The Dark Thorn

By: Shawn Speakman

Narrated by: Nick Podehl

Beneath the streets of Seattle, a long-forgotten war is about to be renewed...Richard McAllister, a spiritually destitute homeless man and Knight of the Yn Saith, protects one of seven portals linking his world to that of Annwn, where the fey Tuatha de Dannan of antiquity have been relegated by a long-running religious war. Unknown to Richard though, powerful forces are aligning against him and all he stands to keep safe.

In the wilds of a discarded world, Philip Plantagenet, son of Henry II, moves to claim a birthright nine centuries in the making, one that drives him to eliminate the Tuatha de Dannan - at any cost to both worlds. In the halls of Vatican City, Cardinal Vicar Cormac Pell O'Connor schemes to control the Heliwr - the Unfettered Knight - one who possesses the great power known as the Dark Thorn.

The three men are on a collision course with history - and their futures. For in the wilds of Annwn, death comes as easily as magic. Haunted by a past he can't forget and a knightly responsibility he can't shun, Richard is drawn into levels of machinations - and two worlds - far darker than any he has prepared for.

©2012 Shawn Speakman (P)2013 Audible Inc.

Critic reviews

“The Dark Thorn is one exciting book. From start to finish, there are strong characters, dangers lurking around every corner and cliffhangers that will leave you breathless. A fine tale by a talented writer.” (Terry Brooks)

Wonderful Mix of Mythology with Fantasy

If you could sum up The Dark Thorn in three words, what would they be?

An outstanding read/listen

What other book might you compare The Dark Thorn to and why?

The Iron Druid Series, not in a similar way, other than the fae mythology both authors use in their stories. The Dark Thorn has a darker take on the mythology, that intertwines with a hidden side of catholicism. The Iron Druid series has a lighter take on the mythology, and brings in the mythologies of other cultures, including Christian.

How could the performance have been better?

I was not impressed with the narrator. I felt his performance was very bland and though it worked for one or two characters, the fact that it was maintained throughout every character and the descriptions and narrations left me wanting more. Several times I wished I had just read my copy instead of doing the audiobook, but with my drive to and from work, the audiobook was better.

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

I did not want to listen to this all in one sitting because of the narrator. Not until the end did I feel a push to listen to it as long as possible, and that was because the story just held me so much that I didn't want to leave the world.

Any additional comments?

The Dark Thorn has a grim, dark setting, but it is believable and one I wish I could visit again very soon. I can't wait to read more by Shawn Speakman, but if the narrator is the same for his future works, I will choose to go with the book.

Excellent new Author

Excellent Book for a new Author Shawn has great charactor development, wonderful story telling will read his other books he puts out big fan

Don't like how this review is set up.

Great read hard to put down or turn off. Good story full of the unexpected .open there will be a sequil.

story was good, dialogue was awful

it wasn't a bad story, but the dialogue was unbelievable and constantly the me out of the story. narrator was awesome though.

A book well worth your time.

The author is a great guy who obviously pours his heart into his work. The book if full of plot, world development and great characters. Don’t let any time go by. Give your imagination the great opportunity it deserves!