Caine Black Knife

The Third of the Acts of Caine (Act of Atonement, Book One)

By: Matthew Stover

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki

In Heroes Die and Blade of Tyshalle, Matthew Stover created a new kind of fantasy novel and a new kind of hero to go with it: Caine, a street thug turned superstar, battling in a future where reality shows take place in another dimension, on a world where magic exists and gods are up close and personal. In that beautiful, savage land, Caine is an assassin without peer, a living legend born from one of the highest-rated reality shows ever made. That season, Caine almost single-handedly defeated – and all but exterminated – the fiercest of all tribes: the Black Knives. But the shocking truth of what really took place during that blood-drenched adventure has never been revealed....until now.

Thirty years later, Caine returns to the scene of his greatest triumph – some would say greatest crime – at the request of his adopted brother, Orbek, the last of the true Black Knives. But where Caine goes, danger follows, and he soon finds himself back in familiar territory: fighting for his life against impossible odds, with the fate of two worlds hanging in the balance. Just the way Caine likes it.

Listen to more Acts of Caine.©2008 Matthew Stover (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[A] twisty plot with intense violence and a strong narrative voice.... Stover has a gift for brutal, detailed action sequences, and Caine is at his most enthralling when he's fighting or discussing tactics." ( Publishers Weekly)

As good as the first one

Caine is back in action. Combining "memories" of his brutal career start with no less brutal current adventure, he spins so great a yarn you'll never notice the passage of time. And when you get to an -- admittedly cliffhanger-y -- ending, you won't mind, you'll yearn for more.

If U like Caine... must read!

I've written multiple reviews with the Caine books & Stover has brought a hardcore, gritty, graphic, & unique fantasy series that takes place in a future where 'Actors' are sent to another dimension/timeline where they take on they're persona's learned from acting school but its all real, & 'Actors' actually earn the millions they get paid because they could get a 6-inch tusk buried into their head during their visit to a 'middle earth' like world

After this small review I've given all the books up to 'Acts of Caine II' 5 stars because Rudnicki is supurb, & I love the new angle Stover takes with his Character, where Caine is the best method actor & a real scumbag but still has a heart for a few. I guess if it was RPG I would classify his personality as chaotic neutral bordering on chaotic evil... & the lietrary passages written by Stover are absolutely bombastic & filled with profanity of a new kind! I fear for goats & other such animals when he's describing whats in Caines demented mind, BUT he also has these long stretches of philisophical wax & waning where u actually think a lil about what it means or could mean... in this particular book it has more action, the adventure 'retreat from the Boedecken (spelling?)' is highlighted in this novel so u see how Caine became a star but u also see a whole unique background help for studios in the crazy future... 'Blade of Tyshelle' has an end where there is some great verbal sparring between friends to go with disembowlment & ripping spleens out of people...

I recommend this book highly to hardcore fatasy novel readers looking for a really different reading experience & would warn off anyone who does not like gratuitis violence, bad language, & blasphemy lol... in my opinion Stover does good work & looking fwd to act III

Awesome

When are they making this into a series or a movie? This is great story telling

Woof... best in the series.. maybe

Damm. Just ridiculous how fun this part of the story is. Young Caine and Caine just stomping butt. And it's so fascinating to ride along as Caine pieces everything together. A+++. Narrator's best performance too.

Maximum Badassary! Intrigue, Carnage, Philosophy!

What made the experience of listening to Caine Black Knife the most enjoyable?

Real characters, two parallel stories with tight plot and inspired performance by Rudnicki.
Rudnicki was on FIRE when he narrated this series!
This is the most fun of the Caine series.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Caine Black Knife?

Young Caine vs the Young Black Knife Ogrilo
Birth of Caine in Boadeccan
Caine interrogated by Knights
Standoff at the Inn...
So damn many

Which character – as performed by Stefan Rudnicki – was your favorite?

Besides Caine, in this book, Knight Adar was a fun one. Rudnicki nails everything he touches.

Any additional comments?

This whole series is a must read! Best series of audio books ever produced.