The Warden

A Novel

By: Daniel M. Ford

Narrated by: Lindsey Dorcus

Length: 13 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

"Lindsey Dorcus smoothly narrates this adventurous audiobook perfect for fans of fantasy role-playing games."—AudioFile

For fans who have always wanted their Twin Peaks to have some wizards, THE WARDEN is a nonstop action adventure story from author Daniel M. Ford.

There was a plan.

She had the money, the connections, even the brains. It was simple: become one of the only female necromancers, pass as many certifications as she could, get a post near the capital, then… profit. The funny thing about plans is that they are seldom under your control.

Now Aelis, a daughter of a noble house and a trained Magister of the Lyceum, finds herself in the far-removed village of Lone Pine. Mending fences and delivering baby goats, serving people who want nothing to do with her. But, not all is well in Lone Pine, and as the villagers Aelis is reluctantly getting to know start to behave strangely, Aelis begins to suspect that there is far greater need for a warden of her talents than she previously thought.

Old magics are restless, and an insignificant village on the farthest border of the kingdom might hold secrets far beyond what anyone expected. Aelis might be the only person standing between one of the greatest evils ever known and the rest of the free world.

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor.com.

©2023 Daniel M. Ford (P)2023 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"An appealing new fantasy series filled with adventure, action, and old magic."—Library Journal

"Captures an endearing fish out of water vibe in this pleasantly romantic fantasy about the importance of supporting one’s local necromancer. . . . The charming misfit cast is the highlight here. Readers who enjoy the maturing mages and heroes of Robin McKinley and Melissa Caruso will find another youngster on the rise to cheer for in these pages."—Publishers Weekly

“I would definitely recommend this book if you are looking for a quick fantasy read that features a strong female protagonist, really cool magic, and some fascinating worldbuilding that transports the reader into a wondrous setting “—Out of This World SFF

Great Book

I enjoyed listening to this book. I can’t wait for the next one to be published

Great Magic/ Great world/ Good Characters

I liked this book, throughly enjoyable. Liked the characters. The story was engaging. The magic and world building was interesting. The only real thing that was lacking was the narrator made the main character feel very whiny and childish at times and I don’t know if I would have read it that way. Overall worth listening to/reading.

A Tonne of fun!

I absolutely adored this book. Been a huge fan of this author since the fantastic Paladin Trilogy, and The Warden very much continues to please. Aelis is great, Tonne is even better (I’m a sucker for what he can do) and even better, there’s damn good comedy in here.

My only complaint is that I wish it was longer. I desire more please.

Fast-Paved Adventure

While it isn't central to the plot (so far) this story is LGBTQ+ inclusive and I loved that in this world, it's just accepted & no one cares enough to comment.

I also like that the hero is a necromancer. Kind of a new twist on the anti-hero. Loved the ending but hate that it's a cliffhanger!

Surprisingly cozy!

I didn’t know much about this book going in but with that cover I wasn’t expecting the slice of life aspects. Thoroughly enjoyable and likely one I will reread. Can’t wait for more!

Amazing

My favorite author strikes again! Cannot wait til the series continues! This title even got my wife enthralled!

Cozy fantasy but make it darker

Really loved this one! Excellent narration to a character driven story that still has great plot and pace and feels very dynamic and easy to read. Cannot wait for book 2.

Slice of Life Tale Lays Groundwork for Deeper Myst

I definitely can sympathize with Aelis having to be sent to a part of the world where her talent and expertise aren't truly appreciated, eschewing the trappings of a noble's lifestyle for a rougher way of life in Lone Pine. I'm glad for her that she was able to find friends in Tun and Maurenia, and I expect that they will play a larger role in the following books as the secrets Aelis is encountering on the frontier start to come to light. Daniel's talent for storytelling and dedication to his craft is just as apparent in this first book of his new trilogy as it was in the Paladin trilogy.

This was a slow burn

I liked the narrator she did a great job but the story itself was just too slow