• Ascendant's Rite

  • The Moontide Quartet, Book 4
  • By: David Hair
  • Narrated by: Nick Podehl
  • Length: 29 hrs and 31 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (2,277 ratings)

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Ascendant's Rite  By  cover art

Ascendant's Rite

By: David Hair
Narrated by: Nick Podehl
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Publisher's summary

The last few months of the moontide - when the bridge connecting East and West rises above the sea - has come, and in the West Emperor Constant prepares the final phase of his plan to conquer the East.

For failed mage Alaron and his companion Ramita - widow to the mage who built the Leviathan Bridge - the unthinkable has happened. They have lost the Scytale of Corineus, the key to the Rite of Ascendancy, as well as one of Ramita's infant sons, to the hands of their deadliest enemies.

In Javon, Cera Nesti, the imprisoned queen, has been freed, and plots to take on the overwhelming might of the Rondian Empire. But standing between her and her goal is a band of deadly mercenaries playing a dangerous game of their own.

And in the East, Seth Korion's Lost Legions must navigate treacherous roads to gain safety, bearing secrets that could bring down the Emperor.

The time has come for the Rite of Ascendancy to be performed. New powers must rise to save or damn Urte, and on the mighty Leviathan Bridge itself, all will be decided.

©2015 David Hair (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved. Published by arrangement with Quercus Editions Ltd (UK).

What listeners say about Ascendant's Rite

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Phenomenal End to an Amazing Series

I've been waiting for this book to be released since March after I finish the first 3 books of the Moontide Quartet. I cannot recommend the series enough. Its the ultimate epic fantasy that has the perfect mix of adventure, mystery and intrigue with strong characters that suck you in to a masterfully depicted world that the author has created. On top of the great story, Nick Podehl brings the characters to life with his phenomenal performance. I couldn't stop listening to all four books. You will not be disappointed.

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7 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

I didn't get what I wanted, but it is not my book

There are SOooooOOo many things that I thought should have gone differently. And i'm not necessarily upset about the ending in "I didn't get my way." However, I think it felt a bit rushed towards the end. Not to mention how many loose strings were left un finished. I think it was a great series, but i'm not sure if I would read more from David Hair.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great Epic Fantasy

Any additional comments?

This may have been one of my, if not my, favorite epic fantasy series I have read or listened to. I found all the storylines interesting from beginning to end, and there were many in these books. These books also contained very well done twists and turns, surprises and resolutions to complex and seemingly impossible situations and I did not experience any prolonged dead periods in the books, I really enjoyed the pacing. There were also many likeable and loathsome characters and the books maintained a nice balance between the two, the book also did a good job of being an allegory and social commentary on a wide range or social and political flashpoints without being at all preachy, and with a common theme that in every society exists those both good and evil, for when you find yourself rooting for both sides in a conflict, or you are at least conflicted, a nice balance has been struck.


I do understand where some believe the last book seemed rushed, and could have been 2 books, I’d only agree in that I wish I had 1 more book to listen to. With so many epic storylines to bring to conclusion, at times, the last book seemed to just move from one epic clash to the next with little downtime, story building or character development. This I don’t really see as a bad thing, after all, things had come to a head, and the successive large scale resolutions also lent a feeling of “timing”, all these things were happening about the same time, because after all, it was the end of the moon tide.


With so many storylines, I thought the book did a god job of tying them up, “almost” each and every one of them in a satisfying way, the “almost” meaning there are a few left out there, either for our imagination, or to lay groundwork for future writings,


Sad it over, but very happy to have found it.

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3 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Good end to the quartet

A good conclusion to the series although it seemed a bit rushed. May have been able to make another book in the series but I was happy with it regardless.
Spoiler alert.
It seemed like he went full George R R Martin in the middle with a string of major character deaths but it made things interesting.
Nick Podehl did an amazing job the entire series and made the book come to life.

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    3 out of 5 stars

Too Much Of A Good Thing

To my disappointment, there is such a thing as too much cake and ice-cream. Now I know there is also too much Moontide. In Book 4, the battles, magic and backstabbing became commonplace. Wish I had passed up the final book and lived with my happy memories from Books 1 – 3.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

In my top 5 Fantasy series.

Can't begin to say how much I love this series. Literally has everything. very expansive and imaginative magic system, plenty of action, intregue, you name it and this series has it. Also having the best narrarator in the business definitely helps. Just wish the next series was on Audible. The Sunsurge Quartet

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Amazingly good!

He's well on the way to become one of the best. The worldbuilding is fabulous Magic imaginative and complex. The wonderful narration is all narration should be.... I warmly recommend reading the series and follow the author's further plans.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excelente book and narrator.

I love the narrator, he brings the characters to life and the story is amazing. I was waiting for this book, and I am not disappointed

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Why did it have to end?

Amazing series that i wish would've kept going and going. I look forward to the next series by David Hair.

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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Excellent Listen

The series was a whole was great, I love it when the hero wins. That being said, I felt like some elements of the story were rushed in some cases to protect the storyline. However, the series were worth the credits.

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1 person found this helpful