment that even today the book succeeds on its own terms despite the overtones that were invisible (though powerful) more than thirty years ago. One believes in the romance. One cheers the shift in allegiance. The possession is more enviable than creepy.

This isn't a simple book, but it's certainly an interesting, enjoyable, and worthwhile book to listen to.

The BEST ever YA

This has been a favorite young adult novel for over 20 years! I'm so happy to have it on my iPod now! Yay me!! The story is still excellent and satisfies many levels of story telling - who doesn't like war horses, swords and kings, challenges, magic and legends. If you love grounded fantasy and horses and magic swords then this will be a sure win. The narrator has a nice voice, pleasant to the ear.

Enjoy.

Now, Improved Audio Quality!

This has been one of my favorite books for a long time, so I was delighted to get it as an Audible book. However, when I first downloaded it, the recording quality was awful. I contacted Audible, and they fixed it! All I had to do was delete my copy and download again and now it works great.

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Title: I, Strahd: The Memoirs of a Vampire

Subtitle: Ravenloft: Strahd, Book 1

Author: P. N. Elrod

Narrator: Paul Boehmer

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-08-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 630 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Some of the parchment pages were the color of cream, thick and substantial, made to last many, many lifetimes. Other pages were thin and desiccated, positively yellow from age, and crackled alarmingly as Van Richten turned them over. There were no ornate illuminations, no fussy borders, only lines of plain text in hard black ink. The flowing handwriting was a bit difficult to follow at first; the writer's style of calligraphy had not been in common use for 300 years. No table of contents, but from the dates it looked to be some kind of history. He turned to the first page and read:

I, Strahd, Lord of Barovia, well aware certain events of my reign have been desperately misunderstood by those who are better at garbling history than recording it, hereby set down an exact record of those events, that the truth may at last be known....

He caught his breath. By all the good gods, a personal journal?

Members Reviews:

Not your normal paranormal story....

If you could sum up I, Strahd: The Memoirs of a Vampire in three words, what would they be?

Intense, logical and riveting.

What did you like best about this story?

The story works- yes, it's a vampire story, so there are parts you have to suspend belief in reality some, but it's a sensible suspension, a logical thing. The intensity of the characters, the building of the story made me stay with it and waiting for the next part. The viewpoint is from the main character and remains true to his station and background, and historically, is pretty true to the times.

The emotional content is also fierce, as is the main character, so you would expect no less. Sex, often over used in many novels, is almost not here at all, except for alluding to , not describing it. I'm not a prude by a long shot, but it was nice the author didn't just put in excess sex scenes that didn't work in this story as per the times and mores, and that the story ran smoothly for that exclusion in this book. This was a book more about revenge than sex,but love plays a role, too.

It held my attention all the way through the book and I'll look for the next one.

Which scene was your favorite?

The entire book was excellent, no one scene was the "everything" scene and all downhill after that.

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

No, but I could "see" the characters, wonderfully detailed and yet not bogged down.

Any additional comments?

Worth the money.

Great book to understand Strad's mind

If you've ever played Ravenloft or wish to do it, this is a great book for you.

The way the story unfolds makes you really grasp the feeling of living in the era in which Strad was alive.

To be honest, I preferred the book until Strad's transformation into a vampire. I'd give 5 stars for that part and 4 for rest of the book.

A good gothic vampire story

This is a wonderful narrative about the becoming of a vampire, and why, as told by the vampire himself. He's an evil entity, but you can't help but feel compassion for the guy, as true love drags him into the depths of hell. Which is a good complement for the author, because Strahd, the commander is heartless, but you understand why he is the way he is, and how that makes him a good ruler of Ravenloft.

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Title: Falling Kingdoms

Subtitle: Falling Kingdoms, Book 1

Author: Morgan Rhodes

Narrator: Fred Berman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-11-12

Publisher: Listening Library

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 548 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fantasy: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

In a land where magic has been forgotten but peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering. Three kingdoms grapple for power - brutally transforming their subjects' lives in the process. Amidst betrayals, bargains, and battles, four young people find their fates forever intertwined:

Cleo: A princess raised in luxury must embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of a magic long thought extinct.

Jonas: Enraged at injustice, a rebel lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country impoverished - and finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.

Lucia: A girl adopted at birth into a royal family discovers the truth about her past - and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Magnus: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, a firstborn son begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword....

The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

Critic Reviews:

"

Falling Kingdoms will gut you emotionally. It will make you ache, cry, and beg for the sequel as you turn the last page. I absolutely loved it." (Julie Kagawa,

New York Times best-selling author of

The Iron Queen)

"This triple-layered tale of bloodshed, heartbreak, and tangled court intrigue kept me turning pages very late into the night." (Lesley Livingston, award-winning author of

Wondrous Strange)

Members Reviews:

Surprisingly good!

Would you listen to Falling Kingdoms again? Why?

Yes, There is a lot going on in this book. Sometime I had to take it back to listen to it again but it keeps you listening to the end. And then wanting more. The only bad part was that the beginning was slow and kind of confusing till you get into the book. You need to know this book is about 4 different people in 3 different countries. They all come together but it takes time.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Cleo,she goes through so much in this book that you can't help but root for her.

What about Fred Bermans performance did you like?

He did a really good job.

Very intriguing and fast paced

What did you love best about Falling Kingdoms?

I enjoyed every minute. The narrator did a superb job.

What did you like best about this story?

Different POV and moral ambiguity of the characters.

What does Fred Berman bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Passion. He was able to make me believe he "was" the characters.

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

Both.

Any additional comments?

Must read!

very nice. should become a movie

very nice. should become a movie. just awsome! now I havê to read the other 2 bookd

Amazing book!

If you like magic, then you'll love this book like I did! . This is such an amazing book and I'm really excited to read the next one!

Great Book - Not a fan of the Narrator

What made the experience of listening to Falling Kingdoms the most enjoyable?

The storyline is interesting and I enjoyed the overall plot as well as the interaction between the characters. I liked that the main characters were independant and seemed to stray from the usual sterotypes.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The Narrator for this book was extremely hard for me to listen to.