Crane (Legends Saga Book 1)

De: Stacey Rourke

Narrado por: Karen Krause

The Horseman is unending, his presence shan't lessen.

If you break the curse, you become the legend.

Washington Irving and Rip Van Winkle had no choice but to cover up the deadly truth behind Ichabod Crane's disappearance. Centuries later, a Crane returns to Sleepy Hollow awakening macabre secrets once believed to be buried deep.

What if the monster that spawned the legend lived within you?

Now, Ireland Crane, reeling from a break-up and seeking a fresh start, must rely on the newly awakened Rip Van Winkle to discover the key to channeling the darkness swirling within her. Bodies are piling high and Ireland is the only one that can save Sleepy Hollow by embracing her own damning curse.

But is anyone truly safe when the Horseman rides?

©2014 Stacey Rourke (P)2015 Stacey Rourke

Exciting

Crane is a captivating tale. The characters and world building are on point! The narration truly brings the story to life!! I am looking forward to seeing where the Author takes this thrilling series

Headless Horseman - Legacy or Curse?

Crane is a new twist in retelling of the Headless Horseman. Centuries later, Ireland Crane, a descendant of Ichabod Crane, is the first Crane to return to Sleepy Hollow and in returning has reawaken the curse. The story is told between the present (Ireland) and the past (Ichabod). As Ichabod Crane and his two friends, Washington Irving, and Rip Van Winkle have defeated the Headless Horseman and the person who is controlling him, someone from the present has risen the Headless Horseman.

In triggering the curse, Rip Van Winkle has awaken from his sleep to help a Crane descendant to defeat the Headless Horseman again. In helping Ireland, Rip has to revealed the truth in Ichabod's mysterious disappearance in any hope that Ireland could defeat the Headless Horseman and to keep Noah from the line of fire.

This story is quite perfect Halloween read to revisit the tale of the Headless Horseman. This is a story bordering of what is fiction and what is fact. Not only does the story show the past repeating itself, it also shows where sacrifice had to be made to keep the curse from manifesting itself. There is quite a bit of humor and wits in story. The readers/listeners are going to get a kick of humor toward the end.

Of course, the story continues with Ireland, Noah, and Rip. They may have defeated the Headless Horseman but someone has a grander sinister plan in stored for Ireland and the Headless Horseman. I can't wait to see what happen next with Ireland and Rip and will Noah remains by Ireland's side.

The narrator, Karen Krause, provided a matter-of-fact voice for Ireland. I love the bantering between the officers and Ireland at the beginning of the story when Ireland was considered a suspect. Rip is just hilarious in how the narrator portrayed him. Readers/Listeners need to think in the legend context of Rip Van Winkle's personality.

I was given this audiobook by the author/narrator/publisher via Audiobook Blast in exchange of an honest review. I was not compensated or influenced in any way for writing this review.

Crane #1

Karen Krause does a great job narrating this book.In Crane,we meet Ireland Crane,a descendent of Ichabods.She makes her new home in Sleepy Hollow and people start dying.She tries to find out WHO is bringing this old legend to life.With help from a recently awake Rip Van Winkle,she finds out.
This audiobook was provided to me at no cost for a fair and honest review

Clever, fun take on the Headless Horseman story

If you could sum up Crane (Legends Saga Book 1) in three words, what would they be?

Exciting, funny, amazing

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Absolutely, the story, moving back and forth between the original in the 1790's and the present day got progressively more exciting and scary.

What about Karen Krause’s performance did you like?

She was perfect! Her characterizations made it very easy to follow who was talking, and her depiction of Ireland made her very real. She knows how to do humor too, which isn't always the case with narrators.

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

Hang on to your head, it's going to be a scary night!

Any additional comments?

I was just so impressed at the humor, originality, and story line of this book. I want to re-read it already.

Legend of Sleepy Hollow has returned!

Is there anything you would change about this book?

We follow the murder's of the Headless Horseman in both times. There is more to the story than simply a headless man cutting off heads. There is also a question I'm curious to see explained in relation to the Headless Horseman.

How to control him.

There is indication of a talisman, which is in two forms. But also, there seems to be control in way of 'payment' (per say) which is used. It seems to me others could use this 'payment' method to make a deal and control the Headless Horseman at any time.

I'm curious to see how this plays out in the series and explained as time goes.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

It has a bit of sweet to the end. Acceptance.

As the story here is finished, there is more to come. A mystery of who knows about the control of the Horseman. Ireland needs to find out. I'm curious as to what Ireland comes across with Rip as they search to find out who knows the secret that was buried in tales about the Headless Horseman.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Karen has vocalized this story in voices slightly different for each character in sound and persona. I got a kick out of her drunken slurring in the first chapter.

We do get a story from past and present, in which Karen has different sounds in speech for different time frames. The dialog for the characters in the past is something I didn't ever grow accustom to, though did feel to get better toward the end of the book. Each word spoken felt stiff and as if it was a sentence of it's own. I know it's of a time that is speech is proper and people watched what they said, but there didn't feel as if there was a flow to the words spoken.

The story and narration of the rest of the story (past and current) along with dialog in present time were read with flow.