• River of Teeth

  • River of Teeth Series, Book 1
  • By: Sarah Gailey
  • Narrated by: Peter Berkrot
  • Length: 4 hrs and 1 min
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (201 ratings)

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River of Teeth  By  cover art

River of Teeth

By: Sarah Gailey
Narrated by: Peter Berkrot
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Publisher's summary

In the early 20th century, the United States government concocted a plan to import hippopotamuses into the marshlands of Louisiana to be bred and slaughtered as an alternative meat source. This is true.

Other true things about hippos: They are savage, they are fast, and their jaws can snap a man in two. This was a terrible plan.

Contained within this volume is an 1890s America that might have been: a bayou overrun by feral hippos and mercenary hippo wranglers from around the globe. It is the story of Winslow Houndstooth and his crew. It is the story of their fortunes. It is the story of his revenge.

©2017 Sarah Gailey (P)2017 Tantor

What listeners say about River of Teeth

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

Demented fun

This was a fun, strange, and engrossing story about a different type of caper. Um, I mean "operation."

I was almost immediately drawn into the alternate history author Sarah Gailey created in River of Teeth. The characters are well rounded and interesting, even the hippos. If I had to choose a favorite character though, I would choose Archie. I would love to either be her, or have her on my side. Hero is a close second, but each of the crew, even Neville, made me smile at times.

Peter Berkrot did an excellent job narrating this story.

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5 people found this helpful

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

Tombstone meets queer Firefly set astride domesticated hippos!

In this cowboy caper (sorry, ‘operation’), all the rollicking, gunslinging, mercenaries of your favorite Wild West tropes spoil for revenge, riches, and love in the “Wild South”.

**Spoilers Ahead**

When I first heard of River of Teeth, I was prepared for an interesting and fun take on history; and early on in the book, I eagerly anticipated an amusing Merry Band of Scoundrels cast of characters.

I was NOT prepared for such golden nuggets as a deadly lesbian assassin who just so happens to be heavily pregnant; a brilliant non-binary chemist who is also the central love interest; an unapologetically bisexual Clint Eastwood hero; and our ragtag group casually noticing not a single “white boy” in their group.

If you love westerns, alternative history, or casual queer & POC representation, set yer sights on The River of Teeth!

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3 people found this helpful

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

Disappointment

Story premise has a great subject. I considered this a good bet but was concerned that the story was on 4 hours. Once I started listening I found the narrator to be shallow and southern accents were offensive. In spite of the narrator the story proved to be more make believe situations than what would be expected. My only comment to this is that a hippopotamus is a vegetarian and attaches mainly for protection of its area or herd. The actual riding of a hippo was ok except for the reality of the hippo having to continuously submerge in water to prevent dehydration. I felt this situation was poorly explained and poorly described.

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3 people found this helpful

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

Scene chewing hungry hippos

Death rides a pale hippo, apparently, and I’m here for it.
Fresh and cliche in all the best ways. The caper is just the vehicle to showcase the weird western world, crazy colorful characters, and the hippos, oh the hippos! Befitting its novella length, the irregular band of cutthroats and queers delivers a fast paced tale of dastardly deeds and death by hippo. It was a bloody good ride I never saw coming. Wishlisting novella 2 now.

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2 people found this helpful

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

A good time filler for a rushed plot

I went into reading this with an open mind, I thought to myself “cowboys but with hippos.” And for a while it was a fun story. If I could go back I would add a few thing so or take a few things out. When it came to final climatic battle I felt it was Luke warm at best. The full feel of the romance itself felt forced or pushed. “Diversity for diversity” sake.

Overall. It was a good time filler while I’m at work. But nothing I’d give a second listen to.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Best audiobook ever.

This is the best audiobook/performance I've ever listened to. Buy it. Do it now. Love your best life.

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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

an excellent performance of a story with much more depth than I expected.

I was surprised by the premise, then again by the relatability of the characters and even more surprised by the world building. I would NOT want to live in this alternate timeline but I would like to read the sequel

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great story with excellent narration.

Stumbled upon this book while going through last Nebula and Hugo nominees and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. A quick read with some really good narration/voice acting. Highly recommend!

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

An amusing 'What If' of American history.

The premise of this book was quite enjoyable to say the least. Doubly so that they didn't allow the main gimick of it to fall into the background of the character's actions and drama. The pacing was great, beffiting it's short length. The romantic sparks may have flown a bit too quickly for some, but was an otherwise great interaction between the two.

Peter Berkrot's voice was a great coutnerpart to the book. And while he struggled with the female voices, never were they not distinct from one another enough to not be able to tell them apart.

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

Modern folks cosplaying in the past

The characters just never felt like they were members of 19th-century society. Great idea, but the execution needed some work.

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