The Cartographer: Complete Series

By: AC Cobble

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 44 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's Summary

This set includes all three books in AC Cobble's Cartographer Series. A pair of unlikely investigators walk a dangerous path into the past, uncovering secrets best left alone in this dark, fantasy thriller. 

The fate of empire is to crumble from within. 

A heinous murder in a small village reveals a terrible truth. Sorcery, once thought dead in Enhover, is not. Evidence of an occult ritual and human sacrifice proves that dark power has been called upon again. Twisting threads of clues lead across the known world to the end of a vast empire, and then, the trail returns home. 

Duke Oliver Wellesley, son of the king, cartographer, and adventurer, has better things to do than investigate a murder in a sleepy fishing hamlet. For Crown and Company, though, he goes where he’s told. As the investigation leads to deeper and darker places, he’ll be forced to confront the horrific spectres rising from the shadows of his past. When faced with the truth, will he sacrifice what is necessary to survive? 

Samantha serves a Church that claims to no longer need her skills. She’s apprenticed to a priest-assassin that no one knows. Driven by a mad prophecy, her mentor has prepared her for a battle with ultimate darkness, except, sorcery is dead. When all is at stake, can she call upon an arcane craft the rest of the world has forgotten? 

The fate of empire is to crumble from within. Do not ask when, ask who.

©2020 AC Cobble (P)2020 AC Cobble

Kind of a cluttered story

This series was just all over the place. Time continuity issues abound! The main characters were pretty flat with no growth and relationships were all very superficial. Just not very appealing for me. It was hard to keep interest in the story with all the changes in POV, especially when the point of view is a character who dies. Also, why is it so difficult to give the villain a reason for villainy? It’s as if the villain of this story is so just to have an antagonist. What’s the purpose of killing off entire populations that you’re supposed to be wanting to rule? Ah well, I’m no writer so my opinion shouldn’t be taken into consideration. Sorry A. C. Cobble, this just ain’t me cuppa tea.

Good Start, but then an Extreme Drag

I made it about halfway through this complete series before I realized I had no motivation to continue the story. This listening experience started out well; the voice acting is very good, and there was an imaginative world plus a sorcery-driven murder mystery.

Sure, the people in this world were probably descended from bunnies since every character that has a name in the series is mindlessly horny all the time, but at least there was a good mystery to catch my interest. After the initial mystery was concluded fairly early on, though, the story became staler and the bunny-people became less believable with less interesting (and mostly predictable) things to do.

I hung on through the first book and tried the second, where again it started kind of interesting and then things started dragging, followed by some action that made little sense. I could no longer suspend my disbelief and was fed up with the strangely acting bunny-people and their lack of terribly interesting things to do. I exchanged the book.

A bit lewd

First three characters, all introduced during sexual situations. I’m not the most prudish person out there, but it did become kind of predictable. Not every book needs to emulate an hbo series.

Incredibly creative

I thoroughly enjoyed this series and Simon Vance is perfect for its content. The best part is, though a fantasy, it is also a mystery. The plot lines are intricate and the surprises delightful. I really, really want an air ship!

Worth it!

My husband and I both spent the credit to listen to this trilogy. Engaging and well written. The narrator did a great job. Well worth the time.

Quite a Long March

Did not enjoy this series as much as The King's Ranger. The pace was slow, and the atmosphere dark for my taste. Not bad, but probably won't listen again.

Great mystery lost in melodrama

I really enjoyed the lighthearted Benjamin Ashwood series. It was fun and compelling. This story has a more adult-focused and sexual identity that I feel only acts as a distraction. I had to put it down after 10 hours.

Great Thriller and Grimdark Mystery

A Grimdark mystery set in a Victorian steampunk era. Exciting with plot twists and turns.

Thouroghly enjoyed this

this was in so many ways a refreshing and really exciting storie. i strongly recommend this.

A wonderfully narrated adventure with good action, character development and plot variance

The series was great with the second book being my favorite, Spirit tried to be a bit too ‘epic’ with ‘surprise’ reveals but it still was a great read that left me wanting more, but fully satisfied with what I got. Will definitely give other works by the author a chance.

Overlong. lacked intensity.

Over long . Promising start but lacked direction and narration was too flat, one chapter flowed into another. fell asleep too many times.

maptastic

I feel upset to have finished this book.
characters almost became family.
absolutely well recommended

A grade A tale

Great story well realised characters a good plot and well built world with a steam punk flavour

A lot of bread but very little filling

Found the going tough with these books. Feel they just meandered on without very little happening. I struggled to finish them.

An immersive read.

The world in which this series is set is instantly believable and cleverly thought out allowing you dive in. The characters have humour and depth which allows the intriguing plot to to be carried by them. I found these book great escapism, an excellent adventure that I enjoyed all the way through. A cracking read.

Good adventure

Good story intelligent fantasy with some good humour. AC managed to get a good relationship between the characters and keep a story grounded

great riveting fun.

loved it! hungry for more. it's a great twisted story with endearing characters. I hop theres a follow up.

Second time of listening to this excellent story.

Great story, great characters and superb narration, so pleased I found this series, I wonder if it gets even better third time around 👍👍

Im glad thats over.

One of the most up and down series of books Ive ever listened to. Sometimes its ok to good then it takes a turn into utter rubbish with too much story and plot repetition along with too much irrelevant padding. Its the same with the narrator, he does some voices well, then reserves the most annoying voices for any posh older character. My advice would be don't waste your time as the payoff is not worth it

cumbersome

I struggled through these, storyline is interesting enough.
writing is superb, factual
simply not my cup of tea