Once There Were Heroes

A Time of Dragons, Book 1

By: Philip C. Quaintrell

Narrated by: Steven Brand

Length: 25 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

The Gods are dead. In their absence, there can be only chaos, only war. And they are not all that has faded from the world of Verda...

Once there were heroes. Brave men and women who showed their quality to be above the rest. Those whose deeds earned them the heart of a dragon. Those whose courage and strength resonated with the unborn, who, in their eggs, can wait thousands of years for a warrior worthy of them.

These heroes rose up on young battlefields and defended the weak and oppressed across all of Erador. They did so because they were inspired. They had only to look up and see.

Dragons Riders!

The last noble warriors in the realm. Only heroes can embolden the ordinary. For centuries, millennia, the Dragon Riders galvanized generation after generation, adding Riders to their ranks and birthing dragons from their eggs.

But there are no more heroes. War with the Andarens is like nothing the Riders, nor the armies of Erador, have ever faced. In the place of heroes, there are only soldiers now. Fodder for the machine of war.

This time of twilight is set to be the crowning hour of the dark when the light is losing its grip. There are those who have been waiting, biding their time in the shadows while the heroes of Verda die out. They worship something ancient, something forgotten by myth and legend, something evil.

It falls on a few to keep back that darkness. A few who must rise without inspiration and prove themselves worthy.

©2023 by Philip C. Quaintrell (P)2024 Podium Audio

Great start threads going into the past and future love it as I have ALL your books

For some reason, the box is asking what I disliked and I can’t say I disliked any of it really a great book definitely going somewhere forward and back

A Quaintrell Classic

Diving back into the world of Verda has become one of my favorite things to do. Steven Brand delivers another great reading of the story. So many new things introduced in this story, and many new characters, and some very familiar names I didn’t expect to hear and experience their stories play out. I am beyond excited for the next chapter to unfold with the second book!

Story and narration

Very good book looking forward to more please keep same narrator hopeful this will be more than three books

Fantasy through and through

If you want true adventure with wild creatures, magic, mystery and fighting this title is for you. If you are a fan of Philip C. Quaintrells world this book is for you or if this is your first time reading his work and love fantasy there is no way you could be disappointed.

love the dwarf orgins

I am a huge fan of all character involved especially the father-smuggler character. absolutely amazing please write fasterrrrrrrrr.

Great start to what I know will be a great series

Great story that really fleshes out the history of Verda. It has awesome characters bad ass battles gods and dragons topped off with a great performance

If you haven’t read Phillip’s other books well you should they are great

No Dragons Here

I really wanted to like this book. I never pick anything up to read (or listen to in this instance) that I think I won't at least mildly enjoy. However I've really just come away feeling baited. The majority of the story is well written although I don't think Quaintrell is quite as proficient at conveying combat as I would like. However there are 2 significant chapters in the book that... leave me utterly baffled. Where circumstances and characters that the author has explicitly explained to be very proficient and well rounded, become awkward children with little to no sense. This tied to several very ham fisted cliff hangers to draw readers to the second installment. Along with the fact that while dragons are a significant presence in the world, they are nearly entirely absent from the story... As I said before I really wanted to like this book. The core characters are great, but I just found myself regularly frustrated and disillusioned with the writing at critical junctures. If you like high fantasy, there's a cool world here. If you like well written characters, there are some to be found. If you want a good story that doesn't swing a villain around like a MacGuffin, I would look elsewhere.

Total Package

It’s got the magic of fantasy. It’s got the races of fantasy, humans, dwarves, elves and much more. The monsters, I’ll try not to spoil the surprises there. A page turner of epic fantasy, with a start to a great adventure that I’m sad I found so quick because book 2 is not out yet…ill try to cope by reading previous books from this author I guess.

Amazing story telling

From start to finish, this audiobook delivers an enthralling narrative that kept me hooked throughout. The storytelling is exceptional, weaving a tale of transformation and triumph that captivated my attention from the very beginning. What truly elevates this audiobook is the remarkable narration, which is hands down the best I've ever encountered. Each character and scene is brought to life with precision and passion, making it an unforgettable listening experience. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a riveting story with impeccable narration. I honestly really love this book and cannot wait for the next one

amazing

he never fails to impress. another great book. I'm excited for book 2. the characters and story development keep you sucked in.