Publisher's summary
Vast legions of gods, mages, humans, dragons and all manner of creatures play out the fate of the Malazan Empire in this first book in a major epic fantasy series
The Malazan Empire simmers with discontent, bled dry by interminable warfare, bitter infighting and bloody confrontations with the formidable Anomander Rake and his Tiste Andii, ancient and implacable sorcerers. Even the imperial legions, long inured to the bloodshed, yearn for some respite. Yet Empress Laseen's rule remains absolute, enforced by her dread Claw assassins.
For Sergeant Whiskeyjack and his squad of Bridgeburners, and for Tattersail, surviving cadre mage of the Second Legion, the aftermath of the siege of Pale should have been a time to mourn the many dead. But Darujhistan, last of the Free Cities of Genabackis, yet holds out. It is to this ancient citadel that Laseen turns her predatory gaze.
However, it would appear that the Empire is not alone in this great game. Sinister, shadowbound forces are gathering as the gods themselves prepare to play their hand....
Conceived and written on a panoramic scale, Gardens of the Moon is epic fantasy of the highest order - an enthralling adventure by an outstanding new voice.
Critic reviews
"Erikson is an extraordinary writer. My advice to anyone who might listen to me is, Treat yourself to Gardens of the Moon. And my entirely selfish advice to Steven Erikson is, write faster." --Stephen R. Donaldson
"I stand slack-jawed in awe of The Malazan Book of the Fallen. This masterwork of imagination may be the high water mark of epic fantasy. This marathon of ambition has a depth and breadth and sense of vast reaches of inimical time unlike anything else available today. The Black Company, Zelazny's Amber, Vance's Dying Earth, and other mighty drumbeats are but foreshadowings of this dark dragon's hoard." --Glen Cook
"A world that is both absorbing on a human level and full of magical sublimity...a wonderfully grand conception...splendidly written...fiendishly readable." --Adam Roberts
Featured Article: The top 100 fantasy listens of all time
When compiling our list of the best fantasy listening out there, we immediately came up against the age-old question: Is this fantasy or science fiction? The distinction is not as clear as you may think. Dragons, elves, and wizards are definitely fantasy, but what about wizards that also fly space ships? (Looking at you, Star Wars.) For the sake of fantasy purity, the top 100 fantasy listens include the best audio works in all manner of fantasy subgenres.
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Night of Knives
- Novels of the Malazan Empire, Book 1
- By: Ian C. Esslemont
- Narrated by: John Banks
- Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins
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The small island of Malaz and its city gave the great empire its name, but now it is little more than a sleepy, backwater port. Tonight, however, things are different. Tonight the city is on edge, a hive of hurried, sometimes violent activity; its citizens bustle about, barring doors, shuttering windows, avoiding any stranger's stare. Because tonight there is to be a convergence, the once-in-a-generation appearance of a Shadow Moon - an occasion that threatens the good people of Malaz with demon hounds and other, darker things....
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Worth the wait
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The Empire of the Dead
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Incredibly imaginative
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Pretty bad, but not actively terrible
- By Travis Lamkin on 09-13-15
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Tower of the Forgotten
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What's Next?
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Wytchfire
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Can't judge a book by it's cover.
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What Remains of Heroes
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Fantasy with many lives in the balance...
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Night of Knives
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Overall
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The small island of Malaz and its city gave the great empire its name, but now it is little more than a sleepy, backwater port. Tonight, however, things are different. Tonight the city is on edge, a hive of hurried, sometimes violent activity; its citizens bustle about, barring doors, shuttering windows, avoiding any stranger's stare. Because tonight there is to be a convergence, the once-in-a-generation appearance of a Shadow Moon - an occasion that threatens the good people of Malaz with demon hounds and other, darker things....
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Worth the wait
- By Aran on 06-20-16
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The Empire of the Dead
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- Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins
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Incredibly imaginative
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The Grim Company
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Pretty bad, but not actively terrible
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Tower of the Forgotten
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What's Next?
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Wytchfire
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In a land haunted by the legacy of dead dragons, Rowen Locke has been many things: orphan, gravedigger, mercenary. All he ever wanted was to become a Knight of Crane and wield a kingsteel sword against the kind of grown horrors his childhood knows all too well. But that dream crumbled - replaced by a new nightmare. War is overrunning the realms, an unprecedented duel of desire and revenge, steel and sorcery. And for one disgraced man who would be a knight, in a world where no one is blameless, the time has come to decide which side he's on.
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Can't judge a book by it's cover.
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Fantasy with many lives in the balance...
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Ice Forged
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Vampires, Mages and Gods are discussed.
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The Steel Remains
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In just a few short years, Richard K. Morgan has vaulted to the pinnacle of the science fiction world. Now he turns his iconoclastic talents to epic fantasy, crafting a darkly violent, tautly plotted adventure sure to thrill old fans and captivate new readers.
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This isn't your father's gay hero!
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For the Killing of Kings
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Their peace was a fragile thing, but it had endured for seven years, mostly because the people of Darassus and the king of the Naor hordes believed his doom was foretold upon the edge of the great sword hung in the hall of champions. Unruly Naor clans might raid across the border, but the king himself would never lead his people to war so long as the blade remained in the hands of his enemies. But when squire Elenai’s aging uncovers evidence that the sword in their hall is a forgery, she’s forced to flee Darassus for her life, her only ally the reckless, disillusioned Kyrkenall.
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Great Story!
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The Mortal Tally
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Cier'Djaal, once the crowning glory of the civilized world, has gone from a city to a battlefield and a battlefield to a graveyard. Foreign armies clash relentlessly on streets laden with the bodies of innocents caught in the crossfire. Cultists and thieves wage shadow wars, tribal armies foment outside the city's walls, and haughty aristocrats watch the world burn from on high. As his companions struggle to keep the city from destroying itself, Lenk travels to the Forbidden East in search of the demon who caused it all. But even as he pursues Khoth-Kapira, dark whispers plague his thoughts.
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Great Middle Entry
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At the Sign of the Crow and Moon
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Worth It
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Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne
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After his mother, the beloved Rebel Queen, is betrayed and murdered by her own faithless lords, young Maric becomes the leader of a rebel army attempting to free his nation from the control of a foreign tyrant. His countrymen live in fear; his commanders consider him untested; and his only allies are Loghain, a brash young outlaw who saved his life, and Rowan, the beautiful warrior maiden promised to him since birth.
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Fantastic Read
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The Emperor's Blades
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The emperor of Annur is dead, slain by enemies unknown. His daughter and two sons, scattered across the world, do what they must to stay alive and unmask the assassins. But each of them also has a life-path on which their father set them, destinies entangled with both ancient enemies and inscrutable gods.
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4 Primary Crimes Committed By The Author
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The Sellsword
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Strike the Anvil of Time! Vanderjack is a mercenary with a troubled past and a sword haunted by ghosts. Hired to rescue a nobleman's daughter from behind enemy lines, the sellsword finds himself a pivotal player in the liberation of Nordmaar from the Red Dragon army. The Chronicler is charged to use the ancient Anvil of Time to travel back along the river of time and find the lost stories that fell between the pages of the history books of Krynn in this new series created and guided by the creative mind of Tracy Hickman.
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Interesting story, alittle different at the end
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Akiri: The Scepter of Xarbaal
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Akiri is a blistering new heroic fantasy novel from the multiple award-winning international best sellers Brian D. Anderson and Steven Savile who have come together to create the first adrenalin-filled standalone novel in Akiri's tortured world. Can one betrayal can save a kingdom? Will two destroy it?
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Buy this story!!!
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By: Brian D. Anderson, and others
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Death of a Darklord
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Death of a Darklord focuses on a young woman who finds that she has a talent for magic in a land and a family unforgiving of such abilities. Her tragic attempts to redeem herself in the eyes of her family involve aiding them on their quest to end the dark magic that has destroyed a neighboring town.
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The nail in the coffin...
- By STEPHEN and REGAN on 03-30-13
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White Plume Mountain
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A remorseless ranger. A sentient hell hound pelt with a penchant for pyromania. An irksome pixie who sells intrigue and information. Three companions who find themselves trapped in a city filled with warring priestly factions, devious machinations, and an angry fiend. To save the city, they must find three weapons of power, which lie in the most trap-laden, monster-infested place this side of Acererak's tomb: White Plume Mountain.
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Justice Incarnate With Just a Hint of Flippant Fae
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The Halls of Stormweather
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The Halls of Stormweather, a novel in seven parts, is the first book in a series that explores the mean streets of a city where everything has its price and even the wealthiest families will do anything to survive! Ed Greenwood - the creator of the Forgotten Realms begins the tale with the capable but embattled patriarch of the Uskevren family. Clayton Emery - the heir to the family fortune is brought to life by the author of Star of Cursrah and the Netheril Trilogy.
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A great start to many adventures
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After more than 500 years of exile, the heir to the empyre is wary about his sudden reassignment to active duty on the Goblin War’s front lines. His mission to rescue an outpost leads to a dead-end canyon deep inside enemy territory, and his suspicion turns to dread when he discovers the stronghold doesn't exist.
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What are you doing Michael?
- By Hotel Hero on 08-09-21
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The Red Sea
- The Cycle of Galand, Book 1
- By: Edward W. Robertson
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 16 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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When Dante Galand was just a boy, his father, Larsin, sailed away to make his fortune. And never returned. Since then, Dante has become a great sorcerer. A ruler. A destroyer of kings. And he's just learned that his father is living on a forbidden island at the edge of the known world. Where he's dying of a mysterious plague. In the company of his friend, the swordsman Blays, Dante travels to the island. There, his magic can do nothing for his father.
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Fantastic Sequel to The Cycle of Arawn!
- By CaptainKhaotik on 02-28-16
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The Jewel of Dantenos
- Lee Starfinder Adventure: From the World of the Godling Chronicles, Book 0.5
- By: Brian D. Anderson
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 1 hr and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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Filled with confidence and no small measure of arrogance, young Lee Starfinder and Millet Gristall set off on their very first adventure. Lee quickly discovers that life beyond Hazrah can be far deadlier than he could have ever imagined. And soon he must learn that muscle and steel cannot replace loyalty, bravery, and friendship.
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A fine example of a short story
- By Amazon Customer on 01-19-22
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Elseerian
- The Chronicles of Lumineia, Book 1
- By: Ben Hale
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 12 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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The assassination of heroes was once a warning... for an invasion that nearly destroyed the world. Nations were slaughtered, cities were erased from existence, and defending armies were crushed into oblivion. In weeks, all life stood on the verge of extinction. But the end did not come. Instead the black horde vanished, leaving terrified survivors... and rumors. As the centuries passed the holocaust faded into legend, and finally myth. Across the southern sea a gifted young man is completing his training.
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Loved this book!
- By Andrew Stone on 10-06-13
By: Ben Hale
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Jack of Thieves
- The Master Thief, Book 1
- By: Ben Hale
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 10 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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The Thieves Guild is renowned for their ability to steal anything. Its elite members have robbed nobles of wealth, reputation, and even their honor. The Guildmaster rules them with brutality and fear, yet his name and past are a mystery. From the depths of the Evermist swamp, he seeks a master thief, one who can help him reclaim his lost power. Young and brash, Jack Myst has drawn the Guildmaster's attention. His feats mark his potential, but his audacity and cunning make him dangerous.
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Annoyingly juvenile
- By Alex on 05-06-17
By: Ben Hale
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Son of the Black Sword
- Saga of the Forgotten Warrior, Book 1
- By: Larry Correia
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 16 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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After the War of the Gods, the demons were cast out and fell to the world. Mankind was nearly eradicated by the seemingly unstoppable beasts until the gods sent the great hero, Ramrowan, to save them. He united the tribes, gave them magic, and drove the demons into the sea. Ever since, the land has belonged to man, and the oceans have remained an uncrossable hell, leaving the continent of Lok isolated.
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Woo'd & Won
- By Toriangirl on 11-06-15
By: Larry Correia
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The Breakers Omnibus
- Books 1-3 and Prequel Novella
- By: Edward W. Robertson
- Narrated by: Ray Chase
- Length: 42 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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Books 1-3 and the prequel novella of the Breakers series.
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So glad I downloaded this one.
- By Stevie Havoc on 11-16-15
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Climbing the Dragon's Tower Omnibus, Books 1-3
- LitRPG Fantasy
- By: Han Yang
- Narrated by: Daniel Wisniewski, Elizabeth Plant
- Length: 30 hrs
- Unabridged
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Inside the Dragon's Tower, the fate of the world hangs in the balance. To win, climbers from all corners must brave the harrowing floors one by one. Each floor is tougher and the higher the floor, the less success there is. After a hundred floors filled with unique challenges, a prize awaits—a dragon's egg. To Tem, the Dragon's Tower seems simple from his distant farmland on the frontier. The harsh truth of the situation involves politics, personal sacrifices, and unfathomable struggles to keep advancing.
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murder
- By Nick steck on 05-16-24
By: Han Yang
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Stone Cold Mage: The Complete Trilogy
- Stone Cold Mage, Books 1-3
- By: Jamie Hawke
- Narrated by: Leo Barnabas
- Length: 18 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Then I go to stay at my aunt's while starting college, and she's killed because of me, her home invaded by demons, and I learn there is so much more going on in the world than I could have ever understood. Throw in a couple of gargoyles and me unlocking an ancient path to insane amounts of magic, and you have my story. Be careful, though, as it's not for the prude at heart.
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Complete shit.
- By chasen conaway on 04-27-20
By: Jamie Hawke
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Rogues of Magic: The Complete Trilogy
- Rogues of Magic, Books 1-3
- By: J.T. Williams
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 29 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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Sviska is a man of the shadows, an assassin without any one place to call his own. But in the Far North, he discovers a secret. Magic, long thought lost to the world, is alive. The genocide to destroy every elf, wizard, and sacred being of old is not yet complete. Sviska's masters work the strings of the world and he has been sent for a task he does not even fully understand yet. When at last he feels he has what he has always wanted, darkness falls upon the world.
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Great Series: In depth backstory
- By Kdg on 05-01-20
By: J.T. Williams
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The Dwellers Saga Omnibus
- Books 1-3
- By: David Estes
- Narrated by: Julia Whelan, Will Damron
- Length: 29 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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In a desperate attempt to escape destruction decades earlier, humankind was forced underground into the depths of the Earth, creating a new society called the Tri-Realms. After her parents and sister are abducted by the Enforcers, 17-year-old Adele, a member of the middle-class moon dwellers, is unjustly sentenced to life in prison for her parents' crimes of treason.
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A Delicious and Unique Journey
- By UnreliableHeart on 09-01-15
By: David Estes
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Earth's Nexus, Books 1-3
- By: Eve Langlais
- Narrated by: Tanya Eby
- Length: 20 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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Ruby's got a special talent for disrupting magic and it's been causing problems her entire life. When she's recruited by the Special Monsters Unit, she finally discovers a use for her ability—and gets embroiled in a supernatural mystery that might destroy the world.
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Absolutely a fantastic adventure!!
- By Elisha on 07-11-24
By: Eve Langlais
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Children of Time
- By: Adrian Tchaikovsky
- Narrated by: Mel Hudson
- Length: 16 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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Adrian Tchaikovksy's critically acclaimed stand-alone novel Children of Time is the epic story of humanity's battle for survival on a terraformed planet. Who will inherit this new Earth? The last remnants of the human race left a dying Earth, desperate to find a new home among the stars. Following in the footsteps of their ancestors, they discover the greatest treasure of the past age - a world terraformed and prepared for human life. But all is not right in this new Eden.
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A very pleasant surprise
- By Simon on 06-17-17
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Unsouled
- By: Will Wight
- Narrated by: Travis Baldree
- Length: 8 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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Sacred artists follow a thousand Paths to power, using their souls to control the forces of the natural world. Lindon is Unsouled, forbidden to learn the sacred arts of his clan. When faced with a looming fate he cannot ignore, he must rise beyond anything he's ever known...and forge his own Path.
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Amazingly Addictive and Oddly Cleaver
- By ronnito on 05-31-19
By: Will Wight
What listeners say about Gardens of the Moon
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Jack
- 11-28-12
Better transition from book to audio than imagined
Any additional comments?
First off as a caveat I am an avid fan of Steven Erikson and have read the Malazan Book of the Fallen series complete, twice. There are many things about the Audio version that I loved but to be honest what astonished me the most was the sudden realazation as I was half way through that the Audio version of Gardens of the Moon was so much easier to follow than reading the book.
Anyone who has read the series will tell you that Gardens of the Moon is good book but in contrast to the rest of the series pales in comparison. Its more disjointed, has an incredible steep learning curve and REQUIRES complete focus and attention to understand what is going on. It is no supprise that many many people have a hard time finishing the book and are dejected at the idea of continuing on. But I say this for the feint of heart, if you are one of those people who have trepidation of reading the book because of said issues above then pick up the Audio book and give it a go instead.
It is in my opinion so much easier to follow all of the different threads and plot points listening to this begining of one of the most epic tales to be told in modern fantasy. Now you may be saying to your self "well of course it was easy for you, you have read the series, twice!" and yes that is true. But in answer to that statement I will tell you this! Every time I have read this series, in every book I finish I know that I have learned more, caught on to more threads of the story that I missed before and that I finish the book feeling that there is still more that I have missed. Following the listening of the Audio book I have walked away feeling that I missed nothing and that I was able to capture and become immersed in all the intracy, plot threads and ground work that has been laid down in this story. Take that for what it is worth and start your listen on this fantastic story.
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23 people found this helpful
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- howard
- 10-07-12
Steven Erikson is a King among story tellers
I have read the Malazan Book of the Fallen series in paperback. I enjoyed them so much that I plan to listen to each of the audio books as they are made available.
Thank you so much Audible.com for making Erikson part of my audio library.
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14 people found this helpful
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- jesse
- 01-11-14
First audio book that I just couldn't finish... :(
Any additional comments?
I guess I am in the minority here. I just never felt invested in any of the characters enough to care what happened to them. I listened to 16 hours of it but just found myself daydreaming too often. The writing is fairly good, but the plot is too buried for my liking, if there is one. The story begins from too many distant strains and just never seemed to really merge. I'm sure they end up together, but I just never could get into it.
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8 people found this helpful
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- Bryan Reeves
- 07-31-19
Great Story
I have to admit that this was a difficult listen for me. the story is deep and it was confusing for me at times. I did a lot of rewinding trying to follow the story and keep up with the volume of characters. I was not a fan, and quite often frustrated, until about 1/3 way through the story when it clicked.
The characters are deep and the story is vast. I do not regret this buy at all.
I purchased the book first, played hell trying to follow it, then purchased the audible hoping that would make things better and was glad I did.
The performance was spot on! The number of characters required to voice seemed effortless, all with their own easily distinguishable voices. Fantastic performance.
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6 people found this helpful
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- Aaron Gerber
- 01-06-15
Do you like history, but are bored of this world?
** If you have ever wanted to read a history book about another world, I think this is your book.
The chances of you caring what happens to the characters in this book are low. So low. This is partly due to the fact that the author doesn't outright demonize one side or the other, and partly due to the fact there are so many characters you will have a hard time keeping them straight.
** If you ever wanted to read a book that is confusing and dragging the first time but makes more sense each time you read it, I think this is your book.
Most of the time you have a hard time following what is going on. It's hard to understand what the characters are trying to accomplish half the time. The author LOVES to write confusing scenes that will likely keep you from realizing he is talking about one of the main characters. In fact, he seems to go out of his way to keep you from realizing he is talking about someone you know. One way he does this is with sudden viewpoint shifts in new scenes to people that don't know the main characters.
The author LOVES to obscure the significance of a scene so that chapters later you go... Ahhh... okay now that makes sense. The downside to this is, you say that, but you couldn't care less that it happens because there was no promise of it happening.
** If you like unneeded violence that leaves you numb and uncaring about a world filled with brutality, this book is for you. The author LOVES to spell out intricate details about a person's pain in this book.
** If you want a long fantasy series to follow, give it the first book. DON'T go to the second book if you didn't like this one. It's more of the same. In my opinion the second has a weaker plot than this one. I stopped the series on the third one when the audible app malfunctioned and sent me chapters forward (like it does from time to time) and I didn't notice for 30 minutes of audible book. Really? I can advance 30 minutes in the plot and not even notice. Hardly a cohesive plot that has a gradual progression.
**** In summary... I hated this book and series. I really wanted a new fantasy series to follow so I gave it three books. It's all the same. If you want a better choice, try Wheel of Time, Mistborn, Way of Kings... those are better in my opinion.
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4 people found this helpful
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- John McCarthy
- 11-27-12
Great read and great reader!
I read the print version of this book over 10 years ago. I remember enjoying it, but for various reasons had to read it in bits and pieces and lost track of the story. I decided to come back to it again and am so glad I did. The story is compelling and the narrator helps to make the already intriguing characters come to life. Thoroughly enjoyed this listen! Just waiting for DeadHouse Gates now. How about it Audible?? I hope Ralph Lister is working on it.
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3 people found this helpful
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- JPaladin
- 03-29-13
Loved the characters & complex world
Written for adults, this book has rich and deep characters. The world is complex and weaves an interesting network of layered machinations upon machinations.
However, given the great maturity in writing style and characters I kept waiting for a more meaningful and develop story arc. Instead it felt like every event and conflict resolved through deus ex machina---which may have been the point, but it left me wanting a story line to get invested in. I may listen to the second book, but I'm not highly motivated to do so as I don't really care what will happen to these characters (that may also have been the point).
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3 people found this helpful
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- Dr Badger
- 02-12-24
complicated and takes effort to follow
I typically enjoy novels for escapism and for enjoyment. this one felt too much like work. it appears the remainder of the book s are similarly labor intensive so I don't think I will continue in this series
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2 people found this helpful
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- Connor Brady
- 07-13-18
disjointed and confusing but great premise
it was very hard to follow probably easier to undersrand and follow a written copy
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1 person found this helpful
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- That Guy
- 04-20-13
Well Written But With Two Minor Problems
What did you love best about Gardens of the Moon?
I enjoyed how the characters end up intertwining and the characters themselves and the overall story arch.
Who was your favorite character and why?
While I'm interested in Quick Ben, I'd have to say my favorite ended up being Cropper. Lots of personality, at times the character made me smirk and some surprises made him even better.
Have you listened to any of Ralph Lister’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
I have not, however he did very well.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
I'd have to say Croakus's (probably spelled the name incorrectly) love interests were a touch moving.
Any additional comments?
The only minor problems I found was that until about half way through the book, the constant adding on of all sorts of characters made it hard to keep track and even focus with the book, also it's the kind of book that very abruptly changes over to another characters story or continuation there of. There are a LOT of characters in the book. I got used to it after a long while, but it was frustrating at first. Otherwise the book is beautifully written.
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1 person found this helpful