• Blades of Magic: Crown Service, Book 1

  • By: Terah Edun
  • Narrated by: Sylvia Roldn Dohi
  • Length: 8 hrs and 14 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (88 ratings)

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Blades of Magic: Crown Service, Book 1  By  cover art

Blades of Magic: Crown Service, Book 1

By: Terah Edun
Narrated by: Sylvia Roldn Dohi
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Publisher's summary

Blades of Magic by Terah Edun is a rich epic fantasy perfect for fans of The Girl of Fire and Thorns and Mistborn.

It is not a peaceful time in the Algardis Empire. War is raging between the mages and seventeen-year-old Sara Fairchild will be right in the middle of it. She just doesn't know it yet.

Sara is the daughter of a disgraced imperial commander, executed for desertion. Sara is also the best duelist and hand-to-hand combatant in Sandrin. She lives quietly with her family's shame but when challenged about her family's honor, her opponent inevitably loses. On the night she finds out her father's true last actions, she takes the Mercenary Guilds' vows to serve in the emperor's army. Using her quick wits and fierce fighting skills, she earns a spot in the first division. There she discovers secrets the mages on both sides would prefer stay hidden. Dark enemies hunt her and soon it's not just Sara questioning the motivation behind this war.

While fighting mages, blackmailing merchants and discovering new friends, Sara comes across something she's never had before - passion. The question is - can she fight for her empress against a mage who might unwittingly claim her heart?

This is year one of the Initiate Wars. Sara is hoping it doesn't become the year she dies. On the night she finds out her father's true last actions, she takes the Mercenary Guilds' vows to serve in the emperor's army. Using her quick wits and fierce fighting skills, she earns a spot in the first division. There she discovers secrets the mages on both sides would prefer stay hidden. Dark enemies hunt her and soon it's not just Sara questioning the motivation behind this war.

©2014 Terah Edun (P)2014 Terah Edun

What listeners say about Blades of Magic: Crown Service, Book 1

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

a lot of potential

Blades of Magic by Terah Edun is the first in a series called Crown Service. Sara is a Fairchild. Her father was a well-known family of battle mages. These are mages with the power to strengthen themselves to improve their abilities. Sara’s father was executed as a traitor and she’s determined to find out why. In the meantime, her family’s standing in the community has fallen and her friends have deserted her. To put food on the table she has to take up a job as a guard for artifacts collected by a dangerous criminal. While on the job, she meets Ezekiel, the artifact curator, and they band together as they attempt to figure out the mystery of why Sara’s father was executed.

This novel was seemingly written in the style of an epic with the main character being invincible and on a quest. However, overall, I felt that the book had a lot of potential that it didn’t live up to. The plot was interesting and there was enough conflict and mystery to drive it forward. Even the broad actions of the characters made sense and were interesting and fun to follow. However, I felt that the world building was lacking. It was hard to get a sense of the characters surroundings and when Sara said certain words like ‘wench’ periodically, it felt out of place most of the time. Sara’s complete disregard for and even relish in killing people with no remorse was difficult to understand and personally off-putting as a young adult novel. Sara also seemed to have no weakness that she admitted to and so she didn’t develop as the novel progressed. The novel ends in a rather abrupt cliff-hanger and there was no closure.

Unfortunately, I felt that the narration by Sylvia Roldn Dohi made the novel worse for me. The voice of Sara was probably supposed to be abrasive, but it came off as pout-y to me and that made me dislike the character even more. The other characters were narrated fine. The production quality was good. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes young adult fiction filled with adventure, violence, and a plot centered on a quest.

Audiobook provided for review by the author.

Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

An imaginative read.

Any additional comments?

This is my first Terah Edun book but it definitely won't be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed it. You are brought into the story right from the start and its pretty much a non stop, action packed, roller coaster.

I loved the MC Sara. She was totally kick ass. Despite what everyone thinks about her father, she knows that deep down if he did desert then he had a really good reason to. I admired her faith in him and her tenacity to prove him innocent.

I also love Saras' powers. The idea of her powers, if used constantly, could possibly make her become a beserker was unique and quite awesome! Not only does she battle the people who want to harm her everyday, she also battles her powers and fears.

Ezekiel was awesome too!! He was witty, kind, clever and an all round great person to know. I loved seeing both of them together and seeing their friendship blossom.

The plot was really fast paced and gripping. Poor Sara is put through the paces the whole way through. She is first hired as a watcher (a security guard for magical items). During this time she is forced to guard certain items multiple times, then she learns that her dad may be innocent and ends up as a mercenary to try to get information, then she is sent to a battlefield!! It was so fast paced but also well thought out and developed.

In all I really enjoyed this and will definitely keep on with the series. There are plenty of answers still to come!!

The audio of this was fantastic. The narrator nailed Saras' spunkieness perfectly. She gave each character their own "voice" so it was really easy to differentiate each one.

*I received this for review as part of a blog tour. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Can’t wait for the others to be on Audible

Sounds like it will be a good series. Disappointing that the other 3 available in Amazon are not on Audible yet.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Superb YA Fantasy !

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

Yes I would because the action and narration just pulls you into the story and makes you feel like you are next to each character.

Any additional comments?

This is my first time ever listening to an audiobook completely because I tend to get annoyed with them, but this was absolutely stunning. The narrator, Sylvia, did an absolutely fantastic job at making me feel like I was surrounded by the world and characters.

Sara is a fantastic character. I loved her determination despite all that she went through. Even being introduced to her was dramatic in a way that made me connect with her straight on. Sara's sword fighting ability was amazing, not to mention the fascinating way she controlled her magic. Sara was simply kickass. I also loved Ezekiel. He was so funny and he seemed like he was a bit dim-witted, but there is so much going on with him that it feels as if he's two different people.

The combination of action and mystery, magic and drama kept me hooked and wanting to know more about the world and characters. I've enjoyed both the story and the characters alongside the narration of this beauty.

I definitely plan to check out the sequel as an audiobook because it's absolutely fun to read and Sara is just simply amazing.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Always Awesome

Where does Blades of Magic: Crown Service, Book 1 rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Thus far right at the top, it was a fantastic story all the way around and I could listen to it over and over again.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Sara is my favorite character, watching her development as more than just a fighter. She is discovering herself, how to trust, making friends, on her trip to discover what really happened with her father. She is rounding out becoming the person she should be as well as the person she wants to be, I love watching a character develop.

What does Sylvia Roldn Dohi bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Oh my, I wasn't sure before I started listening but wow I loved this narrator, she brought a new level of excitement to the story with her interpretation of voices and emotions. I want to get more audio books now, a narrator can make a wonderful book even better.

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

No, I like to listen a chunk at a time and think about all that happened before I move on. I think it is a did you miss something reflex, and if something isn't quite as clear as I would like it to be it's easy to go back over if I wanted to.

Any additional comments?

My admiration of Terah Edun grows in leaps and bounds, I am always left breathless waiting for the next book. Keep it up!!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Pick up this book and be entertained!

What made the experience of listening to Blades of Magic: Crown Service, Book 1 the most enjoyable?

This book rocked this reader's socks! The narrator was fantastic. I'm a big fan of how this author's fantasy writing style and her characters. The story flowed very well and didn't drag on detail or plot line. The action was never ending and the world building lovely. The young heroine is one tough, but vulnerable chick and her side kick, a rag-a-muffin treasure hunter/thief is insanely entertaining.

Sara is a fighter and mage with blisteringly strong battle magic. She takes on the job of watching a rather shady "collector's"s magical baubles and weapons. She befriends the curator. They then have a whirlwind of fights and discoveries about Sara's deceased father that eventually leads them to the battleground. Mysteries are uncovered and more arise. Our heroine has many choices to make and may just learn what she is capable of.

Pick up this book and be entertained and engrossed with this great YA Fantasy novel!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Sara. She's tough and a well built character.

What about Sylvia Roldn Dohi’s performance did you like?

Her narration was easy to follow.

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

Yes.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Non-stop energy from the main Character!

Sylvia Roldn Dohi gives a great narration to this book by Terah Edun. I hope to hear her in other books and hope that she does the next book in the series. One thing for me that makes or breaks a book is the narrator. The story could be amazing but if the narrator does not preform well makes me stop the book and move on. In this case she can keep me the reader listening from start to finish in a couple days. Has a great transition between characters she portrays.

Now onto the story itself. The main character Sara Fairchild a young girl with something to prove to herself and others that she has the talent to be a mighty warrior like her dad. However, living thru the disgrace of her father's death. Sara's mother asked her to get a job at the fishery. Sara agrees and finds herself reluctantly takes on another position that is offered by the fishery owner.

Sara is asked by the owner of the fishery to become his Watcher. Watch what? His warehouse of special artifacts. Agreeing Sara finds herself paired up with the 2nd main character Ezekiel, curator of antiquities. Sara finds herself thinking "What has she gotten herself into. This guy is a scary cat." or is he!

The plot has you wondering all the way thru what her dad has done or did not do. Why so many are after a certain artifact and are willing to kill for it. How Sara ends up becoming a Mercenary to unravel the mysteries while learning how to use her special gift of Battle Magic. Learning the different Mages talents. And discovering what is truly inside her to get thru this war she is drawn into by the Mercenaries to learn more about her dad.

The only Con that I had with this book was the long repetitious back story in the beginning of the book could have been reduced. Though once the story gets underway only some backstory where needed is given to hold the storyline together.

Ezekiel by far is my favorite with his weak whimsy character only to turn around to be a very strong character next to Sara! Can't wait to hear Book 2 when it comes out! I'm a sucker for a good fantasy series!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Fun and fast paced, but weak worldbuilding

Would you listen to Blades of Magic: Crown Service, Book 1 again? Why?

No, I wouldn't. The book was good enough for a first listen, but not a second. I will, however, continue on with the next book in the series.

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

The Kade mages. I found myself lapping up every bit of info about them and the civil war they have caused. Looking forward to discovering more on them.
The least interesting was the magic system. It was pretty generic. The battlemage could have been an interesting idea, but it just feels like a grab bag of tricks that appear conveniently when the plot demands and never mentioned again.

Which character – as performed by Sylvia Roldn Dohi – was your favorite?

Sara, the protagonist of the book. She's feisty, deadly but with her own demons. Her gift of battle magic is also her curse. Only issue I had was how easily she got over her mother's death.

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

I listened to the book in not one, but 3-4 sittings.

Any additional comments?

Far too often, something was mentioned after it became relevant. For example, Sara sees a vision/ghost/thingy and Ezekiel whips out a dragonfly that can give you cool abilities to help identify whether the vision was for real. Why then? It would have felt more natural if it had been foreshadowed a bit. And this happens again and again. Perhaps the biggest flaw of the book. Not a deal breaker, but it irks me.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story, cheesy narration

I couldn’t finish because the narration made the story seem so cheesy! I think I would have otherwise loved it.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Fast paced, maybe a little too much magic

This is a light book to listen to. The pacing is fast and furious. Don't expect a lot of depth. There is definitely intrigue, but very little is resolved by the end of the book...so, you just have to deal with it.

Although it wasn't blatant with this book, I can definitely see a let down in the second book. There is a lot of magic...all powerful....and it doesn't feel very balanced. I could be wrong, but you can feel it.

Is it worth a credit. Sure, its quick, light, and fun...could do worse. Not sure I can recommend the series as of yet.

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