• Awaken

  • The Mortal Mage, Book 1
  • By: B. T. Narro
  • Narrated by: Simon Vance
  • Length: 11 hrs
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (918 ratings)

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Awaken  By  cover art

Awaken

By: B. T. Narro
Narrated by: Simon Vance
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Publisher's summary

Desil has spent his life training, but a promise to his mother has kept him from using his abilities for anything worthwhile. Now all he does is help his mother manage her tavern as his father rests in a grave. Desil knows there's at least one other mage somewhere in this territory who can do what he can; they share a connection through their magic, although they've never met. He stays up nights wondering what they might be able to accomplish together.

When an opportunity to not only meet this mage but change the course of his future finally presents itself, Desil jumps at the chance. A great leader has disappeared, leaving clues that only Desil and this other mage can see. War is coming, and following the clues could mark Desil as a traitor, but he trained his whole life for something. If this isn't it, then what is? He might unearth a new power capable of ending war, or he might die trying. Either is better than doing nothing.

©2017 B. T. Narro (P)2017 Podium Publishing

What listeners say about Awaken

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
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Performance
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    477
  • 4 Stars
    217
  • 3 Stars
    98
  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

My First Return

Would you try another book from B. T. Narro and/or Simon Vance?

No. The picture of a main character should not be of a all situational controlling, self important, little prat, who has been made easily hate-able.

Has Awaken turned you off from other books in this genre?

Of course not. I am just afraid after purchasing 60 books that I am finally coming to the bottom of the barrel having listened to all most all of audibles Medieval feel / Fantasy type of books.

What aspect of Simon Vance’s performance would you have changed?

He was a pretty great reader. I had no issues with his voice.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment at nearly every turn.
Especially

(spoiler alert)

When the main dude meets his father who is not dead. Then saves his father and is like give me hugs dad then that's it. No emotion at all.Also another disappointment was the first time the two main characters have a connection more than friendship. They are both bruised bleeding and in pain but its all good because they are not tired and are both up after everyone else has fallen asleep and are about to have romance.Just no thought put into it

Any additional comments?

I would of kept the main character, but alter him completely. I tend to notice a inner struggle in many main characters across many books. This should be intriguing as it helps to draw the reader in to the characters personality. However, this characters inner conflict is how much of a prat he shouldn't be (controlling over any anything), but keeps being anyways through out the whole book.
There were times when the know it all character, who you start out sorta thinking is cool for the first 20 minutes then hating for the rest of the book, fails to notice something or acts snide when he is magically the only one who knows how to do something.

For example.
The ladder.

Yes the ladder. Oh how I imagine every reader begged for the situation where our 3 heroes are stumped on how to lower ones self onto a ladder leading into a hole. Where the main character was going to go first. Then is told he shouldn't because it isn't his deal, then is asked for help on how to get on the ladder. Then he asks to go first. Then the other character is like no ill go. Then asks again how they should move while on a ladder. Then finally musters the courage to climb on it leaving the last character (the fearless women warrior) outside because she is to afraid to get on the ladder, but then ends up coming down anyway because why not.

YES I KNOW. I purposefully made that confusing because guess what? That is how it is in the story!

Next as we see the BRAVE but CAUTIOUS heroes learn they must take a boat. Instead of following with the caution side of things. They take a SUPER DRUNKEN UNSAFE PIRATE WHO ESCAPED FROM THE WORST PRISON ON THE PLANET BUT LOVES KISSES FROM PRETTY WOMEN, over the obvious safer and cautious route of going to the elves for a boat.
Thank you book for blowing my mind. Right as I get to thinking I know the 2 girls they both go full on caution-less, fearless, and stupid teenagers on me.

The story is scrambled more than my morning eggs.

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27 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great Listen - Just What the Doctor Ordered!

I started listening to this during a 2 hours route canal and thankfully it was engaging and interesting enough to hold my attention - for the most part - through the root canal. By the end, I was hooked and listened to the rest eagerly.

The performance was good, but not exceptional, and the story and world was unique and interesting.

I'm looking forward to book 2.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Bummer...

I purchased this book based on the reviews of others but was disappointed. The concept seemed interesting, but just did not seem to go anywhere.

I struggled to finish it and kept hoping that it would get better, but in my opinion, the story never really worked the way it was written. I am not sure if I will try another in the series.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed it for the most part.

The last book I read from this author was a disappointment, but this book was surprisingly good. Characters make a story for me and the last book I read was one dimensional. This was a bit more, allowing the readers to see from the perspective of the other characters and not just the main. Also, in his books people don't seem to react as they would naturally do and at times I feel disconnected even if the story has an explanation as to why the character reacts the way they do. overall it was ok.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Author's who don't see the obvious.........anoying

I truly enjoyed the story progression and the characters and thier development. Simon Vance never fails to deliver with his story telling skills.
But.............. huge flaw for me ........... seems so obvious. A mage who can manipulate water.........and yet it never occurs to him to freeze the blood in the viens of his enemies....really?.........That's just piss poor story telling.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

no real struggle or character development

the author could have killed off everyone and I wouldn't have really cared. did not explain magic system very well.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

great Spin Off

way better than the prequel. It was cool to see that Mason wasn't all powerful just strong

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Good character, bad plot

Our MC is refreshing in that even though he's only 18, this isn't a Coming of Age story. He's already confident, assertive, and strong, so he doesn't having any growing to do on his journey. But as a character, he come across as pretty two-dimensional. While I respect him, I don't have any fondness for him.

My main complaint is the dumb plot. It basically consists of a girl rushing around to find her missing parents just so she can say good-bye and our MC wants to help her. They rush off into danger for no better reason than that.

A minor complaint is the subplot with the MC's father. I knew where it would end up, because it's such a cliched story line.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Clever plot

Excellence narration, brought the characters alive. In depth character development. Story was exciting to the end

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

I enjoyed it but it feels to be missing depth.

Maybe I'm just partial to "wordy" authors and that's why it's not as impactful as I'd expect. I still plan on finishing the series, I just don't think this one will stick with me.

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