Ordination: The Paladin Trilogy, Book 1

Yes, I am always willing to try another book (especially with Michael Kramer). Maybe the next one or a different series will be better.

No, this is his only book.

I have listened to ~10 audiobooks with Michael Kramer, he is one of my favorite narrators. This was not his best work. An example is one of the main characters Igdan Marta, who is described as being an experienced fighter but not old by any means. She sounds frail and old most of the time instead of strong, confident, and in her prime.

I could not get into this novel. Many of the protagonists are not likable and their interactions with each other are awkward. I could not believe in any of the protagonists. Here is a simple example: Alistair explains to Igdan Marta that he has both a sword and a warhammer because knights are expected to have swords for glory but warhammers are honest and straight forward and can be used as a capenter's tool after a battle. This is ridiculous, Alistair, an exprienced soldier in heavy armor, does not know that warhammers and maces are used against other soldiers in heavy armor. It does not take a lot of historical reading and knowhow to learn that swords were not great against knights in plate and so maces and warhammers were used specificlly against heavy armor.

A more aggregious example is with Mal, a little girl. Her uncle explains to Alistair that her mother died several years ago then an hour later her mother is standing around with her Uncle. This was something that should have been caught by an editor.

The good:
The action is well written and plentiful. The hero's body count is enormous. There's a whole world here that has only been scratched and a lot of potential for an improved sequel.

The not-so-good:
That being said, the story itself was kind of... meh. Allystaire's conversion to his new faith was unbelievably fast. My interest in the character dropped sharply after this and adding companions to his party did little to improve it. Allystaire's moral system, despite being propped up on his faith, seems a bit shaky as his solution to everything is to kill - and inconsistently, sometimes it isn't for a myriad of nebulous reasons.

I'm not sure what direction the story is going - the characters are finding their own way by going along and the story itself feels that way too. I don't feel much of a build up, and the cliffhanger ending was abrupt.

My criticisms aside, Michael Kramer is top flight voice talent and without his narration, I'm not sure I would have finished. His voices are distinct and he adds a sense of weight to scenes and depth to words that, were I to read them in my own head, probably would fall flat.

Overall, yes.

Michael Kramer's narration is what got me to listen, and if he does the sequels, I might give them a chance. There's potential in this series, and it's possible, this being only the first of three books, that the others will improve.

Really enjoyed it, great narrator in my opinion, wish main character was quite so grumpy

the first 6 chapters were kimd of slow and a little boring but once the characters were built I was totally invested and couldn't stop listening. i can't wait for the second book.

This was by far one of, if not, the best I've ever heard. I am sooooo ready for the second book it has me wanting more and wanting more....well done!

Let me just say I can't wait for the next book! Which I believe is out in novel form already.
As for this audio book it made me a definite fan of this series. The narration was good if unveried voice wise. Beyond that the story of a forgotten goddess of the broken,beaten and the poor rising in a world of harsh gods and brutal barons. She names a less than gallant knight her Arm, blessing him with monstrous strength and a healing left hand and ability to compell the truth from others. Her Paladin then sets off to find those that need her and the chosen who will become her Shadow,Voice, Wit and Will just as Alistair is her Arm.

Overall, I enjoyed the book until the end.
There are some editing and continuity errors and it's certainly not a tightly plotted work,but things generally move along without too much dragging. The best part of the book for me was the main character, who's generally fun to ride along with (and some of the supporting characters grew on me as well).
There's some squick as a 10 year old girl is one of the faces of the Goddess (who always appears in the nude and is the "epitome of feminine beauty", though thankfully there's no explicit description of said beauty).
The thing that really killed my feelings for the book was it ending on a cliffhanger. I know it's common for some series writers to do this but it's one of my pet peeves. I loved the characters enough to want to go on more adventures with them, but an author I can't trust to finish a story is hard to overcome.

I generally judge books with how quickly I go through them. This one went very quickly

this was a unique and exciting story, can't wait for the next one! I loved it.

Enjoyed it, can't wait to hear the next one. The concept is fun, and it leaves you wanting more.