Lorena

This is arguably the best book I've ever read, in any genre. I read it first, and then when I saw it here, I had to listen to it as well! Robin Hobb has a gift for creating characters that are so full and true to life that it is difficult to believe they are not real people. Each character is unique, and filled with strengths and flaws. The story itself, is of a boy growing to manhood in a court where he isn't supposed to exist. He learns court politics, takes on a trade (of sorts) and comes to an understanding of who he is.
The magic system is slight, but unique and is weaved into the story to create subtle depth. The dialog is often thought provoking, and I found myself making note of quotes from the book.
Having read the story before listening to it, I was surprised to find how well the narrator's portrayal matched my vision. He is easy to listen to, and captures the tone of the story well.

This is the first in the Farseer series, and really must be read first. It is also the first book set in this world. Hobb's other series are mostly set in the same world. The series don't have to be read in order, but if you do there are ties (sometimes subtle) between them that makes the whole experience more enjoyable. If you want to read them in order, read Farseer, Liveship Traders, Tawny Man, and finally Rainwild Chronicles.

Don't hesitate to get this book, it is well worth it!

Mistborn is epic fantasy at its best. For the last few months, it seems every time I would get recommendations from Audible or follow a new reviewer, someone was raving about Mistborn. Now I know why. Sanderson takes you into a fallen world were evil has ruled for a thousand years and introduces you to a crime team working in its underbelly. I’ve always enjoyed thieving crew storylines with all their impossible situations and plot twists. I’m also an avid epic fantasy reader. Mistborn is an impressive combination of the two. The book is full of action and surprise. The magic system is intricate and clever, while still being understandable and consistent. The characters are deep and full of personality. If you’ve enjoyed books by Robin Hobb, Jim Butcher or Patrick Rothfuss, you will love Mistborn.

This is an elegant story of strength and growth, following a young servant girl who is locked in a tower with her Lady. It drew me in from the first page and, once I finished it, I couldn’t wait to get copies for three of my nieces who range from early teens to early twenties.

The story is one of learning to have strength in adversity, and of knowing your own worth. It delivers a bit of fantasy, a bit of romance and a lot of self-discovery. Young adult or not, this is a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Shanon Hale is a talented author of teen/young adult fiction with strong female characters, interesting plot lines (often based loosely on lesser known fairy tales), and clean language. I recommend The Book of a Thousand Days for any reader over the age of 11. If there are young ladies in your life, I strongly recommend you look into the Goose Girl and Princess Academy, also by Shanon Hale.

I read a lot of Piers Anthony when I was younger and really enjoyed it. When I saw this on Audible, I thought it would be fun to revisit his work...It was! Some of the story was a bit more simplistic than I remember, and the physical relationships of the lead character were a bit much to take. Still, this is a very fun story that is light, humorous, and easy to listen too. The setting is clever, and allows for both fantasy and science fiction. I found both realms to be interesting and unique. Overall, the story had a similar feel to other Piers Anthony books, so if you've enjoyed any of his works, this one won't disappoint. I, for one, am glad I decided to relive this adventure.

Traber Burns did a great job reading the story. He doesn't add as much voice differentiation and drama as some readers, but his story telling is pleasant and consistent. Probably because of these things, his narration doesn't distract from the written story, making you feel more like you've read the book instead of listened to it. I will be looking to see what else he has read.

I usually read epic fantasy, but for years now I have enjoyed diving into a Janet Evanovich book for some light, action packed fun. Her books are laugh-out-loud funny. I love Diesel in the "Between the Plums" books with Stephanie, and the first in this series was worth the listen (even if not quite as good as the Plum books). This one however, falls short. It never caught my attention and it took me weeks to listen to the whole thing because I kept switching to other things. The humor was not fresh, more like leftovers from the first book. And it seemed the book couldn't decide if Wolf was still the bad guy or not. Overall, I don't think I will continue with this series. I'll stick with Stephanie Plum.

I selected this book on a recommendation from a friend and I'm really glad I did. The bulk of the story is related to us by a man telling the story of his life to a scribe of his time. The story he tells is engaging, heartfelt and, for some reason, very hard to stop listening to. The book is given some additional depth by the fact that there is another story happening in present time that suggests that Kvothe's tale isn't as complete as he thinks it is. The story starts out a little slow, but once Kvothe begins to tell his story it's compelling.
Overall, the narrator does a good job of capturing the emotion of the story and drawing you in, he's pleasant to listen to and his voice fits the mood of the story well.
I gave it four stars instead of five, mostly because I prefer a story that provides more depth in the secondary characters. That can be sometimes hard to accomplish in first person, but I've seen it done and it adds a lot. That said, Kvothe typically has enough depth to cover for his less defined friends and the story is still full and fully worth your credit. If you like epic fantasy that takes you on a long journey that spans multiple books, this is for you.

I have read a lot of fantasy in my time and it is rare to come across a story that is truly original. The world Robin Hobb has created in this series is unlike any I've seen, the magic is subtle and the characters are alive. After reading the Farseer trilogy (also by Robin Hobb), I couldn't wait to get my hands on more of her books. This one was as good, if not better. The characters Robin creates are real people, they don't always behave the way you expect them to, they make mistakes and they evolve based on what has happened to them. None of the characters are completely good or completely evil, and they don't fit into classic stereotypes.
This series is actually placed in the same world as the Farseer trilogy and there are a few subtle ties to that story (which is fun if you've read it). If you find you like Robin Hobb's style, you should really consider listening to her works in order. Each trilogy stands alone, but is made better if read in the right order. Start with the Farseer trilogy, next is the Liveship Traders, then the Tawny Man, and finally the Rainwild chronicles. If on the other hand, you are only going to read one set...read this one. It is impossible to stop listening until you've reached the end.

I have read a lot of fantasy in my time and it is rare to come across a story that is truly original. The world Robin Hobb has created in this series is unlike any I've seen, the magic is subtle and the characters are alive. After reading the Farseer trilogy (also by Robin Hobb), I couldn't wait to get my hands on more of her books. This one was as good, if not better. The characters Robin creates are real people, they don't always behave the way you expect them to, they make mistakes and they evolve based on what has happened to them. None of the characters are completely good or completely evil, and they don't fit into classic stereotypes.
This series is actually placed in the same world as the Farseer trilogy and there are a few subtle ties to that story (which is fun if you've read it). If you find you like Robin Hobb's style, you should really consider listening to her works in order. Each trilogy stands alone, but is made better if read in the right order. Start with the Farseer trilogy, next is the Liveship Traders, then the Tawny Man, and finally the Rainwild chronicles. If on the other hand, you are only going to read one set...read this one. It is impossible to stop listening until you've reached the end.

Between Robin Hobb's unquestionable talent for creating true to life characters and Boehmer's ability to tell the story like it's his, you feel as though you've just spent a weekend in front of the fire with Fitz while he entranced you with his life story. While you may not love Fitz (he is most definitely a fallible character), you can't help but feel his love, his wounds, his victories and his losses.

The characters. The depth of each character in this story is simply astounding. Even using the first person narrative, Hobb is able to create a whole host of realistically complex personalities.

The Fool is one of the best characters ever written. He is mysterious, comical, tragic, and heartwarming all at once.

If only there were enough hours in the day, I would listen to all three Farseer books without pause.

This is the third book of an epic fantacy that every fantacy fan must read. I gave it four stars only because I found the other two books to be slightly more enjoyable. This was mostly because the author led you up to the end in exquisite detail and them suddenly ended the story. The ending is complete, it just doesn't have the fullness of description and life that the rest of the story has. That said, this isstill one of the best stories I've ever encountered.