The Broken Heart of Arelium

War of the Twelve, Book 1

De: Alex Robins

Narrado por: Jay Forrester

A fast-paced epic fantasy thrill ride filled with action-packed battles, compelling mysteries, and unforeseen betrayals.

Some things must never be forgotten.

Over 400 years ago, 12 great warriors united the beleaguered armies of men and scoured the war-torn lands of evil, pushing the enemy back into the underground pits and caverns from whence they came. To ensure their legacy, each of the Twelve founded fortress monasteries to impart their unique knowledge of war and politics to a select few, the Knights of the Twelve.

But now, the last of the Twelve have long since passed from history to legend and the Knights, their numbers dwindling, are harboring a dark and terrible secret that must be protected at all costs.

Merad Reed has spent half his life guarding a great crater known as the Pit, yearning for some escape from the bleak monotony. Then the arrival of Aldarin, one of the few remaining Knights of the Twelve, sets off a chain of cataclysmic events that will change Reed forever.

To the north, Jelaïa del Arelium, heiress to the richest of the nine Baronies, must learn to navigate the swirling political currents of her father’s court if she hopes one day to take his place, but the flickering flames of ambition hide the shadow of an even greater threat.

And deep within the earth, something is stirring.

©2021 Alexander Robins (P)2021 Alexander Robins

Nice build up

obviously, there's gonna be magic, but it was slowly and very well done-gonna be an interesting series

If you’re a fan of Dragon Age Origins, you’ll probably like that. It’s got that vibe to it.

I really enjoyed the narrator for this book. He did an excellent job. The story itself kept me well entertained and wondering what happens next. There was enough action and interesting characters/subplots going on and has me hopeful for the sequels and character development. I am sad the other books aren’t on audible but maybe someday I’ll have time to physically read them.

Short and solid.

I enjoyed the story. Just enough uniqueness added to traditional story elements to make it entertaining.

Unique Medieval Fantasy With A Twist

Solid characters, interesting and somewhat unique fantasy twist, and definitely leaves the reader wanting more of the story. Big bonus -- NO out of place medieval F-BOMBS!!

Was this an abridged version?

I found myself enjoying the opening chapters, the pace was fast and got right into things. However what I came to discover is that the pace was not just fast, it was in freefall. Like a child running down a hill skipping steps until inevitably they tumble down; the whole story became jumble of events and monologues no longer connected to one another.

There is always a balance of show and tell, and unfortunately this is weighted to far into tell for me.

On the positive side, I do think this could work as a stage play; honestly it make more sense if thought of that way. As a fantasy novel it leaves much to be desired however.

couldn't finish

While The Broken Heart of Arelium had potential, it ultimately fell short in execution. The story struggled with uneven pacing, and the characters lacked the depth needed to make their struggles compelling. The world-building, which could have been a highlight, was underdeveloped and leaned too heavily on clichés.

Unfortunately, the narration only made these flaws more glaring. The delivery felt flat and monotone, often failing to convey the emotional stakes of the story. Key moments that should have been gripping came across as dull and uninspired, while the voices for different characters blurred together, making it hard to stay engaged.

A stronger editing process and a more dynamic narrator might have helped this book shine, but as it stands, it’s not something I’d recommend.