Kings of the Wyld: Booktrack Edition

By: Nicholas Eames

Narrated by: Jeff Harding

Length: 17 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Kings of the Wyld: Booktrack Edition adds an immersive musical soundtrack to your audiobook listening experience!

A retired group of legendary mercenaries get the band back together for one last impossible mission in this award-winning debut epic fantasy.

"Fantastic, funny, ferocious." (Sam Sykes)

Clay Cooper and his band were once the best of the best, the most feared and renowned crew of mercenaries this side of the Heartwyld. 

Their glory days long past, the mercs have grown apart and grown old, fat, drunk, or a combination of the three. Then an ex-bandmate turns up at Clay's door with a plea for help - the kind of mission that only the very brave or the very stupid would sign up for. 

It's time to get the band back together.

Winner of the David Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best Fantasy Debut.

Winner of the Reddit /fantasy Award for Best Debut Fantasy Novel.

*Booktrack is an immersive format that pairs traditional audiobook narration to complementary music. The tempo and rhythm of the score are in perfect harmony with the action and characters throughout the audiobook. Gently playing in the background, the music never overpowers or distracts from the narration, so listeners can enjoy every minute. When you purchase this Booktrack edition, you receive the exact narration as the traditional audiobook available, with the addition of music throughout.

©2017 Nicholas Eames (P)2020 Orbit

Trying Way Too Hard

I love the premise of the book, but the execution falls way short for me. It's a shame because the idea of mixing rock band and rockstar tropes with fantasy tropes is certainly new and unique, but in the end everything still feels tired and familiar. Everything felt telegraphed and I wasn't surprised by anything and I never got a sense that there were any stakes or real danger. Everything works out because of course, it has to. Too many dad jokes. Flat characterization with predictable character arcs. The narrator would have worked better if this were a western, not fantasy. And I don't know if this is an option but my version of the book came with a soundtrack where there was always music in the background, which I get since this is The Fellowship through the lense of an 80's metal band, but it found it to be really cringy and distracting and in the end really detracted from the overall experience. I am disappointed because I've heard nothing but great things about this series, but it just did not work for me on any level. I actively disliked most of what I listened to.

a modern day classic

You know a book is amazing when you've already listened to it twice in one year, and I never relisten to anything.

We Were Giants

The humor in Kings of the Wyld is just too perfect, I think the book can best be described as a great game of D&D with old friends. The characters are all well executed, Moog and Slowhand being my favorite. If you need a break from the grim dark fantasy, Kings of the Wyld is the perfect pallet cleanser.

This was also my first Booktrack that I've listened to. I was worried I might find it distracting but I think the music really added to the atmosphere, and helped make certain moments feel that much more epic. If I was only going to own one Booktrack this would be it.

Oh and Jeff Harding's narration as Slowhand was soothing, I could listen to him just list magical creatures all day. His voice was perfect for the role and at times I could imagine I was listening to a Behind the Music documentary or something.

Everything you want in an adventure.

Funny thing about this book is, I wanted to listen to it more after the bad reviews. Its a trudging, gritty, hilarious adventure that makes you stay up late to keep listening.

Glory days gone... here's to the rest.

It reminds me of what it might look like if a DND band got back together for a second campaign after their first, having all retired characters. They are all retired with a story for each end every scar. Their relationships have already been tested and stomped on and mended. There was less DRAMA, and more ENTERTAINMENT. I really enjoyed reading from the perspective of seasoned warriors, albeit old, tired, fat, and sorely lacking in stamina. But what they lacked in youth and speed, they made up for in experience, and knowledge from previous shenanigans. I realized towards the end of the book, that I wasn't even really reading the 'main characters" perspective. Clay Cooper, seemed to be the honest, trustworthy ever humble sidekick, and it felt like it was really Golden Gabe's story. But honestly I'm not sure how to articulate how much I enjoyed that little epiphany.

It's not the rolling on the floor laughing adventure I had assumed it would be going in, after reviews, Instead it was consistently sprinkled with admirable jokes, pleasingly awkward tropes, and thoughtful descriptions. But may the hilarity of the book be rated with this knowledge: I am not the type to laugh out loud in books, movies, stand up comedies ect, More so smile widely or huff out a giggle now and then... which happened often when listening to Kings of the Wyld. But, I did in fact laugh out loud in my car towards the end, as Gabe was giving a glory pitch to mercs, introducing himself and his band, and Ganalon and a wyvern momentarily crash the party, before Ganalon kills it and casually exits, before Gabe continues his pitch as if nothing happened. Damn it all if I'm still not laughing at that scene.

It's rich in lore, and fantastical creatures, flawlessly marring the two so you never question the legitimacy of either. And at the center of it all... a heartfelt story. Hell I even cried in a few parts. When you hear your daughters voice in the heat of battle goin awry... WHEW... cue the tears.

Never was there a dull moment. Incredible characters... and an absolutely satisfying ending. Never re-read a book before. Considering it with this one, just to keep track of all the quotes I want to remember- the funny, the sad, the thoughtful.

What a ride!!

I loved it, first of all, booktrack is the way to go for me now on it gives that extra.
At first I wasn't convinced of the accent of the narrator, but man it gives all the attitude it sets you there.
This story was fantastic every single chapter got me on the edge, I was either laughing or at the two notes of tearing.
I got goosebumps at the closing hapters.

Better than the Lord of the Rings

How can you not capture a story like this?
For those who seek more than a laugh or an adventurous story beyond the Comprehension in ones mind. This is a story that can encourage you to be apart of it. You feel the tormented and the struggles of the characters that lay before you. You feel the heaviness of a father and the strength of a warrior (willing to risk ones life for the sake of something important and of dire need).
May this book encourage your own adventures. Whether it’s with SAGA or your own band, the atmosphere, story tone, or the sound effects that puts you there in the action... and prepares you for the stories that happens next.
THIS OPENS THE DOOR FOR ADVENTURE!!!
Good Luck my traveling seekers.

worth every cent

This was just a wild ride from start to finish. You have to read it.

Didn’t expect to become so invested

It is one of the most entertaining and exciting stories I’ve listened too . I could definitely see it as a motion picture

how awesome!

this was such a cool story with a soundtrack that was instrumental, in the background, yet crafted to fit the situations with tempo and instruments and even voices and sounds of varmints. yes yes and more please, this rocked.