The Legends Saga Collection

By: Stacey Rourke

Narrated by: Karen Krause

Length: 25 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

The Horseman is unending, his presence shan't lessen.

If you break the curse, you become the legend.

Cursed by the malevolent spirit of the Headless Horseman, Ireland Crane seeks a way to break free from her soul crushing bond. Croaking ravens. Telltale hearts. Dizzying time travel. Coercive witchcraft. The lines between fact and fiction blur as the works of Washington Irving, Edgar Allen Poe, HG Wells, and Nathaniel Hawthorne come alive around her in this thrilling three book series.

©2012 Stacey Rourke (P)2017 Stacey Rourke

very good

In depth details, tons of action

The narrator is very very good at what she does

I was provided a copy of this audible and am thrilled to give my honest review

Three curses come together.

*This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com, at my request.

CRANE:
The Van Tassel's helped build this town. Now, Tarrytown has just had Vic Van Tassel murdered in a hotel parking lot. Decapitated. Ireland Crane has only been in Sleepy Hollow for one week, and now has the cops at her doorstep. Vic Van Tassel's body was found with her last name carved into his chest. The police think it's a copy cat of the old legends. But tell Ireland to keep an eye out, with her last name she just might become a target...wanting to act out the legend with an actual Crane. Ireland finds an old man claiming to have woken from a sleeping spell because the Headless Horseman has returned. He's to teach her how to control the horseman, but he finds she's branded with the Headless Horseman's mark. What does it mean?

I had the pleasure of listening to this story. Karen has vocalized this story in voices slightly different for each character in sound and persona. I got a kick out of her drunken slurring in the first chapter. We do get a story from past and present, in which Karen has different sounds in speech for different time frames. The dialog for the characters in the past is something I didn't ever grow accustom to, though did feel to get better toward the end of the book. Each word spoken felt stiff and as if it was a sentence of it's own. I know it's of a time that is speech is proper and people watched what they said, but there didn't feel as if there was a flow to the words spoken. The story and narration of the rest of the story (past and current) along with dialog in present time were read with flow.

We get two stories in one. Boy oh boy do they parallel each other! We get Ichabod's story as he falls for Katrina and his friends, Washington Irving and Rip Van Winkle. The story of Ichabod's life isn't as it's told in Irving's books, and there's a very good reason for that. We get Ireland Crane's story in the present as she's new to Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow. And how Ireland's life gets flipped upside down with Rip van Winkle waking in a secret room in her basement. Ireland's life is extremely similar to Ichabod's life, yet the two stories are unique in their own telling. Reading Ichabod's story gives us answers as things escalate in the present time, and fall into similar events as Ichabod's time. There is a reason for all of this.

We follow the murder's of the Headless Horseman in both times. There is more to the story than simply a headless man cutting off heads. There is also a question I'm curious to see explained in relation to the Headless Horseman. How to control him. There is indication of a talisman, which is in two forms. But also, there seems to be control in way of 'payment' (per say) which is used. It seems to me others could use this 'payment' method to make a deal and control the Headless Horseman at any time. I'm curious to see how this plays out in the series.

I was drawn into the story because I love the Headless Horseman stories. This is a twist on that tale with a lead to more to come. I felt for Ichabod and those around him. I was irritated by Rip's actions in the new town they arrive in, he's different in present though. I guess he's slept that desire away? lol. Ireland feels as she's a hard shelled character in the beginning. She's moved to Sleepy Hollow to start anew and leave things in the past, an ex-fiance that's turned her from her desires. The things she's unknowingly done here in Tarrytown are going to be an obstacle for her. But she's got a chance at a relationship, maybe. Ireland starts to grow toward the end of the story. She starts to let people in again in her life. She starts to accept what she learns of herself now too.

As the story here is finished, there is more to come. A mystery of who knows about the control of the Horseman. Ireland needs to find out. I'm curious as to what Ireland comes across with Rip as they search to find out who knows the secret that was buried in tales about the Headless Horseman.

RAVEN:
Karen catches my attention from the beginning as she voices a crone. She fits the part perfectly. At times Karen's voice feels stiff, but I wonder if it's suppose to feel that way with the characters. I found I enjoyed having Karen back to voice this book as she did the first one. The audio was clean in listening and went by quickly.

In The Legends Saga of books 1, 2, and 3 we miss the first chapter of Raven (between Prologue and Chapter 2). I know this because I usually follow along in the ebook version for the first pages/chapters supplied in the free view. And chapter one is not mentioned in the audio.

I found there were times where I was taken with the manner of description used. It fits for an Edgar Allen Poe era feel.

Ireland is on a search to learn more about her cursed tattoo. She never expected to find another cursed as she is. Ridley Peolte, who had painted the tattoo, is cursed to live with Edgar Allen Poe's curse. Ridley comes into his curse while Ireland is here. Is there a connection? I'm not sure, I have a theory though.

The story portrays Edgar as living a life where he's touched with death. He can see the dead, and he could bring them back. This has a terrible impact on Edgar. But he does find one person that brings life to his days, pushing the death away.

I enjoy the writing style in how we get the story from two different times. Ireland's search is blended with Ripley's story. We see Ripley take on his own curse and learn about it through him and Ireland. We also get a story from long ago through Edgar's eyes. The two different timelines told in Ripley's and then Edgar's times, based on how's at the top of the chapter. Then the two timelines cross and we get the details we were hoping for, now it's time to solve the problem that's risen.

Ireland has Noah, her boyfriend, and Rip Van Winkle with her. Rip, who woke in the last book, makes me smile from time to time with his comments. He's got a warped sense of humor with the time he grew up in and now. Noah is a great boyfriend. He's got a sense of humor that is perfect with Ireland's humor.

I was with Ireland throughout the book in hoping to learn more about her tie to the horseman along with her tattoo. However, we are left with more questions than answers on that front. I'm even curious about how Ridley came to have his tie as well. Why Ridley? These small things itched at the edge of my mind as I enjoyed the story told. This makes the story harder to rate. We don't get Ireland's answers, not even close, and stumble into a new situation that's as dire as Ireland's was in Crane.

We solve a problem that Ridley releases on the world, but the book felt like it didn't have to happen. I don't quite understand why Ridley was told to release this...problem... on the world. Other than to show what he shouldn't do with his new ability, or more like curse. I'm hoping this will be answered more clearly in the next book. There has to be a thread to this predicament, Ridley, and Ireland. The epilogue leaves me feeling to a possibility.

STEAM:
I had to dive right into this book because I wanted answers. I got some of them. Wells is more involved in their lives than we'd expected. He explains why and how. Also, the supernatural lives of our characters have crossed before, they are all connected in a strange thread.

This story is divided between Ireland and crew in the now and Preen and her coven in Salem during the witch trials. Once again, Preen's life is important to the here and now with Ireland and her growing crew of friends.

I enjoyed Preen's story as she lived and experienced so much. She truly had powers, and used them. It was something to see her evolution, then what she ended up being.

We learn the truth behind what's driving Wells in collecting this group of cursed individuals together. There's a place and time he needs to get to but he can't. This particular group of individuals may be able to do what others before them have not.

This book ties all we've learned of Ireland and her Hessian, Ridley and his Poe curse, and a new woman - Peyton and her ability, together. They are histories that are touched by an individual in time. They don't realize it, but they are tied by the same evil just in different ways.

When we get answers, I had hoped there could have been a bit more of a moment here. It feels to happen so fast as though it's breezed over. The ending... hmmm. I'm not sure what I think. We get an ending but I felt as though it didn't bring the characters to a closure as I was expecting. Will they find each other again? Between these two moments, I wanted more. I wanted a bigger moment that was clear for me. I felt I didn't get that. Another may love these moments, but for me they felt short.

Great collection

Overall, I adored the series and the characters. It has funny and sassy characters and scenes full of exciting moments. The stories have incredible twists to throw you for a loop, packed full of mystery and suspense as well as being a bit dark. IMO, the collection was one of the best classic retellings that I've listened to. All three books were equally captivating and entertaining. The narration was also well done. I received a free copy of the audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Legendary tales retold

This story is quite epic and really is worth the full listen. There is a lot going on with the story and the retelling was really done quite well. The characters are done exceptionally well and everything flows smoothly.
I really liked the author’s writing. Her style really struck a chord with me and it just flowed so beautifully. There are lots of little pieces of her prose that I could pick apart and explain why it worked and why I really enjoyed it, but I would say that it would be better for you to listen to it on your own.
Coupled with the author’s excellent writing ability was a fantastic narrator. Her narration voice was very easy on the ears, but her character voices, cadence, and little nuances for each character completely took to the story to a different level. It was almost hypnotic and really made this story move along.
I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Review of The Legends Saga

Very clever the way Stacey Rourke has woven classic tales into current stories. Karen Krause has performed fantastically.

Tale as old as time...

I received this audio book for free in exchange for my honest review.

Its not always i get shocked by books. This was one of them, the retelling of classic tales, the narration of Karen Krause and the fantastic writing of Stacey Rourke. 25 + hours of PURE, PURE fun. I tell you, you will fall in love with this book, like i did.

Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Get this book i say.

Fun and refreshing take on old legends

This book is a really fun, interesting and refreshing spin on old legends. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. Contrary to the opinions of some other reviewers, I thought the narration was remarkably well done. I loved it from beginning to end! I received a review copy at my request and voluntarily reviewed.

The Legends Saga

I had read the first 2 books before.I did refresh for this review.A woman discoveres that she is possessed by the Headless Horseman.She has a ghost living with her,well,he wasn;t always a ghost.We meet RipVan Winkle,Ichabod,Freya,etc throughout these books.The storys move back and forth in time.There is always the sardonic quip from one or two characters to keep it current.A ver fast moving saga,although all together it is nearly 20 hours long.I loved the whole thing.Karen Krause is the perfect narrator for all the characters.“I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.”

entertaining enough

Crane

Pretty good. I finished the book still confused about some of the hows and whys of both the Horseman and the ghosts' reenactments, it's a bit hand-wavy, but I enjoyed my time with the characters (Ireland more than Ichabod). The loves are both a tad too insta-love for me, but there were hints that there might be a reason for this (some draw) that will be revealed in future books, so I'll forgive it. The dialogue and writing were witty and the narrator did a nice job with them. I liked her voice for the modern characters a lot more than the historic ones, but I think some of the reason might have been because they were written to be more formal (fewer contractions and such). All in all, enjoyable and I look forward to more.

Raven

While not bad, I didn't enjoy this one anywhere near as much as the first. It picked up directly after the end of book one, but I generally felt like the characters randomly went to meet some guy, who randomly had a tragedy befall him, and they all randomly went about trying to save the day. I actually wondered if I'd missed a chapter or two in there at some point, because it seemed to jump about.

It was still funny and the characters dropped lots of witty one-liners and I liked the pop culture references. Further, I listened to the Audio version and the narrator did a nice job. So, again, not bad, but a disappointment after book one.

Steam

I wouldn't go so far as to say this is bad, but I do feel like the series has run farther and farther off the tracks with each book. At the end of each subsequent book, I've been left with more questions than at the end of the previous one. As always, I thought Rourke's writing was easy to read (or listen to in my case, since I had the audio) and all the sarcasm and pop culture references are funny. But I never felt connected to this story. Why, the crew went along with Well's plan, for example, was a nagging question. Why introduce characters that were never more than props, was another. And I also thought that pulling the legends of the Horseman and Poe away from the mystical and giving them human(ish) origins diminished them. Basically, while finely written I just didn't like it very much.

All in all, I liked the books less and less as the series went on, but I started out liking it enough to never quite to dislike. The narrator, Karen Krause, did a good job with all of it though.

Note: I received a free copy of this audiobook, but I chose to listen and review it.

Excellent Story!

I received this audio book for free in exchange for my honest review. This is a collection of classic tales expertly woven together with a modern day twist. Add to that the impeccable narration and this is a story that you don't want to miss. Enjoy!