The Golden City Captives

By: Julie C. Gilbert

Narrated by: Reuben Corbett

Captured. Sold. Enslaved. Displayed.

Keio's dream of seeing the Golden City turns into a nightmare. He and his friend, Clara, get swept up by Fire Fairies along with the other youths in their village. They're quickly sold to the local lord.

The man seeks something very special that only certain young people possess, and he's willing to threaten anyone to get it. But his daughter has other plans.

Like it or not, Keio and Clara land in the middle of a brewing war. They're going to have to pick a side soon, and if they choose wrong, their lives aren't the only ones forfeit.

©2017 Julie C. Gilbert (P)2017 Julie C. Gilbert

Fantastic Narration, Fun Short Story

This was a fun short story with a fantastic narration. I liked the concept of the captives, and the potential of magic. I wish the story were longer with more character building and world building. Perhaps this is a background story for a long narrative. Overall, I enjoyed the story.

Brilliant short story, of escape from captivity

Men remove children from a village, together with a parent. They are taken to shed, bound and inspected.
A couple are kept, but the rest sent off to be sold as slaves.
What happens next is a thing of prophecy, which the writer has done a fabulous job of building suspense and drama, to give the reader (or listener) the best experience possible. I will not that experience away, by giving too much of a great story away.
The narrator also does a fantastic job, adding a further dimension to the overall experience.

A fun little adventure without much substance

I requested and received a free copy of this to review.

A quick listen, this story is a fun mix of various familiar elements with a bit of a new spin on them. I really wish it had more time to build up and expand, as it is it was over so quickly there's little to say. There were a lot of potentially interesting characters crammed in there, and a deeper story that could've been told, but as it is it rather feels like a prologue to another story which was expanded into a novella, or the outline of a full novel crammed down to fit.

I enjoyed what there was, but it left me unsatisfied and uncertain of the author's intent. Is it intended as a standalone? If so, it is definitely lacking. A teaser for a longer series? I'd expect more focus on making us care about the characters involved, in that case. So what was the point of it? I really have no idea.

But if you're looking for a quick fluff of an adventure, with fairies and shapeshifters, dragons and evil rulers, this might be what you're after.

Fairies in a different light?

Short story that had a nice thought out plot. Like many other good books it left me wanting more.

The twists the book takes can and likely will surprise you.

I enjoyed this book, as I have enjoyed many of different kinds of fantasy type stories. The Fairies in this book took on a different kind of view than others have which was quite interesting to see.

I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving am honest review.

The Golden City Captives

This was a good. book. I enjoyed it. reuben Corbett was a fine narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.