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Red Sister
- First Book of the Ancestor
- Narrated by: Heather O'Neill
- Series: Books of the Ancestor, Book 1
- Length: 19 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy
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Grey Sister
- Written by: Mark Lawrence
- Narrated by: Heather O'Neill
- Length: 15 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Behind its walls, the Convent of Sweet Mercy has trained young girls to hone their skills for centuries. In Mystic Class, Novice Nona Grey has begun to learn the secrets of the universe. But so often even the deepest truths just make our choices harder. Before she leaves the convent, Nona must choose which order to dedicate herself to - and whether her path will lead to a life of prayer and service or one of the blade and the fist. All that stands between her and these choices are the pride of a thwarted assassin, the designs of a would-be empress wielding the Inquisition like a knife, and the vengeance of the empire's richest lord.
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The world feels half-baked.
- By Sam on 2021-07-25
Written by: Mark Lawrence
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Holy Sister
- Written by: Mark Lawrence
- Narrated by: Heather O'Neill
- Length: 13 hrs
- Unabridged
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In this third book in the thrilling and epic Book of the Ancestor trilogy from international best-selling author Mark Lawrence, powerful novice Nona Grey must fight to survive in "a fantastic world in which religion and politics are dark and sharp as swords, with magic and might held in the hands of wonderful and dangerous women".
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I loved this series so much!
- By Camille on 2021-10-02
Written by: Mark Lawrence
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The Girl and the Stars
- The Book of the Ice, Book 1
- Written by: Mark Lawrence
- Narrated by: Helen Duff
- Length: 18 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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In the ice, east of the Black Rock, there is a hole into which broken children are thrown. Yaz's people call it the Pit of the Missing, and now it is drawing her in as she has always known it would. To resist the cold, to endure the months of night when even the air itself begins to freeze, requires a special breed. Variation is dangerous, difference is fatal. And Yaz is not the same.
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shrug
- By James on 2021-10-20
Written by: Mark Lawrence
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Jade City
- The Green Bone Saga, Book 1
- Written by: Fonda Lee
- Narrated by: Andrew Kishino
- Length: 19 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
In this World Fantasy Award-winning novel of magic and kungfu, four siblings battle rival clans for honor and power in an Asia-inspired fantasy metropolis. Jade is the lifeblood of the island of Kekon. It has been mined, traded, stolen, and killed for - and for centuries, honorable Green Bone warriors like the Kaul family have used it to enhance their magical abilities and defend the island from foreign invasion. Now, the war is over and a new generation of Kauls vies for control of Kekon's bustling capital city.
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Interesting take on modern fantasy, I'd recommend!
- By Chris Conrod on 2020-09-19
Written by: Fonda Lee
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Emperor of Thorns
- A Broken Empire Novel
- Written by: Mark Lawrence
- Narrated by: James Clamp
- Length: 13 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Performance
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Story
Jorg would be emperor. It is a position not to be gained by the sword but rather by vote. And never in living memory has anyone secured a majority of the vote, leaving the Broken Empire long without a leader. Jorg has plans to change that - one way or the other. He’s uncovered even more of the lost technology of the land, and he won’t hesitate to use it. But he soon finds an adversary standing in his way, a necromancer unlike any he has ever faced - a figure hated and feared even more than himself: the Dead King. The boy who would rule all may have finally met his match....
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The ending of this story was very disapointing.
- By Anonymous User on 2022-07-19
Written by: Mark Lawrence
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The Girl and the Mountain
- The Book of the Ice, Book 2
- Written by: Mark Lawrence
- Narrated by: Helen Duff
- Length: 16 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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On the planet Abeth there is only the ice. And the Black Rock. For generations the priests of the Black Rock have reached out from their mountain to steer the fate of the ice tribes. With their Hidden God, their magic and their iron, the priests’ rule has never been questioned. But when ice triber Yaz challenged their authority, she was torn away from the only life she had ever known, and forced to find a new path for herself. Yaz has lost her friends and found her enemies. She has a mountain to climb.
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Mostly awesome
- By Kate mccullagh on 2022-01-16
Written by: Mark Lawrence
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Grey Sister
- Written by: Mark Lawrence
- Narrated by: Heather O'Neill
- Length: 15 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Behind its walls, the Convent of Sweet Mercy has trained young girls to hone their skills for centuries. In Mystic Class, Novice Nona Grey has begun to learn the secrets of the universe. But so often even the deepest truths just make our choices harder. Before she leaves the convent, Nona must choose which order to dedicate herself to - and whether her path will lead to a life of prayer and service or one of the blade and the fist. All that stands between her and these choices are the pride of a thwarted assassin, the designs of a would-be empress wielding the Inquisition like a knife, and the vengeance of the empire's richest lord.
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The world feels half-baked.
- By Sam on 2021-07-25
Written by: Mark Lawrence
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Holy Sister
- Written by: Mark Lawrence
- Narrated by: Heather O'Neill
- Length: 13 hrs
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
In this third book in the thrilling and epic Book of the Ancestor trilogy from international best-selling author Mark Lawrence, powerful novice Nona Grey must fight to survive in "a fantastic world in which religion and politics are dark and sharp as swords, with magic and might held in the hands of wonderful and dangerous women".
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I loved this series so much!
- By Camille on 2021-10-02
Written by: Mark Lawrence
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The Girl and the Stars
- The Book of the Ice, Book 1
- Written by: Mark Lawrence
- Narrated by: Helen Duff
- Length: 18 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
In the ice, east of the Black Rock, there is a hole into which broken children are thrown. Yaz's people call it the Pit of the Missing, and now it is drawing her in as she has always known it would. To resist the cold, to endure the months of night when even the air itself begins to freeze, requires a special breed. Variation is dangerous, difference is fatal. And Yaz is not the same.
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shrug
- By James on 2021-10-20
Written by: Mark Lawrence
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Jade City
- The Green Bone Saga, Book 1
- Written by: Fonda Lee
- Narrated by: Andrew Kishino
- Length: 19 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
In this World Fantasy Award-winning novel of magic and kungfu, four siblings battle rival clans for honor and power in an Asia-inspired fantasy metropolis. Jade is the lifeblood of the island of Kekon. It has been mined, traded, stolen, and killed for - and for centuries, honorable Green Bone warriors like the Kaul family have used it to enhance their magical abilities and defend the island from foreign invasion. Now, the war is over and a new generation of Kauls vies for control of Kekon's bustling capital city.
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Interesting take on modern fantasy, I'd recommend!
- By Chris Conrod on 2020-09-19
Written by: Fonda Lee
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Emperor of Thorns
- A Broken Empire Novel
- Written by: Mark Lawrence
- Narrated by: James Clamp
- Length: 13 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Jorg would be emperor. It is a position not to be gained by the sword but rather by vote. And never in living memory has anyone secured a majority of the vote, leaving the Broken Empire long without a leader. Jorg has plans to change that - one way or the other. He’s uncovered even more of the lost technology of the land, and he won’t hesitate to use it. But he soon finds an adversary standing in his way, a necromancer unlike any he has ever faced - a figure hated and feared even more than himself: the Dead King. The boy who would rule all may have finally met his match....
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The ending of this story was very disapointing.
- By Anonymous User on 2022-07-19
Written by: Mark Lawrence
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The Girl and the Mountain
- The Book of the Ice, Book 2
- Written by: Mark Lawrence
- Narrated by: Helen Duff
- Length: 16 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
On the planet Abeth there is only the ice. And the Black Rock. For generations the priests of the Black Rock have reached out from their mountain to steer the fate of the ice tribes. With their Hidden God, their magic and their iron, the priests’ rule has never been questioned. But when ice triber Yaz challenged their authority, she was torn away from the only life she had ever known, and forced to find a new path for herself. Yaz has lost her friends and found her enemies. She has a mountain to climb.
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Mostly awesome
- By Kate mccullagh on 2022-01-16
Written by: Mark Lawrence
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Promise of Blood
- Written by: Brian McClellan
- Narrated by: Christian Rodska
- Length: 19 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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Stretched to his limit, Tamas is relying heavily on his few remaining powder mages, including the embittered Taniel, a brilliant marksman who also happens to be his estranged son, and Adamat, a retired police inspector whose loyalty is being tested by blackmail. But when gods are involved....Now, as attacks batter them from within and without, the credulous are whispering about omens of death and destruction. Just old peasant legends about the gods waking to walk the earth. No modern educated man believes that sort of thing. But they should....
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Surprising find
- By Micheal on 2018-10-25
Written by: Brian McClellan
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The Liar's Key
- Written by: Mark Lawrence
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 19 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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After harrowing adventure and near-death, Prince Jalan Kendeth and the Viking Snorri ver Snagason find themselves in possession of Loki's Key, an artefact capable of opening any door and sought by the most dangerous beings in the Broken Empire - including The Dead King. Jal wants only to return home to his wine, women, and song, but Snorri has his own purpose for the key: to find the very door into death, throw it wide, and bring his family back into the land of the living.
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Great story
- By Heather on 2018-11-13
Written by: Mark Lawrence
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Prince of Fools
- The Red Queen's War, Book 1
- Written by: Mark Lawrence
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 14 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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The Red Queen is old but the kings of the Broken Empire dread her like no other. For all her reign, she has fought the long war, contested in secret, against the powers that stand behind nations, for higher stakes than land or gold. Her greatest weapon is The Silent Sister - unseen by most and unspoken of by all. The Red Queen's grandson, Prince Jalan Kendeth - drinker, gambler, seducer of women - is one who can see The Silent Sister.
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Very entertaining
- By Lea H. on 2017-10-02
Written by: Mark Lawrence
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Cephrael's Hand
- A Pattern of Shadow and Light, Book 1
- Written by: Melissa McPhail
- Narrated by: Nick Podehl
- Length: 32 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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In Alorin...300 years after the genocidal Adept Wars, the realm is dying, and the blessed Adept race dies with it. One man holds the secret to reverting this decline: Bjorn van Gelderan, a dangerous and enigmatic man whose shocking betrayal three centuries past earned him a traitor's brand. It is the Adept Vestal Raine D'Lacourte's mission to learn what Bjorn knows in the hope of salvaging his race. But first he'll have to find him....
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Disappointing and homophobic
- By Anonymous User on 2020-03-24
Written by: Melissa McPhail
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Senlin Ascends
- Written by: Josiah Bancroft
- Narrated by: John Banks
- Length: 14 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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The Tower of Babel is the greatest marvel in the world. Immense as a mountain, the ancient Tower holds unnumbered ringdoms, warring and peaceful, stacked one on the other like the layers of a cake. It is a world of geniuses and tyrants, of airships and steam engines, of unusual animals and mysterious machines. Soon after arriving for his honeymoon at the Tower, the mild-mannered headmaster of a small village school, Thomas Senlin, gets separated from his wife, Marya, in the overwhelming swarm of tourists, residents, and miscreants.
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Five Stars by the End
- By John Le Blanc on 2019-08-27
Written by: Josiah Bancroft
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Jade Legacy
- Written by: Fonda Lee
- Narrated by: Andrew Kishino
- Length: 28 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Jade, the mysterious and magical substance once exclusive to the Green Bone warriors of Kekon, is now coveted throughout the world. Everyone wants access to the supernatural abilities it provides, from traditional forces such as governments, mercenaries, and criminal kingpins, to modern players, including doctors, athletes, and movie studios. As the struggle over the control of jade grows ever larger and more deadly, the Kaul family, and the ancient ways of the Kekonese Green Bones, will never be the same.
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Fantastic Pay off
- By Amazon Customer on 2022-02-08
Written by: Fonda Lee
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Jade War
- Written by: Fonda Lee
- Narrated by: Andrew Kishino
- Length: 24 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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On the island of Kekon, the Kaul family is locked in a violent feud for control of the capital city and the supply of magical jade that endows trained Green Bone warriors with supernatural powers they alone have possessed for hundreds of years. Beyond Kekon's borders, war is brewing. Powerful foreign governments and mercenary criminal kingpins alike turn their eyes on the island nation. Jade, Kekon's most prized resource, could make them rich - or give them the edge they'd need to topple their rivals.
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Absolutely Brilliant In Every Conceivable Way
- By Anonymous User on 2021-04-22
Written by: Fonda Lee
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Wrath of Empire
- Written by: Brian McClellan
- Narrated by: Christian Rodska
- Length: 23 hrs
- Unabridged
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The country is in turmoil. With the capital city occupied, half a million refugees are on the march, looking for safety on the frontier, accompanied by Lady Flint's soldiers. But escaping war is never easy, and soon the battle may find them, whether they are prepared or not.
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Can't wait for the third book.
- By Lisa Driscoll on 2018-09-30
Written by: Brian McClellan
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Wrath
- Written by: John Gwynne
- Narrated by: Damian Lynch
- Length: 23 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Events are coming to a climax in the Banished Lands, as the war reaches new heights. King Nathair has taken control of the fortress at Drassil and three of the Seven Treasures are in his possession. And together with Calidus and his ally Queen Rhin, Nathair will do anything to obtain the remaining Treasures. With all seven under his command, he can open a portal to the Otherworld. Then Asroth and his demon-horde will finally break into the Banished Lands and become flesh.
Written by: John Gwynne
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The Last Four Things
- Written by: Paul Hoffman
- Narrated by: Steve West
- Length: 13 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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The epic story of Thomas Cale continues as the Redeemers use his prodigious gifts to further their sacred goal: the extinction of humankind and the end of the world.To the warrior-monks known as the Redeemers, who rule over massive armies of child slaves, "the last four things" represent the culmination of a faithful life. Death. Judgement. Heaven. Hell. The last four things represent eternal bliss - or endless destruction, permanent chaos, and infinite pain.
Written by: Paul Hoffman
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Bloody Rose
- Written by: Nicholas Eames
- Narrated by: Katherine Fenton
- Length: 18 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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Live fast, die young. Tam Hashford is tired of working at her local pub, slinging drinks for world-famous mercenaries and listening to the bards sing of adventure and glory in the world beyond her sleepy hometown. When the biggest mercenary band of all rolls into town, led by the infamous Bloody Rose, Tam jumps at the chance to sign on as their bard. It's adventure she wants - and adventure she gets as the crew embark on a quest that will end in one of two ways: glory or death.
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Fantastic
- By Amazon Customer on 2018-11-15
Written by: Nicholas Eames
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King of Thorns
- Written by: Mark Lawrence
- Narrated by: James Clamp
- Length: 13 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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The follow-up to Mark Lawrence' s thrilling debut novel Prince of Thorns, King of Thorns continues the tale of antihero Jorg Ancrath. After wresting back control of his kingdom from those who murdered his family, Jorg sees the land erupt with hundreds of battles fought by lords and petty kings. More daunting still, he faces an enemy many times his own strength. Jorg may not be able to win this battle in a fair fight, but he wields a rage and cunning that just might even the odds.
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Excellent sequel
- By Kindle Customer on 2020-10-01
Written by: Mark Lawrence
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.
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What listeners say about Red Sister
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- RioYan
- 2018-09-18
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
6 people found this helpful
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- Chris Tomey
- 2019-01-11
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.
2 people found this helpful
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- Messy Jessy
- 2021-03-24
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.
1 person found this helpful
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- Jamie @ Books and Ladders
- 2018-07-27
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!
1 person found this helpful
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- Katie Spooner
- 2021-05-31
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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- 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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- Patrick
- 2020-08-23
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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- Skylar
- 2020-07-02
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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- 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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- NOV.BABY
- 2019-08-31
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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- jdykes33
- 2017-04-15
Great Story supported by great narration
An excellent offering from Mark Lawrence, one in which he departs from the brooding grimdark tone of the broken empire setting in favor of a lighter (though still dark) coming-of-age story about a young girl, Nona, with extraordinary abilities that she doesn't understand. The writing is consistently excellent, capturing the world of Abeth with wit and often colorful strokes of language.
The middle section of the book drags slightly, but is punctuated with spurts of action to support the emotional character development that goes on between the girls. If anything, I enjoyed the book even more because of the middle third's more relaxed pace and emphasis on the daily lives of the young novices contrasts nicely with quick beginning and dramatic ending of the story.
As for the narrator, don't listen to the people who say she ruined the book. The narration fits perfectly in tone and delivery. Each main character has a distinct voice and mannerisms. The narrator's performance of Nona deserved much praise, and I adored her Irish accent. As anyone who listens to a lot of fantasy audiobooks can tell you, the generic male British narrator gets old, and Heather O'Neil's colorful performance enhances the text and makes it vastly more memorable.
Overall, I would highly recommend this audiobook. Engaging and well-performed, the story of the Sweet Mercy Convent will stick with you long after the final line is delivered.
9/10
230 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 2018-01-02
Couldn't stay with the narration
Any additional comments?
I'm going to go back and read this one in print. I think the story is good, but I could barely follow the narrator. She has a lovely voice and accent, but strange pacing to her sentences and some of the main character voices were very similar to each other. The timeline jumps around too, and explores a lot of different characters, which didn't help - I don't think this is the best story to listen to.
19 people found this helpful
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- Chuck
- 2020-04-29
Minus 50 Points from Gryffindor
So, if Hogwarts were a convent and all the witches were warrior nuns and everything was poorly written, you'd have this book. This story is so poorly written, I couldn't get half way through. There is no world building. I have no idea what world this is in or what time period. Most of the time you don't know what is going on because nothing makes sense. The characters don't make sense. The MC doesn't make any sense, nor is she consistent in her personality. I can only conclude that the MC is schizophrenic. Also, in the convent, they eat piles of bacon and can easily goof off with no notice. Maybe the author should have visited a convent or monastery. I finally shut the book off when one of the warrior nuns was giving a lecture to the "first years". Imagine Progessor Mcgonagle giving a lecture, then ending with "cause we will make the f**kers bleed". That's when I shut it off. This is YA at best with adult themes. All the girls are supposed to be 8years old but act like 15 year olds. The voice acting is excellent. I do NOT recommend this book. I saw some reviewers calling this Lawrence's best book. I guess I won't be reading anymore by him then.
16 people found this helpful
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- D. P.
- 2017-04-21
Awesome start to a new trilogy & a talented reader
Red Sister is a fun read, not too dark but certainly not PG either. The setting is rather unique, I'm definitely intrigued and can't wait to see where it goes. I don't like to give too much away about plot but I will mention one thing that I appreciated. Our hero is no Mary Sue. She is nonetheless deadly and rather awesome. Lawrence did a great job of finding that balance.
I was really impressed with Heather O'Neil as a narrator. Along with a nice reading voice she used distinct but believable voices for each character. I really hope to hear much more of her work!
100 people found this helpful
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- Elvis Selimovic
- 2020-08-17
This book felt like a chore
I usually don't leave a review but this book was just so awful that I had to say something. The story is so incredibly boring that I forced myself to keep listening. It opens and ends OK but the majority of it is a huge letdown. We spend 80% of the book hearing about Nona's training which is very repetitive.
Great narration but an awful book.
11 people found this helpful
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- John Giles III
- 2017-04-19
Absolute Bliss
Ill start by saying Ive read a literal ton of books and I almost never leave reviews. I loved the hell out of this book! Well, I love all of his books, but still! I think this was by far the best writing he's done yet and I can't wait to see what unfolds in the next ones.
It's reminiscent of both Blood Song and Name of the Wind, but only in that it's a framed narrative and the warrior-monk coming of age bit. It's still very much it's own story with a very unique world whose people seem to have a rich history. Subtly post-apocalyptic, concise yet poetic prose, and an interesting yet mysterious (even to the reader who's in her head) main character; this book is a winner. 100%
50 people found this helpful
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- McKell
- 2017-12-27
Hard to finish, but I made it!
This book had such good reviews that I picked it up during the Black Friday sale. Unfortunately, I found the majority of the book quite dull and hard to get through. The only part of the book that I really got into was maybe the last two hours. Even still, the death of characters didn’t resonate with me at all. I wasn’t sad, just ready to move on.
Some reviews I read put this on par with the Kingkiller Chronicles. Having completed the book, I find the comparison to be offensive. This isn’t even in the same arena.
Other reviews said that the all female cast might have made men a bit out of touch with the characters, but I disagree. I’m a woman and I felt out of touch with the characters. I think it is just the writing.
I’m looking forward to getting to a new book that will, hopefully, leave me feeling much more satisfied with my experience. Finishing a book should never feel like a chore, but this one was for me. I’m glad other enjoyed it; however, that love does not transcend to all readers. If you buy it, I hope you enjoy it. I won’t be terribly surprised if you don’t though.
60 people found this helpful
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- Damon
- 2017-06-27
Not As Great As His Others
It pains me to say that this book didn't grab me like Lawrence's others, but it's undeniably true, and I think it should be said because many other reviewers seem to think this is his best work. I'm not one to question a reviewer's opinion, and I'm glad they all loved the book, but my opinion is more lukewarm. Lawrence is a great writer, and as some have noted, this book suggests he continues to increase in skill, but to me, the story just wasn't particularly interesting, and it seemed awfully familiar. One reviewer called it Anthony Ryan's Blood Song, but with girls, and I have to say it's an apt comparison. I really hope my mediocre view isn't due to the main characters being female rather than male, but I did find some of the girlish dialogue tiring. Reminded me of the Wheel of Time and the hours of female-only interactions, which also wore thin. Ultimately I think I must prefer more of a mixed cast (all guy books are equally problematic), and I really missed Lawrence's bizarrely twisted writing found in the prior series. It would likely be inappropriate here, as the book focuses on young girls, but I guess that's the problem. Or my problem. Still, it's a solid book, and I could see the next in the series being better, as the protagonist is definitely interesting and super badass, so the next installments could be more like his other books. As for the narration, she seemed solid to me. Strong voice acting, and despite what one reviewer said about stilted pauses, I think her pauses were perfectly timed to represent the flow of the dialogue.
57 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 2019-04-20
horrible dragged on I returned it
I tried to like this book. I fell asleep listening to it. I did not like the story or the narrator.
6 people found this helpful
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- Zachary
- 2017-06-23
Doesn't live up to the hype
A lot of people raved about Red Sister, but honestly I wasn't that impressed with it. The opening, middle, and end are one story arc, with the rest of the book a second arc that was supposed to catch you up. While the idea was neat, the diller story couldn't match it. The intro of the book far outweighed the rest, to the point where I almost quit reading.
The main issue I had with Red Sister was the jumps in the timeline. Maybe a physical copy doesn't have this problem, but with the way Red Sister was read I had a hard time discerning when Nona was reflecting or if the story was continuing on. Furthermore I found the character development jarring and inconsistent. A lot of time was devoted to inconsequential characters while the protagonists were often ignored.
I wish I hadn't gotten my hopes up reading other reviews because I believe it left me more disappointed in the end. As of now I don't think I would invest in the second book.
23 people found this helpful