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  • Red Sister

  • First Book of the Ancestor
  • Written by: Mark Lawrence
  • Narrated by: Heather O'Neill
  • Length: 19 hrs and 21 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (226 ratings)

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Red Sister cover art

Red Sister

Written by: Mark Lawrence
Narrated by: Heather O'Neill
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Publisher's Summary

From the international best-selling author of the Broken Empire Trilogy comes the first in a brilliant new breakout fantasy series. A searing novel set in a brand-new world, this series follows a young girl who enters a convent where girls are selected to train in religion, combat, or magic. Nona is selected to learn combat and finds herself at the center of an epic battle for empire on the outer reaches of a dying universe.

©2017 Boblinga Ltd. (P)2017 Recorded Books

What listeners say about Red Sister

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

A great book with a great voice

Mark Lawrence did not disappoint yet again, and Heather O'Neill is an artist when it comes to narration and keeping you fully attentive and engaged in the story.

The Books of the Ancestor are set in a futuristic planet, to which humans have moved. While this world has magic, humans are humans, so the world does not lack the same human tendencies to do good and bad (more bad than good), and does not lack the darkness we have seen in Lawrence's past books. If you are a fan of dark fantasy, where the story does not revolve around only magic, I would highly recommend this book. If you are looking for an audiobook, look no further than this one!



#Audible1

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6 people found this helpful

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

Powerful

Great world and character building. The story is engulfing and hard to put down. The performance by the reader was excellent. Can’t wait to listen to the next instalment.

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2 people found this helpful

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

Bad Ass Dark Fantasy

This was my 4th Mark Lawrence read/listen. It is fast paced and a great storyline. He is one of the stand out authors if you like grimdark fantasy. Highly recommend this listen. This trilogy has cemented my love of Mark Lawrence's writing. The narrator is great, as well.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Amazing Start to a Fantasy Series!

I followed because I thought that if I turned back then I would keep turning back, turning away from every other fear, from every new thin, and that I would never leave that place to which my father had brought me. I would live, toil, grow old, and die, all within sight of my mother's hut, and the ice would remain forever a line glimpsed in the distance, and I wouldn't matter to the world nor would it matter to me.

- page 432

This was one of the best Adult fantasy books I've read in a very long time. I have so many positive things and thoughts about this one. I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a good magic system, badass nuns, and women who know being vulnerable can be strong as well.

Everything that Nona has suffered through has made her stronger - and recognize that there is always room to love and be loved. I liked her understanding that people can be your friend even if you never outright say it and that she is so loyal to people. Nona is strong, young woman who does everything she can to protect those she cares about. I liked that even though she is clearly strong and going to be a part of the prophecy, she still needs training and education to get her to exactly where she has to be.

I loved seeing how these girls started by being somewhat enemies and then becoming friends. I think there were good dynamics between all the female characters in this one. There were interesting relationships and they were expertly explored in this without making the females into stereotypes or taking away their womanness, which is something I was a little concerned about since this is written by a man.

The magic system and the way the world building works is incredible. It was one of the most creative ones I've read in a while. I am excited to see how it grows in the rest of this series (since the next book is already out!!!).

If you are looking for a good fantasy read, this is the book for you! I highly recommend it if you are looking to transition from YA to Adult fantasy - or just enjoy Adult fantasy to begin with. You'll love Nona, the badass nuns, and that this has a lot of action!

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

interesting world building and characters


A little bit confusing at the beginning when bouncing between different time frames. it was a story i could listen to for a bit and put it down.
Story strarted a little slow, but the interesting characters and world building kept me coming back and it got more interesting as it progressed. Narrator did a great job giving the characters unique voices and personality.

Enjoyed it enough to pick up the second one, I want to see how the story plays out.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
  • T
  • 2021-02-15

Holy ****!!

This was amazing!! It's now 1:55 AM but I NEEDED to finish listening to this. Wow.

I already bought other books and can't wait to get to them. But I will because I need sleep. (no regrets)

My one issue with this is that there are a few parts (3-5 parts) where the audio really changes and the reader sounds clean(?somehow?distant?) and mechanical. It never lasts long but it's jarring. Still so amazing.

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

Excellent Trilogy

An Excellent Story with Strong Female Heroes,
I found the world to be interesting, the magic had new twist and the fighting to be satisfying.

I found the first Book in the Trilogy to be overall superb
highly recommended if you like young Female heroes in a medieval setting with a twist.

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

Ehh okay... I finished it

I found the story kind going everywhere at times, Nona didn’t have an overall goal till the end, and the story just kind of dragged her all over the place. The beginning grabs you but it doesn’t keep you, especially after the trial.

I got kind of bored in the middle of the story and thought about dropping it, so I don’t think I’ll pick up the sequel even though I enjoyed the climax of the book when I did stick with it. Overall a solid three star, interesting but nothing ground making or I will even really remember.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • R-B
  • 2020-01-25

One of my favourite fantasy reads this year

The story was compelling, the characterization on point, the world-building fascinating. I've been recommending this to everyone I know.

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

Listened every chance I got.

If you've enjoyed a Mark Lawrence book before you'll definitely like this one because it is very much in his style of writing.
The story flowed and moved pretty quickly. Never a lull, I listened every chance I got!

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