Crane (Legends Saga Book 1)

By: Stacey Rourke

Narrated by: Karen Krause

The Horseman is unending, his presence shan't lessen.

If you break the curse, you become the legend.

Washington Irving and Rip Van Winkle had no choice but to cover up the deadly truth behind Ichabod Crane's disappearance. Centuries later, a Crane returns to Sleepy Hollow awakening macabre secrets once believed to be buried deep.

What if the monster that spawned the legend lived within you?

Now, Ireland Crane, reeling from a break-up and seeking a fresh start, must rely on the newly awakened Rip Van Winkle to discover the key to channeling the darkness swirling within her. Bodies are piling high and Ireland is the only one that can save Sleepy Hollow by embracing her own damning curse.

But is anyone truly safe when the Horseman rides?

©2014 Stacey Rourke (P)2015 Stacey Rourke

Exciting

Crane is a captivating tale. The characters and world building are on point! The narration truly brings the story to life!! I am looking forward to seeing where the Author takes this thrilling series

Headless Horseman - Legacy or Curse?

Crane is a new twist in retelling of the Headless Horseman. Centuries later, Ireland Crane, a descendant of Ichabod Crane, is the first Crane to return to Sleepy Hollow and in returning has reawaken the curse. The story is told between the present (Ireland) and the past (Ichabod). As Ichabod Crane and his two friends, Washington Irving, and Rip Van Winkle have defeated the Headless Horseman and the person who is controlling him, someone from the present has risen the Headless Horseman.

In triggering the curse, Rip Van Winkle has awaken from his sleep to help a Crane descendant to defeat the Headless Horseman again. In helping Ireland, Rip has to revealed the truth in Ichabod's mysterious disappearance in any hope that Ireland could defeat the Headless Horseman and to keep Noah from the line of fire.

This story is quite perfect Halloween read to revisit the tale of the Headless Horseman. This is a story bordering of what is fiction and what is fact. Not only does the story show the past repeating itself, it also shows where sacrifice had to be made to keep the curse from manifesting itself. There is quite a bit of humor and wits in story. The readers/listeners are going to get a kick of humor toward the end.

Of course, the story continues with Ireland, Noah, and Rip. They may have defeated the Headless Horseman but someone has a grander sinister plan in stored for Ireland and the Headless Horseman. I can't wait to see what happen next with Ireland and Rip and will Noah remains by Ireland's side.

The narrator, Karen Krause, provided a matter-of-fact voice for Ireland. I love the bantering between the officers and Ireland at the beginning of the story when Ireland was considered a suspect. Rip is just hilarious in how the narrator portrayed him. Readers/Listeners need to think in the legend context of Rip Van Winkle's personality.

I was given this audiobook by the author/narrator/publisher via Audiobook Blast in exchange of an honest review. I was not compensated or influenced in any way for writing this review.

Crane #1

Karen Krause does a great job narrating this book.In Crane,we meet Ireland Crane,a descendent of Ichabods.She makes her new home in Sleepy Hollow and people start dying.She tries to find out WHO is bringing this old legend to life.With help from a recently awake Rip Van Winkle,she finds out.
This audiobook was provided to me at no cost for a fair and honest review

Crane

This Crane book was actually good, truth be told I thought I wouldn’t like this, but in the end, I am actually intruding, and wants to read part 2 and part 3 when I get a chance. The story is good, and the storyline keeps you wanting more and more as you get deeper and deeper in the book.

Violent but Good

(Sorry about the name spellings. I heard the audioversion.)
Summary: Ireland Crane moves to Sleepy Hollow/ Terrytown to get away from a disastrous romance. What awakens in her when she gets there is much, much worse.

Additional Comments:
- There’s a good deal of snark in the lines of dialogue and in the protagonist’s thoughts. It adds a much-needed lightness to an otherwise gripping but very, very grim, dark, horrific plotline.
- Content warnings: language, graphic violence
- Characters: excellent. One can truly sympathize with Ireland. Noah’s kind of a flat character, but he’s still awesome. Rip is funny, but he doesn’t play much more of a role than inept conscience.
- Although the main character’s supposed to be a school guidance counselor, she does and says some stuff that makes me doubt she’s ever been in earshot of a school.
- Plot: Good but there are some leaps of logic required that have nothing to do with the fantasy side of the story.
- Narrator did a nice job.
- It’s an interesting twist on the legend of the headless horseman.

Conclusion: If you can handle gruesome, go for it. There’s even some fun to be had in this bloody tale.

*I received a free copy of the audiobook. I chose to review it.*