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The Crystal Bridge  By  cover art

The Crystal Bridge

By: Charlie Pulsipher
Narrated by: Keith Michaelson
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Publisher's summary

The Egg followed Kaden home from the hospital. This glowing shell only he can see transports him across the emptiness between universes to distant worlds, but he's afraid to use it. This strange Egg may have saved Kaden's life once, but it failed to save anyone else he cares about.

Aren's sight reaches deep into the souls around her, seeing more than she wants in her friends and teachers at school. When she turns her gaze on Kaden, his Egg responds by sending them spiraling across space and time to a world where dragons, elves, dwarves, and peculiar gods dwell. Separated, lost, and alone in a hostile world on the brink of war, these teens must come to grips with their unique gifts if they ever want to see Earth again.

Back home, a biotechnology company tinkers with the science of reality, hoping to cure death itself by any means. But their work and the intrusion into the void have awakened something shadowy and powerful, a being imprisoned there for millennia. This dark being intends to break free and devour everything and everyone it touches. Infinite universes are in danger. Kaden and Aren must decide if they can save more than themselves. Can they save us all?

©2014 Charlie Pulsipher (P)2015 Charlie Pulsipher

What listeners say about The Crystal Bridge

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Just Right

Sometimes you're looking for a good mix of sci-fi and fantasy. It can be hard to find. Gene Wolfe did a tremendous job in this respect, but not many others. Pulsipher really has my ear now. He's woven a story with hi-tech and wormholes with the mystical creatures that we come to expect with classical fantasy. In that respect, I think this book definitely adds to both genres.

Both protagonists are very likable. I feel like there's a lot more going on and am anxious for book 2. Also, and I'm glad for this, there isn't a lot of fluff. The story is cut well and moves forward with every chapter or POV change. It has an epic feel without being 30+ hours long in audio form. The descriptions are awesome. I loved hearing the descriptions of other worlds, though foreign, but you can easily imagine what's there. The narrator was a good choice for this story. Wide range of characters and didn't have to wonder who was speaking at any point. Solid, consistent performance.

Hope book 2 comes out soon.

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17 people found this helpful

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Um, yes, more please

This book could have been 50% longer. Spoiler: big cliffhanger at the end! I have it on good authority that book 2 (obsidian threads) is close to being done.

Kaden and Aren make a great team, even thought their time together in this first book is limited. Their different paths are in unique and intriguing. I freakin loved the dwaros/dwarf creatures. Their song that and magic is very interesting and pretty fresh! Storytelling was great and enhanced by the narrator. What a voice this one has. Wow. Anyway, cheers! On to the next!

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7 people found this helpful

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Excellent Series Start

This is a truly interesting read, combining modern computer tech with ancient magics. The narration is perfect and brings the story to life. It ended in a cliff hanger at a spot where you will be totally compelled to get the next book.

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com."

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6 people found this helpful

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Wanting More!

Would you listen to The Crystal Bridge again? Why?

Yes. This is one of those books that you keep in your "favorite" section to read over and over.

What other book might you compare The Crystal Bridge to and why?

Not sure. I felt this book was unique.

What does Keith Michaelson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He does a great job with his narration. I got lost in his story telling and felt he was the characters. I hope he does the second book.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Sci-fi and fantasy at its best!

Any additional comments?

I suggest giving this book a try. If you enjoy strong relatable characters, great world building, and an adventure you don't want to stop, this is a good choice for you!

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It's a great one!

Loved the romantic elements that were here. Tension, but not the focus. Story was awesome! Took a chance because I listened to another book by this narrator and he rocked it.

This book does love pretty quick and doesn't get lost in its nerd-side. I think there's probably enough here to satisfy just about everyone. That's probably why I really liked it. I'd almost say the execution of the tried and true story line is pioneering.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

An adventurous tangle of mad science and fantasy.


Do you want a story about teenagers going to a world of magic or a more mature story of a corrupt science experiment going horribly wrong? Well, in "The Crystal Bridge: The Lost Shards" an audiobook audience can easily get both.

A tangled and mysterious web of phenomena seemingly unrelated at first collide as a dark god struggles to break free of a prison between realities while a boy with the power to jump between worlds and psychic girl he just met in class  set off a chain of events that unfold a prophecy for two magical races they accidently collide with. Stranger still, a science experiment goes of the rails when a genius scientist and a super computer struggle to understand things that seem to mess with their minds and perhaps the laws of nature themselves.

Written in a way freindly to listeners of a wide range of age groups, this story is easy to follow while keeping things hidden and off the beaten path of a few genres by mashing them together. The narrator, Keith Michaelson, does fantastic voice work here and adds to the character's personalities in ways that make them seem more natural. Unfortunately, as the first book in a series, there is a cliffhanger ending that leaves more questions than answers. Continuation of the series depends  on how curious these questions leave a listener rather than a wholly satisfying conclusion.

As something well produced and something odd but unique, this audiobook is recommended to listeners who don't mind an adventure that mixes science fiction and magic toward a general audience of mixed age groups. There is violence, but not too descriptively intense and youthful naive moments that older audiences can still relate too.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Just as good in audio, if not better!

The audiobook is just in time to catch up on the series for the finale! This version is just as good as the original, if not better. It has a fantastic narrator, with a wide range of voices and accents -from Southern to Scottish to (my favorite) the deep, Sean-Connery-sans-accent voice of the shady pharmaceutical company's CEO. The Dwaros, with their musical language, was especially well done.

I first read this book last year and I adored it. More than that, it reawakened my childhood love of sci-fi. I have the hardest time reading most adult sci-fi because there's a.) not enough dialogue, too much description/narration and/or b.) tech talk that goes right over my head.

In addition to a great story, a gorgeous cover, and a wonderfully convoluted collection of interconnected subplots (yay!), Charlie manages a near-perfect balance between dialogue and narration. The dialogue is strategically placed -especially in areas of heavy or sciencey descriptions- to keep our attention and spice things up.

As for the tech talk, this book actually made me feel intelligent. Usually, in reading sci-fi, I kind of stumble through these worlds, half-blinded by complicated descriptions of the supposedly awesome technology, which I fail to understand and therefore cannot form a picture or clear understanding of. Pulispher used several tricks to help avoid making his non-science geek readers feel stupid.
First, new technology is always described through a tutorial. Someone is being introduced to the awesome tech, and as they're explaining what it is in big impressive tech talk, they're also working the machine, demonstrating to the character and the reader what it's supposed to do.
Second, he doesn't shy away from high-science concepts or big, technical words, but there are enough context clues offered by the characters that I was actually able to follow the conversations.

The book is not strictly sci-fi, but a beautiful mesh of that and fantasy. Like dragons. And magic.

Did I mention the complex and interwoven plot lines? The array of interesting and colorful characters? The shady villain? The super-awesome super computer? It's all here.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fantasy at its best!

I was provided this audio book at no charge by the author of this book in exchange for an unbiased review via audiobook blast. com
This story includes different realms, space travel, gods, aliens or creatures, dragons and science. just to name a few of the elements in this book.
I was so enthralled with it I had to get the second book right away and was not disappointed in it either. I am now waiting not so patiently for the third book.
The story starts with a boy in a car accident with his mother that turns his life totally upside down. Meanwhile a scientist gets a new job in another part of the country....
A girl that has always been able to read people well meets the boy and things start to happen. I could not turn them off.

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Sci-Fi Meets Fantasy in a Brilliant Way

What did you love best about The Crystal Bridge?

I liked the alternating views of the main characters. I kept waiting and waiting for them to all merge together. That kept me wanting to listen even more. I also loved the world building.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I have to say it's a big toss up between Kaden and Aren. I could relate really well to both of them. I liked the mystery behind Aren's character and I wanted to learn more about her life and gifts.

Which character – as performed by Keith Michaelson – was your favorite?

I enjoyed the elf and dwarf. I loved the different accents he was able to give each character to make them different.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It left me wanting more. Lots more!

Any additional comments?

This is my kind of read. I really enjoyed all the different scenes throughout the book—it made it almost felt more like a movie than a book. I got to see the point of views of so many different characters it added to the overall story. I really want to listen to the next book because there are so many questions this book didn’t answer. Over all it’s a fun read and very entertaining.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Epic Fantasy

Any additional comments?

When I was deciding if I wanted to read this book, I read references to StarGate and another show I love. Still, that wasn't quite enough to tell me if I wanted to invest time in a new author I never heard of. Then I looked to see who the narrator was since that can make or break a book for me. Oh, its Keith Michaelson? That made it a no-brainer for me. I was fresh off his Ares Performance and he didn't disappoint here either. He has many voices, all distinct and I still say I haven't heard anyone that gives their villains a better, creepy voice then Keith does.

The Crystal Bridge, is a big, fantasy/Scifi story with an epic feel. It feels like a big book. And there is a lot going on in it. At first we start off with Kaden, and we see when his egg of power first manifested itself to him. We then get Aren, and she has her own set of unique abilities. Kaden and Aren's world doesn't take long to converge together. We get the feeling they have something in common with these unique gifts but its unclear how it ties together.

This takes us to James. There was a lot done to get James to where he is. Including ruining his reputation in the science community. James story runs parallel with Aren and Kaden but the two never meet for most of the book, until the very end. Through the book you are left wondering about what is it that James is doing that ties in with Kaden and Aren but we are clear that it does somehow tie together.

There are side characters. The Dark god, the Twin gods, the Monks, Vander, James boss. Everyone has a goal or agenda and we get pieces of their story too a long the way.

The writing and descriptions were fantastic, dare I say even magical. Mr. Pulsipher is highly imaginative and prolific. Everything felt unique and new. It was nothing like anything I've read before.

The first book is like a chest board and its setting the players up on the board. All the world building and laying out the ground work for all these characters, slowed down the pacing a bit for me. Just as I thought I was finally going to get answers about how James fits in, the book ends on a cliff hangar.

I usually don't like when books end on a cliff hangar. But Wow this story feels so epic. The parts about Aren and Kaden and how they play into all of this is really interesting and I want to know more. Aren, Kaden and James are all very likable characters and they really pull you in to this story.

There are many unique races/species in the book and they also have a rich, story to them. This world is well fleshed out. There are so many elements to it that I'm surprised any author could keep it all straight but the author does. If you want a unique book that doesn't feel cookie cutter. If you like strange new words, other creatures and imaginative story telling, then by all means this book is for you. I am looking forward to reading the next book to get all those answers finally answered and to see what happens next.

Without a doubt its worth the credit and you can't go wrong with Keith narrating it.

*I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot com".

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