The Darkling Thrush

By: Josh Lanyon

Narrated by: Max Miller

Length: 5 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

Fed up with his desk duty in the Imperial Arcane Library, book hunter Colin Bliss accepts a private commission to find The Sword's Shadow, a legendary and dangerous witches' grimoire. But to find the book, Colin must travel to the remote Western Isles and solve a centuries' old murder.

Please note: This book contains gay erotic content.

©2012 Josh Lanyon (P)2012 Josh Lanyon

Lanyon is top notch... Max Miller is a treat

Where does The Darkling Thrush rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of the most enjoyable books I've listened to..I hope Max Miller reads more Lanyon in the future.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Septimos....I love the mysterious and strong type.

Which scene was your favorite?

I really felt the tension when Septimos told Collin he WILL obey him. Collin reacted as I suspected he would.

Any additional comments?

I loved this story...Josh Lanyon is the ice cream and Max Miller the whipped cream.

Just what I was looking for

I wanted something light, not too long, gay but not massively steamy, with a base story of fantasy. This fit the bill. There was more lore about magic than actual magic itself. The intrigue is interesting, the characters are all quite dark. I have to say I wasn't as enthusiastic about the narrator as in some of the other reviews, but he did grow on me. He does some other accents pretty well, and yes, the Gaelic should have tripped up just about anyone, yet he sailed right through it.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes tales about magic, with Celtic influence and who likes (or at least doesn't a bit of gay sex)

Meh.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The romance. It felt rushed and weird as hell. I didn't feel like they really had a relationship, and maybe I should have paid closer attention to the blurb because I didn't guess who his love interest was, and when it started I was really surprised and thrown for a loop. I mean, his boyfriend is an asshole for most of the book so I just couldn't see them actually being in love.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Max Miller?

Haha, I actually have and his voice cracks me up; I like him but he's definitely not my favorite. I probably will try to avoid buying more audiobooks with him as the narrator. I don't know, I keep changing my mind about whether I actually like his voice or not.

Could you see The Darkling Thrush being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Haha, no. That would be awkward as hell.

Any additional comments?

I liked the main character, but other than that I found the plot confusing, and the romance awful. I'm not sure if it is because listening rather than reading this book caused me to get really confused about the weird book backstory, but I'm not even really sure what was going on half the time. Probably I won't read it again.

If books could talk

In this alternate reality, for certain people, books can tell the secrets of who has read, owned, and written them. Collin Bliss is one of the people who knows what books have to say. As a book hunter, he expects to have a year of field work in England when he accepts an exchange position with the Museum of the Literary Occult. Unfortunately, he's stuck behind a desk all day. Given the chance to use his talent, he takes a side job that the Museum would rather he didn't. Septimus Marx is challenged with stopping Collin from finding the book he seeks, by means fair or foul. Can love find it's way, can events be changed so that the world doesn't end?
.....................Of course, but it's a close thing.

The Darkling Thrush

What did you love best about The Darkling Thrush?

I should state here, that I am not usually into fantasy and other worlds. What I liked best about this story was the fact that it was a mystery within the fantasy and I could follow both the story in the fantasy world and the mystery.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Colin Bliss because he was the hero of the story and Septimous Marx the love interest. Both are interesting characters and fun to read about.

What does Max Miller bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

As I have said, I am really not that into fantasy, but Max Miller's rendition of the story was wonderful. His words flowed so well and I felt he knew the characters and represented them very well. When I first read the book, I got a little lost in all of the "other world" stuff. Max Miller makes it real. You feel you are in the world with Colin and Marx.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Fantasy, gay mystery.

Any additional comments?

I thoroughly enjoyed this presentation and hope to listen to more of Max Miller and Josh Lanyon presentations.

Enjoyable and well read story

What did you love best about The Darkling Thrush?

The narrator did an exellent jobb and was well suited for the characters and the story. He felt very natural in his preformance.

What did you like best about this story?

The unusual story-concept where magic is a normal part of everyday life

Interesting fantasy!

Another good narration by Max Miller. The story was an enjoyable fantasy. The world building was very interesting and I'd like to know more.

Another great from Lanyon.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. I loved the blending of modern and magic. The whole story was well written, and the narrator was good.

Who was the most memorable character of The Darkling Thrush and why?

Colin Bliss, the main character. He's thrown into an awkward situation with an ex lover, when he's far away from home, and he makes rash decisions.

Any additional comments?

There are a few sex scenes in it, but not every 10 minutes, like some other books. Also, there is one little aspect that I wish they has wrapped up a little more, but it's not dire to the plot, so it doesn't bother me too much.

Not What You're Expecting

What does Max Miller bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Miller is BRILLIANT when it comes to accents and distinguishing character voices, but otherwise he seems to have a quiet, tight-lipped style of narration that I found infuriating. Were it not for the fact that his words are intelligible and distinguishable, I would characterize his narration as "mumbling."
Perhaps this was done intentionally to add to the clandestine and 'mysterious' nature of the story, but I found it frustrating that I had to set my device to the maximum volume setting and, even then, often have to listen strenuously just to understand what was being said.

Any additional comments?

The story seems to take place in a demi-alternate universe where magic and witchcraft are common and mainstream concepts and practices. If you are interested in a mystery novella in a somewhat alternate universe involving literary recovery, the occult, and some shallow, underdeveloped m/m romance, 'The Darkling Thrush' is for you. If, after you read the synopsis, you are expecting a mystery/romance set in your present reality, alter your expectations of the story's setting, and prepare yourself for more-than-wanting audio/narration quality, and you may be prepared for an enjoyable listen. Otherwise, give this title a pass.

great fantasy mystery.

Would you listen to The Darkling Thrush again? Why?

yes. first interduction to Josh Lanyon's works. Great mystery , it kept me guessing whom the culprit was, and the by play of septimus and colin. Also intrigued byparanormal and fantasy settings as much as I enjoy mysteries

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Darkling Thrush?

the discovery of WHO was not involved in dark "arts"

Have you listened to any of Max Miller’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no I really enjoyed it at first his voice was rather dark and drawling and I wasn't sure I would enjoy it but, whammo it caught me and kept me. Mr Millers narration made it ethereally creepy in an appropriate way

If you could rename The Darkling Thrush, what would you call it?

I'm no writer, titles only catch my interest but the blog and sample are the sellers.

Any additional comments?

After discovering Mr Lanyon thru audible books, I began to look for the companion novels. I don't care what he writes, its always a grade above most writers.