• Arm of the Sphinx

  • The Books of Babel, Book 2
  • By: Josiah Bancroft
  • Narrated by: John Banks
  • Length: 14 hrs and 7 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,244 ratings)

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Arm of the Sphinx  By  cover art

Arm of the Sphinx

By: Josiah Bancroft
Narrated by: John Banks
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Publisher's summary

Senlin continues his ascent up the tower in the word-of-mouth phenomenon fantasy series about one man's dangerous journey through a labyrinthine world.

"One of my favorite books of all time" (Mark Lawrence on Senlin Ascends)

The Tower of Babel is proving to be as difficult to reenter as it was to break out of. Forced into a life of piracy, Senlin and his eclectic crew are struggling to survive aboard their stolen airship as the hunt to rescue Senlin's lost wife continues.

Hopeless and desolate, they turn to a legend of the Tower, the mysterious Sphinx. But help from the Sphinx never comes cheaply, and as Senlin knows, debts aren't always what they seem in the Tower of Babel. Time is running out, and now Senlin must choose between his friends, his freedom, and his wife.

Does anyone truly escape the Tower?

©2017 Josiah Bancroft (P)2018 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"More than deserving of advance buzz and initial self-published success, Josiah Bancroft's Senlin Ascends is an early contender for year-end best lists, and a towering achievement in weird fantasy." (B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog on Senlin Ascends)

"Bancroft's world continues to teem with explosive energy, and he ranges ably from the transcendent to the vicious in an instant....This volume not only matches but adds to the notable achievements of the first." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

"What is remarkable about this novel, quite apart from its rich, allusive prose, is Bancroft's portrayal of Senlin, a good man in a desperate situation, and the way he changes in response to his experiences in his ascent." (The Guardian on Senlin Ascends)

What listeners say about Arm of the Sphinx

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Tremendous performance

Excellent book with a superb narrator. One of the better series in recent years! Looking forward to book 3.

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  • CJ
  • 07-21-19

Still climbing !

Hang on, this journey is epic. The narration is by far right up there as one of the best. The story is compelling and the characters I fell in love with in Senlin Ascends continue to be the companions I want to spend time with. I am IN the Tower now, can't or wont leave until, they do, if they ever do. Delicious story.

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Much better than the 1st book

the 1st book seemed to be.....too confident at times for Thomas. The elaborate schemes that FG went through to hire an employee ect....

This one seemed much more grounded and was far better as a result.

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3 people found this helpful

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Fun book even better narration.

I like to read the books and then listen to the audio books, but with this one it was difficult to stay away from the narration.

Very well done!

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Below the surface resides the truth

But how hard we try to hide it or change it to what we prefer the truth to be. But what we reveal to ourselves and others, is not the truth. Still searching at 65.

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I enjoy the hidden meaning of the tower.

great characters. unique circumstances And challenges. the tower is a fantastic character all its own. the deeper meanings decorate the adventure with pleasing considerations.

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Great story, odd audio at times.

Something about the audio mixing made "S" sounds incredibly harsh and near impossible to listen to at medium-high levels. Otherwise great.

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Great series

I absolutely love this series!!!! Fair warning book 1 starts a bit slow, but one it picks up steam there is no stopping it.

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Things are getting interesting

I loved the first book and this one picks up right where it left off. Things are really turning out awesome.

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2nd book better than first!

I wasn’t sure about the series but halfway through the second one I was hooked. I hope the third one doesn’t disappoint; I’m really liking the characters now.

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1 person found this helpful