The Domes of Calrathia

De: Isaac Young

Narrado por: Son of Sonnet

Banished for the murder of his master, a lone Astronomer has set out to deliver a written history of his School to the ancient city of Calrathia, home of all knowledge. None have attempted to cross the frozen wastes in three centuries. And in the bitter cold, worse things than scavengers haunt the desolate trek.

©2025 Isaac Young (P)2025 Isaac Young

come on

Prose is a series of cliches, characterization that would make RE Howard roll his eyes (women are either shrill manipulators or innocents; men are savages, proud warriors or louche aristocrats), full of stumbling biblical references. The best parts are pretty clearly riffs on Wolfe, the worst parts are the protracted, thinly veiled political stuff (notably a much too long show trial revolving around r
fake rape acxusations) and where the protagonist somehow develops preternatural skills at the sword and in debate. Probably seems novel if you've not read Wolfe, Vance or other dying earth stuff, but if you have, I dont think there's anything new here. Desperately needs an editor and to spend a lot more time reading Wolfe to figure out why he's so good.

Narrator seems like they're speaking lower than their natural range, which makes the choice to use some of the most fake-sounding pitch shifting for the female characters sound even weirder/sillier. Kudos for making me laugh out loud in public when he starts screaming though.

Not worth the time or money, imo.