Anaerfell

Publisher's Summary

Drast and Tyran might be considered a bit black-hearted, or even immoral. Drast is cunning but reckless, hunting for admiration. Tyran is calculating but tactless, searching for affection. When the two brothers set aside their ambitions to fulfill their father's desire for immortality, they readily discover many opportunities for redemption. 

Now, while wielding a powerful magic that drains their life, Drast and Tyran will embark on a maddening quest, facing skin-switchers, dragons, and the God of the Dead.

©2015 Joshua Robertson (P)2019 Joshua Robertson

Interesting fantasy adventure!

Anaerfell by Joshua Robertson and J.C. Boyd and narrated by Todd Menesses is an audible book I requested and the review is voluntary. I enjoy a good epic sword and sorcery type adventure occasionally and this book for the bill. It had plenty of action, fantasy, good characters to live and hate, and a great plot. It slowed a bit in the early med area but picked back up with a vengeance. I enjoyed the Highborn Longwalker better but this was still good.
Good narration!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Loved it!!

This book is the first in the Thrice Nine Legends and I can’t wait to get stuck into more! I love epic fantasy and this ticked all the boxes for me. The book doesn’t really have your typical hero/good guy but instead features two brothers who are dark.... Their father has horribly abused both of them to the point where they do what he asks of them, no matter what it is, because they know there will be terrible consequences for them, or worse their brother, if they don’t. So by the time this story begins both men are villains, although Tyran still has most traces of humanity left. Despite the fact that the brothers would be completely unlikeable in real life, the characters are so well written that you can’t help getting behind both men.

The book sees them head off to carry out their father’s latest wish - all of course for his own ends. The world is well described and well built throughout the story. I loved the fact that although the characters have magic, using it ages them and brings them closer to death. This for me was a really unique twist and one that meant characters couldn’t simply use magic to solve any “issue” they face as it comes with a price. Dark, well written and with a great cast of characters - I loved it!

The narrator, Todd Menesses, was a new listen for me and I really liked him. At first I was irritated by the accents he gave the characters, but that quickly stopped and I began to really enjoy them. The accent also made it very clear what was speech and what was narrative. As with all epic fantasy novels there are a number of characters and he did a great job of giving them all distinct voices. He also managed to convey a sense of humour at times that gave Drast and Tyran a depth of personality. He really did an excellent job with the narration.

Tons of action, but what's the point?

Our "protagonists" are hard to like, but to you end up rooting for them anyway. The narrator's "accents" are difficult to understand at first, and continue to require a hard listen to stay in touch with the dialog. The story moves slowly toward and eventful ending, with openings for future episodes, but there is nothing inspiring or uplifting in it, or the characters. It's was good but not my cup of meat, as they say...

0 of 1 people found this review helpful