Hart's Hope Audiobook By Orson Scott Card cover art

Hart's Hope

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Hart's Hope

By: Orson Scott Card
Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki, Carrington Macduffie
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Enter the city of Hart's Hope, ruled by gods both powerful and indifferent, riddled with sorcery and revenge. The city was captured by a rebellious lord, Palicrovol, who overthrew the cruel king, Nasilee, hated by his people.

Palicrovol, too, was cruel, as befitted a king. He took the true mantle of kinghood by forcing Asineth, now Queen by her father's death, to marry him, raping her to consummate the marriage. (But he was not cruel enough to rule.) He let her live after her humiliation; live to bear a daughter; live to return from exile and retake the throne of Hart's Hope.

But she, in turn, sent Palicrovol into exile to breed a son who would, in the name of the God, take back the kingdom from its cruel Queen.

©1983 Orson Scott Card (P)2005 Blackstone Audiobooks Epic Fairy Tales Fantasy Heartfelt Scary

Critic reviews

"A fantastic tapestry woven around wholly believable characters." (Fantasy Review)
Unique Storytelling • Intriguing Construction • Phenomenal Narrator • Deep Fantasy • Rich Meaning • Beautiful Prose

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Does power always corrupt? Do horrifying incidents always create horrifying villains? Is a queen evil if she rules with absolute power and torments her tormentors and yet gives a good life to her people? At what point does revenge consume the avenger? At what point is justice served?

Anyway, all these questions are asked and none of them are answered - which is nice because I like to be left to figure out the moral of the story on my own.

The narration is fantastic. And the story itself will keep you listening if only to find out if justice is served. The material is mature and disturbing, however, so be prepared for unpleasant goings-on (i.e. rape, infanticide, torture).

Thanks for not spelling out the moral of the story

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I struggled through the beginning, but it gets better. Not my favorite Card book personally.

It gets better

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I love Hart's Hope. It's a glory among fantasy. No, it's not clean and pretty and sweet and upbeat, as some people expect after reading some of Card's novels. It is, in fact, dark-dark-dark, and the ending is ambiguous.

But it has one of the most intriguing story constructions you'll ever encounter, and a milieu so unique and deep, you'll never forget it.

I warn you again: This is DARK fantasy. But with lyrical, soaring prose that hypnotizes you from the first word, it's worth reading -- or listening to. Get it. You won't regret it.

Mesmerizing fantasy!

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As always Orson Scott Card’s writing leaves you paths to see deeper into yourself and question things. This one is full of pain but so much beauty and love. Worth the read/listen. Narrators were perfect for this book.

Beautiful and painful

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Beware this story is very dark and disturbing.

I was given this book shortly after it was published. I read and re-read the paper book a few times, gave it to friends to read too. The story stuck with me and I got the audiobook, it did not disappoint.

Take a chance on this one.

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