Steelheart

The Reckoners, Book 1

By: Brandon Sanderson

Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews

Length: 12 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

From the number-one New York Times best-selling author of the Mistborn Trilogy, Brandon Sanderson, comes the first book in a new, action-packed thrill ride of a series - Steelheart. Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics.

But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his will.

Nobody fights the Epics...nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them.

And David wants in. He wants Steelheart - the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David's father. For years, like the Reckoners, David's been studying, and planning - and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience.

He's seen Steelheart bleed.

And he wants revenge.

©2013 Dragonsteel Entertainment, LLC (P)2013 Audible Inc.

i like sanderson works

Any additional comments?

the story is a varietion on the "great power corupts". i realy like the idea behind the story, and allthough at times it's very similar to sanderson other books it's still s good story and i like listening to it

Epic start to a new series..

One of the coolest books that I have listened to all year! Very well written with excellent narration from Macleod Andrews which resulted in a very absorbing experience that I really didn't want to end.

The only bad thing about listening to this book is the long wait until Book 2 is released.
For the last few years any new book by Brandon Sanderson has been an instant buy for me. Book 2 of the Reckoners series will be no different.. I would preorder it right now if I could!

Couldn't tear my ears away

I listened to the free five chapter teaser and when it was done I was really anticipating the rest of the story. It does not disappoint. The main protagonist is well rounded. Not perfect, but gives you the best "in" to the story. The narrator does a great job with characterization and his ability to switch between them seamlessly helps during the battle scenes. Kudos to Macleod for an excellent job.

The story though, ooh that story, it's good. I'm a geek, and this story seemed to pluck at every string in my geekiness. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, and "With great power comes great responsibility." are the two main themes here, and Sanderson gives a great exploration into the What if? scenario. I will say that you are dropped into the story and are living it. There is no explanation as to why it happened, and the world has changed a lot since, but it's approached as a given rather than explained. I am looking forward to the next in the series and hope that Sanderson starts to explore Calamity and the reasons behind it, but could also be content letting it go.

This is a good book, a good starting point, with excellent narration, characterization and pacing. Highly recommend it.

An entertaining twist on the superhero story

What made the experience of listening to Steelheart the most enjoyable?

Sanderson has written a fast paced romp through the steel city of Newcago and populated it with characters worth caring about. He provides an interesting twist on the Xmen by making all of the superheroes bad guys driven insane by their power. I like that, for once, the heroes are our everyday normals and not some idiot on a power trip.

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

MacLeod's narration is superb. His voice give additional heft to all the other characters.

Any additional comments?

Unfortunately, the story is rather predictable and the author laid out enough foreshadowing that I saw the twists coming from pretty far out. Also, the main character is a bit of a nagging retard. He does get better as the story goes on fortunately. The story itself kept me hooked until the end and I was disappointed that he hasn't finished writing this series.

New Premise, Good Story

What made the experience of listening to Steelheart the most enjoyable?

This was a good story with a new premise and likable characters. There were some good twists in the story that I never saw coming. Mcleod Andrew (who sounds a like like Michael J. Fox) put in a stellar performance. He brought David, the main character, to life. If there is a sequel to Steelheart it would be difficult to accept another reader. The story kept me involved from beginning to end.

WOW this is one great story heard

What made the experience of listening to Steelheart the most enjoyable?

It just kept coming one moment after another,suspense,action, surprises

Any additional comments?

I've never much been a fan of this author but after listening to this book I probably will listen to every book this guy writes. The narrator was something else aswell. He took the book and sent it to another level with his performance.

More please.

The only complaint I have about this book is that the author is on tour promoting it when he should be working on the next one.

terrific!

This is a fast-paced story with lots of action and emotion. Well written with some twists and turns. I won't say the twists weren't expected, but they were interesting anyway. The narrator is excellent and a perfect choice for this production. Well worth the listen or the read. In fact, I intend to give it as birthday gifts to family members.

An Epic Beginning

What was one of the most memorable moments of Steelheart?

By far it had to be the Prologue where we were introduced to the Universe and the cruelty of the 'Epic' menis.

What about Macleod Andrews’s performance did you like?

His wide array of vocal styles. He captured the brashness of youth, the voices of experience and it was very very easy to know which person was talking at any one moment.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Once again... A moment in the Prologue where one of the characters does something (no spoilers) Let's just say you will want to give your kids a hug when it happens.

Any additional comments?

This was a fantastic book. Full of action, good dabs of humor and an ending that I never saw coming. The next book in the series can't come soon enough. Brandon Sanderson has really created a rich world and the options going forward are nearly endless.

exciting and action filled

What made the experience of listening to Steelheart the most enjoyable?

Another fantastic action fantasy thriller by a truly great writer. Although I haven't quite finished it yet I am even now looking forward to a followup to this book.

What did you like best about this story?

It moves right along and the characters are unique. It leaves you on edge wondering where it will go from Chapter to chapter to chapter.

Have you listened to any of Macleod Andrews’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Not sure if I have listened to Mr. Andrew's other readings but he does a fine job with this book. He is becoming another performer that I look forward to hearing from in more stories in the future.

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

Actually, because I am an invalid, I did want to listen to it in one sitting but then again I wanted to spread it out so I could enjoy it longer.

Any additional comments?

Highly recommend this book if you like exciting fantasy in a future that "could be" I am still waiting for the follow up to another Brandon Sanderson book The way of Kings which was another fantastic book and will be followed next month by Words of Radiance. Now will have to go back to The way of Kings to refresh my memory about this great book.. I am looking for a followup if one is to be of this book Steel Heart.