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The City - Volume 1  By  cover art

The City - Volume 1

By: Stella Gemmell
Narrated by: Simon Shepherd
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Publisher's Summary

Built up over the millennia, layer upon layer, the City is ancient and vast. Over the centuries, it has sprawled beyond its walls, the cause of constant war with neighbouring peoples and kingdoms, laying waste to what was once green and fertile. And at the heart of the City resides the emperor. Few have ever seen him. Those who have remember a man in his prime and yet he should be very old.

Some speculate that he is no longer human, others wonder if indeed he ever truly was. And a small number have come to a desperate conclusion: that the only way to stop the ceaseless slaughter is to end the emperor’s unnaturally long life.

From the rotting, flood-ruined catacombs beneath the City where the poor struggle to stay alive to the blood-soaked fields of battle where so few heroes survive, these rebels pin their hopes on one man. A man who was once the emperor’s foremost general. A man, a revered soldier, who could lead an uprising and unite the City. But a man who was betrayed, imprisoned, tortured and is now believed to be dead...

Volume One of the astonishing debut fantasy novel from Stella Gemmell, wife of the late, great David Gemmell.

©2013 Stella Gemmell (P)2013 Random House AudioGo

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  • BlackLamb
  • 12-03-15

Such a disappointment

So convoluted, confused and rambling I just couldn't finish. I hate wasting money and stuck with it well beyond its due but was defeated in the end. Hours and hours of build up and attempts at drama and action. Some good and interesting characters but not enough so sustain a plot that tries to be too clever and loses any dramatic intrigue.
Gemmell it is not.

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  • Steve Bellerby
  • 07-21-15

Gotta have a Gemmell in my library!

What made the experience of listening to The City - Volume 1 the most enjoyable?

Different and intriguing. I've no idea where it's going

Who was your favorite character and why?

The guy who went back for the girl's ?scarf? taken from her. Mad fool!

What about Simon Shepherd’s performance did you like?

Gave a very subtle edge to each different character so you got the feeling he was presenting them to you

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No! Way too long - my bum would have gone to sleep!

Any additional comments?

Different to the great and sadly missed David Gemmell (where is he in Audible? Shame on you!) but has the same undercurrent of special characters who subtly engage your interest and investment

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  • Euan
  • 03-24-15

A good start!

I enjoyed the book once I got into it. Had a good plot with interesting characters and characterisation. Good stuff!