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The Pariah

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The Pariah

Written by: Anthony Ryan
Narrated by: Steven Brand
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"A gritty, heart-pounding tale of betrayal and bloody vengeance. I loved every single word." —John Gwynne

The Pariah begins a new epic fantasy series of action, intrigue and magic from Anthony Ryan, a master storyteller who has taken the fantasy world by storm.
Born into the troubled kingdom of Albermaine, Alwyn Scribe is raised as an outlaw. Quick of wit and deft with a blade, Alwyn is content with the freedom of the woods and the comradeship of his fellow thieves. But an act of betrayal sets him on a new path - one of blood and vengeance, which eventually leads him to a soldier's life in the king's army.

Fighting under the command of Lady Evadine Courlain, a noblewoman beset by visions of a demonic apocalypse, Alwyn must survive war and the deadly intrigues of the nobility if he hopes to claim his vengeance. But as dark forces, both human and arcane, gather to oppose Evadine's rise, Alwyn faces a choice: can he be a warrior, or will he always be an outlaw?

"This makes a rich treat for George R.R. Martin fans." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
For more from Anthony Ryan, check out: Raven's Shadow TrilogyBlood SongTower LordQueen of Fire Raven's Blade DuologyThe Wolf's CallThe Black Song The Draconis Memoria TrilogyThe Waking FireThe Legion of FlameThe Empire of Ashes Action & Adventure Dark Fantasy Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Royalty Heartfelt
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What the critics say

“Gritty and well-drawn, this makes a rich treat for George R.R. Martin fans.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A gritty, heart-pounding tale of betrayal and bloody vengeance. I loved every single word."—John Gwynne
"A master storyteller."—Mark Lawrence
"Fans of broadscale epic fantasy along the lines of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series and George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire novels should find this debut much to their liking."—Library Journal on Blood Song
"[Blood Song] certainly has it all: great coming-of-age tale, compelling character and a fast-paced plot. If [Ryan's] first book is any indication of things to come, then all fantasy readers should rejoice."—Michael J. Sullivan on Blood Song
"Ryan hits all the high notes of epic fantasy--a gritty setting, ancient magics, ruthless intrigue, divided loyalties and bloody action."—Publishers Weekly on Blood Song
"A page-turner."—Booklist on Blood Song
"Readers who enjoy their fantasy fast and furious will find Ryan's latest to be an immensely satisfying, top-notch adventure fantasy."—Kirkus on Wolf's Call
"Robin Hobb meets Joe Abercrombie in a story that delivers so many gut-wrenching blows. This is fantasy with a totally legendary feel; it's epic in every regard."—Fantasy Book Review on The Wolf's Call
"[A] thrilling deep dive into fantasy warfare."—Publishers Weekly on The Wolf's Call

Continue the series
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All stars
Most Relevant
This is just the beginning of an epic journey, with the first book leading into two more captivating installments. After finishing all three, I found myself wishing for even more. The characters are exceptionally well-developed, and the story seamlessly unfolds, keeping you engaged and eager to see what happens next. The narrator does an outstanding job of storytelling, and his accent adds an extra layer of intrigue to the experience.

10 stars. loved it.

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Excellent writing, a believable flawed protagonist. Love it.
I just wish the Narrator was able to do more than a single voice, or able to at least express emotion through his voice.

Great story, lacking narration

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Meh. Compelling enough in its world building but otherwise underwhelming. Plot twists flagged well ahead of happening so no surprises. Good religion construction. Glad it is over. Pedestrian narration.

Middle of the road fantasy

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I have enjoyed every Anthony Ryan audio book and this one is no exception. I look forward to the next

Another excellent story

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Fantastic. I got baited by that really cool cover art and to my shame expected some universally average revenge story. I got soooo much more. The MC is well written. He shows intelligence through action and dialogue not just pompous expository and boring self reflection. Religion is a major subject in this book and is tackled quite respectfully compared to other books nowadays where all priests are corrupt lil boy touchers and the MC is usually a sarcastic atheist. Kind of hard to get a handle on the world scale and political powers through audio form, character names that dont pop up frequently are easily forgotten. MIght be more enjoyable in text form for me personally. Looking forward to the next book.

Please let this get the attention it deserves.

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