Geomancer: Well of Echoes, Book 1

By: Ian Irvine

Narrated by: Grant Cartwright

Length: 23 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

Two hundred years after the Forbidding was broken, Santhenar is locked in war with the lyrinx - intelligent, winged predators who will do anything to gain their own world. Despite the development of battle clankers and mastery of the crystals that power them, humanity is losing. Tiaan, a lonely crystal worker in a clanker manufactory, is experimenting with an entirely new kind of crystal when she begins to have extraordinary visions.

The crystal has woken her latent talent for geomancy, the most powerful of all the Secret Arts - and the most perilous. Falsely accused of sabotage by her rival, Irisis, Tiaan flees for her life. Struggling to control her talent and hunted by the lyrinx, Tiaan follows her visions all the way to Tirthrax, greatest peak on all the Three Worlds, where a nightmare awaits her....

©2001 Ian Irvine (P)2013 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Critic reviews

"Ian Irvine is arguably the most inventive fantasy author to emerge in recent years.... A page turner of the highest order. Formidable!" ­( SFX)

"Ian Irvine has produced one of those rarities in the fantasy genre, and that is a unique, well-thought-out world coupled with a well-written storyline. A gripping read for Irvine fans or a fresh new series for any other readers." ( Enigma [UK])

"Readers of Eddings, Goodkind, and Jordan will lap this one up." ( Starlog (UK))

Just good enough.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

If they are huge into fantasy like me, yes, if not no.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The way the government is portrayed gives this book a 1984 feel. The least interesting part for ME is the In-depth mechanical aspect.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Grant Cartwright?

If he narrates a book I'm interested in, but I wouldn't search him out.

Was Geomancer: Well of Echoes, Book 1 worth the listening time?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

This book had some really great ideas and intrigued me just enough to continue the series.

unnecessary sex

so much unnecessary sex it just interferes with the slow storytelling that I don't find that interesting. Sorry. Not my cup of tea. I don't think a good story needs smut to carry it along or keep the readers interest.

Hear this book now!!!

Soo good . I ordered book 2 as soon as i was finished with ;book 1..Your world and the characters you have crafted absolutely brilliant.You made this grown man ..laugh.yell..smile ..then cry..Well done by all..oh 'and the narrator.with his many voices..sir you are a great talent. I do truly thank you.

About As Satisfying as Coitus Interruptus

The good writing and excellent narration of this book portends a great deal more satisfaction than it delivers. Almost to a person the characters are duplicitous, self-serving and deeply flawed. The central character — a rather Justine-like innocent (for those familiar with the Marquis de Sade) — is so self-depreciating that one becomes inured to her travails. I kept looking for some resolution, some justice or some internal morality right up to the non-climax. The book had its moments, strung together in a promising narrative that never delivers. I am not tempted to continue the series of which this is the first book. A wasted credit.

Not a bad story, but performance hurts

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

It's not the best series ever because characters are quite often overly emotional and lay within extremes of the various emotional categories they are in.
There was a lot of super complicated theories and such but quite often it can be very disorienting to visualize.
I would give it a moderate recommend to pass the time waiting for another series.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Grant Cartwright?

No.
Pronounciation is atrocious. Character voicing is often similar and hard to discern. Everyone sounds the same and there's no attempt to diversify the character voice.

not as bad as other reviewers say it is

I saw some very negative reviews and was almost about to pass this one up; however, I'm glad I gave it a shot as the story is creative and could evolve into a great epic.

You can't judge a book by its cover or by the reviews of other audible listeners' reviews!

Reader must be Kindergarten teacher

What three words best describe Grant Cartwright’s performance?

Sounds like he is reading to a Kindergarten class.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

Have enjoyed this author in the past with dead tree books

Not my cup of tea

What did you like best about Geomancer: Well of Echoes, Book 1? What did you like least?

I'm having trouble thinking of what I liked best. This is because it turned out to be quite a boring and slow moving story to me. I'm sure there are those who will like this book but it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Would you ever listen to anything by Ian Irvine again?

Not at this time

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

I don't believe I can think of any other books I've listened to that were narrated by this gentleman who did a respectable job with very dry material. If there was anything at all in the way of a high point for this book it would be the performance but there's only so much you can do based on the material.

Do you think Geomancer: Well of Echoes, Book 1 needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Obviously it's the first in a series, so a publisher was willing to keep betting on the author. This just reinforces my belief that others may very well find this author of interest, but I can't see any point in dragging this story out any more, one book was enough to put me to sleep.

Any additional comments?

I was tempted on numerous occasions to just shut it off and move to another book but I kept going in an effort to find some redeeming value in the story. Sadly it just wasn't there for me. I haven't looked to see if there are other reviews and if so what they are so this is very much just me. I love sci-fi, and futuristic to some point, but I don't like much about stories that are written in a time with no modern conveniences. So this one is an interesting mix of no modernity with some sci-fi tangents. It still didn't do it for me. I hope others enjoy it but I'm going to go back to hoping that JD Robb hurries up and writes the next book in the "In Death" series which I dearly love.

Pre-teen Drama

Would you try another book from Ian Irvine and/or Grant Cartwright?

No

What was most disappointing about Ian Irvine’s story?

Too much teen age angst

Would you listen to another book narrated by Grant Cartwright?

yes

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointed in the characters.

Any additional comments?

The premise is pretty good but the story arcs are too high/low.