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  • The Torch That Ignites the Stars

  • Arcane Ascension, Book 3
  • Written by: Andrew Rowe
  • Narrated by: Nick Podehl
  • Length: 17 hrs and 21 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (627 ratings)

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The Torch That Ignites the Stars

Written by: Andrew Rowe
Narrated by: Nick Podehl
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Publisher's Summary

After concluding their first year at Lorian Heights, Corin and his friends catch a train from their native Valia to the distant country of Caelford.

For most, this would be a simple vacation. Corin has other plans:

  • Meet Anabelle Farren, the eccentric owner of Farren Labs, and learn about artificial attunements.
  • Seek out Warren Constantine, a previous Arbiter, for training and a potential alliance.
  • Find the visage Ferras herself to seek a cure for Sera's condition.

Of course, Corin is Corin, and there's absolutely no chance he's going to be able to stick to a list. Even if he miraculously developed a sense of focus, he isn't the only one with plans....

The Blackstone Bandit. Everyone's favorite mysterious book entity. The aforementioned Farren. A vacationing professor. The mirror of a figure from Keras' past. When their plots intersect, Corin and his friends are, predictably, stuck at the center.

It's going to be a long vacation.

©2021 Andrew Rowe (P)2021 Podium Audio

What the critics say

Winner of the 2020 Stabby Award for Best Self-Published/Independent Novel!

What listeners say about The Torch That Ignites the Stars

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Pretty good story, I'd recommend

I really like this series. I only just realized that there were other books about Keras and Wrynn as well. This series was my first introduction. I hope there will be more books. I like that Corin has his flaws. I don't like that Sera acts like she's the main character though and Corin has to tell her everything and clear all his decisions with her, yet she doesn't inform Corin of all the similar things about her. The series has a great sense of humour as well, Rings of Derrick control, and the Stabbening. I'm looking forward to book 4.

I wasn't a big fan of Annabelle Farren, of how she talked. Of course she was seeing a lot of futures, but from what Keras said much of it was an act, and I think Corin should have called her on it and told her to quit annoying him and talk straight.

Also the characters established that everyting they do in the spires is listened to by either the Visages or the whispers, and yet knowing this when they went into the Tiger Spire they were talking about fighting Mizuchi a god beast who works for the Goddess/Visages , and talking about plotting against her. Then after that colossal mistake when Meltlake didn't return from her judgement they thought it was going to be ok? It was already stated that the whispers would make impossible challenges or just kill people outright if they were going against the Visages. There is a near zero chance they'd allow Meltlake to pass her judgement after the stuff she spoke about in the spire.

I'm also surprised with all the information Corin has learned about atunements, and Visages, and Godbeasts, and talking to Constantine and seeing what he did and his warnings about Farren, that Corin didn't realize that the Goddess/Visages built in the Emerald max limit into attunements on purpose, and also have the ability to control/destroy people's attunements remotely. Corin should definitely remove his attunements too since they can't be altered. However not before he gets to Citrine and learns all the stuff in the restricted parts of attunements. Then he can give himself safe Attunements that can go well above Emerald that cannot be disabled similar to the ones he already had before he removes his compromised attunements. That way he won't lose any functionality, but will remove the security back doors.

Nothing more was said about this Peridot level, But Peridot is also green just like Emerald, so I'm not sure what level it's supposed to be. I assume after Emerald is Sapphire which is blue, then It would be something purple probably Amethyst... though if they're following the rainbow it should be indigo then Violet instead of just purple... so maybe Amethyst and something else Tourmaline, Diamond... though Diamond might be white which would be the last one. So who knows.

I wonder if Sera realized with her new contract ability that she can probably make a contract with Keras now. Also Corin wouldn't have been short mana if he'd made mana batteries of all the other mana types the Crystal could use during his trial instead of hoarding the mana. He would have made the cost back and had a bunch of new types of mana to access.

I hope Corin just denounces house Cadence and tells Magnus to take a hike. He has Keras with him, so it's not like Magnus can do much, and they're actually in a public place. What a cliff hanger.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great Continuation

Narrator is amazing, clear distinct voices for the whole range of characters. As always the book keeps giving insights to a wonderfully interesting world, and the questions just keep coming. Can't wait for the next one.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Too much gender/sex politics but good otherwise

lots of lore in this book which I loved. Just wish the author would stop making characters sexually confused, it distracts from everything as it rings of modern day politics when I just want a fun fantasy book. otherwise I really enjoyed it.

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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Couldn't put it down

If you liked the last books, Rowe is at the top of his game. Definitely more laugh-out-loud moments here than the previous books, and a peak behind some of the curtains.

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    4 out of 5 stars

I wish books didn't end with big cliff hangers

great addition to Andrew rowes current story. Really enjoy the characters and the story so far.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Break adventures Cadence style

I love this series, both Andrew Rowe and Nick Podehl do a wonderfull job making these world complete. The world building and series cross overs really make the story gripping, and the Voices done by Nick Podehl really bring the story to life, and he does such a great job you can tell who makes a cameo just by the voice before they even identify themselves.

I devoured this book in 2 days. Now I must impatiently wait for another installment :) which basically means I'm going to register to all the sub series.

I really enjoyed getting to see a bit more of the world in this one, learning some more in depth magic theory and seeing a new Spire :) I think the Tigre Spire is more up my ally

can't wait to see how year 2 goes.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A rough start but an end that leaves you wanting more

The performance from Nick Podehl is fabulous. Always seems to know how to make the main character whinny but not irritating, keeping me in the story when I would have normally put a book down.

The story it’s self in the beginning is a little rough as it tries to weave couple of plots from other series together, making the first couple of chapters feel more like one giant prologue. Once that is out of the way, this entire book feels like a interlude for what is to come starting off several new stories lines and leaves you with an ending (at least for me) wanting more.

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amazing series/ fantastic narrator!

a must read for any adventure lover, I can't wait for the next adventure in this wonderful world!

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a.rowe

There should be another book. At least a lead off series tying this Universe together. No?

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good story, great narrator

I really like the narrator, he brings all the characters to life.
The story is engaging, but i prefer the first book.

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