Parno's Company

The Black Sheep of Soulan, Book 1

By: N.C. Reed

Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer

Length: 18 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's Summary

The world died long ago.

The world died long ago, leaving only a few here and there to rebuild. Their world had once been grand and magnificent, but too much was lost in the years after the time known as the Dying. Knowledge that had been gained over centuries disappeared from the world, lost when those who carried that knowledge died with it. 

The population has grown again over the last centuries, but the world has not regained its lost knowledge or former glory. A few things survive, here and there, and scholars seek to uncover more of their Ancients lost technology. But in the midst of that comes the threat of war with a rival nation. The latest in a long line of such wars for the Kingdom of Soulan.

Enter Parno McLeod, third son of King Tammon McLeod, who is unloved by his family and laughed at by the nobility. A brawling, drinking, womanizing playboy still in his teens, the common soldiers and people love Parno because he doesn't preen and pretend and Parno loves his people and his Land, even though he doesn't love his family.

When sent away by his family on an impossible mission, can young Parno overcome the odds and become the prince that destiny intends him to be?

©2015 N.C. Reed (P)2019 Podium Publishing

Amazing !!!

I can’t say enough about this author! I thought his book “Odd Billy Todd” was just about one of the best books I’ve listened to in a long time but Damn this book blew me away! This author puts you in the lives of his characters and you become so engaged with them that they become real for you! Now I am a die hard zombie fan so when I tell you how good these non-zombie books are that says a lot. Also the author is very vested in his work and he will chat with you freely.
You will want to listen to these books all the way through so get ready and put some time aside - I promise you will be unable to stop listening! Fantastic book and the narrator was soooo good!

Outstanding, Could Not Put Down

I haven't written many reviews but I always read them before buying. At the time I am writing this there are only 31 reviews. Don't let the low number of reviews stop you from trying this book. If I could have given it 6 stars I would have! After listening to Odd Billy Todd, I thought I would try this book. (By the way, it too is a must-listen) This book had me captivated all the way through and just when I thought it couldn't get any better the suspense kept building. I could not put it down. I could actually visualize the gap, the training of the troops and oh the characters are very good. This is as good if not better than the Last Kingdom series but in the future. Yep, the dying has killed off most people and technology has been lost. Parno must recover some of it to help save his country. Parno is a black sheep and underdog, and his troops are criminals given a second chance (Reminds me of the Dirty Dozen). N. C. Reed, this is an awesome story! Two home runs! It is so suspenseful, it just so happened when I was at the end of the book I was to go to the movies with friends to see 1917 (very good movie) and I didn't want to go to the movies but I did. This audiobook for me was even more captivating than an action movie like that. This should be a best seller. Eric Summerer what an awesome performance. My next book will be an N. C. Reed book, hopefully read by Mr. Summerer. I hope N. C. Reed makes lots of money and keeps writing because he truly writes good stories and good stories are hard to find. Side note, I'm wondering if the author is religious. I saw great morals in the good characters and evil in the bad. Also, I didn't notice the typical cussing in a lot of books today and this was pleasing. Some books are just too overbearing.

This guy needs to be challenged

Great outline, but it's still just an outline. Both story and characters ran through a series of checked boxes as plain as highway mile markers. Massive potential, but this guy needs to be challenged by a good editor or an invested friend.

This book made me stupider

I could feel the intelligence seep out of me as I finished the first chapter. Barely able to string words together now... I sacrifice my final moments to warn you... so my lose is not in vain.

Predictable, self-pitying towards the end

This is probably supposed to be a "hero's journey", and it's set up as the standard trope of a disreputable prince making good. But we don't see his transformation, because his character flaws are never shown, only described via other characters' exposition. From the very beginning, he's depicted as the same person he is at the end of the book.

The last quarter of the book, where, in a typical story of the genre, the main character (MC) would be proving his worth, he engages in incessant morose talk about how they're all about to die, but they have to take as many of the enemy with them as they can. What kind of leadership is that? And this is repeated again and again until I'm like "God, here it comes again."

And, speaking of tropes, there is an Asian character, Cho, (whom the author refers to as 'oriental', even though we don't use that word anymore) who really does nothing but act in a wise and mysterious manner, spouting out platitudes that aren't actually very enlightening.

All-in-all, a mediocre story good enough to provide distraction while doing yard work. I'll probably buy the next one.

WOW. N. C. Reed's amazing talent!

I had been sulking ever since having finished "Odd Billly Todd" and although I had bought this series simply because of the author, I sulked for months hoping there would be an "Odd Billy Todd" book 2. Well, I have to say that this series is SO GOOD and I will never sulk again as long as N C Reed keeps writing. And now... on to Book 2 (Parno's Destiny). Get this series! You won't regret it.

Excelente

Excellent writing and narrating. Will continue on with this series. Will also follow this author because he’s worth my credit.

I fully enjoyed listening to this book.

Yes, the main character has his flaws, which make him more human. I think the author really gets how rejection by one's father or the simple lack of a father can really destroy a young man.

Great Read

just didn't want this story to stop. So happy I can start Book 2 right away with Book 3 in reserve

Juvenile at Best…

A story that would be an excellent first effort for a twelve year old author.

Narration that would be a good first effort by a seventeen year old narrator.

One hundred percent Bad Cheese… I may never regain the Ten IQ points Lost while listening to this utterly stupid tail.

Fact: In No Universe would it be acceptable to draw a Self Bow to Full Draw and HOLD IT FOR FIFTEEN SECONDS! Bah!

good

better then i expected.
within the first couple of chapters i had decided this book was going to predictably the same old same.
but iv pleasantly enjoyed this first book,with the hope in the upcoming plot,will continue to get better