Heir Apparent

By: Vivian Vande Velde

Narrated by: Carine Montbertrand

Length: 9 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's Summary

In the virtual reality game Heir Apparent, there are way too many ways to get killed, and Giannine seems to be finding them all. Which is a darn shame, because unless she can get the magic ring, locate the stolen treasure, answer the dwarf's dumb riddles, impress the head-chopping statue, charm the army of ghosts, fend off the barbarians, and defeat the man-eating dragon, she'll never win.

And she has to, because losing means she'll die, for real this time.

Public Domain (P)2005 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic Reviews

"Hilarious characters...plus fantastical elements...will spur readers on toward the satisfying conclusion." (Publishers Weekly)

Thoroughly Enjoyed It

I have listened to a huge number of fantasy & science fiction audiobooks, and while this is certainly not the best I have encountered, it was refreshingly entertaining compared to most of what I have had to settle for lately.

Some reviews of this book had left me expecting another average fantasy tromp, but this was no chore to listen to. My only regret is that I let my caution delay my purchase of this book for so long.

The story uses the old premise of a person trapped in a virtual reality world. However, it has many unique twists. The flexible nature of the setting really makes this into a great 'what if' scenario and adds greater depth to the political intrigue involved. The main character starts back at the beginning every time she fails to win the game, but each time she plays the differences in her actions lead to a whole new sequence of events.

The game that is featured in the book is not some cheap parody, but the game of the future. It has the sort of realism that any gamer would die for (literally). Don't be turned off by the setting, as it is really quite interesting.

In my opinion, the narrator was fine and well-suited to this book. I did not feel that she had any particular trouble with the voices, and her flat tones really made for perfect delivery of the main character's flippant thoughts and sarcasms.

I loved this book and i'm over 40

This book was well written and easy to listen too. It is also VERY smart and witty! I also thought the reader was perfect for this book. She makes it come alive as if SHE was really the one writing it. LOVED THIS BOOK! I'm hoping the author will do a sequel.

Win or begin again

Take a slightly jaded angry young girl, a cliche filled Role Playing game. Trap her inside and you Have "HEIR APPARENT". Giannine come off as somewhat spoiled and has trust issuses and seems to grow as a person especially when she becomes trapped and has to make life changing decisions and learn how to trust those around her to survive. because if she dies she has to start over from the begining and her only way out is to win the game. The narrator tries to give Giannine life but seems to drop the ball on other characters. from the Ancient nun to the jamiacian sounding barbarian. the other characters are your typical run of the mill people you find in any Role playing game. over all a good listen and worth a try.

A Hidden Gem

I first listened to this story way back in 2004, and just like it did then, it still manages to captivate me.

"Heir Apparent," is a mixture of dry humor, science fiction, medieval fantasy, and time travel---all of which really make the experience truly memorable for me. We get to listen to 14-year-old Giannine's struggles as she tries to escape a fantasy game that could potentially end her life. Despite the dire circumstances, we learn so much about Giannine's personality and quirks through the choices she makes and the background she comes from. The supporting characters are all varied and fun to learn more about. The worlds (the future and the fantasy game) are given a set of rules that Velde adheres to wonderfully. Here you'll find murderous kings and queens, dragons, magic boots, ghosts, poem loving statues, silly magicians, and an intriguing main character that moves to plot forward.

I've always liked Carine Montertrand's narration. She's able to capture Giannine's snarky attitude. Some might not like the narrator, however, but I'd urge those who don't to try again via a physical copy of the book. It's definitely worth it!

Heir Apparent

At first I really didn't understand that the game was part of the story, I fast forwarded twice before I realized it. So I went back to the beginning, I got caught up in the story so much that I almost forgot to eat. Also as an adult you would think I would have left it somewhere in the middle when Jenine kept losing. But I just had to find out if she made it out alright. Thank you for sharing this wonderful story, the narrator was very good.

Story: A Voice: C

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Yes I would. The story is creative and filled with humor.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes, the narration matched the pace.

Could you see Heir Apparent being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

The narrator for this particular audio book isn't my favorite. While the technical aspects of it were just fine, I felt that her voice didn't serve the story well.

Very Good, Worth Listening to

Kept me listening nearly non-stop until the end. My 13yr old son loved it as well. All video game role playing junkies should find it worth listening to.

Best Book I've Read in a LONG TIME!!!

I has been a long time since I had read a book that had me so engaged that I didn't want to put it down. My husband and I were listening to it anytime the kids were in the car with us and I found myself continuously wanting to listen ahead and just take it hack later once the boys where back in the car. It was so good I even want to read it again.

Good listen

Good listen. Pretty funny and light. I listened to it while deep cleaning the house and it was perfect.

Love this book!

I've read this book many times. I think the voice of the Narrator should have been different. She told the story well, but it was hard listening because it didnt seem like the right voice.