Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Legend of Broken  By  cover art

The Legend of Broken

By: Caleb Carr
Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $29.96

Buy for $29.96

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

With the historical storytelling brilliance of Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth, the hugely best-selling author of The Alienist writes a bounding epic: The Legend of Broken is an action-packed, multi-charactered tale of a medieval clash of cultures.

In Caleb Carr’s fascinating tale of the kingdom of Broken, legend meets history, science defies all expectation, and one noble soldier struggles to save a fortress city besieged by enemies within and without.

©2012 Caleb Carr. All rights reserved. (P)2012 Simon and Schuster Audio

What listeners say about The Legend of Broken

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    51
  • 4 Stars
    49
  • 3 Stars
    42
  • 2 Stars
    23
  • 1 Stars
    16
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    77
  • 4 Stars
    44
  • 3 Stars
    27
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    8
Story
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    41
  • 4 Stars
    47
  • 3 Stars
    36
  • 2 Stars
    15
  • 1 Stars
    19

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant Story, Brilliant Narration

Any additional comments?

This is one of the freshest and most original stories I have come across in a long time. The way in which Carr first introduces the reader into his world is genius. Blending ancient hitory and fantasy in this way really captured my full attention. Carr's writing style is witty and insightful. The title alone tells much of what Carr is trying to get across in his story.
The narrator also gives a knock out performance Mr. Reynolds really brought the story to life. His infections and tone do a great job of fleshing out and individualizing the characters. Time Reynolds also brings a sense of humor to the reading. There have already been several moments, and I am only on CHapter 6, where I laughed out loud. It's kind of like Monte Python meets George R.R. Martin.
I had never heard of this book or the author before but at the end of The Daylight War, during the "credits", The Legend of Broken was recommended by the company that produced The Daylight War. I went straight to my computer and downloaded Broken and am super glad that I did.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Decent story, Great narraton, Excellent prose

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, if the friend was in to epic fantasy like novels such as Game of Thrones. However, I would warn them that the last section of the book is a four hour appendix on linguistics and eastern European history that really adds nothing to the story.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the writing. It was lyrical and brought the world of Broken to life.

What does Tim Gerard Reynolds bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Mr. Reynold's rich narration is perfect for the book. It gives the feeling you are listening to a adult fairy tale (don't panic-- there are no fairies!).

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Realm of corruption?

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

The Pitfalls of Fantasy

I'm a big fantasy fan and I'm all for exposition and witty phrasing, but this book managed to be long winded without really achieving either. I struggled through the first 8 hours since sometimes long stories need a couple hours to get started and I didn't want to write it off prematurely, but I couldn't listen to any more. Every sentence is verbose and the classic "kingdom vs outsider" theme just got tired. Plus, all the names sound really similar. Super disappointed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A New Mythology

If you could sum up The Legend of Broken in three words, what would they be?

An incomplete story

What other book might you compare The Legend of Broken to and why?

The Fire and Ice series by Martin. This is a story of people with to the problems of today. There is distrust of a corrupt central government, with the over lay of secular science in opposition to a myth based religion.

What does Tim Gerard Reynolds bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

This is a hard book for an audible presentation because of the extensive foot notes. I got a written copy from the public library to follow the footnotes.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No, it was, however, quite interesting

Any additional comments?

At least one more book should be forthcoming, since the story ends at a point where only the immediate question is answered. In any further writing care should be taken to have more maps and diagrams to supplement the text.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Very detailed=Boring!!

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I'm in the second part and bored. Sometimes can be hard to follow. I've lost my interest.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

I think this book is a bit too abstract for me.

What aspect of Tim Gerard Reynolds’s performance would you have changed?

The narrator was good. I think it's a hard book to read.

Could you see The Legend of Broken being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent Yarn

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I would and have recommended this book to friends, co-workers, folks waiting for a bus, people I have no idea where they were nor where I was at the time I recommended the book.

What did you like best about this story?

IT WAS FUN! This book was one of the best recreational books I have ever read. Not difficult to follow, nor was it difficult to believe it just made me feel like it was a good story. No investment with a high return

What about Tim Gerard Reynolds’s performance did you like?

As always Mr. Reynolds did a spectacular job bringing life and character to the story.

Who was the most memorable character of The Legend of Broken and why?

Rather than pick one I will say there wasn't a character that didn't impress me.

Any additional comments?

Read this book, listen to this book, steal it if you must but most of all enjoy this book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

So awful I fell asleep to it every time.

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

A better story. Over-blown prose. Painful and awkward to listen to something that is desperately trying to be the "next big thing."

What could Caleb Carr have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Not tried so hard.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

He didn't.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment and irritation

Any additional comments?

Wish I could get my credit back, but I guess it is just as well as a sleep device.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Complex....

The story premise and historical alignment are interesting. I found the story well done, I am not sure if I made it to the end of the explanation on the historical placement.

Caleb Carr won my admiration with the Alienist, and then lost me on his other works. This book brings me back awaiting his next book.

The narration was good and added to the listening experience.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Ughhh...This story drones on...

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I don't know who would enjoy this book. It had pretty good ratings so I felt confident downloading it and using a credit. This book could be shorter if the author would just get to the point.

Would you ever listen to anything by Caleb Carr again?

I really don't think so.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

I think the performance was ok. I like the accent but I don't like the inflection. I have a hard time distinguishing between his humor voice and his serious voice since they are the same.

What character would you cut from The Legend of Broken?

The author.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

I don’t write many reviews , but I must say that, with respect, I disagree with other reviews here. The writing is sumptuous and the plot lines have something new relative to the fantasy I’ve read. The cautionary tales regarding religion and science are nuanced but but expertly explored. I consider this Carr’s best work to date.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful