Of Noble Family

De: Mary Robinette Kowal

Narrado por: Prentice Onayemi, Robin Miles, Mary Robinette Kowal

Jane and Vincent have finally gotten some much-needed rest after their adventures in Italy - then Vincent receives word that his estranged father has passed away on one of his properties in the West Indies. His brother, who manages the estate, is overwhelmed, and no one else in his family can go. Grudgingly, out of filial duty, the couple decide to go.

The sea voyage is long, and Jane spends enough time unable to perform glamour that toward the end of the trip she discovers she is with child. They are overjoyed, but when they finally arrive at the estate to complete what they expect to be routine legal tasks, they realize that nearly everything they came expecting to find was a lie. Also the entire estate is in disarray, with horrifying conditions and tensions with the local slave population so high, they are close to revolt. Jane and Vincent's sense of peril is screaming out for them to flee, but Vincent cannot stand to leave an estate connected with his family in such a condition. They have survived many grand and terrifying adventures in their time, but this one will test their skills and wits more than any they have ever encountered before, this time with a new life hanging in the balance.

Mary Robinette Kowal's Of Noble Family is the final book of the acclaimed Glamourist Histories.

©2015 Mary Robinette Kowal (P)2015 Audible Inc.

Wonderful story, different narration

Just like the rest, great story and interesting commentary about race in this era.

The only drawback for me was the introduction of different narrators. It might have been because MRK can't or shouldn't do Antiguan accents, but she used to do Vincent just fine! I found it jarring, largely because the male voice actors spoke very slowly with big strange gaps in their sentences. Also, the volumes were different, and it seemed particularly weird during extended dialogue.

Still worth listening to and enjoying if you like others in this series!

Multiple readers

I was confused why there were three readers at first, but a few chapters in, I thought it was a perfect decision. The story is very compelling and suspenseful. It is a fitting end to the series and we'll worth the read.

A Masterpiece!

As this is the 5th book in this series, I came to it with many expectations. I can honestly say that every one was met, surpassed, and left me wondering why I had sold the book's potential so short.

By several chapters in I was already going on about the narration--wonderful. I was surprised by the inclusion of other narrators since Mary Robinette Kowal has done the work by herself for all of the previous books, but the performance was so smooth that I easily lost myself in the narrative.

I felt myself drawn into this story, feeling the heartaches and frustrations as though they were my own. I was moved to furious rage and felt desperate powerlessness as well as wonder and joy. In short, I was transported into this story like few I've ever experienced. I laughed out loud and was moved to tears. I stopped in the middle of chapters to bug my wife with the "amazing thing" I'd just read.

There is so much I want to say about this story, but I don't want to give away spoilers, and I don't have space to write so much here. And I'd much rather you read the book for yourself than listen to me talk about it.

I HIGHLY recommend this book! Of Noble Family is easily one of the best books I've ever read. I love it!

And if you haven't read the first four, do that!

Love this series detail of this world is perfect

Kowal's details of the world was meticulous and enthralling. Addressing sensitive subjects with great care.

GREAT ENDING TO A GREAT SERIES... almost

What made the experience of listening to Of Noble Family the most enjoyable?

Mary Kowal is a fantastic performing voice. Her character voices are amazing. In addition, the other 2 narrators were a surprisingly delightful and gave more depth to the story.

If you’ve listened to books by Mary Robinette Kowal before, how does this one compare?

I have never been disappointed in a narration by Mary Kowal.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Depth.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This entire series made me laugh and cry.

Any additional comments?

The very last line of the entire series broke my heart. If that line was cut, I would have come away with a much happier feeling of the series as a whole. Unfortunately the last line is what dropped my star rating.