When Swords Fall Silent

An Epic Fantasy Anthology

By: Bryce O'Connor, David Dalglish, JA Andrews, Terry Mancour, Luke Chmilenko, M.L. Wang, Marie Brennan, Michael J Sullivan, Philip C. Quaintrell, RJ Barker, Andrew Rowe

Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds, Travis Baldree, John Lee, Kate Reading, Steven Brand, Emily Lawrence, Mikael Naramore, Nikki Massoud, full cast

Length: 15 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Only one profession is at once more reviled and revered than any other...that of the hired blade. The paid killer. The assassin.

The When Swords Fall Silent anthology showcases the imaginations and talents of more than a dozen of the best modern science-fiction and fantasy authors, with each tale centered around one or more characters burdened with a bloody task they will see to completion no matter the cost. Every story takes you for a vicious ride through a world of shadow and death, each as unique in perspective and execution as the contracts carried out within.

This anthology includes work from the following writers:

Terry Mancour, Bryce O'Connor, David Dalglish, JA Andrews, Jonathan French, Luke Chmilenko, M.L. Wang, Marie Brennan, Michael J. Sullivan, Philip C. Quaintrell, RJ Barker, Andrew Rowe, Jay Boyce, Peter Flannery.

The stories within are read by the following narrators:

Tim Gerard Reynolds, Travis Baldree, John Lee, Kate Reading, Steven Brand, Emily Lawrence, Matthew Wolf, Mikael Naramore, Nikki Massoud, Kevin Kenerly, Eva Kaminsky, Kaleo Griffith.

©2023 Wraithmarked (P)2023 Podium Audio

Intriguing stories read by compelling narrators

I find myself gravitating towards specific authors and even specific narrators. So, I buying anthologies to experience different narrators and authors.

Anthologies are always hard because there will be stories I don't like and narrators whose voice just don't sound right to me.

This is the first anthology that I've listened to that I've liked most of the authors and narrators.

Assassins get their due

A rich compendium of novelettes covering the secret lives and life of executioners who ply their trade in the shadows. The cast of well-known and acclaimed writers insured the variety of plots, many that I hope were teasers for eventual full series. Finally, the list of renowned narrators was guaranteed to make for a pleasurable listening experience.

Overall well done

Having read through some of the more negative reviews I think they miss the point. With this many stories and authors it is a given one will find some better than others.

My 5-star rating is based on this book as a whole. I found more than 75% of the stories entertaining and enjoyable. I found three new authors to look into and was familiar with most of the others. That’s about as good as it gets for this kind of work.

Best to read other books by authors first

I was fortunate to have listened to almost all of the books all the authors have written before reading this. So I already understood most of the worlds/characters. For me this was a good compilation of short stories that added more depth to what I've already experienced. Good work to all involved!

Epic Journey

I’m really glad this book came up in my suggestions feed. It’s an amazing project. I definitely walked away with some new favorite authors added to my list.

Substandard

Substandard stories, very disparate quality of narrators. Not good I’m afraid except for the first story and narrator.

50/50

Some good some ok. I’d listen again to the ones I liked. For some reason Kate just does not do it for me

mixed bag

Some I really liked and will explore new authors. Some were just not me so a good way to explore the buffet to find what you like.

Stories varied by quality

The stories throughout this short story collection varied in the quality that was shown. Overall there was a few that I felt were great, a handful that were okay to a little better, and the rest i felt missed the mark. The stories do however show how well many of these writers can do even when they are semi-limited in space as many of the stories still felt to have a throughout background to the world at least to the area that it takes place. Would recommend the stories to anyone that is interested in assassins as many of them follow different breeds of that profession. Overall solid stories and amazing performances by the cast of voices.

This was fun

I downloaded it because I love Terry mancour and John lee. It was great to get introduced to new authors and I stayed till the end to hear TM s story. Fun