Red Sister

First Book of the Ancestor

By: Mark Lawrence

Narrated by: Heather O'Neill

Length: 19 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

From the international best-selling author of the Broken Empire Trilogy comes the first in a brilliant new breakout fantasy series. A searing novel set in a brand-new world, this series follows a young girl who enters a convent where girls are selected to train in religion, combat, or magic. Nona is selected to learn combat and finds herself at the center of an epic battle for empire on the outer reaches of a dying universe.

©2017 Boblinga Ltd. (P)2017 Recorded Books

Fantastic

Classic Lawrence. Not as dark as his previous works, but just as good. He is a phenomenal writer each new book he writes seems to surpass his last.

A bit slower and more methodical than either broken empire or red queens war (must reads if you're new to Lawrence) but equally enjoyable. Highly recommended.

So Much Love for Mark Lawrence!!!

I raced through this book. Raced. I didn't want to stop. There was such an awesome mix of action, character building (& development), and... just... storytelling! I was there, with all Nona's novice sisters as she told and retold her story. I felt like I was just another character in the background watching her.

I found the pacing was just right. I was never bored or left waiting for something to happen. I do, however, often accept and even look for authors to spend time developing characters through dialogue or ... less adventurous moments. These are not boring or dull in Red Sister.

Heather O'Neil's narration was wonderful. I delighted in listening to her give voice to Nona's thoughts and actions. I look forward to listening in the rest of the series!

Audible 20 Review Sweepstakes Entry

Another good book from Mark Laurence

I'm not sure what people disliked so much about the narrator, other than her voice being slightly neutral the accent didn't detract and she spoke well and was easy to understand. I have listened to much worse.
As to the book, the characters were varied with good personalities and the plot is good.

Good story told with beautiful writing.

This book was such a pleasure to experience. The writing is somewhat poetic. It has a pleasing rhythm and flow as a foundation to powerfully descriptive language that never left me with the feeling that the author was trying too hard. Plot and characters are solid, but it is the beauty of the writing that has me recommending it.

Beautiful story and well-told!

All the best feelings of Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Wolverine's story in a whole new way...

brilliant!

great narration better story! mark lawrence has outdone himself again. cannot wait for the next one!

Well done UpperYA and above

Well put together story that may fall under the fantasy-action genre, but there’s a bare whiff of potential SciFi as the series develops.
There’s enough violence that I consider this to be UpperYA and older.
It’s about young Nona being sold to the child collecter, then the pit fighter, then plunged into a convent training novitiates for fighting, diplomacy or religious pursuits. Along the way, she learns about her heritage and its skills; and makes some serious enemies before she hits puberty. Don’t mess with the friends of Nona! I liked the story so much, I’m starting right into book 2 audio.
O’Neill does an excellent job with narration.
Recommend

Impressive story!

This book is fantastic. You should listen to it.

Dang... I expected a semi cliche story about the chosen one who doesn't know they are the chosen one. I expected to be moderately pleased and entertained.
I did not expect to get sucked into a unique and complex world through the eyes of a child. I did not expect quite so much blood and gore. I love the magic system and history of the world she lives in. It was interesting to see all the things the main character (child) missed. I am all for bad-ass female leads and I don't think I've seen one quite so young before.

Simply a very entertaining book and audio

Mark Lawrence has once again created a unique world with amazing characters and a riveting storyline. You are immersed in the world of the main character and follow her from childhood to a young woman. Clearly a unique child with unique gifts but they unfold slowly and you are never truly sure of what she will become and how she will impact her world. The narration by Heather O'Neill is truly the best I have ever heard and elevated a good story to an amazing performance in which you forget one person is reading a story and are immersed in an audio play. You will not be sorry about experiencing this audio book.

Excellent!! riveting, fun, and immersive

I chose this book on recommendation from a friend. I felt like the first couple chapters make a little slow but I kept listening at my friend's recommendation, I am so glad that I did. as the plot and the world slowly evolved I was completely immersed Miss world with Nona and her friends. the descriptions of magic word unique and engaging, excellent voice variation between a lengthy list of characters, great description of scenery and background without getting bogged down in an info dump. just a really really well told story with just enough twists to keep me guessing all the way to the end. I will absolutely be listening to the next in this series. I highly recommend this to fantasy readers, especially those with a Christian background. Minimal swearing, minimal gore and only were necessary, nothing too raunchy while still being very intense and exciting.