Mark of the Fool cover art

Mark of the Fool

A Progression Fantasy Epic

Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for $0.00
Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/month + applicable taxes after 3 months. Cancel anytime.

Mark of the Fool

Written by: J.M. Clarke
Narrated by: Travis Baldree
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month + applicable taxes after 3 months. Offer ends July 31, 2025 11:59PM PT. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $31.26

Buy Now for $31.26

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

The gods chose him. He said no.

After his parents died, Alex Roth had one desire: become a wizard. Through hard work, he was accepted into the University of Generasi, the world’s greatest academy of wizardry....

Fate, however, had another plan.

On his 18th birthday, he is Marked by prophecy as one of his kingdom’s five Heroes, chosen to fight the Ravener, his land’s great enemy. But his brand is "The Fool". Worst of the marks.

Rather than die or serve other Heroes like past Fools, he takes a stand, rejects divine decree...and leaves. With his little sister, his childhood friend, and her cerberus, Alex flees for the university, hoping to research the mystery of the Ravener. He’ll make lifelong friends, learn magic from mad wizards, practice alchemy, fight mana vampires, and try to pay tuition.

There’s one small problem. The Mark insists on preventing the Fool from learning and casting spells, while enhancing skills outside of divinity, combat, and spellcraft...that is, unless he learns to exploit the hell out of it.

Explore a coming-of-age magic academy fantasy with a weak-to-strong progression into power, a setting inspired by D&D, detailed world building, and magical science, action, comedy, slice-of-life, and GameLit elements.

With nearly 10 million views on Royal Road, this popular web serial has been completely revised and relaunched into this definitive version now coming to Audible, narrated by Travis Baldree!

©2022 Aethon Books (P)2022 Aethon Audio
Action & Adventure Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Magic Sword & Sorcery Wizardry Royalty Magic Users

What listeners say about Mark of the Fool

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    145
  • 4 Stars
    27
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    103
  • 4 Stars
    13
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    92
  • 4 Stars
    17
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A fun story despite a rather anticlimactic ending

I loved this book and I can't wait for book two. I'm surprised I feel that way given the lack of climax after over 20 hours of listening, but I think that speaks volumes to the engaging characters and the fascinating world building.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good pacing and narrator

Overall very solid book. I really liked the author writing style and story. Travis, the narrator, is well suited to the cast of character also!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Solid adventure

it's half a Dungeons and dragons adventure, half Hogwarts and entertainingly straddles both fairly well. performer tended to get noticeably louder when raising pitch for female speakers which made listening to sleep to difficult at times. solid adventure and entertaining dialogue. some of the magic of this high magic world is lost by making magic too scientific.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Decent RPG story

This is definitely an interesting story and I have to say that the story definitely did not go for a traditional route. Loved all the characters and I wish the mysteries of the story could be revealed soon.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Perfect academy fantasy

Story:
I usually don't care for a school setting because what's the point of a school if all you do there is socializing and adventuring? This book nailed it with an actual smart MC, who excels both in classes and under dire situations.

Performance:
no complaints

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

truly loved it

I'm on book 3 now it is absolutely amazing I love the world the author has built and the character development is not linear and keeps you on your toes. love the way the mc thinks. I can't wait to see where the story leads!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A great intro to an interesting world.

Travis Baldree was a fantastic narrator. The world building was really quite good and character development was not lacking. Overall, a fantastic start to a hopefully long series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved this 1st Book

I have never been one to randomly chose Aurthors ingrown to me. So glad I didn't bypass this one. Love to proceed to Book 2. I enjoyed this narration was very easy listening. Give it a try, you just may get hooked on the Seriies, like me. 👍 👌 😉

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

very good character building and great start to an amazing series

that there's only 7 books on here for the series which is a shame

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

setup

it's a book that mainly deals in set up but the world is exciting enough I didn't matter. I will be getting and continuing this series for sure.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful