Mystic Warrior

Book I of the Bronze Canticles Trilogy

By: Tracy Hickman, Laura Hickman

Narrated by: LLoyd James

Length: 14 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling master of fantasy, Tracy Hickman, and his wife, author Laura Hickman, offer the first book in a major, new, dragon-laden epic fantasy.

The Bronze Canticles is an expansive new saga chronicling the world-altering changes that take place as three connected universes, the Human world, the Goblin world, and the Faery world, are slowly drawn together.

In Book One, Mystic Warrior, young Galen Arvad, a human with magical powers, must avoid the ritual that puts those with such talents to death. It seems that in the eyes of the community, magic is a sign of lunacy, and in a yearly ritual the local "crazies" are offered up to the Dragon Priests. Galen is suddenly captured and imprisoned. Now, as Galen's wife, Berkita, and his friend, Cephas the dwarf, set off to rescue him, Galen learns of the fate that awaits him, a fate far worse than even his own death.

Don't miss the rest of the Bronze Canticles Trilogy.

©2004 Tracy Hickman and Laura Curtis (P)2004 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Impressive and provocative fantasy....This emotionally intense novel's meticulously crafted magical system and likeable characters evoke an atmosphere both timely and timeless. While lively action sequences and rich descriptive passages provide plenty of excitement, mature examinations of politics and individual responsibility lend philosophical weight and emotional poignancy....A fine example of socially conscious and unpredictable imaginative fiction." (Publishers Weekly)

Not worth the time

I have listened to a ton of novels from many other authors and narrators this book was so dry and then there is these authors notes things that are supposed to explain things in the book that hickup and a dry story was just a bore I could not get through more than 3 hours of this book and I wish I would have never gotten it!

Great Story, GREAT Narration!

I'm a fantasy fan who hasn't indulged in fantasy in a long while. Usually, the titles and descriptions are so similar that I quickly get underwhelmed. Fortunately, Mystic Warrior was the perfect re-entry into the genre I love so much. Engaging from beginning to end, I found the book intellectually provacative as I am someone who believes that the dream world IS a valid and rich dimension of interactivity. And Lloyd James is awesome! In fact, I'm thinking of deciding what my next book to download is based on Lloyd James narration. His ability to give distinct personalities and accents to all the unique beings, creatures, and otherwise throughout this amazing tale really is an incredible talent!

Horrible.

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

No one would enjoy this crap.

Would you ever listen to anything by Tracy Hickman and Laura Hickman again?

The first thought to pop into my head was no. Sadly I've downloaded and listened to other books by these two morons. Every book I've read or listened to by these two has been horrible and a waste of time.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Scott Brick is good but in this series he's just annoying.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Mystic Warrior?

The entire novel.

Any additional comments?

Wish I could get my credits back. This two every six months is sad :(

I tried to like it- but after the 3rd attempt..

Story seemed plodding and uninteresting. I've enjoyed the authors' previous works but this one doesn't do it for me.

The narration, further, didn't do the story any good. What I consider poor choices for accents and inflections along with "mouth noises" were too distracting

This is no Dragonlance maybe Miswrit Boringer?

I stopped listening to this book. I couldn't wade through the tedium any longer. I'm a huge Dragonlance fan and I have enjoyed some of the other novels Hickman has contributed to, but this was far too slow. I really liked the start, but when nothing significant had happened half way through, I simply got tired of it. There were no villains and little action through the first quarter of the book. When the villains were finally introduced, they were weak or stereotypical. Ho, ho, marry me fairy princess or I will destroy your land - pahleeze. Another annoyance was that the main character appeared to be stupid, bad horror movie stupid. A number of the things the character did just did not make sense. There was also a funky comedic vibe in parts that did not blend into the story well. There were two "serious" worlds and a goofy demon world like right out of Robert Asprin's Myth series. The switch between them really felt like two different people are writing them, and perhaps that was the case. I gave up when all of a sudden a talking joke-popping sword was introduced into one of the serious worlds. I was severely disappointed. If you are looking for a new epic fantasy story this is not it. If you are looking for an inflated childrens novel that was obviously written by two people, then this should be perfect for you.

Tried but couldn't finish this book

Gave this book 5 hours of my time and couldn't take it anymore. The Narration is terrible. The accents given the characters were strange and inconsistent and hard to keep track of. The main character if there is one appeared occassionaly and the rest of the characters keep showing up in such a a disjointed manner that I wondered if the book would ever settle down and begin the story line, after 5 hours and yet another new character with no connection I just didn't care anymore. This book might be fine in print or maybe with another narrator though I doubt it and I am not willing to take up any more of my time

Appealing to fantasy and non-fantasy fans alike.

This is original fantasy right up there with George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice & Fire series (though VERY different). The authors build a complex world inhabited by goblins, men, dragons and dwarves that in no way resembles anything I've ever read before (and I am a fantasy fan). Miraculously, this story does not include the same host of familiar (and, by now, tiresome) characters first created by Tolkien. This may be the first fantasy book I've read that doesn't include ANY of the following characters: 1. hapless country lad who only wants to lead a quiet life but is forced to leave his home by a 2. wise old wizard/teacher who has chosen him for a dangerous quest to save the world or 3. a tall, solitary and brooding ranger with a mysterious and kingly past who protected aforementioned lad and old man on their quest. Try this book, even if you don't like fantasy, you won't regret it.

Marvelous Fantasy!

just finished listening to this book; and I can't wait for the next one. I hope it won't be too long, because I'm dying to learn more about these wonderful characters. If you love good fantasy, you will love this.