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.

Best Book I Ever Read

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

Yes, I would.

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson was unequivocally the best book I've ever read. Excellent use of foreshadowing without being predictable and a wide array of characters with their own identifiable quirks and secrets. Very excited to hear talks about a movie and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series as well as his other works.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Steelheart?

The opening scene in the bank is very memorable because it central to the story.

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

He is one of the best narrators I have heard. He does a great job and shows a wide range of character distinction between characters.

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

The ending was great and it brought the entire story full circle.

Any additional comments?

Great read for anyone!

Interesting Storyline & science

If you could sum up Steelheart in three words, what would they be?

Epics rule the world

What did you like best about this story?

The interaction of characters and the character development

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

His personality and interpretation of the characters provide a full vibrant experience without destroying your personal imagination.

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

The plot reveal was done in a typical Sanderson fashion, foreshadowed but still powerful and unprdictable.

fun and imaginative

a fun and well paced book. a little predictable in spots (the reason for 4 out of 5 stars for story), but excellently written with some nicely hidden twists (good enough to bump the story up from 3 to 4 stars). it's a post-apocalyptic, superhero, action, fantasy story. it sounds kinda silly when it's described like that, but it delivers on all 4 fronts well. the narrator really shines here. he delivers a riveting dramatization while also differentiating all of the characters and slinging the slang in the dialog with believable flair. well worth the credit to purchase and the time to enjoy :D

didn't think i would like but loved it

What did you love best about Steelheart?

i didn't think i would like the story but a friend told me to try it and i loved listening to it. i did love the voice overs by the reader he kinda uses the same voice for some people but other wise loved the story.

Another Amazing World from Sanderson

Would you consider the audio edition of Steelheart to be better than the print version?

I always enjoy the audio best. It lets me just close my eyes and see the story unfold.

What other book might you compare Steelheart to and why?

The Mistborn series and the stormlight archive. Also The dune series. All if these are different stories but they all have complete universes in which they take place. You can beleive these places are real.

Which scene was your favorite?

Prof's rescuevof David and Megan.

Any additional comments?

This story has just begun and I look forward to seeing how all the pieces will fall into place as David searches for the secret of the epics.

Inspired fantasy story with strong characters

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

First person POV of a precocious young man whose sensibilities go beyond the mundane. Gals, guns & galore a plenty in this novel.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Steelheart?

The bank scene, the weapons dealer, the motorcycle chase & the final denouement.

Which character – as performed by Macleod Andrews – was your favorite?

David, Cody

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

David in the deadend tunnel.

Super heroes meet dystopian setting

Once again, Brandon Sanderson delivers a gripping fantasy story set within a rich and captivating alternate reality. The modern world setting is quite different from his more epic works, but just as effective. As with any Sanderson book, the world is as much a character as the story.

Steelheart takes place in an alternate future where epics, people who have developed special powers, rule things with force and brutality. The story follows the plight of a young man named David who seeks out a group of revolutionaries, called the Reckoners, to try to take out the lead epic of his city in revenge for his father's death.

The story is full of action and adventure, but without skimping on character development, just as you'd expect from Sanderson. The quirky cast of characters have just the right balance of depth and humor, yet they often straddle the line between good and evil. Not everything can ever be so clear in a world created by this author. That is why I love his writing, so.

Despite being such a well crafted story, this book is not as intense as some of Sanderson's other works, the Stormlight Archives in particular. This is not meant as a criticism. The lighter tone works for the nature of this book, well, if one can call it a lighter tone given the somewhat bleak world.

My final verdict is that my Sanderson fangirl status has been reinforced and I will now be following another of his series. Thank goodness he is such a prolific writer!

Great story and performance

Where does Steelheart rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the best audiobooks I have listened to. Clear character development and delivery of character roles made for a fun and energetic experience. I have listened to the story several times already.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Steelheart?

Most memorable to me was the point that Megan is revealed. Caught me completely by surprise.

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

There is a depth of character and personality projected by McLeod that you wouldn't get by simply reading the book.

Any additional comments?

I liked the book so well I have recommended it to several friends. I recommend for all.

A must listen for any Superhero / Villain fan

A really great take on The Superhero genre.

A straight forward story about one non super powered character. It doesn't divert into multiple character points of view, which is a nice change back to the old school.

Check it out... I'll be downloading the other books in the series.

Great Book. Not as Good as his Stormlight Archive

wonderful book, getting the next in the serious. Holds me over until next stormlight archive book.