Blighted

Plague Bearer, Book 2

De: Ken Lange

Narrado por: Andrew Pond

Cain seeks a way beyond the veil, but thanks to the continued existence of his father's children, that isn’t an option - currently. Worse yet, the strigoi's mass extermination put his enemies on notice. Armed with the knowledge that they too are mortal, his half-siblings have fled into the shadows, shattering ancient alliances. As they reel from the shockwaves of Namisia’s death, fear, mistrust, and infighting place Eve's tenuous hold over those who remain in jeopardy.

Either unwilling or unable to see the truth of the matter, Eve blamed Gavin and Viktor for the strigoi’s demise. A convenient lie the Courts were only too willing to swallow, because admitting Cain was real, let alone back amongst the living, would be too much. Revealing their alliance with the necromancers is a dangerous gamble, but with the introduction of the Blighted, an old enemy, Vetalas, has gained significant power. Of course, Eve knows better. But she’s loath to speak it aloud.

Her silence gives Cain free rein over his own work, an unanticipated boon, and the hunt for Adam's children begins in earnest.

©2021 Ken Lange (P)2022 Ken Lange

Well done!

I love this series so far. Cain is consistently bloodthirsty. This particular story really draws all of his Nine Realms Saga together. Pond did a great job with the narration as usual.

Fitting continuation

Great addition to the realms books, I love to see the way they intertwine.

It's a Good One!

I've really enjoyed the 4 series universe created by Ken Lange in Plague Bearer, Withering, Vigils Urbani, and Warden Global. The MC's manage to have different personalities, and they all have faults. Though, they do all have a lack of patience that makes them come off as grumpy idiots at times. It sometimes feels like there are breaks in dialog just so they can be grumpy, rather than actually considering what they've been told. That might just be my own impatience impacting my personal experience. Anyway, this is a solid addition to Plague Bearer. Admittedly, this one isn't my favorite of the series, but the linked universe is strong enough that it's worth listening to. Also, the vampire with mommy issues actually had me laughing out loud.

love it

I am loving this series and Cain's character. I want more of this series and at the same time I want more from the others in the Nine Realms Saga! Great narration by Andrew Pond!

Whole book a digression, drags and doesn’t go anywhere; series is wandering

This seemed like a side story that ballooned into a 9hr book. Nothing in it furthered Cain’s ultimate mission or added to my understanding of the backstory or characters. And then it turns out that nothing is accomplished. At least in the other books there is resolution at the end: whatever enemy was revealed was then vanquished and we end up with more understanding/knowledge than we started with. Not so this time. I’m left wondering, “what was the point of the last 9 hrs?” I really can’t answer that.

I got into this series bc of its novelty and it was interesting. It had its faults: early there was an bizarre emphasis on eating, certain conversation patterns are repetitive, ie: “cutting eyes” at someone “their gaze hit the floor” and there’s one person in each book that is constantly being declared thick, stupid, and dumb by the more well informed,
Ie: “huh?” “Jeesh you’re dumb/thick/stupid”
and the need to label people with “asshole” and “prick”. (I don’t care about the language, it just gets old). I feel like I’m listening to the same conversation over and over.
It needs a ruthless editor that can identify these repetitions / overdone phrases and themes, and can also prune the things that will just confuse readers who don’t have the authors whole vision of the intent and backstory.
And someone needs to tell the author that if he is going to have a multi-character, decades-long epic story like this, he has to stay on point and on “mission” in each book/storyline. There are so many moving parts and none of the readers know how it fits together until he tells us. It’s already asking a lot to stay interested in something this drawn out. There is no room for wandering or he will lose us along the way.
I waited the whole book to see how this tied into the greater story, to learn more, even for to know him better or for him to change. And….nothing. Instead of looking forward to the next book, I’m now dreading it, worried I’m going to be dragged through another without advancing the 9-realms at all

I’m worried the author is suddenly trying to expand the series even more. There’s fewer crossovers and more new characters. I see now there is a new book with a brand new character we’ve never of heard of apparently cruising around in space. What does that have to do with the 4 horseman? I’m not sure I even care. I was already impatient to know more about Gavin and Victor, now I guess we get one book about them every few years.
At this rate I anticipate it taking 10-15 years *minimum* for a conclusion. (If there’s only 1 book per year max rotating between 4 now 5 storylines, that’s min 4-5 years between Victor books, Gavin Books, etc. Given the slowing rate of development each will need 2-4 more books to resolve.)
That just frustrates me. It’s also confusing bc the story is so complex I don’t remember enough when there are years between each storyline in the series. Maybe I’ll just wait till it’s over around 2040 and I’ll be able to conclude it all at once. I’ll be retired by then and have plenty of time.