Legends of Ahn

By: Kel Kade

Narrated by: Nick Podehl

Length: 16 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's Summary

Rezkin is an elite warrior who aims to restore order in Ashai after Caydean's attack on the King's Tournament transformed former allies and trading partners into enemies. With no army and only a ragtag group of refugees, Rezkin must wrest control of the kingdom from the mad and powerful usurper, who seems bent on destruction, and this may not be the biggest challenge. If he fails, the kingdom will be ripped apart, and Rezkin will have violated Rule 1 - to protect and honor his friends - leaving him without country, purpose, or honor.

©2017 Kel Kade (P)2017 Podium Publishing

Book 2.5 at best

So, I enjoyed the first 2 books quite a bit. Yes, a lot of it was somewhat predictable and the characters were a bit dense, but the writing was enjoyable and it seemed to be going somewhere. The writing wasn't going to break any records as far as plot and believable characters went, but they were in good fun and enjoyable to read. This book however seemed to lose a lot of the charm that had made the first couple books so interesting and really didn't go anywhere. Nick Podehl did a great job as always, but I really have no idea why this book is so highly rated.

First off, essentially none of the characters from the previous books save Rezkin have any screentime or character development. Frisha is upset that Rezkin doesn't match her image of the perfect man anymore. She's not willing to spend time with him to try to find out anything more about him or to examine her feelings in any depth, but she's unhappy.

Malcius blames Rezkin for his brother's death. He's not going to do anything at all, but gosh darnit, he's not happy either.

Reaylin existed. As did a couple other formerly important characters. Can't really say anything else about them because they were essentially non-existant as far as the story goes.

Not to worry though, we've got a new princess to add to the fold, pretty much so that Tam has a new love interest. Luckily the new princess has no hangups with regards to station.

Magic gets more messy. Rezkin's abilities are still unexplained even in the least little bit, but he can still use it to solve almost any problem that comes his way, in ways that all mages agree is impossible. I'm sorry, but by book 3, we should be getting at least an idea of the scope of his powers, rather than having them expand constantly to meet every possible otherwise insolvable problem.

Demons and fey are introduced and seem likely to become a major plot point, in spite of no one knowing that they actually existed in the books prior. Oh goody.

To sum up the book briefly, Rezkin gets a base of opperations and has to fight mysterious force. Everyone conforms to his will and we essentially see zero character development. Main plot (defeat evil king) gets postponed and by statements in this book, we can likely conclude that it's going to be postponed at least one more book so that Rezkin can make other countries leave his country alone with threats and blackmail. No character developement, no plot development; I really don't see how this counts as the next book in the series.

22 of 23 people found this review helpful

What was this

The first two were so good. This was garbage. I am extremely disappointed. The book was over and I thought it was just starting.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Are you kidding me?

Let me say this. The first and second books were absolutely superb. They literally could not have been any better in terms of plot, length or character development. I usually prefer not to read books that seem to drag on for 9 or 10 titles but I was perfectly happy with the idea of Dark Tidings being a long series IF it would have continued along in the same fashion. As others have already said, the absolute worst thing about this particular book is the ending. I was literally listening to the book driving to work and the book...just...stopped. Its like the author literally got tired of writing and decided to end it right the middle of a thought. I have never been so disappointed and for the life of me cannot understand why such a brilliant author would disappoint his readers to such a degree. But that's not all. The author seemed to linger and linger and linger drawing out certain parts of the story that seemed to add no significant importance to the story, The main character is undergoing some sort of mid life crisis whereupon he is unrecognizable even to the characters in the flipping book! At this point introducing new elements to the story (such as demons and elves and the fae) that weren't previously there is just too much and too ambitious even for a writer as talented as Kade. Stick with your main characters and the main story. Rezkin now has 3 personas and trying to add more to that is completely unnecessary when we all know he will have his work cut out for him trying to tie all three plots together while dealing with the main focus of the plot -- which is the mad King in Ashai. Had the author tied all of the unnecessary sequences and tangents together I may have been okay with it but there was literally no plot to this book. It was like a "mini'' novel or side story until the author finished with the main book. No build-up, no climax no conclusion. The narrator -- who is brilliant on all accounts is the only reason I continued listening until the end to be honest. The ONLY reason I decided to give the overall review 4 stars is because I am hoping the author had some sort of excuse for this failing and will redeem himself with book 4. Other wise he will have effectively ruined a very special story and lost an audience of loyal followers.

132 of 153 people found this review helpful

Hope it turns back around...

Loved the first two books, was totally hooked, but this book was all over the place. I think the magic and everything was unnecessary, the main storyline of the first two books was plenty. Now the storyline is all convoluted and confusing...I really really really hope the fourth book turns back around and follows the first two books...

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Seemed rushed

I loved the first two books but this one seemed rushed and departed from the first two in a big way. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t exceptional either. If this was a tv show it would be a filler episode.

56 of 65 people found this review helpful

Let down

I was riveted to the story in books 1 and 2. I eagerly waited for book 3. How was Reskin going to take down the usurper? How would he handle being King, or would he hand it over to another after rescuing the country? What were the circumstances that had led to Reskin's unique upbringing that merited the lives of the strikers and the costly seclusion and secrecy?

In stead I feel the author completely lost his way. There was no character development in the book. In fact the quality of character of the leads in the story was eroded. Many main characters from the previous books were mostly ignored and even Reskin was not the same character as before.

I felt the last several chapters devolved more and more. I got to the point that for me the original story was lost. This third book destroyed for me all that the first two books had created and I don't plan to read any more of the series. I'm really disappointed because my hopes were so high.

10 of 11 people found this review helpful

Better luck next time..

Nick Phodehl is my absolute favorite narrator hands down but I was completely thrown out of this story with the cowboy western accent. It didn’t fit in the story. I have purchased many books just because Nick is the narrator. I still think you’re amazing Nick but this one you were off your game.

The the first half of the book sounded like Kel Kade didn’t have a strong vision of what he wanted to write about. It finished off better but nothing like the first two books. I would suggest taking your time on the fourth one. I wish you well. I’m looking forward to a comeback in your performance. I believe in you and Nick.

9 of 10 people found this review helpful

F is for Fail

Any additional comments?

Sad...I hate it when a loved series goes off the rails.

Not sure there is any redemption left for this series that is how bad this book is.

Kel Kade WTF happened?

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Almost Unacceptable! (0.5 stars)

Sigh... How to start.

I guess the book was well written in regards to sentence structure, and it was well narrated...

"STOP! Why, WHY!.. I kneel at your feet, and with eyes of despair I beg you. Answer me this: Why did you have to bring in elves, fey... and another 'princess'!?" 😣

This series went from a top notch dark fantasy, with blood, pain & grit, to a shallow fairy tale.

Psychologically intriguing characters, a champion with a complex personality disorder, philosophical and ethical dilemmas, and a "believable" magic system were all thrown to the wolves.

The 'cast' are all reduced to one dimensional characters, following DnD plotlines, stumbling through hopeless breaches of causality, plausability and possibility. A cognitive nightmare of the boring sort.

Fantastically unoriginal creatures steal the spotlight in an eventless mess, many filled to the brim with stereotypical boss traits. Goblins, wraits and more, cram the precious pages, leaving hardly any space left for progression of the story. how many days pass? 3, 4? who knows..

RUSHED FOR CASH?!

Author is killing off great potential with this single volume. I'd rather have a Rothfuss delay, than half a chamber-pot of this. The story gets nowhere, then just... ends?

It has been a long while since I have felt this betrayed. Which is why I grant this volume gets only 1 stars. I have to try to balance those max stars out. Because how can anyone rate this as high as the best literature out there?

I hope the author gets back on track in the next book, I was hoping for Abercrombie or Sanderson, but never expected Disney's worst. This book series is now closer to a PG-7 than Adult fantasy.

I expect that many may object to my review, but this feedback is heartfelt and honest. I am sorry to those I offend.

52 of 64 people found this review helpful

Not Masterful Storytelling Like the First Two

Where the first two books in the series felt like a tightly spaced and thought out premise, this book feels more like a poorly planned DnD session than a fantasy novel. Most of the characters feel similar, but the author introduces far too much lore and magic that is not in the arcanum type. Not only are we introduced to an extinct elvish society, but also tree nymphs, demons, and numerous other magical species that are hinted at nowhere before in the series. It makes the plot of this one feel cheap and throws the importance of plot points in the first two out the window.

I feel like everything new in this book was thrown in simply to take up space rather than to either solve or extend the problems introduced in the first 2 books. Hopefully book 4 will be better.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Not as good as the first 2

honestly I love this series but I feel this book is a bit of a let down. Nothing really happens, it's got what is usually second book syndrome but this time in the third. the narration is top notch as always though but I just feel the story is lacking in this one.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Amazing! Hurry up book 4!

Loved it...great story, could not stop listening 😊 great characters and how could you not love Res!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Well this book took a different turn…

Well this book took a different turn… It feels like the author changed his mind between book two and three and went in a whole new direction.

The two first books were pretty interesting (even though I thought the women tripping over their feet over Rez was a bit silly) with good character development and a cohesive story arc. Rez is traveling with his companions and trying to find his purpose in life. Character development is pretty good at this point (silly at times).
But all the sudden the author changed the scope of everything with little or no build up. Instead of dealing with a mad king the whole world is at stake all the sudden. The introduction of certain creatures feels like an afterthought since they are not mentioned at all beforehand.
Some characters that were central in the previous books are pretty much ignored and newly introduced characters lack depth. It's like the author don't know where he wants to go and the whole book feels forced and untidy.
I think this is where I take my leave.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Good, but not as good as the previous two.

Enjoyable but the conflicting relationships between characters is becoming overly complicated. and there are far too many characters that alot haven't been fleshed out. and most characters stay in the personality circle and constantly contradict themselves. the inner conflict in Rezkin felt like some hidden depth to an almost immortal being, but the depth just sort of turns to be regression in the all the developments he made so far. and the odd relationships he has with other characters, especially Frisha, are strained. I personally liked their pairing, and that pairing has become overly complicated and was barely present at all throughout the book. I found myself actually disliking Rezkin towards the end and hope for some sort of renewly of his character and the relationships he has. The ending was surpisingly abrupt and felt entirely uncompleted just as I hoped he'd fix one of the complication i mentioned he fell flat and un-observant of who he was talking to. The story on a whole was excruciatingly dulled compared to the previous books, though the scope is greater. The new setting should have allowed for some much needed character development and growth, instead the development was simply that someone could swing a sword faster. Seriously though the relationship thing with Rezkin and Frisha needs to be sorted out, it's really tedious.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

The story moves along . Hope the next book comes out quickly. blah blah blah to fill this stupid 15 word minimum.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Legends of Ahn

Excellent series. Well narrated will definitely listen to the next audio book when it is published. A keeper to be listened to again at some point.

fantastic series

absolutely engrossing, excellent narration. brilliant characters and story. A+, can't wait for instalment number 4!!

Ended too quickly!

Very good listen as usual and finished on a clif as the last two were.

love it

great story cannot wait for Book 4 I hope it's not too long of a wait

left wanting

talk about a cliff hanger, I'm left wanting. the third instalment is just as thrilling and captivating as the other two in this series.
I once again could not stop listening, the mystery of Reskin only deepens.

I completely recommend 100%
5 star story and same narrator throughout.
A deffinate thumbs up.