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The Cycle of Arawn
- The Complete Trilogy
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 65 hrs and 54 mins
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The Red Sea
- The Cycle of Galand, Book 1
- Written by: Edward W. Robertson
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 16 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
When Dante Galand was just a boy, his father, Larsin, sailed away to make his fortune. And never returned. Since then, Dante has become a great sorcerer. A ruler. A destroyer of kings. And he's just learned that his father is living on a forbidden island at the edge of the known world. Where he's dying of a mysterious plague. In the company of his friend, the swordsman Blays, Dante travels to the island. There, his magic can do nothing for his father.
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excellent fantasy novel
- By Ian on 2019-07-29
Written by: Edward W. Robertson
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The Sealed Citadel
- The Cycle of the Scour, Book 1
- Written by: Edward W. Robertson
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 10 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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Young Cally is an apprentice within the most unusual order of sorcerers in the known world: the only one that forbids its members from using their powers to kill. Despite his lowly status, Cally's chosen by the Master of the Order to join a delegation to see their allies the Lannovians. The meeting will be historic: 60 years ago, the Order's enemies attacked them with a host of demons, forcing the Order to trap the monsters inside their own citadel and seal it shut with impenetrable wards. The trick worked so well the Order hasn't been able to get it back open since.
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Fantastic book with some sound editing problems.
- By michael fox on 2021-01-11
Written by: Edward W. Robertson
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Theft of Swords [Dramatized Adaptation]
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- Written by: Michael J. Sullivan
- Narrated by: Amanda Forstrom, Andrew Quilpa, Andy Brownstein, and others
- Length: 16 hrs and 59 mins
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There is no ancient evil to defeat, no orphan destined for greatness, just two guys in the wrong place at the wrong time. Royce Melborn, a skilled thief, and his mercenary partner, Hadrian Blackwater, make a profitable living carrying out dangerous assignments for conspiring nobles until they become the unwitting scapegoats in a plot to murder the king. Sentenced to death, they have only one way out...and so begins this tale of treachery and adventure, sword fighting and magic, myth and legend. Avempartha is the second of a six book series entitled the Riyria Revelations.
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The great Michael J Sullivan
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Written by: Michael J. Sullivan
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Nolyn
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After more than 500 years of exile, the heir to the empyre is wary about his sudden reassignment to active duty on the Goblin War’s front lines. His mission to rescue an outpost leads to a dead-end canyon deep inside enemy territory, and his suspicion turns to dread when he discovers the stronghold doesn't exist.
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It was really good
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Written by: Michael J. Sullivan
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The Keeper Chronicles: The Complete Trilogy
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When Mallon the Undying threatened the land years ago, the elves stopped him - and then disappeared. Now Mallon's followers seek to bring him back to finish what he started. Only the Keepers - storytellers, historians, and magic-wielders - are left to stand against them. Alaric, who betrayed everything he believed to save his wife - and still failed. Will, a storyteller who’s convinced his weak magic makes him useless. And Sini, a former slave girl with unimaginable power but no way to wield it.
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surprisingly enjoyable - good for d and d fans
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The Choice of Magic
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The ancient magic of wizards was anything but dark. It was the enlightenment that lifted humanity from the squalor of superstition, and the worship of fell spirits and capricious gods, but those days are gone. The shining glory of the sorcerers burned away the subtlety of wisdom, replacing it with easy power, held only in the hands of the elite - a new age built upon the elemental supremacy of aristocrats and the ignorance of the masses.
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Fantastic story even better narrator
- By Anonymous User on 2020-06-06
Written by: Michael G. Manning
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The Red Sea
- The Cycle of Galand, Book 1
- Written by: Edward W. Robertson
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 16 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Dante Galand was just a boy, his father, Larsin, sailed away to make his fortune. And never returned. Since then, Dante has become a great sorcerer. A ruler. A destroyer of kings. And he's just learned that his father is living on a forbidden island at the edge of the known world. Where he's dying of a mysterious plague. In the company of his friend, the swordsman Blays, Dante travels to the island. There, his magic can do nothing for his father.
-
-
excellent fantasy novel
- By Ian on 2019-07-29
Written by: Edward W. Robertson
-
The Sealed Citadel
- The Cycle of the Scour, Book 1
- Written by: Edward W. Robertson
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 10 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Young Cally is an apprentice within the most unusual order of sorcerers in the known world: the only one that forbids its members from using their powers to kill. Despite his lowly status, Cally's chosen by the Master of the Order to join a delegation to see their allies the Lannovians. The meeting will be historic: 60 years ago, the Order's enemies attacked them with a host of demons, forcing the Order to trap the monsters inside their own citadel and seal it shut with impenetrable wards. The trick worked so well the Order hasn't been able to get it back open since.
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-
Fantastic book with some sound editing problems.
- By michael fox on 2021-01-11
Written by: Edward W. Robertson
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Theft of Swords [Dramatized Adaptation]
- Riyria Revelations, Book 1
- Written by: Michael J. Sullivan
- Narrated by: Amanda Forstrom, Andrew Quilpa, Andy Brownstein, and others
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- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
There is no ancient evil to defeat, no orphan destined for greatness, just two guys in the wrong place at the wrong time. Royce Melborn, a skilled thief, and his mercenary partner, Hadrian Blackwater, make a profitable living carrying out dangerous assignments for conspiring nobles until they become the unwitting scapegoats in a plot to murder the king. Sentenced to death, they have only one way out...and so begins this tale of treachery and adventure, sword fighting and magic, myth and legend. Avempartha is the second of a six book series entitled the Riyria Revelations.
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The great Michael J Sullivan
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Written by: Michael J. Sullivan
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Nolyn
- The Rise and Fall, Book 1
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Overall
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After more than 500 years of exile, the heir to the empyre is wary about his sudden reassignment to active duty on the Goblin War’s front lines. His mission to rescue an outpost leads to a dead-end canyon deep inside enemy territory, and his suspicion turns to dread when he discovers the stronghold doesn't exist.
-
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It was really good
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Written by: Michael J. Sullivan
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The Keeper Chronicles: The Complete Trilogy
- The Keeper Chronicles, Book 1-3
- Written by: JA Andrews
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- Length: 46 hrs and 32 mins
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Overall
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Performance
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When Mallon the Undying threatened the land years ago, the elves stopped him - and then disappeared. Now Mallon's followers seek to bring him back to finish what he started. Only the Keepers - storytellers, historians, and magic-wielders - are left to stand against them. Alaric, who betrayed everything he believed to save his wife - and still failed. Will, a storyteller who’s convinced his weak magic makes him useless. And Sini, a former slave girl with unimaginable power but no way to wield it.
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surprisingly enjoyable - good for d and d fans
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- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
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- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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The ancient magic of wizards was anything but dark. It was the enlightenment that lifted humanity from the squalor of superstition, and the worship of fell spirits and capricious gods, but those days are gone. The shining glory of the sorcerers burned away the subtlety of wisdom, replacing it with easy power, held only in the hands of the elite - a new age built upon the elemental supremacy of aristocrats and the ignorance of the masses.
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Fantastic story even better narrator
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When a storm reveals a mysterious cave behind a waterfall, the young mystic’s apprentice and her wolf investigate. Inside, she discovers a secret place containing a pile of human bones and the young girl makes what could be a fatal mistake. In this Legends of the First Empire prequel, we witness the events that helped shape the woman who would one day become Suri the Mystic, the first Rhune Artist, and a hero to a generation
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Excellent Short Story!
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Michael J. Sullivan garnered critical raves and a massive readership for his Riyria Revelations series. The first book in his highly anticipated Riyria Chronicles series of prequels, The Crown Tower brings together warrior Hadrian Blackwater with thieving assassin Royce Melborn. The two form a less-than-friendly pairing, but the quest before them has a rare prize indeed, and if they can breach the supposedly impregnable walls of the Crown Tower, their names will be legend.
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Enjoyable adventure fair
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found my new favorite author
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Very entertaining
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Legends uncovers the origin of the Ronin and the final breaking. Kail, leader of the Ronin and threader of wind, along with his eight elemental brothers and sisters have been betrayed. On the cusp of defeat, they go to the Hall of Winds, to the council chamber to discover who in their inner circle is the cursed traitor...Only to discover the darkness is much closer than they ever imagined.
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Only a fool would venture into the soul-stealing mists. That’s exactly where Odin is going. Along with blood-brother Loki, he hunts the frost giant who murdered his father. Caught between the machinations of Loki and a goddess, Odin is drawn into a world of sorcerers, trolls, and terrible secrets. Before he’s done, Midgard will drown in blood.
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Infused with magic, shadows and starlight, the powerful godblades were believed to be lost nearly half a millennia ago, when the Godswar ended. Now, however, one has been found by the unlikeliest of wielders: Sampson Gaard, a blind but ambitious prince with something to prove. The only question is whether he controls the blade or the blade him. With an insidious evil lurking in the shadows, the answer may very well determine the fate of all Kingfall.
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Loved it just like the the last series
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Jim was thrust back in time, returned to his body at the moment he started cultivating. Anyone else might have given up, but Jim doesn’t have that option. He’s already made the mistakes that doomed him in his first life, and he knows what to do to make it right. Jim wants to right the wrongs of the past...or future? All while a pair of angry gods torture him through lack of sleep.
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Dragons once soared in the skies, but that was before the Transformation, before they took human form. Now, demonic forces stand to obliterate them. When left mortally wounded, Darnuir, the Prince of Dragons, can only be saved through a dangerous rebirthing spell. He is left as a babe in human hands. Twenty years later, Darnuir is of age to wield the Dragon's Blade. As the last member of his bloodline, he is the only one who can. He is plunged into a role he is not prepared for, to lead a people he does not know.
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It’s not easy making the career jump from office-supplies-store middle manager to heroic interdimensional adventurer. At least, Jason tries to be heroic, but it's hard to be good when all your powers are evil. He’ll face off against cannibals, cultists, wizards, monsters...and that’s just on the first day. He’s going to need courage, he’s going to need wit, and he’s going to need some magic powers of his own. But first, he’s going to need pants.
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Get the Fall of Radiance boxed set, featuring all five action-packed books in the best-selling epic fantasy series - including adventure, magic, war, and a bond between warriors that can't be broken.
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The narrators are the only good thing.
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The Viscount and the Witch
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Eleven years before they were framed for the murder of a king, before even assuming the title of Riyria, Royce Melborn and Hadrian Blackwater were practically strangers. Unlikely associates, this cynical thief and idealist swordsman, were just learning how to work together as a team. In this standalone first installment of The Riyria Chronicles, Royce is determined to teach his naive partner a lesson about good deeds. Join Royce and Hadrian in this short story about one of their earliest adventures.
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this is chapter 2 of the Rose and thorn.
- By Kwan on 2018-12-09
Written by: Michael J. Sullivan
Publisher's Summary
The White Tree (book one): In Mallon, the dark magic of the nether has been banned for centuries. Its users have been driven out or killed. Its secrets lost.
But the holy book of the nethermancers has just been found by a boy named Dante.
As he works to unlock the book's power, he's attacked in the street. The nethermancers aren't gone—and they want their book back. Caught between death cultists and the law, Dante fights for his life, aided by his growing skills and a brash bodyguard named Blays. Together they're drawn into a centuries-old conflict that brings Mallon to the brink of civil war.
Surviving won't be easy. But if they make it out alive, they'll step down the path to becoming two of the greatest warriors the world has ever known.
The Great Rift (book two): Dante and Blays have averted war against their new home of Narashtovik. But they didn't do so alone. It's time to repay their debts.
The norren who helped them remain enslaved by the Gaskan Empire. While arming the norren clans for rebellion, Dante hears one of them is in possession of the legendary Quivering Bow. If he can track down the weapon, it could secure norren independence.
But the wheels of war have already begun to turn. As Gask moves to crush the rebellion, Dante and Blays find themselves at the head of a campaign for survival—for norren and Narashtovik alike.
The Black Star (book three): Narashtovik has been saved—but Dante and Blays' friendship has been destroyed.
Blaming the Gaskan king for the loss of his love, Lira, Blays infiltrates the enemy nobility. There he schemes to bankrupt Gask and drive its ruler from the throne. But Dante's been waiting for Blays' return. If he finds and exposes him, Blays will be executed as a spy.
As they squabble, strange lights shine in the east. Harbingers of a long-forgotten threat. If the signs go ignored, Narashtovik will be annihilated by an enemy it never knew it had.
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What listeners say about The Cycle of Arawn
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Anonymous User
- 2018-09-18
#Audible1
Listened to this title while driving class 1 shift work. Looked forward to every shift just so I could continue this book until completion. Clear narration easily heard over the road noise of a big rig. My favorite chapter is around part 5 - 6 when the main character truly grasps the magical powers within himself. While using them for the defense of others, some unavoidable casualties were inflicted. If you enjoy fantasy and have the time to listen, this title is time well spent.
5 people found this helpful
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- Amy Braun
- 2022-04-09
Very Long But Classic Fantasy
This book is definitely an investment. While it's great for fans of classic epic fantasy, you will feel the length of it by the end. Part of that is because much of the story takes place over the span of years, and there are many moments where the main characters train to use their various skills. That said, it is an exciting story that is well written and had some great banter between its characters.
Dante has an interesting, somewhat morally grey arc, as he is primarily focused on gaining power to use as he deems needed. Blaze, his bodyguard/friend/bantering-buddy also had a compelling arc when the third book came around. I found them to have a great relationship that saw highs and lows, and their dialogue was a lot of fun to experience. There were plenty of side characters who appeared in major and minor roles throughout each book as well, many of whom I found engaging.
The dialogue and banter was well written, though it formed a familiar pattern. While I did enjoy it, some of the characters began to sound a little similar. There were great moments of action throughout each story, especially near the end, and the third book had some twists I didn't expect. For the most part, I found the world to be engaging and easy to understand. All of these aspects were created by an author with a solid voice and understanding of his genre and audience.
While I think this series went on a little too long for my tastes and I found my interest waning at some points (though having said that, it could have been the start of a reading slump), I do think this is a compelling book for fans of swords and sorcery and epic fantasy.
1 person found this helpful
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- Jamie Hugh
- 2022-01-14
Best fantasy audio book yet for me.
I loved it, it has a good balance of action and humour. The banter between the main characters is great, I was laughing out loud quite a few times.
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- Mike Reiter
- 2021-10-10
A decent adventure.
Dante is a teenager when he discovers a man doing what looks like magic. On his journey to discover how this magic is done he meets another teenager, Blays, who is very good with swords. Dante finds the "Cycle of Arawn" as a guiding text that teaches him the magic.
The three novels contained in this audio book are the adventures of their rise, consolidation and protection of power. Like all good hero stories their intentions are good.
There are two types of magic the Nether, which Dante uses and the Ether, which isn't really explored, and may be explored more in later books?
Tim Gerard Reynolds, as always, does an fantastic job of performing the material. One issue I did have is that I have got so used to his voice in the Riyria and Legends series that it was hard not to think of Blays and Dante as characters from Riyria. Once the story picked up that was no longer a problem.
The way magic works is interesting, the characters are engaging. The last story the characters started to feel more two dimensional and if I had listened to these as separate books, I may have given the third book a lower rating. As it is done as one long story, the third book benefits from my brain being in the same context as the first two books when I listened to it. Also the third book had a way more predictable plot twist than the first two.
Over all a good series, worth the time invested.
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- DALE K MCMILLAN
- 2021-09-02
Obnoxious lead characters, great narration
The 2 main characters are horrible, mindless killers, fools, unliveable. There is no logic or reason to their exploits. It’s tiresome listening, but the narration is quite good. I do not recommend this trilogy. I had read that it improves into the second book, but this simply is not true.
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- Amazon Customer
- 2021-05-25
first book is a bit dark and hard to get into
the other 2 books are fun and I enjoyed the bantering between characters. fun listening
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- Exp Comp
- 2021-03-31
The worst
The performance is ruined by the source material. The protagonists are loathsome. Don’t be fooled by the three for the price of one value proposition. You get what you pay for.
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- Chris
- 2020-11-09
3 Books and Done...
Tim Gerard Reynolds is fabulous as Always. Love the 3 books and Finished for the first encapsulated part of this series... wish the author could have had the courage to do this with the Cycle of Galand instead of doing the classic milk it for more than it's worth.
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- A Net In Time
- 2020-06-12
enjoyed the story
well told story. will listen to again sometime.
probably would have enjoyed more just reading it
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- Nathan
- 2020-01-07
unfolds into greatness
took me a while to get hooked, but then wouldnt let me go. The Duo of Blaze and Dante was great fun.
Shades of Royce and Hadrien
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- Jonah
- 2017-06-11
In Response to the Criticism from Other Reviewers
I greatly enjoyed the Cycle of Arawn and have continued to follow the sequel series the Cycle of Galand. The most important thing to know about the series is that the plot is secondary to the characters, specifically the two protagonists. The book is built on their relationship and upon their banter and while there is always some exciting crisis requiring their intervention (or caused by it) their interactions and dialog are the main focus. Tim Gerard Reynolds does a fantastic job of capturing their relationship and their banter, and his performance makes this audiobook worthwhile. That isn't to say that the plot is not interesting or engrossing, just that it is not what makes these books great.
The main criticisms I have seen while reading through the reviews fall into two categories. The first is that the readers did not like the main characters and felt that they were not good enough in the moral sense. While the book is entertaining and much of it has an almost lighthearted feel to it, readers should be warned that the protagonists are not heroes. They lie, cheat, steal and kill throughout the series and while there is development and growth, they not become knights in shining armor. The series follows recent trends towards making more interesting, flawed characters (which in my view is a positive.) But if you are looking for champions of good who fight back the dark forces of evil, look somewhere else. Blayse and Dante invariably try to do what they think is best for them and their allies, but a lot of people still end up dead.
The second category of criticism is that the two protagonists constantly find themselves needing to rush off and complete some quest, save some people, yada, yada, yada. This is true and inherent in the genre and eventually lampshaded in later books. But to reiterate, the plots, while fun, are a setting for the main characters to interact, quip and generally be entertaining as they try to "save the day" or at least muddle through without getting themselves or too many others killed. You could toss the two in any setting and still get a book worth listening too, and to some degree this is what the author does.
The book does start off a bit slowly, but if you stick with it, it quickly and obviously becomes well worth the wait.
302 people found this helpful
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- Christopher
- 2015-10-10
A weird mix of great and awful....
I picked this book up because it's the complete trilogy- basically 3 books in one; a total of 65 hours of listening. That's a pretty good deal for one credit. But this isn't exactly "solid fantasy gold" you're getting here either.
Let's start off with the good, because it does have it's moments. Robertson has a fair bit of depth to his characters as both individuals and the way they interact. In fact, that is probably the book's real strength- the character's relationships and their dynamics. Everything else is really just background to tell the story of the people involved in them- if you keep the objectives blurry and look at the plot from the corner of your eye, and focus on the people, then the story is intriguing.
The bad is the plot itself. At times it makes no sense whatsoever- like, Michael Bay "Transformers level" logic. An example:
One artifact is central to the 1st book as the reason behind everything, yet is dropped and never mentioned by the 2nd book- nor is it ever explained exactly why it was so important. The protagonists, who are trying to get it back from the "heroes", just decide to give up looking for it in the middle of the 1st book, until at the end of the 1st book, at the climax, when the lead hero says "oh, here it is, I've had it all along..." to the people he is trying to kill. Then they have a plot twit, and the "heroes" decide: "Let's just kill everybody", and you are just sitting there going "what was even the point of this story again?????".
Confused? Yeah, reading it doesn't really make things any clearer. It's horribly frustrating. I almost gave up at the beginning of book 2 because I really stopped caring about what the heroes were up to because, basically, they are stupid and their actions don't really make sense. Maybe it gets as good as the "Star Wars" prequels logic by the end- but it never really exceeds that level.
The main characters also have some real flaws with drawing the line between good and bad that I don't think the author really does a good job of sorting out. The The book starts off with the main character murdering someone in "self defense", but it was also because he (the hero) stole something. So, if someone is going to kill you because you stole something, then it's better to kill them 1st than return what you stole... I don't know how righteous that makes you as a person. And I'm fine with a story arc where the character evolves and learns to change from broken to whole, but that journey has to make some sense. He can't just be killing people in one scene, and then be ready lay his life down to save others in another scene, but then killing in another- it doesn't make sense where he is drawing his lines or why they are moving, except maybe on an elementary school level of reasoning.
The 2 main characters relationship, which is the real story here (and it's as "brothers" in every sense, in case that statement has weird connotations) also start out oddly. In the beginning they pretty much hate each other; yet it changes quickly and drastically to a very strong bond between the two. But it happens too quickly and without enough reasoning to really make sense.
So, if you are looking for a book that is about the people involved in the story and can ignore the story itself, then this will probably be interesting to you. But if watching movies like "Transformers" and the 3 "Star Wars" prequels drives you nuts because what is happening makes little sense, then this book will probably just be frustrating.
I struggled with the point system for rating this book. In a perfect world, we'd have 1/2 stars instead of full ones, in which case I'd give the overall 2 1/2 stars and the story 1 1/2. It really doesn't rate a 3 star for the overall, but it's not as bad as a 2 star either. Same for the story rating (except 1 point lower).
266 people found this helpful
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- Alex
- 2015-06-26
65 hours of awsome for 1 credit
Would you consider the audio edition of The Cycle of Arawn to be better than the print version?
yes, Tim Gerard Reynolds voice will forever be Dante and Blaze
Have you listened to any of Tim Gerard Reynolds’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
he did as good on this as he did on The Riyria Chronicles, one of the best fantasy stories I've ever listened too on audible.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
dark fantasy with a side of snarky humor
Any additional comments?
if you've read The Riyria Chronicles, and loved it, you'll like this slightly darker world with two similar pals. Dante and Blaze are a lot of fun to listen too as they go back and fourth with each other and the others around them. your crazy not to spend one credit on 65 hours of fun entertainment.
176 people found this helpful
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- jazmaan
- 2015-09-05
Entertaining and Fun
Would you listen to The Cycle of Arawn again? Why?
I might go back and listen to the first book again, this trilogy is so long I've forgotten some of the first book already!
What did you like best about this story?
I liked the fact that it never dragged over 65 hours!
Have you listened to any of Tim Gerard Reynolds’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
Reynolds may have even improved since he narrated the Riyria Chronicles!
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Ha ha. 65 hours is too long for any one sitting!
Any additional comments?
I don't agree with people complaining about so many of the characters being smart-alecks. I enjoyed every bit of the wise-cracking repartee and just accepted it as a cultural thing common to this fantasy world. This "Cycle" reminded me a lot of the Riyria Chronicles. I'd say it doesn't quite measure up to Riyria, but it was still quite enjoyable and I hope there's even more to come in this series.
138 people found this helpful
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- Kindle Customer
- 2015-06-18
An amazing audio experience
This is a hidden gem. I'd never heard of this author before I saw this pop up in the new releases. I however love the narrator and the premise sounded great. It blew me away! Snappy witty dialogue, deep character development, interesting world and magic system. Very satisfying conclusion and with a new Trilogy in the works. Enjoy the ride and don't rush this experience.
135 people found this helpful
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- Bob-o
- 2015-07-04
Worst Epic Fantasy of 2015
I pre-ordered this book at once after reading the Publisher's Summary, AND because the books were very long. I like long epic books. Anyway, understanding that this is a dark series, from the Publisher's Summary, I felt prepared for this series, and the First Book met my expectations for the first quarter, or half of the book, at which point I found out that I really didn't like protagonist. He's not the "bad guy you have to love" kind of guy, he's just a jerk, plane and simple.Then he meets his Body Guard and it becames a battle about who could be the biggest jerk. Towards the end of the Book One you find out that there is a Prophecy to fulfill, and it's one that sounded like it would be an interesting path for the story to go. Book Two is just one long sarcastic conversation amongst all of the characters. Not much more to add there and not much about the Prophecy either. In Book Three the protagonist is somewhat repentant, but he's still isn't likeable, and the other characters are still having their long sarcastic conversation. When I finished Book Three I kept thinking what happened to the Prophecy ?!?!? There was supposed to be a Prophecy to fulfill, but there wasn't. What's the author thinking? The magic system was kind of interesting, as far as blood magic. However, by the end of these books the guy has cut himself so much that his arms are one big scar, and that's just gross. These books are just bad. Don't bother with this series, it isn't worth a credit, AND you're certainly not going to miss out on anything.
120 people found this helpful
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- Duane
- 2016-03-25
Prepare for an overwhelming sense of indifference
I never give reviews, so the simple fact that I'm writing this speaks volumes about how much I didn't like this book.
I thought that getting 3 epic fantasy books for 1 credit would be a steal. Sadly, it didn't take long to to understand why this is offered at only 1 credit, and even at that, it's not worth it. I'll admit that I didn't make it through this entire trilogy. I made it about 2 hours into the second book and decided I just couldn't take it any more. Therefore, most of my opinion is based on the first book.
Plot - The plot was incredibly shallow and lacked any real depth. I found myself not caring whether the main characters, Dante and Blays, succeeded or failed on their quest. There was never any real explanation or sense of urgency as to why their success was so important. Sure, it was explained that it was to "stop a war", but there was never a strong case developed as to whether or not their plan would do that, or what the consequences of their failure would be.
Characters - The characters were not particularly likable and they were never developed enough to know what made them do what they did. I couldn't relate to any of them and really had no emotional attachment to them whatsoever. As others have stated, the two protagonists especially were constantly whining and bickering with each other and everyone else they met along the way. I actually hated Dante, the main character, from the opening scene in the book where he needlessly killed another man in cold blood. In fact, his solution to almost every problem they faced seemed to be to kill someone. I honestly wasn't sure that the antagonist of the book was actually the evil villain or if the ones who sent our "heroes" on their journey would turn out to be the "bad guys". There just wasn't enough background or depth provided on any of them for me to commit either way, or therefore, care either way. During an "epic" battle near the climax of the book, I actually found that it really didn't matter to me what happened to Dante and Blays and I certainly wasn't on the edge of my seat to see if they made it through unscathed.
Magic system - I was actually a bit turned off by the dark nature of the magic system. Blood, shadows and reanimation of dead corpses are normally things reserved for evil wizards. Others may enjoy that sort of thing, but I would rather leave the dark magic to the evil forces and not root for it. Aside from the type of magic, it just wasn't defined very well. How it actually worked and any limitations it had were never satisfactorily explained.
Overall I just didn't enjoy listening to this as much as I wanted to. The narrator did a fine job, there just wasn't a good enough story behind it to make it worth the listen. You'll do better to skip this one and spend the credit on something else.
96 people found this helpful
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- Nathan Parker
- 2015-08-15
Flawless
Our protagonists start out as amoral dirtbags, but become better people as the story progresses. The banter amongst characters is hilarious, sometimes on the Monty Python level. The characters themselves are pretty sharply defined and have their own unique personalities. And it's nice to have a fantasy book where the bad guys aren't trying to destroy the entire fabric of reality.
The narrator is outstanding.
55 people found this helpful
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- jay
- 2015-09-25
Top rate fantasy series, nearly flawless in its development
After a sluggish start, couldn't put it down. Picked this up as a commute time filler and was not disappointed. Excellently crafted storyline surrounded by well developed characters compelling the reader for more!
54 people found this helpful
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- Christoffer
- 2015-08-05
Not worth even the discount price
Would you try another book from Edward W. Robertson and/or Tim Gerard Reynolds?
No. Imagine how horrible the result would be if you yourself had tried your to write your own version of Robert Jordan-esqe fantasy when you were 14 years old. That's what this feels like. The narrator was OK, but the character portraits in this book was so shallow and cliché that I almost thought it a parody. After a few chapters when I realised that simply throwing the main character into the adventure without any clue as to his motivations, his personality or indeed any of his inner workings except immediate fear of getting killed and an inexplicable drive to learn magic - I turned it of in bewildered disgust.
Has The Cycle of Arawn turned you off from other books in this genre?
I have listened to a hundred books via audible and this is the first time I have written a full review. I just felt that I had to try and warn people.
There is good fantasy, and nowadays with people like GRRM and Sanderson there is no excuse for lack of character
Did Tim Gerard Reynolds do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?
The narrator was fine, its just that the characters were so two dimensional that he didn't have much to work with
46 people found this helpful