The Known World is a sprawling realm ruled by mortals, protected by gods, and plied by magicians and warriors, merchants and beggars, royals and scoundrels. In Kaul, the Council of Mothers upholds the great Ancestress; Odrel, the god of Sadness, unites the suffering of the Upper Kingdoms; and everywhere the lethal minions of Zuïa, the cold-blooded judiciary goddess, do her fearsome bidding. But for all the Known World’s wonders and terrors, what has endured most powerfully is the legacy of Ji. Emissaries from every nation - the grand Goranese Empire; desolate, frozen Arkary; cosmopolitan Lorelia; and beyond - followed an enigmatic summons. Some never returned; others were never the same. Blessed and burdened with a staggering secret, the survivors passed their newfound knowledge down through the generations. But now the last of their heirs - and the surpassing wisdom they possess - face a deadly threat. The time has come to fight for ultimate enlightenment…or fall to infinite darkness.
©2013 Pierre Grimbert (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.
"Interesting Premise and Engaging Characters"
Fun, Unusual, too-short
I enjoyed learning about the different characters, watching them interact with one another, and seeing some of them grow.
Michael Page does an excellent job with different voices and accents. I can tell which character is speaking by his portrayal alone and without any other clues from the text.
It is highly engrossing.
More than a century before the story begins, several emessaries were given a secret. Now, assassins are killing the decendants. The remaining heirs must survive and work together long enough to discover why they are being targeted.
This book is too short. It isn't the whole story by far. Not all of the characters are as developed as others. I suspect this will occur later on in the series; this first book focused on two of the several main characters. The characters are different ages, have different and sometimes clashing personalities, and come from varied backgrounds. Grimbert's world is extensively developed and well-described. I can't wait to read the next installment of this adventure.