Limits of Power

By: Elizabeth Moon

Narrated by: Angela Dawe

Length: 20 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's Summary

Elizabeth Moon is back with the fourth adventure in her best-selling fantasy epic. Moon brilliantly weaves a colorful tapestry of action, betrayal, love, and magic set in a richly imagined world that stands alongside those of such fantasy masters as George R. R. Martin and Robin Hobb.

The unthinkable has occurred in the kingdom of Lyonya. The queen of the Elves - known as the Lady - is dead, murdered by former elves twisted by dark powers. Now the Lady’s half-elven grandson must heal the mistrust between elf and human before their enemies strike again. Yet as he struggles to make ready for an attack, an even greater threat looms across the Eight Kingdoms.Throughout the north, magic is reappearing after centuries of absence, emerging without warning in family after family - rich and poor alike. In some areas, the religious strictures against magery remain in place, and fanatical followers are stamping out magery by killing whoever displays the merest sign of it - even children. And as unrest spreads, one very determined traitor works to undo any effort at peace - no matter how many lives it costs. With the future hanging in the balance, it is only the dedication of a few resolute heroes who can turn the tides...if they can survive.

©2013 Elizabeth Moon (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

good story but cant stand the narrator

What was one of the most memorable moments of Limits of Power?

the way the new narrator mispronounced everything

How could the performance have been better?

different narrator

Any additional comments?

wish they hadn't changed narrator or at least the new narrator should have checked how the other narrators in this series pronounced some of the names

RE-RE-RECORD PLEEASE!!!!NarratorRUINS GREAT BOOK

ANGELA DAWE IS AN 8DIOT ANDR7IND THIS BOOK. A7DIBLE NEEDSTO AS VAN DYKE 0R EARIKSON RERE-RECORD IT. THEY DID IT FOR GJOST STORY bu Jim Butcher. And other books. AND I ASKED FOR A REDUND OF MY CREDIT I love the story. Deeply struggled to listen to it. Angela Dawe is the worst! SHE'S WORST THAN WORST. it would have been worth waiting another year for this book on audio to get either of the other two narrators to read it. in the review section for this book there are 10 pages of reviews. every reviewer phrases the author and whales about the narrator. There's not a single comment that is not book was great narrator was awful horrible I should have read this one instead etc etc. not only does her inflection in voice really stink pronunciation suck and she read a 19 or 21 year old character like he was 10 , all sniffling and whining the whole way through the book. I like Elizabeth Moon's work. I was really delighted to see the books that I had read so many times finally on Audible. That is the original trilogy deed of paksenarrion. when the author step back into this world I was delighted that I could listen to it immediately. Every book, as it appeared in the pre-release call him, was grabbed up the credit spent on a book not yet available to even listen to a preview. If I had listened to this preview I would never have purchased this book. Because the narrator is so bad I might never have finished the series.

Narrator kills good book

I read this before listening - and am SO glad. I've like the series from Sheepfarmer's Daughter. That said, this is a HARD listen. Words like "taig", "Arrenis" and others are pronounced completely differently than in the previous six books, making it difficult to follow the story. I can understand bringing in a new narrator, but she should have at least listened to the previous books!

In addition, most of the time, this narrator seems to adopt a whiny, childlike voice. Perhaps it is my age, but it is very grating, especially for several hours at a time.

I eagerly look forward to the next book in the series, and will buy it - in print. If not narrated by the same person, will also purchase the audio book!

Don't like Angela Dawe

Where does Limits of Power rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I got it because the story left me hanging, and I really liked it.

How could the performance have been better?

If someone contracts to read a book that is an ongoing series, the least that "professional" could do is listen to the previous books. Angela Dawe pronounces everything, from place names to people names and everything else, differently from the previous books. It's driving me nuts trying to figure out who/what/where she's talking about. I'll finish it because I love the series, but I'll certainly not seek out Angela Dawe as a narrator.

Narrator kills story!

If you could sum up Limits of Power in three words, what would they be?

Narration-ruined tale

What did you like best about this story?

I love this series, and the story reminded us of the intricate past while holding out complex possibilities for the future. Limits of Power gave us (for me) truly unexpected developments in the lives of some major characters, as well as revelations of their past. The reappearance of Paks was a highlight as well as the hope of a starring role for her in the next installment. However, frankly it was difficult to follow it and I missed important parts I'm sure because I kept being distracted by the narrator's voice and pronunciations, to the point where I didn't go back to passages that needed deeper attention. For the first time in reading a favorite and much anticipated story I actually bought another book in the middle of it, and had to come back to it later. That was after re-reading Echoes of Betrayal so that I could be clearer on what I was hearing (or not) in Limits of Power. I will definitely not be listening to this story again, as much as I may need to. Will buy the written version instead perhaps.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Angela Dawe?

Any of the previous narrators in the series, or my two favorite newly discovered narrators, Robert Glennister and Sophie Ward. Angela Dawe seemed to do fine with children's voices or young women but not with the adult male human characters,the elves or gnomes, and her cadence was cringe-worthy.In my opinion the reviewer Anita got it exactly right.

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

Sorry to beat a dead horse but truly the narration made me cry. I won't tell the things that made me laugh in the story as that would truly be spoiler alert!

Narrator was just bad.

The story was wonderful however the narrator was not good. She mispronounced many words i.e. privacy. The characters were hard to distinguish because the narrator was just not good.

I would recommend the book and unless you are visually impaired not invest in the audiobook. I have no choice as I do not read braille.

The story was a wonderful continuation of the previous books. Can not wait for the next one. I hope this helps. D

Continuation of the Paksanarian tale is welcome

Would you consider the audio edition of Limits of Power to be better than the print version?

I am an avid Audible Listener, I haven't read a book in over 6 years preferring to hear them vice read them.

What did you like best about this story?

Elizabeth Moon's Paks world is one of my favorite series, I've just relistened to it for the third time in anticipation of the latest book. The series still has more to enjoy, as this latest book, while feeding my desire for more, has me awaiting the next book.

The characters are so engaging and as we initially followed Paks, through her becoming a Paladin, we now are experiencing each of the cast's growing into new roles within their respective domains.

Would you be willing to try another one of Angela Dawe’s performances?

I was disappointed with her reading, primarily due to her using her own pronunciation for places, cities and people and things, when one narrator has set the proper form for persons place and things its painful to have a new narrator change those name forms to something that is just off. It was a terrible distraction and very annoying. Why did someone like Ms Moon not provide the proper annunciation for the Tauge, Cities and peoples names, why did this producer let her change all that this late in the series???

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

I truly love this series, following Paks, Kierry, Arcalan, Dorian, Stamell and the rest is such a joy. I personally loved the first narrator, Jennifer Van Dyck, I'm also a huge fan of the second narrator, who did one book, Susan Erickson, however Angela Dawe's pronunciation of places people and things in this world was extremely distracting.

Any additional comments?

Jennifer please read us the next book!

Skip this narrator

If you could sum up Limits of Power in three words, what would they be?

This is a wonderful book by one of my favorite authors. It continues the story of Paks' friends from Fox company with several surprising twists. Can't wait for the next one.

What didn’t you like about Angela Dawe’s performance?

Angela had good voices and vocal differentiation but she didn't do her homework. She absolutely butchered the pronunciations of the people and places in the book, as well as many ordinary words in the English language. I absolutely cringed every time and found it extremely distracting. I highly recommend that any reader who takes over a series first listen to the previous books and find out how all the other readers pronounced things.

Any additional comments?

Elizabeth, I know you not our "bi*ch", but when is the next one coming out?

Disappointing narrator

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

I am not a fantasy fan as a rule, but I will read or listen to any of Elizabeth Moon's stories. Sadly, narrator Angela Dawe all but ruined this book for me by reducing several character's dialog to sounding more at home in "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" than a good Moon story.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Angela Dawe?

Jennifer Van Dyck

What character would you cut from Limits of Power?

The cast of characters is difficult to keep straight, but they all seem to be contributing to the unfolding saga.

Any additional comments?

This is one time I wish I hadn't let my enthusiasm for the next book in a series propel me forward without trying a sample first. I may be reading print versions of subsequent Paladin's Legacy books.

Wonderful story. Uneven narration

Would you consider the audio edition of Limits of Power to be better than the print version?

No

Who was your favorite character and why?

Dorian

Would you be willing to try another one of Angela Dawe’s performances?

No

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

No

Any additional comments?

The story is excellent but the narration is uneven. Some of the variations in voice sound forced and strained. This distracts from the story and lessens the impact. This is the only time I have been disappointed in an Audible book.

Big fat let down...

Would you try another book written by Elizabeth Moon or narrated by Angela Dawe?

Elizabeth Moon yes

Angela Dawe narrating NO!!!!!!

How did the narrator detract from the book?

I wish Angela Dawe had done a little research before narrating this book. The story was totally spoilt by her mispronouncing works in a drawling tone.

Did Limits of Power inspire you to do anything?

Get angry..

Any additional comments?

Redo the book with Jennifer Van Dyck narrating..

Unlistenable.

Where does Limits of Power rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Beh. Its hard to say because the narration is so bad. I mean - awful. Was Jennifer Van Dyke not available?

Who was your favorite character and why?

The characters are relatively indistinguishable. And as this narration is not even remotely listenable, I will let you know after I have purchased and read the book.

How could the performance have been better?

The performer acts the characters ok - apart from her characters being pretty much indistinguishable by race, gender, class, and station. The most annoying, jarring problem is in the narrative passages She reads "He Said! She Said! He Wiped the Blood From His Blade" with with the same pace, tone, and with a loud exclamation point after each phrase, no matter how mundane the phrase. "I think not..." said Kiri!!!! "I will go..."He Said! Wiping the Blood Off His Blade!!!! He Crossed the Room!!!!! Not ONLY is each narrative phrase forced, each word is equally weighted, without a shred of nuance, pace, color, or appropriate pauses. Pacing of the narrative phrases are AWFUL!!!!!! This is why VO actors DESPERATELY NEED a director in the studio with them. And if there WAS a director in the studio, he or she should immediately lose his or her job!Furthermore, the actress might have taken the time to learn how to pronounce places and races by listening a bit to the previous narrations. For those of us who have listenened to each audio tape - its super annoying. Tayg, not Tah-ig. Kuoknomi, not Kwak-Naami. I suppose if this is your first Pak's book, it won't matter - but if you have been a fan of the series it will take you a while to figure out what and who she is talking about. Finally - the actress might have taken the trouble to READ the DANG BOOKS. The vocal quality of the elven and other races is perfectly well described by the author. The elves have musical voices, with a cadence. Ditto for the Kuocnom. Narrator doesn't bother to distinguish this in her performance. As the conflict that opens this book is racial in nature, it would have been nice if the narrator had been remotely familiar with the material so that we would be able to distinguish between the races.(Without of course, the requisite "Said the Elf!!!!")If I were Elizabeth Moon, I would have this audio pulled and redone. It's THAT bad.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Its not even a book I want to finish. Which is a shame, as I have loved the Paks series since it was first published.

infuriating!

What did you like best about Limits of Power? What did you like least?

the book itself is as good as the rest, an enjoyable easy read that keeps your attention for the vast majority of the time. The worst thing... is the narrator!!! throughout the series the characters accents have changed but that is something that is copable with to a point... but in this last book the narrator not only changes the accents and tone of each character.. she also changes pronounciations of words, even to the point of not being able to say "sire" instead reading "seer" lots of little things that cause irritation as the book goes on!

Nice bok, really bad narrating

A book written by Elizabeth Moon is really good one, but narrated by Angela Dawe. Just ruined the book for me. The narrator had alot of mispronouncingI wish they had just one narrator for the series

Good story, poor narrator

Continues the great story. spoilt by narrator. Not consistent with other books pronunciation and quality.

Good story, horrible voice actor

Loved the story but the voice actor was horrible to listen to. Will avoid her as much as possible

Holy Falk and Gird, that narration was awkward.

I was loving the audiobooks of this series up until this one. The book itself was still really good, but the narration by Angela Dawe was really bad. The narration was often awkward, even felt disjointed in parts and made a bit of a slog out of something that should've been a very pleasant experience. There were a lot of strange emphasis in places and sudden seemingly disconnected exclamations like "Dorrin Said!". It was really weird because usually the "X said" is part of a flow of text, but a lot of the time it didn't feel connected to the sentence the character was supposed to have spoken or the tone at which it was spoken. I did not want to have to go "Just 9 more hours to go" while listening to an Elizabeth Moon book, but it was inevitable. I suffered through it because I wanted to know what happened and the books was so good otherwise. The pronunciation of a lot of words were really strange like "sire" being pronounced like Seer/Sear. A lot of place-names were strangely and inconsistently pronounced, but that was the least of it. Most of the voices done were acceptable although she made some of the characters in their late teens or early 20's sound like 4-year olds. She also did this awful voice for Arcolin, Becklyn(or however it is spelled), Camwyn and a few other characters; that sounded like a hoarse comedy "dude bro" jock. That voice was insufferable and at one time did the exact same voice for two speaking to each other and made it hard to distinguish who was actually speaking. It just made me wonder why the company in question didn't hire Jennifer Van Dyck or Susan Ericksen(who I wasn't sure I'd like at first, but turned out to be very good) again for this book. The performance puts what would like be an overall 4 or 5 star book down to overall 3 and I kind of want to give it an overall 2, but the source material saves it.

Confusing with different narrators

The story was brilliant. The new narrator semi okay. Though a little weird to hear the “taighe” pronounced in a southern accent. In my opinion the whole series is a classic. Wish the book distributor would invest and prioritise in a new and good narrator for the whole series.