The Ancients

By: Nathan Hystad

Narrated by: Luke Daniels

Length: 6 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

“The Theos await you. Only then will we stop the Unwinding.”

The threat of invaders is gone, and Earth has been bartered away as a price for peace.

Yet, the human world of New Spero is thriving and full of hope.

Joining the rank of the Gatekeepers, Dean and Mary set off to explore worlds connected by the mysterious portals.

When they stumble upon a strange symbol, they are led to an ancient object, one that sets them on an unstoppable path.

The journey takes them through multiple worlds, before they can find what they’re searching for. Long ago, the ancient race called the Theos vanished without a trace, and have been next to forgotten for centuries. Do they still exist?

Dean intends to find out, but when he’s faced with the truth, he fears everything he loves will be lost.

The Ancients is the fourth installment of the best-selling Survivors series.

©2018 Nathan Hystad (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Awesome

Cant wait for the next book. So far, in every book the story gets better.

Enjoyable listen

Listened to the 1st 4 in the series and looking forward to more. I recommend.

Non-stop action, phenomenal narration, Fabulous!

Nathan Hystad’s book The Ancients, book 4 of The Survivors series, picks up the action of our heroes Dean Parker, Mary (LaFontaine) Parker and Slate following their adventures on New Spero. Dean and Mary have gotten married, and they have become Gatekeepers. Gateways are the portals to other worlds that the Ancients, a race known as the Theos created, and it has long been rumored that the Theos are dead. But are they? And what secrets have they hidden? Are they really gods? And what is the Unwinding, that threatens the Universe? Dean may be “the True” the only one that can find the Theos. So with Mary and trusty sidekick Slate at his side, the Hero of Earth sets off on an adventure that will literally span worlds before the shocking conclusion.

The Ancients spans worlds at a truly breakneck pace! The Ancients is by far the fastest pace and most adventurous book of the series thus far, and ratchets the tensions up yet another screaming notch. Don’t be looking to sit down and have a long, relaxing read with this one; it sucks you up like a Hoover run amok and just won’t let you go. I was finding every excuse possible to listen to this book, from lunch time walks, to deskside lunch breaks, to bus rides home, and in the car, and at bedtime. I just couldn’t stop! Kudos to author Nathan Hystad as his writing truly takes us to other worlds, and to narrator Luke Daniels who does a masterful job at voices, inflections, and even aliens! I feel as though I actually got to know Dean Parker better just from listening to this book, and I am SO glad I got it!

I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but you need to read these books, they are totally worth it, and it is best to read them in order. The Survivors series depicts the events that a normal, average man might go through in the event of a real alien invasion. But the author is Nathan Hystad, so you know that there are going to be a few twists and unexpected turns as we go through the events that unfold following man’s first contact with extra-terrestrials.

Nathan sets up a really interesting conflict in this book: Even as he contemplates if he is really “the True”, and wonders why these mysterious Theos are taking them on life threatening – and saving – quests, Mary is all in with them, and believes completely in them, and just won’t back down. Trust me, you are not going to see the twist and turns and absolutely shocking conclusion to this book! It’s not a cliffhanger, but it is going to make you REALLY want to find out what happens next, and I wanted to so badly that I finished the Ancients last night, and I bought the Theos, Book 5 this morning!

My usual litmus test for a book is three-fold: Did I enjoy it? Was it engaging and believable? Did it make me want more and want to know what happens next? The answer to all of these questions for me is a resounding yes! Another question is, would I buy the next book? And the answer here is yes again. In fact I can’t wait to read the next book in this growing series!
This is the first Audible version of Nathan’s books I have listened to, but it is definitely not the last – in fact I may get the Theos on Audible just so I can listen to it as I described above. Luke Daniels is a very good narrator, and very easy on the ears, and does a superb job at voicing the characters, and particularly expressing the emotions of the speaker. His inflection is outstanding, and I believe adds depth, realism and believability to this story.

I have read this entire series, the Exploration series from Nathan Hystad, and I see a continuous improvement in his writing. He is constantly bringing us into the action, not telling us about it, and that’s one of the things that makes his writing leap off the page at you.

Nathan Hystad is a really talented writer and editor, and I think you will really enjoy this speculative take on just what would you do when the ships come – and how do you survive. And how do you stop an unstoppable and technically superior enemy? Now we are looking at questions of once the disasters are over, how do you make a thriving and satisfying life for yourself?

I highly recommend this book. It’s a great, fun, gripping read (or listening experience in this case) and will bring you much enjoyment. Though I warn you, you really won’t be able to put it down!

Loving this series

Very much enjoying this series. I am delving right into the next one after this. Well paced and pulls you into what is going on with the characters on a personal and universal level. Really enjoyed the ending. Amazing performance by the narrator!

Favorite in series

This is my favorite book in the series, so far. The first one is now my second favorite in the series.

Great read

The Survivors series is a great series. Great story line and definitely keeps my interest. Just finished book 4 and getting ready to begin book 5.

Not as engaging as the others

And then it just stops…. It never delivered a whole story, you could skip this one and move to the next.

no idea about science read Albert einstein

ft. is what? and time is what? a young author out of his ability to write and way over his head.
not worth the time if you are older than 10

180 turn

Previous books had a path and were great. This book went off script and felt forced. First negative review I’ve written for any of Nathan’s books.

Very disappointed

This was a great series., but it seems the characters became stupid. Terrible ending to boot.