The Scarlet Albatross (Pirates of Wefrivain, Book 3)

By: Abigail Hilton

Narrated by: Lauren Harris, Rish Outfield

Length: 17 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

A delicate ship. A fractured crew. A mysterious weapon.

Anaroo is an airship slave, destined to spend her days running on a treadmill, winding the great springs of the Scarlet Albatross. When a storm threatens to sink the ship, Anaroo and her fellow slaves seize the opportunity to escape. Now, at last, she can go home.

However, the airship nearly sank for a reason - violent unrest among the island kingdoms below. The world is changing, and the surviving inhabitants of the Scarlet Albatross will need to cooperate to survive. Anaroo and the slaves form an uneasy truce with the strange collection of ship's officers and passengers, none of who are what they seem.

Together, the mismatched crew will take the Scarlet Albatross on the most harrowing flight of her career - through storms, pirates, bloodshed, and war. In the end none of them may be able to go home.

The Refugees series is related to the Guild of the Cowry Catchers series and occurs immediately after the events in those books. However, Albatross is a suitable entry point in the world of Panamindorah. You can enjoy this book even if you have never listened to any other Panamindorah novels.

©2016 Abigail Hilton (P)2016 Abigail Hilton

Compelling

Would you listen to The Scarlet Albatross: A Story of Airships and Panamindorah again? Why?

As soon as I finished, I started listening again. This audiobook hooked me within the first three chapters and I couldn't stop listening until the end and then I started over! Great companion story to my favorite Abigail Hilton book, Guild of the Cowry Catchers.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Scarlet Albatross: A Story of Airships and Panamindorah?

I loved getting to know characters whose lives intersected with my beloved Silveo and Gerard in other places and earlier times. I can't wait until the next book of the series is published!

Which character – as performed by Lauren Harris and Rish Outfield – was your favorite?

Theseus. So intrigued about his past.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

The characters in Scarlet Albatross were well developed and the dialog flowed smoothly. With the detailed description of an airship, it felt very real and present. Sometimes the details of fantasy transportation are so vague that I don't really feel the fantasy, but that is not the case here.

I listened obsessively the first time and would have loved to dedicate the time to listen in one sitting.

Sad

Really sad that there wasn't a full cast like Guild. It made the story so much more enjoyable

Thrilling story!!!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Scarlet Albatross: A Story of Airships and Panamindorah to be better than the print version?

I have not read the print version, but, I can only imagine from the other titles from the author that I have read, that the print version would be enjoyable as well.

What other book might you compare The Scarlet Albatross: A Story of Airships and Panamindorah to and why?

It fits nicely into the Panamindorah series. So, any of them would be good for someone who enjoys this story. But, outside of Abigail Hilton's works, I would compare it to "Bloody Jack" by L.A. Meyer. They have a similar feel to the story. It is about a young girl who joins a pirate ship crew. You would enjoy that book as well.

What does Lauren Harris and Rish Outfield bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

They both do a fantastic job of adding emotion and life to the story telling. Also, they both do a good job of keeping consistent with interesting voices and accents for the different characters. It made it very easy to listen to the story and not get lost as to who was talking. It really helped the story reading to slip away, and for the movie in your mind take it's place. Well done, readers! Thanks!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

In a world.... who am I kidding?! I am a terrible ad guy... Sorry, wish I could do it justice. Just read the book, and watch the movie. You won't be sorry! At the end, you will not think "there is 11hrs of my life I will never get back!"

Any additional comments?

I love this whole series of books. And The Scarlet Albatross adds another superb dimension to an already solid world of fantastic characters and excitement. I loved this book! I highly recommend listening to the audiobook or reading the book in text form.

donna chan

the story is good but simple. voices are good but background noise disturbing. goes in and out. I still would recommend as I know theres more to come. I agree, should read cowlery counters first or you wont understand the characters.

Welcome back to Panamindorah!

As a long time fan this book was very exciting. Even for new comers to the world of Panamindorah you are guaranteed a fun ride. Adventures in the sky, new faces and a sweet little love story.

Wonderful beginning to a new series

I have never liked anthropomorphic books until I found the writing of Abigail Hilton. The characters came alive and I found myself immersed in the world. After the excellence that was the full cast recording of the Guild of the Cowry Catchers (if you haven't listened to or read that series, go download it right away!) I was worried that having only two readers for this new book would be a let down, and I'm glad to say I was very wrong! Both readers did a variety of voices and enabled me to know who was speaking easily. The book itself was full of complex characters that made me care about them, and the author handles cultural differences and even hard things like drug addiction and affairs in such a way that the characters are not simplistic, but fully human and they evoked my empathy, not revulsion.

The author gave me a copy in exchange for an honest review, but I'll also be buying the books as I want the entire series. I'm absolutely enamored of these characters and this world, which I've never said about an anthropomorphic world before.

My only critique is that there are some moments when the audio splices are evident, but they were few and did not detract from the story for me. I listened to this while traveling, and I was eager to get back to the story whenever I could. I cannot wait for the next book!

A Pirates Adventure Both in the Air and on the Sea

If you could sum up The Scarlet Albatross: A Story of Airships and Panamindorah in three words, what would they be?

Airships, secrets and love story

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Scarlet Albatross: A Story of Airships and Panamindorah?

The scenes which the protagonists begin to drop their veils.

Which scene was your favorite?

The final battle scene

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

One of the protagonists leaves another in a "Dear John" like way.

Any additional comments?

Wow, what a captivating story line. Airships, pirates, secrets and politics rolled together with a little love story. Very interesting and complicated characters with a cleaver plot set in a fascinating world.

Goos story and good narration

I didnt like this story as much as I liked Guild of the Cowry Catchers and it was probably because I didn't really like Anaroo. To me she was colder than Silas. I get that it was because she was opressed and a slave and hunted. She was tough because of it but i felt like she didnt have any tender moments for us to connect to her. But i did like that she was able to make the tough decisions that Silas could not and would not make. I like Gus, Glossy, and Marlie. I hope they stay as they are. I like Silvios son too! He is a hoot with his pet Theseus. I look forward to how the two seties will combine.

Excellent book.

This takes place a few years after the previous book though it does stand alone. The characters are full of life and emotions as only Abby can do.

First rate character driven action fantasy!

"The Scarlet Albatross" has all the things you loved about "The Guild of the Cowry Catchers", but written by a more mature author with a clearer vision for how things will turn out (and how to get there). I loved (loved!) "Cowry Catchers", but it did meander and have some trouble with the pacing in parts.

Since this deals with a new set of characters, you do not have to read the previous books to enjoy "The Scarlet Albatross" – although it is recommended if you enjoy the worldbuilding.

The audio is also of a higher quality, and even if I miss the individual voices I associate with various characters from "Cowry Catchers", I think both did great in keeping the tone for familiar characters ("Jager Thunder" and onwards).
I don't think I have ever heard an audiobook in which two different narrators handled the same characters, but they solved this one masterfully!

One of Abigail’s greatest strengths as a writer is how she weaves together several plotlines (tied up to my satisfaction) and keep her 20+ characters unique and believable throughout.
I sometimes find 'ensemble cast' literature confusing, particularly with fantasy names, but Abigail made separating the characters and keeping up with the plot fairly easy.

This is especially apparent in the sequel, "Jager Thunder", in which the cast of the "Cowry Catchers" are introduced to the cast of "Scarlet Albatross".
Here the widespread political intrigue involving several nations and dozens of characters could have left the reader extremely confused, but Abigail made it edge-of-my-seat exciting instead.

Some might find the frequent change of perspective a little confusing in the beginning, especially since names and titles for the same characters change based on POV. However, stick with it, and it will soon make sense.

Otherwise, I really can’t find anything to put my finger on with this novel.
It’s a streamlined, action-filled steampunk-y fantasy romp with extremely lovable and believable characters.