The Circle Gathers

Veil Knights, Book 1

By: Rowan Casey

Narrated by: Lawrence Locke

Length: 4 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

Arthurian myth meets urban fantasy in this new series from Rowan Casey!

Not all legends are make-believe....

Three years ago, Jessie “the Berserker” Noble was at the top of the MMA fight game, a world-title contender with a brilliant future ahead of her. Then the visions started and her world came crashing down. Hard. Now Jessie’s a shadow of her former self, taking no-holds barred fights in the underground circuit to earn just enough to buy the drugs she needs to keep the horrible things she sees at bay.

When a man named Dante Grimm tells her she’s the modern incarnation of a champion of old and that she and her soon-to-be companions are desperately needed to hold back the darkness to come, Jessie thinks he’s as insane as she is.

But Grimm’s far from crazy. There is a battle coming the likes of which the world hasn't seen in centuries, a battle against a foe straight out of their worst nightmares. And for them to succeed, Jessie going to have to dive deep into the heart of the very thing she's been running from all this time - her visions.

©2017 Rowan Casey (P)2019 Rowan Casey

good, but short for my tastes.

found this book on google and saw it only had two reviews on here so i decided to give it a chance and i dont regret it one bit.

the book is well written and narrated, the the decision to have a male reader for a female MC was a bit odd, but ive listened to enough audiobooks that opposite gender readers doesnt phase me anymore.

if youre well read in Urban Fantasy you'll know the story beats but theres enough new twists to stay interesting, if you like Jane Yellowrock this might be right up your alley.

my only real criticism is that its short, only 4 hours and the story sort of feels like it was cut out of a longer book.

Interesting beginning.

It strikes me that there doesn't seem to be a explanation for the stars that are given. So I thought I'd start giving my take on it.
1 horrible no redeeming qualities.
2 ok there are redeeming qualities.
3 good worth reading, or well written but not my cup of tea.
4 great but there's something off.
5 loved it.

So now about this story. It couldn't stop listening, I can't wait for more of this series. A good book, but it took me awhile to get into it. I do look forward to the next part, hopefully it will get better as the series progresses. I want to say more about this story but I absolutely hate spoilers, so I won't go into it. Also it's a open ending almost a cliffhanger, and that's also something I don't care for.

The narrator brings the story to life, drawing me in.

I've recently had several conversations with people that have said that one of the things they'd like to see in a review is if I'd read/listen to it again. So I'm now adding that to my reviews.
I might listen again it depends on the rest of the series.

Reasons I enjoyed this audio.
Wonderful characters, Page-turner, Great world building.

Bookshelves/tags:
contemporary, fantasy, fighting-war, magic, open-ended, recorded, series.

This book was given to me for free at my request from the publisher or author or narrator and I provided this unbiased voluntary review.

Very Entertaining!

This was my first Rowan Casey book, and have to say I'm pleasantly surprised with incredible imagination and style. The world-building is very well done with great imagery. The storyline and the characters are cleverly developed, I was wholly engrossed from start to end. This was a fantastic urban fantasy, and I can't wait to listen to the rest of the series.

As for the narration, Lawrence Locke did an outstanding job, capturing the many nuances of the various characters. This audiobook was especially enjoyable, and I recommend it. I was given a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

I don't know if I would have believed what happens

Start of a new series, with lots of martial arts type action, and an interesting backstory that is developing into a cross between: Arthur and knights of round table, and Dresden Wizard and the Archangels. Early days, as yet, so only the odd monster has raised its grizzly head.
I believe there obviously is a lot more action to come.

booooring

Geez, what a complete snooze fest! I got soooo bored with the nonstop MMA fight scenes, with nothing but flashbacks (of fights) to break things up (I finally started skimming them). Then, just about the time the story FINALLY starts to pick up, other characters are introduced and the plot looks like it might actually move along the book ends precipitously. I am not interested in continuing the series, no matter how many of the authors involved I otherwise like and that the mechanical writing is fine.

Note: I received an audible code for a copy of this book. I chose to read and review it.