Listen to Your Full Audiobook in Fiction, Historical - Fast, Easy and Legally

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Morgarten

Subtitle: The Forest Knights, Book 2

Author: J. K. Swift

Narrator: Brad Wills

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-08-13

Publisher: UE Publishing Co.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 23 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

A small force of peasants from the forest regions surrounding Lake Lucerne, rise up against their Austrian overlords in the 14th century. Outnumbered seven-to-one by the battle-hardened Habsburg army, they have little hope.

A daring moonlight raid leaves the outlaw Noll Melchthal in possession of an Austrian fortress. In the north, an outraged Leopold of Habsburg assembles the ultimate punitive force: a great army, thousands strong, boasting the best knights and soldiers the Holy Roman Empire has to offer. Noll's rebel army of boys and old men, numbering less than a thousand, have few swords, and even less armor.

But he has two things that Leopold does not: a Priestess of the Weave, and a ferryman.

The forests can protect them no longer. It is time to make a stand.

Members Reviews:

Exciting

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

Great story for those who like heroes, magic and knights

Who was your favorite character and why?

The giant

Which scene was your favorite?

The last battle

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

When Tommy brings the body of his friend to the family

Excellent Medieval Tale!

Book 2 of an epic tale. (They should turn this story into a movie!). Lovable characters. Even the Villain makes you smile. This story has adventure, heart and soul, and love. Well-written And excellent performance by narrator. Excellent depiction of a wide range of characters.

Great Story!

This was a well written story that was brought to life by the wonderful performance of Brad Wills. It brought out every emotion that I had. Tomas, Serena and Noel were great characters.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: The Longing (Grayson Brothers, Book 2)

Author: Wendy Lindstrom

Narrator: Julia Motyka

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-16-13

Publisher: Rustic Studio Publishing

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 173 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

From New York Times bestselling author Wendy Lindstrom comes a deeply emotional, quietly captivating story about a marriage of convenience and the hard choices two passionate people must make.

The last thing Amelia Drake wants, is to marry her father's business competitor, Kyle Grayson, the man who rejected her youthful flirtation. But dire circumstances force her to marry Kyle, a man soured on love and committed to his business. She knows he has been wounded and that he guards his emotions as closely as she guards her dark secrets. Can she ever trust him enough to share the truth? Can she break through Kyles staunch business demeanor and show him that laughter and love are possible?

Critic Reviews:

An emotionally powerful and heart-tugging story... impossible to put down. -Kathe Robin, Romantic Times Bookclub

Totally addictive read. Loved every page and did not want the book to end. -Patt Grotenhouse

My wife cannot put it down and would rather work on finishing the book instead of almost anything else... -benjamin

Members Reviews:

Love Those Rugged Grayson Men!

For those who've read my reviews before you know I love series books that continue on with the characters from the previous books. Because this series is about a family this really adds so much depth to the stories and the characters seem more dimensional. Of course, the addition of new characters amplifies the likability of the series.

"The Longing" is about Kyle's journey and tells not only how he deals with the heartbreak from the first book but how he discovers that love can evolve despite bad circumstances. Amelia has her own set of insecurities which, when combined with Kyle's, makes this story a true to life challenge.

I find this series endearing because it's basically about a good old-fashioned family. The author writes strong rugged men who aren't perfect but are wiling to change. They don't back down when the going gets tough. It is a an emotional story filled with friendship, caring, desperation, love, hope, and trust.

Although I think these books could stand alone, I would advise reading these books in order of the series. I think the reader would lose too much character personality and the story comprehension would fall a bit flat.

If you enjoy beautifully written detailed family stories with a sweet, unforced romance....then this is for you! I recommend this series.

Lovely romance

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

Kyle's a little bit broken and Amelia's heartbroken and yet these two try really hard to make the best of their circumstances. She really wants to create a home and embraces his family. He knows she's been hurt and agrees to take his time getting to know her before sleeping with her. Even though they're keeping secrets, I admired their attitudes, even for that era. They're romance developed slowly and I felt like I was a part of it. It was lovely but not without issues.

There was a bit of intrigue and suspense, too, involving Amelia's father's business issues. I liked how it was seamlessly woven into the romance and the story.

Any additional comments?

I'm enjoying this series and I really liked this story. The evolution of Kyle and Amelia's relationship from friends to lovers was very nicely told, especially after having been dumped in the last book. The Grayson Brothers...

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Disgraced

Subtitle: A Play

Author: Ayad Akhtar

Narrator: Aasif Mandvi, January LaVoy, Kevin T. Collins

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 25 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-27-13

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 90 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Pulitzer Prize, Drama, 2013

"Sparkling and combustible," (Bloomberg Businessweek). "Disgraced rubs all kinds of unexpected raw spots with intelligence and humor." (Newsday). "In dialogue that bristles with wit and intelligence, Akhtar puts contemporary attitudes toward religion under a microscope, revealing how tenuous self-image can be for people born into one way of being who have embraced another. Everyone has been told that politics and religion are two subjects that should be off-limits at social gatherings. But watching these characters rip into these forbidden topics, there's no arguing that they make for ear-tickling good theater." (New York Times). "Add a liberal flow of alcohol and a couple of major secrets suddenly revealed, and you've got yourself one dangerous dinner party." (Associated Press).

Members Reviews:

Wonderful play

What wonderful thought provoking play. I can't wait to read/listen more of the Ayad's works. Highly highly recommend this.

Great Piece

This is the first time that I used audible. This play is an amazing piece that left me in deep reflection and thinking. Highly recommend!

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: The Child Thief

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Dan Smith

Narrator: Bronson Pinchot

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 15 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-24-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 644 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

In the tradition of City of Thieves and Child 44, a troubled World War I veteran races across the frozen steppe of 1930's Ukraine to save a child from a shadowy killer with unthinkable plans.

Luka is a war veteran who now wants nothing more than to have a quiet life with his family. His village has, so far, remained hidden from the advancing Soviet brutality. But everything changes the day a stranger arrives, pulling a sled bearing a terrible cargo. When the villagers fear turns deadly, they think they have saved themselves. But their anger has cursed them. In the chaos, a little girl has vanished, and Luka is the only man with the skills to find the stolen child and her kidnapper in these frozen lands. Besides, the missing girl is the best friend of Lukas daughter, and he swears he will find her. Together, with his sons, Luka sets out across lands ravaged by war and gripped by treachery. Soon they realize that the man they are tracking is no ordinary criminal, but a skillful hunter using the child as bait in his twisted game. It will take all of Lukas strength to battle the harshest of conditions and all of his wit to stay a step ahead of Soviet authorities. And though his toughest enemy is the man he tracks, his strongest bond is a promise to his family back home.

Members Reviews:

Cold, Subtle, and Full of Suspense

Smith could have chosen any of the characters in his story to be his main character. He might have made it a "coming of age" tale and chosen one of the sons. Or a sinister tale of desperation and sorrow by choosing one of the children who were stolen. These days, it's become popular to have an "anti-hero" and make the villain the protagonist; in which case he might have picked the Baba Yaga to tell the story.

All of those plot lines have been done before, however, and some of them are getting quite tired. Instead, Smith chose to tell the story from the perspective of Luka, a father and retired Russian soldier living in the Ukraine- the result surprised me. Luka is one of the most well written characters I've ever come across.

Still, it's not just Luka's story. There is tremendous depth and subtlety everywhere you look here. It's clear how much thought Smith put into crafting this. Even the setting cold, quiet, and dangerous- is given a personality. The result is an utterly unique tale that is haunting me days after finishing it.

As for Bronson Pinchot- I fell in love with him as a narrator while listening to Larry Correia's Grimnoir Chronicles (for which I hear he's been nominated for an Audie- well done, sir). I cannot imagine a better actor to voice this story. In the beginning, the thick Ukrainian accent threw me. By the end, however, I could not help but marvel at how absorbed I became in the story- completely thanks to Pinchot's abilities. He successfully creates distinct men, teenagers, soldiers, women's and children's voices without distracting you. He voiced both the bark of command and the choked crack of despair during this novel- I really can't praise his work enough.

You will want to listen to this book. You will want to re-listen to this book. It is that good.

Brilliant--both the writing and the narration

The opening scene in The Child Thief, the slow, portentous approach of a mysterious stranger across a frozen landscape, is riveting and absolutely perfect.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Metamorphosis: The Sorcerer, Volume II

Subtitle: Camulod Chronicles, Book 6

Author: Jack Whyte

Narrator: Kevin Pariseau

Format: Unabridged

Length: 20 hrs and 34 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-20-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 144 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Throughout the widely praised Camulod Chronicles, Merlyn Britannicus has been driven by one sacred dream - to see Britain united under one just, powerful king. In The Sorcerer: Metamorphosis, it is time for the Sorcerer to fulfill his promise - to present the battle-proven Arthur as the Riothamus, the High King of Britain. When Arthur miraculously withdraws the Sword of Kingship from the stone in which it is set, he proves himself the true and deserving king - sworn to defend the Christian faith against invaders, and to preserve Britain as a powerful, united force.

The Sorcerer has fulfilled his promise. The King is crowned, Britain is united - and the face of history and legend is forever changed.

Members Reviews:

King Arthur and Rome series

When I first read these books a decade ago, I thought they were at the top of their game. They're still great for many reasons, but one thing I missed the first time around is the shear amount of exposition. Much of it is necessary, but most not necessarily so. It would be easy to argue that the primary narrative and story of the books are told in exposition. So if this author's previous works weren't enjoyed by you or you thought other works had too much exposition (like, say Pillars of the Earth) you might be wary. But, what the author does to make up for the amount of exposition is posit an entertainingly plausible story of how King Arthur stepped out of the world left by the fall of Rome. And I still enjoyed that story the second time around.

A great introduction for King Arthur

This story was a little slower paced than previous books, but nonetheless the story and the prose were great. This book was both exciting and sad, treating tragic loss with the reverence one would expect and describing the chaotic happenings of medieval battles in detail.

The narration was steady as has been the case for the previous installments of the series, the narrator's voice clear and easy to understand while conveying the emotion appropriate to each situation. All in all this was a great book and lots of fun to listen to.

great take on a familiar story.

loved it. great take on an old familiar story. taking a legend and making to plausible.

love this series

I don't know why this is not a TV series yet because it should be. I like how this is a realistic approach to the Arthurian legend.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Hearts of Iron

Subtitle: A Foreworld SideQuest (The Foreworld Saga)

Author: Scott James Magner

Narrator: Luke Daniels

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 6 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-08-13

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 14 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

When The Italian Job meets the Knights of the Round Table, the ultimate medieval heist caper is born.

It is the summer of AD 1035, and three sons of Tancred de Hauteville are in ambivalent service to Guimar, Prince of Salerno. The three men, who have been trained by their father in the art of war since childhood, spend the sweltering afternoons practicing swordplay, trading barbs, and thinking of how many men they would need to take the prince's poorly fortified castle for themselves.

But when a mysterious agent asks the prince for the brothers' services in obtaining a gilded chest, eldest brother William recognizes an opportunity to strengthen the Hauteville legacy. When he assembles a crew of skilled mercenaries, loyalties are tested and truths revealed. Among the group, there is a traitor, a spy, and the carrier of a long-held secret. The trust William places in each of his men will decide the future for himself and his family.

A bold new SideQuest in the Foreworld Saga, Hearts of Iron shows a different side of the Middle Ages, but with all the deft-sword play, historical accuracy, and political intrigue you would expect from the series that brought you The Mongoliad trilogy.

Members Reviews:

A promising entry from a new author....

I recently finished reading Scott James Magner's first Novella, Hearts of Iron. I had no previous exposure to the Foreworld Saga, or any SideQuest offerings, but in the end it did not matter. As a voracious reader of most things Fantasy, it was very refreshing to come upon an author who put time and effort into the finer details of their writing. Far too often Fantasy writers gloss over the technical aspects of warfare, and it was a relief to see that Scott provided quite a bit of information within each encounter.

As a reviewer, I won't bore you with a duplicate synopsis of the story, or potentially spoil things you wish to discover for yourself. Instead, let me emphasize that this Novella displays a strong grasp of unique and memorable character creation, undoubtedly honed over the years of working within the gaming industry, and an eye for descriptive detail. I am a visual reader, and while being a Novella does limit the overall descriptive length, I found a visually rich story being spun before my eyes as I cycled page after page.

Is it all songbirds and singalongs? No. As noted, this is a promising first entry by Scott James Magner. Rarely do you find someone who hits a home run on their first at bat, but the Author displays instincts and understanding that with time will be honed further. I can only hope that he continues to receive opportunities, because I feel it would be a shame to let someone with such promise escape the grasps of wanting readers. Specifically, for me, it was a single character. In hindsight, it could very well be chalked up to the length limitations dictated by the format (Novella). I wanted some conclusions to be reached at a slower pace.

I've already recommended this book to my inner circle of fellow Fantasy readers, and now I do so to the greater public. If you're a Prime member, you've got your freebie to use.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: The River of No Return

Author: Bee Ridgway

Narrator: Samuel Roukin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 18 hrs and 31 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-17-13

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 62 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Bee Ridgways wildly inventive debut novel, The River of No Return, blends romance, conspiracy, and time travel for a tale sure to intrigue listeners. When soldier and aristocrat Nick Falcott is sent from a Napoleonic battlefield in 1815 to modern-day London, he never expects to go back - until the Guild calls for him. Returning home as if from the dead, Nick reunites with his lost love, Julia Percy, and enlists her help in finding a mysterious object known as the Talisman.

Members Reviews:

great book, but sudden ending ruined the good will

What did you like best about The River of No Return? What did you like least?

Interesting story, mixed with romance. Love the approach to time travel. The author spent a lot of time laying groundwork for the time travel angle. I was really enjoying and couldnt wait to get in the car to listen. All the sudden I realized there are 40 min left and we are nowhere near a.resolution to the story and I worry that this wonderful story will now end suddenly. It did. I assume there is a sequel planned, since apparently everything needs to be at least a trilogy which is really starting to tick me off. I blame twilight and 50 shades. I would have never read it had I known because I dont like waiting a year or two to find out what happened. I am love sequels and series, if the books stand on their own and we get most our questions answered. The story needs to feel finished, at least for now, with the opportunity to learn more later. Several authors do this pretty well, Kim Harrison, Jim Butcher, even Nora Roberts/JD Robb. This book felt rushed and unfinished, even one more chapter about their plans and tying up some loose ends with his family would have made me give it 5 stars, but instead I was angry a book I was enjoying just ended so overall I give it 3. Authors and their publishers need to quit this anoying tactic of forcing us to read the sequel instead of making us want to. There is even a scene in the book where the main character is forced to choose and it ticked him off and made him plan to do the opposite of what they wanted. In that spirit, I will too. I will not look for or buy this sequel because I feel like I was cheated at the end of this one. Publishers stop making your readers angry.

Did The River of No Return inspire you to do anything?

Sit in my car a little longer to listen to what happened next. Daydream about time travel.

Any additional comments?

I dont know if I recommend it right now. Its good, but maybe put it on your wish list and wait and see if a sequel comes out and then read both if you dont like to wait.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Moonstruck Madness

Author: Laurie McBain

Narrator: Marian Hussey

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-23-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 65 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

She's one thing by day, something else altogether by night....

After escaping the slaughter of her clan at a young age, Scottish noblewoman Sabrina Verrick provides for her siblings by living a double life, until the night she encounters the Duke, and her secret and all she holds dear is threatened....

He's so disillusioned, he's completely vulnerable....

Critic Reviews:

"The plot has imaginative twists and turns, and the backgrounds are lush and evocative. It's good, satisfying fun." (

Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Awful Love Interest

I really disliked the love interest. He's just an asshole, period. The writing was good, but the love interest ruined the story for me.

Couldn't finish

Not sure what the problem is I bet I could not count 10 books in my 50 years of reading I didn't finish.....seemed it woukd never end!

Classic Romance with a successful storyline

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

I will recommend to all my hopelessly romantic friends to listen to this audiobook. This is the first romance novel i have purchased as an audiobook, certain that I would not enjoy it as much as reading off the page, I intrigued by the experience and will encourage my friends to try it.

What other book might you compare Moonstruck Madness to and why?

Moonstruck Madness brought to mind a novel by Virginia Henley titled 'The Pirate and the Pagan'. Each novel is similarly intricate in building momentum in both adventure, suspense and romance. Both have strong headed females who have had to put away their childhood and disguise themselves as highway men. Although Virginia Henley does a better job as a writer to make a reader feel like they are en wrapped in the world and characters she has created, Laurie McBain has done an excellent job herself.

What does Marian Hussey bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Marian Hussey has an amazingly well pronounced and clear voice that is almost angelic. I would happily listen to another narration by her, even though I did not feel she did a good job with the character of Lucien..

I can also pronounce certain words better than i could before (or I was unknowingly pronouncing them wrong all these years).

Who was the most memorable character of Moonstruck Madness and why?

Sabrina of course being the main character and so dominating throughout the book. However, by the last chapter and in finishing the novel Richard was the Character that remained with me the most. I think it's because he was the cause of the events in the end that eventually brought our two main characters back together. Also, Richard was at that very awkward stage, there's definitely another story to be told there (as the awkward child becomes a man etc.).

Started out good, but went a bit downhill.

This is an old book, first published in 1979. The story started out real good for a while. But eventually went a bit down hill. I really liked the hero and the heroine in the beginning. Then heroine became too annoying, and stupid. Making stupid decisions, always had to be her way. I was glad it finally ended. The author drug it out adding things that didn't necessarily need to be included.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: No Peace for the Wicked

Author: Pip Granger

Narrator: Maggie Mash

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 57 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-15-13

Publisher: Random House Audiobooks

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

It is 1956, and Lizzy is working in Soho when Peace comes to stay. Peace is a beautiful 16-year-old part-Chinese girl, the daughter - it turns out - of her employer Bandy Bunion's estranged sister. Peace has been at a boarding school in the country - but, tired of feeling lonely and of being bullied, she has run away, and does not intend to go back. Lizzy, who lives above the nightclub run by Bandy and Sugarplum Flaherty, offers to take her in; she lost her own daughter - Rosie's best friend - to leukaemia two years previously and she feels a special bond with Peace. Life, Lizzy also feels, has been rather too quiet recently; but things are about to change dramatically.

Bandy has got a new man in her life - a crook for certain, Lizzy thinks, especially when Bandy's valuables start to go missing. And Lizzy's got a new man, too. TC is Rosie's dad and everyone's favourite policeman. But is he interested in her? But when Peace goes missing a second time, and no one knows where she's gone, it looks as though there's only one thing to do. Lizzy asks TC to help her find Peace, and the first place they must visit is the seedy dock area in Limehouse. The home of the Chinese community, it's a very dangerous place indeed....

Members Reviews:

Five Stars

My wife thoroughly enjoyed this book and is a great fan of the author.

Hard to find author in US

Very nice, clean paperback. Arrived timely. Can't wait to read it. We are almost done with the previous book in the series.

nothing happens

This book seems to be a fleshed-out short story, which is pretty flimsy to begin with. Nothing happens until halfway into the book, and from then on the story lacks any of the endearing characteristics of other books by this author. I was disappointed by it.

Great Book

Love this series. Wish there were more. The book itself was in condition as described. The receipt was as expected.

thought provoking historical work

It is 1956 and Soho, England is a combination red light district and Greenwich Village with a definite feel of a neighborhood community. Same sex relationships, threesome trysts and having sex without being married is tolerated. Lizzy is still recovering from the death of her daughter a year and a half ago with the help of the people in the neighborhood especially those who hang at the diner on Old Compton Road owned and operated by Maggie and her husband Bert with help from their adopted daughter Rosie.

At the local nightclub run by Bandy and Sugar Plum Flaherty, the former's ward Peace, a Chinese- student, has run away from the boarding school and stay at Bandy's place. Bandy wants her to return to school but the child has been subjected to the prejudice of the students. Bandy, who is in the middle of a hot blooded affair accuses the girl of stealing her pearl jewelry. A hurt Peace goes to is stay with Lizzye who happily take her in. She comes to think of the girl as a daughter so when she disappears, she rallies all the people in the neighborhood to find out where she is staying. They learn that Peace has been kidnapped; using all their considerable resources, they try to find the girl and whoever is behind it who wants her shipped back to China.

Pip Granger has written an exciting mystery wrapped around a family saga.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: The First Man in Rome

Author: Colleen McCullough

Narrator: David Ogden Stiers

Format: Abridged

Length: 6 hrs and 3 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-18-13

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 123 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

"The First Man in Rome was not the best man: he was the First among other men who were his equals.... To be the First Man in Rome was something far better than kingship...."

In the first century B.C. at the height of the Roman Republic, two men set their sights on becoming the First Man - the Roman more respected than any other. Marius, a heroic man of strength and means, lacks the noble blood to contend for the First Man, but overcomes his common status when he marries into the patrician house of Caesar. Sulla, a pleasure-seeking aristocrat without money of his own, is transformed by his ambitions into a fierce and daring warrior. Together the two men will shape history as they are thrust into a raging storm - engaging in deadly political contests and waging far-off wars for a state battling to hold on to its enormous power.

Rich with unforgettable characters and unerring historical accuracy, The First Man in Rome is a vivid tale of power, treachery, and a great Republic hurtling toward civil war....

Members Reviews:

MASSACRE! DON'T BUY ABRIGED BOOKS!

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

The abriged version has ruined this creative work--made it unoriginal and boring in presentation-- like hearing Cliff Notes! I bought and read this book years ago. To read it made me feel as though I were living in Roman times. The characters were so fascinating and alive! What a wonderful study of their culture.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

To make it enjoyable, I would change Audible's story by having the performer read the whole damn book by one of the best authors ever! Will you butcher The Thornbirds like you did this book? The abrigment left out the creativity of the author!

It is like someone decided to abridge one of Shakespere's plays! How stupid!

What three words best describe David Ogden Stierss performance?

powerful, flexible, focusing

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Definitely, I would see the movie. Visual information would enhance what can not be read in abriged audibles.

Any additional comments?

The performer did the best he could with what he had to work!

I WILL NOT BUY ANY ABRIGED AUDIBLES EVER AGAIN!

I don't recommend this audiobook

This book wasnt for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I actually think this book WAS for me, but the abridged version was confusing and flat. It wasn't the book or the plot as much as what I believe was left out of this audiobook version that left me dissatisfied with the purchase.

Would you ever listen to anything by Colleen McCullough again?

Yes. But not an unabridged version.

Have you listened to any of David Ogden Stierss other performances before? How does this one compare?

I think he is a fine actor and narrator. Again, I think it was the material that I disliked.

What character would you cut from The First Man in Rome?

LOL...no! Don't cut anything or anyone else from this book! It is a mess as it is. The characters were well crafted but I'm sure in the original and unabridged version they are "fleshed out" a bit more and probably very interesting.

Any additional comments?

Such a disappointment. I am going to Italy and hoped to listen to this on the plane.