• The High King of Montival

  • A Novel of the Change
  • By: S. M. Stirling
  • Narrated by: Todd McLaren
  • Length: 16 hrs and 18 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,002 ratings)

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The High King of Montival  By  cover art

The High King of Montival

By: S. M. Stirling
Narrated by: Todd McLaren
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Publisher's summary

In The Sword of the Lady, Rudi Mackenzie's destiny was determined. Now he returns to Montival in the Pacific Northwest, where he will face the legions of the Prophet. To achieve victory, Rudi must assemble a coalition of those who had been his enemies a few months before and forge them into an army that will rescue his homeland. Only then will Rudi be able to come to terms with how the Sword has changed him, as well as the world, and assume his place as Artos, High King of Montival.

©2010 S.M. Sterling (P)2010 Tantor

What listeners say about The High King of Montival

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Artos goes home

There is a definite problem with the recording in Part 2 at the point when the group returns home. There is a need to correct this and offer a replacement recording to purchasers.
I am less and less satisfied with the series as it moves from a gripping story of diverse and well drawn characters coping with a world that has suddenly changed into a ho hum oft told tale of a quest for the magic thingie that will defeat the evil ... so on and so forth, etc.
This particular episode reads as if the author decided he needed to get the main character home ASAP and finally married to his soulmate. Disappointing

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Problem with part 2!

Loved the book, loved the narrator, and couldn't wait for this book to come out. But, please beware, in download part 2 there are tons of areas where a phrase repeates more than 12 times, and at the end, most of the last chapter is skipped! I can't figure out why I should have to now go and pay for a paperback JUST to find out what happened in the last chapter! Audible needs to address this issue and re-issue part 2 to faithful Audible/S.M. Stirling listeners!

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

The High Kind of Montival

Good follow-up to last book. The end was kind of a rush. it was obvious that we were being set up for the next book. I have listened to the entire series, often keeps you on the edge. I drive for a living I have come home at night and sat in the car in the drive listening to the end of a chapter. A never ending keep your eyes open book for the next critical point... will look for the next book. Hope I do not have to wait so long.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable

I enjoyed this book just fine. It did feel a bit like a "bridge" book if you will. It's main purpose is to get you to the next book without a huge amount of plot development on it's own. Still pretty entertaining. My only real complaint had nothing to do with the book itself but with Audible's damaged file that even after multiple calls to customer service did not get fixed or replaced. Very unacceptable specially since another customer stated that she did get her damaged file replaced with a working one. Audible needs to deal with this immediately.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

The High King of Montival

S.M. continues with his usual overwriting of what is an Awesome and intriguing storyline, this chapter starts with an exciting and well written battle and he then slips back into his gastro and clothing expose' with mind numbing description. I have continued listening because I like the story concept eventhou the delivery is getting more and more tedious, the narrator's use of the many different accents at times is just plain irritating with the thickness he is trying to achieve is hurting the story. If the story continues at this rate it will be clear into book 10-11. Help me out S.M. your loosing me.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

High King Review

I've read or listened to every book in this series, and while the book is as well written as the previous ones, it just doesn't have any substance. He's dragging out the ultimate confrontation for the sake of book sales. You can read the first chapter and the last 3 chapters and be ready for the next installment. It's not worth the credit. Wait for the next book!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

disapointing

I have enjoyed every one of S.M Stirling’s books until now. It seemed like ½ of the book was missing. Was S.M Stirling rushed.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Seems as though the series is running out of juice

I have read/listen to the entire series several times, as well as the companion series. This is the only book that I have been disappointed in. It seems that Mr. Stirling is running out of creative energy here; or is trying to move the story from the the narrative to the mythic, (an obvious theme for the series) much too fast. I really did not like it and probably will abandon the series at this point.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

An action packed addition to the series

It appears that S M Stirling enjoys writing fighting sequences over all else. And he does it well. This narrator also keeps the action flowing. This addition to the series is as full of action as the others. It will bring you back to the time and place we left when A MEETING AT CORVALLIS finished. This book is primarily about Rudy and his stalwart band and the mission that takes them across the country and back. IT IS NOT A STAND ALONE BOOK. It will mean nothing to you if you haven't read the previous three. It is an enjoyable read. It is a pity we will have to wait about a year for the next book. I gave it 4 stars because it does sacrafice character for action. And we have very little here on those left back home. However, if you like the series, you will enjoy this book.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A Solid Entry!

NOTE: As another reviewer mentioned, there are definite quality problems toward the end of the second recording. In two different places, the recording loops repeatedly and you miss parts of the story. It didn't ruin the book because I was already so far into it, but this is a problem you should be aware of and it does need to be fixed.


I found this to be a better book than, The Sunrise Lands" which was my last Stirling Audible purchase. It had a much more balanced feel. The end did seem a bit less detailed, perhaps a bit rushed. The big action sequence had me on the edge of my seat. I was so engrossed that I almost didn't pay the lady at the tollbooth!

Overall, I thought it was a smooth listen. The characters are drawn well enough to make them interesting and there are plenty of of elements in the plot to keep it moving along.

The reader added to the telling of the tale by doing excellent voices and otherwise being unobtrusive. Todd McLaren will be a selling point for me on other books, like George Guidall, Scott Brick and Carolyn McCormick.

This one's a winner!

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1 person found this helpful