The Call of the Sea

De: Sian Ann Bessey

Narrado por: Robert Lewis Owen

On the eve of her betrothal to a nobleman she’s never met, Rhiannon seeks comfort on the shores of the sea she loves so well. But instead of offering peace to her uneasy heart, the ocean heralds doom with the arrival of dreaded Viking ships. A vicious raid leads to the death of her beloved father and leaves Rhiannon’s life in tatters. Heartbroken, she travels to Ynys Môn, where she takes up residence at the royal court of Owain Gwynedd.

Leif loves voyaging on the open water. As the son of a Viking chief, he’s accustomed to his people’s practice of plundering and looting. But when one of his companions ruthlessly kills an old man in front of the man’s beautiful daughter, Leif is haunted by the memory. Desperate to find forgiveness for the atrocity he allowed to occur, he’s offered a chance at redemption through the kindly teachings of an Irish priest and the unexpected arrival of a royal fugitive. Suddenly thrust into the midst of the Cymry’s political turmoil, Leif is reunited with the dead man’s daughter—Rhiannon. Forced to work side by side to uncover the truth behind the turmoil, they come to discover that love can grow from even the most tragic of beginnings. But with such incompatible backgrounds, surely a future together can never be theirs.

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great narration and story

I really loved the narrator. he really did a good job. his accent transported me into the world, and he was neither dull nor too dramatic. it was perfect!

the story was so interesting and nothing like I've ever read! I really liked the mmc. his arc was really good and he was so noble. I really liked the fmc too. she was very realistic for the time, in my opinion, while still being relatable for us modern readers.

the plot of the story was also incredibly fun and different!! I really love how this author doesn't just set a story in a specific time for giggles. the history of the time is almost a character in itself. and it really transports you into the world, so you feel like this happened in real life. thank you to the author for all the hard work she put into this really amazing book!!

Intrigued

The story was vividly described, had a nice balance of romance mixed with story line and adventure content. Would listen to again.

Action driven story of early Norsemen and Welshmen

I loved the history, customs, language and names that were woven through this exciting story of adventure, romance and mystery. These are my ancestors and I enjoyed learning about their lives and values.

You won’t believe your ears!

This is an incredible story, it has messages that will make the world a better place! It’s also exciting, sit on the edge of your seat exciting! This is the love every woman craves! The voice actor should ever be made to do Viking voices! His voice coupled with this story makes one incredible listen! And the fact he can voice all the characters seems, it should be impossible with how deep it is! You will not regret listening or reading, but I encourage listening!!!

Beautiful

Beautiful story and excellent narration! The narrator's voice was so soothing to listen to.

Great Easy Listen

I just needed something easy to listen to. Good listen. No major plot issues. Likable characters. Worth the time I spent.

Welch Romance

Mystery, romance, and a handsome Viking - who could ask for more. Such a suspenseful and well written tale.

Beauty in the midst of a harsh world

An incredibly delightful and well crafted story with true historical details of a medieval world is intricately interwoven by Ms. Bessey. A heartwarming and slow burn romance, which is both believable and beautiful transports the reader to the world of Rhiannon and Leif…people from two different worlds who face the challenge of bridging the difference in the midst of a sometimes harsh environment.

The audible narration was also a great asset to an intriguing story.

A nice but very predictable listen

Enjoyed the time period and it was an easy listen, but the story was somewhat predictable and trite.

Flat narration with an adolescent story.

I really wanted to enjoy The Call of the Sea, but it just didn’t work for me. The story had potential with its Viking-era setting, but the writing felt a bit adolescent, like it was aimed at a younger audience. The dialogue was pretty basic, which made it hard to really connect with the characters.

While I enjoy a good “damsel in distress” element—it was just too cliché and predictable. The heroine constantly needing to be rescued got old fast and made the story feel more cheesy than exciting. Unfortunately the audiobook narration also didn’t help. The delivery felt stiff, which made it even harder to stay engaged.

Overall, this wasn’t the Viking adventure I was hoping for. If you love simple, easy reads with familiar tropes, you might enjoy it, but it didn’t stand out for me.