great as usual for this pair of author and reader

ripped through it in no time and can't wait for the sequel. completely fascinated with both this new part of the world and all the late book plot bombs. definately recommend. also sword fairy!

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You cut me Deeply

   You cut me deeply, Andrew Rowe, you cut me deep.


       I have listened to Andrew Rowe's newest book, At the Edge of the Woods, for the second time since its release. I pre-order it as a birthday gift to myself. Being a fan of all his works. I began my experience in Andrew's world with Sufficiently Advanced Magic. After that book I went back to his early works. The War of Broken Mirrors. I was captivated and drawn into his world. 

      I loved seeing Taelien in Arcane Ascension. Was happy to learn what happened to Rin Jaden in Shattered Legacy. I was left wondering what happened to the other charter I met in, The War of Broken Mirrors, series. 

     Of course I am as anxious as Taelien to find out what happened to Lydia. 

   In this book we join an old friend Jonan or Scrib. Who meets Edge of the woods. Who grew up in the land of the Fey. 

OMG what a great concept. As always this story is full of memorable charters. I appreciate the detailed concept in his version of the nuances of fey culture. Being a friend of nature myself. I respect they way Edge interacts with the environment. As Edge seeks out his sword I find that this is also a story of puberty. On the quest for a sword Edge has to make choices that define who he will become. A quest we all go through. 

    My only issues with this story come threefold. 

The first cut is the deepest and has nothing to do with the author and is entirely selfish and personal. I have written a story that I hope to have published in 2024. One of my main characters is named Edge. Chosen for the plethora of cheesy cutting-edge puns. Though very different from Andrew’s charter. It’s the name of the charter that draws blood. I hope my story is well received.

 The second cut comes as a question. What is the nature of a sword? What is its true purpose? Andrew touches on this. The ugly truth is a sword is a weapon. As much as I respect life, to wield a sword is to kill. Otherwise you deny its true nature. This is the second sword wielding charter of Andrew who seeks to wield this weapon, but does not want to take life. I see this as, “The Batman syndrome”. 

Batman sadly is responsible for many innocent deaths because he refuses to kill the villain. If you go through the many stories of Batman, his arch nemesis, The Joker kills many people before he is captured and placed in the asylum. Until The Joker escapes and it's pretty much wash and repeat. I ask how many lives could be saved if after the third time Joker went on a rampage Batman killed him. Or at the very least crippled Joker to a point that he would no longer be a threat. 

    The third cut relates to the second wound. As much as I enjoy Edge as a character he is almost a carbon copy of Taelien. Both obsessed with sword yet are hesitant when it comes to the true purpose of that weapon. Both have a mysterious parentage. Both have a power that is a danger to all around them. Perhaps there is a connection with them. As if each is a piece of a broken weapon? I guess I will have to wait and see if my suspension is accurate. 

   Despite these wounds, lol. I look forward to these stories. Which I have Listened and  relistened to. Despite my criticism I am a fan. I look forward to each new addition to the world created by a very talented writer. 

    As always I am impressed with Nick Podehls performance. He is truly talented as a voice actor. 

    My thanks to all involved in publishing these stories. 

     Yours,

     David Evil Midknight 

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Another banger!

This pair has quickly become my favorite Author/Narrator combo. another great addition to the universe! Looking forward to more.

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Enjoyed it, but isn’t this universe getting a little bloated?

Nick does a fantastic job as always, and the story is enjoyable enough but it starting to feel like the universe is getting out of hand there are so many different story threads from different books/series at this point. I’d just like to start seeing some closure on plot lines, some answers to some questions…

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Interesting World Expansion

Story is an interesting addition to the universe giving more details on the workings of magic. Neat to see a different side of the world and its creatures. Similar introspection as Corin, bringing us along with lots of detail. The narrator is excellent, keeping all the characters unique. Looking forward to the next one!

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Another Banger

Another piece of the puzzle, with a sprinkle of added questions and loose ends. Cripe, this was good.

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A Fun Story, in an Addictive world

the combo of this author and this VA continue to slap, I find these stories so addictive. The understanding behind what is going on and seeing how things play out always leaves me satisfied and wanting to dig into another one.

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World Building Overtakes Story

The writer has a great idea for a high fantasy world and tries to explain them organically as a spoken character narrative. This was great at some parts and frustrating in others, most specifically an over bearing amount of world explanation. It felt more like a stream of consciousness wherein most characters were brief and one dimensional and the point of the story seems to get sidetracked. This would be okay for a shorter story, but at 15 out of the 20 hours, it lost my interest.
The narrator, aside from very similar female voices, was great to listen to.

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disappointing use of potential.

I am a Andrew Rowe Stan but I have to say I'm disappointed with this latest book of his. the new character Rowe introduced, feels like a re-skin of Karis, in most ways I was more than half way through the book when I was able to separate Edge from Karis. I probably would have enjoyed the book more if it didn't start with a bait and switch with Jonas being reintroduced at the start leading me to believe he was going to be a focus of the book.

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Too much magic theory 90%essence 10%story

90% of the book explaining info dump you with too much essence magic theory that is irrelevant with the story. Should have made it simple such us if you get this essence then you have the option to get this type of class essence without going further to theory what will happen if after getting this or combination of that in the end of the fantasy book it always come to the story to the action can a character explain what skill they are doing while fighting to death? Mostly just shout/say their skill then we get it what the MC trying to do and what skill it is, that is enough already without getting to bunch of magic theory essence nonsense branching path to what if. Its like the author having ADHD nonstop writing bunch other thing in his thought and resulting to more reading a theory book not fantasy book. 10% Story that in the end without this info dump theory you will get only 10% of the story if only the author cut shot of it and make it more to progression. Author said in reddit forum that this book is suspected to be more preferable compare to his other work but this one, I don't see any changing its like the same as Arcane Ascension info dumping magic theory little story, come on you promise but its still the same like AA, where is the other half of the book more to progression fantasy that the author promise?
As always nothing is changing author really like to insert his political gender agenda SJW and its getting too much. What is your gender? Lien answer I'm a boy/male SMH. Can we get to literally story fantasy please? The fantasy world he created is really good but with life and death threat in the fantasy is it really need to be bother with nonsensical thing? Just put it simple if the character like the same gender character so be it move on no need to fixated with all this thing. Coming hear to read a fantasy story but instead listening to preach and info dumping. Disappointed.

As always Nick Podehl do amazing job with narrating, his performance is top notch.

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