The Buried World

The Grave Kingdom, Book 2

By: Jeff Wheeler

Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller

Length: 11 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

The young warrior Bingmei pits her courage, combat skills, and very life against a brutal tyrant’s dark magic in the follow-up to Wall Street Journal bestselling author Jeff Wheeler’s The Killing Fog.

The orphaned Bingmei didn't choose to be a hero. She has no wish to cross the Death Wall to save the world. But she has awakened Echion, emperor of the Grave Kingdom and Dragon of Night, and it is her destiny to defy him. From his imperial city of ancient sorcery and immortal darkness, Echion conspires to fulfill his own destiny: vanquish Bingmei, revive his queen, and rule together for another eon unchallenged.

Traversing a labyrinth of caves and mountains, Bingmei and her band of allies prepare their defense against a fateful war they cannot win. But when they are overcome by Echion's terrible power, Bingmei is left vulnerable to a ruthless assassin...one with orders to capture, not kill.

Before he destroys her, Echion craves something more than Bingmei's soul. Only she has the power to resurrect Echion's ancient queen, Xisi, whose evil is matched only by his own. Once reunited, their dark shadow will fall like a shroud over the realms. To be a savior, Bingmei must first survive what she has unleashed, and to survive she must begin to understand the seeds of power she’s never learned to control.

©2020 by Jeff Wheeler. (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Emily Woo Zeller returns to narrate the second audiobook in The Grave Kingdom series. Bingmei and her diverse fighter companions travel the continent, battling and narrowly escaping the Dragon of Night in order to resist their destiny. Zeller delivers the danger, friendship, and romance of the story in a variety of voices that depict an intricate group of characters. Especially noteworthy is her portrayal of Bingmei; Zeller pays special attention to her emotional growth by transitioning from a timid tone to a more determined one as Bingmei faces the brutality of her world. Despite the story's slow pace, Zeller keeps listeners engaged with a captivating narration.” (Audiofile Magazine)

"Fans of Wheeler's work and Asian-influenced fantasy will find this a worthy outing." (Publishers Weekly)

“Wheeler once again blends exciting confrontations with depth of characterization and superb world building.” (Booklist)

better than the first

the second in the series was better than the first for me. I guess because this was so different from other books I had read from this author it took a bit to get into it. since it's with my Kindle unlimited I decided to give the second book of try and I'm glad I did

better than the first book

I'm surprised by how much I am enjoying these books. I'm very much looking forward to the next one.

Another winner from Jeff Wheeler

I love the worlds Wheeler creates. This book had me so captivated I had to be careful when driving to not completely slip away into the story. My only complaint is now I have to wait for the next book to be released. ;)

Great Book

Suspense and action all the way through this book. The first book gets you familiar with the characters, and the team work and heroism exploded all the way to the end.

Suspenful

Couldn't put it down, anxious to see what happened next, who would survive the dragons.

Amazing second book

This is a great second book in the series. It leaves you waiting with suspense for the third book in the trilogy.

Very deep good for sequels

I’m so glad I know there is at least one more book. These stories move slow at times but usually for a reason

Narrator whispers too much

The story is interesting and unique. The narrator’s voice is grating. She has improved the character voices and handles the Asian names and places well but when in her “narrator” voice she whispers and it just grates on your last nerve.

love this book and the author

I love Jeffery Wheelers story, I feel like I am not watching a story unfold, but there in the story. I find when I want to escape to new world, his books bring me there. This series is one of his best. but then I say that about all the ones I have read. can't wait for the next book. At least he doesn't make you wait for years, like some of my favorite authors.

A Fantasy Kung Fu trilogy!

This story is so good! It’s like watching a Modern Chinese Martial Arts Movie. The kind that Michelle Yeoh would play Kunmia Sun.

I enjoyed this and the first book immensely. I also noticed people complaining that the books weren’t completed stories. If you’re looking for that, R. A. Salvatore is your man. Great author in his own right, so feel free to read those books.

This is an epic, and it’s obviously written in the classic sense of epic high fantasy, but in an Asian setting.

I’m ready for book three. Take my money, please, Mr. Wheeler!