City of Stairs

By: Robert Jackson Bennett

Narrated by: Alma Cuervo

An atmospheric and intrigue-filled novel of dead gods, buried histories, and a mysterious, protean city- - from one of America's most acclaimed young fantasy writers. The city of Bulikov once wielded the powers of the gods to conquer the world, enslaving and brutalizing millions - until its divine protectors were killed. Now Bulikov has become just another colonial outpost of the world's new geopolitical power, but the surreal landscape of the city itself - first shaped, now shattered, by the thousands of miracles its guardians once worked upon it - stands as a constant, haunting reminder of its former supremacy. Into this broken city steps Shara Thivani. Officially, the unassuming young woman is just another junior diplomat sent by Bulikov's oppressors. Unofficially, she is one of her country's most accomplished spies, dispatched to catch a murderer. But as Shara pursues the killer, she starts to suspect that the beings who ruled this terrible place may not be as dead as they seem - and that Bulikov's cruel reign may not yet be over.

©2014 Robert Jackson Bennett (P)2014 Recorded Books

Bad editing

The story was interesting enough, even if the names/story lines can get confusing. The narration is decent but whoever did the editing/sound mixing really let the narrator down. Awkward pauses, words on top of each other, and not doing retakes if the narrator stumbled on a word.

solid book

the story itself is fantastic. the narrators switch a few times along with random changes in voice volume levels.

Exposition

A little too much exposition for my taste. Interesting story, and world, but it seemed like too much history being told in various ways.

Words can not say enough

This has become one my favorite fantasy books. The writing and narration we're both excellent. I was not bored for a moment. A perfect mixture of the fantastical, love, comedic relief and mystery(plenty of it)

Expert Storytelling

Well worth the time and money spent. Thanks for taking me to another world.