Sweep of the Blade

By: Ilona Andrews

Narrated by: Natalie Naudus

Length: 8 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's Summary

Maud Demille is a daughter of Innkeepers - a special group who provide "lodging" to other-planetary visitors - so she knows that a simple life isn't in the cards. But even Maud could never have anticipated what Fate would throw at her. 

Once a wife to a powerful vampire knight, Maud and her young daughter, Helen, were exiled with him for his treachery to the desolate, savage planet of Karhari. Karhari killed her husband, and Maud - completely abandoned by his family - has spent over a year avenging his debts. Rescued by her sister Dina, she's sworn off all things vampire. 

Except...in helping Dina save the world, she met Arland, the Marshal of House Krahr, one of the most powerful vampire houses. One thing led to another and he asked for her hand in marriage. She declined. Arland is not used to hearing the word "no"; and try as she might, Maud can't just walk away from Arland. It doesn't help that being human is a lot harder for Maud than being a vampire. 

To sort it all out, she accepts his invitation to visit his home planet. House Krahr is extremely influential and Maud knows that a woman - a human, with a very questionable past - who's turned down a proposal from its most beloved son won't get a warm reception. Maybe she’s not sure about marrying Arland, but House Krahr isn’t going to decide for her. Maud Demille has never run from a fight, and House Krahr will soon discover that there's a lot more to Maud than they’re expecting.

©2019 Ilona Andrews, Inc. (P)2019 Ilona Andrews, Inc.

Love the story, narration not so much

I love everything by these authors and this story is no exception. It is a terrific addition to the innkeeper series and I have been waiting for the audio edition to come out. Honestly I read the ebook with Siri reading it to me and I enjoyed it more than this narration. While I appreciate wanting a new voice for a new character but what I don’t understand why the irritating “accent” used by this narrator. She made all the vampire sound like the same pompous character. The voice of Helen is inconsistent. I really doubt I would ever choose to listen to this narrator again. It was disappointing after the long wait to have this performance mar my favorite authors work.

11 of 12 people found this review helpful

Follows the Sister instead of Dina

By Illona Andrew's
Narrated by Natalie Naudaus

Finally another installment to this series. Is me or do these take forever to come out?

I must admit I was reluctant when I saw that this was about the sister, Maud, rather that Dina. However, even though I desperately want to know what's happening at the Inn, I was able to submerge myself into Maud's story.

I feel bad that some of my favorite reviewers disliked this book because I loved it. As a mother I felt and understood all of Maud's apprehensions about falling in love again. She was banished by her last Vampire family and wanted to ensure that she never put herself (or her daughter) in the same situation. She wanted a family that did not link her worth solely to her husband. She wanted to be accepted for her own strengths. This hit my motherly strings.

I was hoping that at the end they would send her old vampire family a message. Something like "See what you let go". But maybe that's just me being petty 🤣.

Unfortunately, I didnt care for the fact that Muad's ability to go head to head with vampires wasnt explained. She is human and they are supernatural. So logically she couldn't be as fast or as strong as them. I'm ok that she beat some vampire butts, I just wanted there to be an explanation.

I also loved Helen. A five year old with big dreamy eyes... unless you hurt her mommy, then she goes John Wick on everyone.

Some of my favorite characters from the previous books make some cameo appearances in this one.

There is no mention of what's happening with Dina so I guess that will be book 5.

The narrator did well. Oh course I'm use to the characters having different voices with the narrator from the first 3 books. This narrator was a good choice for Muad. Loved her version of Helen too.

3 Stars 🌟🌟🌟- Good Book. I like the overall concept and it was delivered well. Most common ranking for a book I enjoyed and look forward to the next.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

With each book the series get better

With each book the series get better. The first book was fun and entertaining but as each book came out, I got more and more caught up in the characters and more immersed in the world the authors created.
The narrator did a very good job. Someone complained about the British accent for the vampires but they were a bit of high society snobs and nothing sound more snobbish then an upper class British accent so it worked for me.
I look forward for the next book in this series and the next book in the Iron Covenant series.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

I Love, LOve, LOVE this book!

(The first part of this review was written in 2018, so please bear with me regarding the incongruities in my timeline)
   I Love, LOve, LOVE this book!!! Ilona Andrews wrote 3 novels and a novella this year, and not only that, but she posted THIS book free, as a weekly web-serial, when time allowed!!! Thank you... I'm gonna wait for the finished eBook version to land before I post a real review... 

And now, it's july 25th, 2019...
   OK, Sweep of the Blade has been released in eBook format, and here goes! The book starts out as a flashback... Maude is back in Karhari, and it's a few days before her rescue by Dina, Sean, and Arland. It gives us a deeper understanding of Maud through her own POV, and it also makes the book a little more self-reliant... less dependant on the first 3 books, which were told from Dina's POV. But, of course that doesn't mean that you can skip those books! You absolutely need them so you won't miss out on any of the world building, unless you've already done that... LOL... I have to say that Ilona Andrews indie published books are just as good as any of her other works, and Sweep of the Blade is possibly the best yet... but, then whichever Ilona Andrews book I'm currently reading, is always "the best book I've read all year"... LOL 
I think I've figured out why I love Ilona's books so much... It's because of heart. Not only is Maud totally kickass, but she's smart, cautious, and she has heart! So much so, that sometimes it hurts! I just gotta love her for that! But wait, Arland (Maude's suitor), Helen (Maude's daughter) and a whole slew of possible extended family and friends, all have heart too, thus making this my favorite book this year (told ya so!). It's a plot driven, action packed Scifi adventure that Delivers the Goods!
Now, gotta wait for the audio book... drums fingers... Ilona? Im waiting!

Audio book has just been released and I absolutely love it, no surprise there! Natalie Naudus is a new narrator for Ilona Andrews and she takes the reins giving us a stellar performance! She is Maud!

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Great story with poor narration

I love all of the books written by Ilona Andrews. I listen to them over and over. The narration takes away from the story so I won’t be listening to it very often.

7 of 9 people found this review helpful

Another exciting story from House Andrews

I missed the narration of Renee Raudman. Aside from that, the story is great. Very satisfying yet leaves you wanting more.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Another great book from Ilona Andrews

My interest was held from beginning to end. You do not have to have read the whole series but you will have missed some wonderful books if you don't. The reader only added to the story. She was very good. I will listen to this book over and over.
Thank you, Teresa

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Brilliant Tale - Consistently Excellent Stories

Chalk up another winner for the Ilona Andrews team.

I've owned this book for two weeks and wasn't really interested in this character's story. She's only been secondary until this book.

Now, having just finished the book, I believe the main character deserves her own trilogy.

When the Kate Daniels series concluded, I thought, "what's next?" After the Hidden Legacy series, the new "Sapphire Flames" and now this book, I no longer worry. Each new Ilona Andrews book will enthrall and entertain.

Highly recommended.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

I love this series but especially this book.

I so absorbed so fast and had trouble putting it on pause. So good.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Fabulous Number Four...

I love all of the Innkeeper books, and this is one of the best. I can hardly wait for the next - and there has to be one because of the sneaky ending!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great book

This book has discription on point. All the battles are discribed so well that my heart races along with them.

Book 4 but I need more

Ok well that was book four, where's the next one, you can't leave me with that bombshell in the last sentence. I need more!!

Innkeeper Chronicles Book Four.

Innkeeper Chronicles Book Four. First Book with Maud as the lead character.

Maud Demille has only one love in life - her daughter, Helen. When she meets the vampire Arland of House Krahr, Maud is determined to keep him as far from her as she can. She is done with the vampires after their treatment of Helen after Maud's husband was exiled. However, Arland is persistent and proposes to her at Dina's inn after barely surviving his attempt to save them all. Maud agrees to accompany him back to his home world, where Helen will have a normal life, but she will not marry him. Proving that she is worth more than a pawn is the first step to Maud feeling truly safe in the vampire world.

If you've been waiting for more Arland and were interested in Dina's sister, Maud, jump into this book immediately.

Audio Review:
Natalie Naudus voices Maud beautifully. Because of the change in lead character, it makes perfect sense to change narrators. Maud and Arland couldn't have had a better champion.

🎧AudiobookObsession

Utter perfection!

This is book 4 in the Innkeeper Chronicles, it is the story of Maude, Dina's sister.
This series is one of my favourites and every time I think there is no way that the next book could be better than the one before, but they always are!!! They are getting better! And this book is just utter perfection!
Buy it, you will love it!
(Its best to read/listen to the others beforehand)
Enjoy!

Impressive!

Officially a HUGE fan of this series, read them all! Looking forward to the next, seriously looking forward to the next....please hurry!

Great book

Initially I thought this would be a 4 star listen because it’s a bit clunky to begin with without all the fun bits of relationship build up (perhaps it was in the earlier books but it’s been a long while since I listened to them). However, it turned out amazing and I realised why they cut out any potential waffle at the start, and instead focused on getting to the main plot of this book. I’ve now re-thought the start as being ‘scene-setting’. Can’t wait for the next book in the series!

Great characters

This book has so many great characters. I really enjoyed the strength of them. Written well and Natalie gives a brilliant performance.

Outstanding!

I absolutely love this series. The authors are brilliant with comedy, action and thinking outside the box. I appreciated the quick review at the beginning. It was just right. I loved the main characters in the previous books but listening to them in their new setting and trying to figure out their relationship was so fun. I just can't get enough. Even though the narrator was new I think it worked great because Maude is a primary character and deserves her own voice. I enjoyed the way the narrator told the story.
#AudiobookObsessionReviewer