Daybreak

Fate's Forsaken, Book 4

By: Shae Ford

Narrated by: Derek Perkins

Length: 21 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

Midlan has awoken. Soldiers pour from between the gates, and monsters descend upon the kingdom. When Midlan turns its eye to Copperdock, Kael quickly discovers that no realm is safe from the wrath of the king. But while he fights to keep Crevan's soldiers away from his friends, other powers rise up behind him - including an army so terrible that it threatens to devour everything.

All paths lead to Midlan, every fate hinges upon a final battle, and the bloodshed will bring about a reckoning 1,000 years in the making - a plan woven by Fate herself. There's only one soul she can't cast for: a boy from the mountains who might undo everything if he isn't stopped. When Kael's journey carries him to the battle's end, he doesn't know that the fate of the kingdom rests upon his shoulders. The choice he makes will forever change his world...and bring him to the story's end.

©2016 Podium Publishing; 2015 Shae Ford

From the Five Corners of the Kingdom

Contents are PG-13. No sex, no F-bombs, but plenty of bloody warfare. The series ends on a happy note after allies from all five regions finally converge to confront King Crevan at Castle Midlan. Allies include pirates and fisherfolk from The High Seas, mercenaries from The Grand Forest, giants from The Endless Plains, wild whisperers from The Unforgivable Mountains, and mot warriors from the desert. They all converge on the castle because of what takes place in each region, in the first half of the book.

The king is determined to tighten control on the five regions, so his atrocities are merciless. He employs a maddened dragon, a troop of mages, his imperial soldiers, and his tormented beasts. Lord Gilderick and his zombie fallows also wreak havoc. There is a good deal of death everywhere. However, help comes from some surprising quarters — heroes are born from secondary characters and from a few enemies-turned-allies (Kael and Kyleigh are busy elsewhere).

The final battle is vivid and detailed. Nicely done! It consumed most of the final quarter of the book, with a few chapters left for happy-ever-afters. Warriors finally rest their swords, settling down to have babies and brew beer...or whatever. Even the cursed shape-changers and their beleaguered shaman find peace.

A solid conclusion to the series. I liked what Ford decided to do with the Beastmaster Lion-Man, and with the dragon-changer Dorcha/Devin. I was glad Ford employed a number of heroes, with Kael and Kyleigh one of many.

Quibbles: A good book, but...

In this series, the tone vacillates oddly from seriously grim to almost comedic (Jonathan's fiddle, Gwen's temper, wild men shennanigans). Also, pacing is off: I felt the time in the Motherlands (where the dragons live) went on too long, deviating from the plot (loved a few of the scenes in that section, however). I also felt the scene towards the end, when Kael strives against Death and Fate, went on too long.

The ending was just a bit too sappy happy cotton candy. But I'd rather that than dark and hopeless, or being left in limbo.

Ps. I'm all for tolerance, but couple a giant with a mot? 12 feet with 4?

Narration is flawless.

A Great Mix

Just the right mix of horrified "oh my gosh Shae Ford isn't going to do THAT", laughter, and conclusion(s).

While her writing is not as detailed as a Tolkien, or Brandon Sanderson, etc. the world is engaging (even if the geography is not..... but hey if the worst I have to say about a book is that its GEOGRAPHY is cliché.... I would say that is quite the accomplishment).

The major difference between this book and others in the series is that you are not Only/just following Kael's world view, but many of is friends as well.

Having trust that an author is going to have written something that appeals to you, and that the work in front of yous is something you would gladly purchase again, is a great thing. I know that anything I buy from Jim Butcher, Brandon Sanderson, Kevin Hearne, etc. are going to match my desires. I now add Ms. Ford to that list.

Great series!

Well written and great narrator. So sad it's over. The whole series is amazing. Can't wait to see what he comes out with next.

Great conclusion to the story!

Simply can't believe this is her very first series. She does a great job bringing the Loose Ends to a conclusion. It started out just a little slower than the other three books. But it was necessary to bring the foundation towards what she was creating for a conclusion. I definitely recommend this author.

good final chapter

Loved that all the characters were brought back and that the story ended completely. worth the listen

Good book

I really enjoyed this series. One thing that I liked best was it had no sexual content and very little bad language. Thank you Shae for being a write who can bring a story to life without having to resort to all the garbage.

great ending to a well written series

I thoroughly enjoyed every book in the series and the ending was very satisfying.

I'm looking forward to whatever the author had next.

Awesome last book

What a splendid book shae ford did awesome job, loved the series will listen over and over

Not a fantastic finish to the series

So I picked up Fate' Forsaken some months back as an Omnibus and while there were clichés over all it was a good book, especially book 2. So when book four finally came out I cheerily bought the last two books of the series and binged listened to them.

The Pros

1. all the subplots are tied up nicely, you're not left wondering about anything. 2. the expansion of different characters parts was nice, this is less a tale about Kale and Kylie and more about the Jack, Lysander and the others. 3. tension is maintained throughout and there are a few twists that I wasn't expecting. 4. it has an epilogue, I like epilogues where the author can step back without the pressure of plot just write a scene about the characters and he did this well.

The Cons

1. There was an over emphasis on relationships which deprived the plot of room to grow. 2. there were a lot of sections that could have been cut altogether or shortened and the story wouldn't have lost much. 3. The final battle which had been built up to throughout the series was anticlimactic, there was a sense that the main characters could have just gone straight for the king with a little training and been just fine.

In the end Fate's Forsaken had promise, it really did, unfortunately it didn't quiet live up to that promise. It's not a bad series by any means and if you have followed the series to this point you don't have a reason not to finish. However if you're looking for the next great fantasy series this is not it, it's average and middle of the road in quality.

Still I look forward to seeing what Shae Ford comes out with next.

Great series

I will listen to this series many times! All the books are great. This last book was a great conclusion, but left enough, that additional books can be added.

beautifully written and perfectly narrated.

20 hours felt like 20 minutes. Shae Ford has truly finished it all in style. Derek Perkins has more voices than a church choir!

Great story and characters

loved the whole series a bit predictable bit like an old favourite t shirt great

good read

very good read. really enjoyed the series. it kept me wanting more all the way through

Great book

love det it great ready just sad there will not be a book 5!! really good best book i have ready this year

Devastatingly stunning

I am heartbroken to have finished this series, I have been hooked and obsessed since the opening page of book one. The narration is pure perfection, characters ooze personality, I am so sad it’s over, not one part of this series has been a let down I just wish I could listen to it all again with fresh ears!

Amazing series

Just finished listening to the full series, and i loved every second. The plot was great, the characters were well developed, and i was carried away in the story. Well worth a read/listen

GOOD BOOK

I have over 300 audible titles and I have to say that the narration and performance of this book is one of the best I've heard. It's a compelling universe with a great story and awesome characters. I can't wait for a sequel.

Good

Another good instalment, well narrated with an engaging story. Suitable for all ages and a good conclusion to the series

Great series! Characters are truly unique individuals...

The characters make me laugh, cry, feel joy, longing, and has everything from action to love stories and makes me feel all of the other emotions that one feels when reading a good book but it really helps when the narrator is really enjoying reading it to you like Derek does.
Really looking forward to the next book to see what Kyle and Kylie’s daughter does with her power. Bring on the next instalment please. Thanks

Just brilliant

Easy to follow, easy to connect with the characters and hard to stop listening! Simply put, it’s brilliant!