The Highborn Longwalker

By: Joshua Robertson

Narrated by: Todd Menesses

Length: 8 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

After receiving an ominous message about forthcoming demons and doom, Falmagon Sej is sent to retrieve a magical staff to protect the Anshedar. But he has unknowingly fallen in love with the sister of his enemy, and the price for betraying love may be too high for him to stomach.

Falmagon's footpath to becoming the Highborn Longwalker is riddled with sorrow, promising an undying hate for himself, unless he can somehow find salvation under the grace of the light bringer.

©2018 Joshua Robertson (P)2019 Joshua Robertson

Epically wondering where I am

Note: While this is book is posted as a stand-alone novel, it really feels like part of a much bigger story (Thrice Nine Legends). There’s a lot of backdrop that I felt I was missing. So I would recommend reading it within the bigger setting as listed in GoodReads.

I love my epic fantasy and yet I had a hard time getting into this book. I went into it ready to sink into an intricate world full of complex characters. While this book has those things, I still felt removed from them. In retrospect, I think it’s because there’s tons of undercurrents that have previously been explored in other books set in the same world. I think I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if I had read those books first.

That said, this story does have a wider range of character types than many fantasies – men, women, LBGTQ. Tho the red hair, green eyes, & light skin do still feature predominantly, like so many other epic fantasies. I did get a sense of big horrible things would happen if our heroes didn’t successfully complete their quest. However, I kept loosing sight of just what was the goal.

The main character, Falmagon, isn’t a particularly likable character. There’s that whole torture scene where these shorter, red humanoids, who are treated as a slave race, where Falmagon is totally OK with what’s going on. There was something similar later on this story that showed he had a lack of empathy for others. But towards the end of the book, there’s a what-goes-around-comes-around moment. So maybe Falmagon will go one to become better than he is in this book.

While there were several powerful female characters in this book, the tale does fall back on a tried-and-true (yet boring) plot ploy of new love fouling things up. Falmagon has fallen into a forbidden love, and he’s not very good at it. The story did give a little unexpected twist near the end that I liked, but the reliance on the love story made the overall tale predictable. Overall, I was underwhelmed but I would be willing to give the author another try. 3/5 stars.

The Narration: Todd Menesses was pretty good. I always like listening to him. He gave Falmagon a deep, rough voice which helped shape my inner picture of what this character looks like. I did have the spelling of his name wrong the entire book (I thought I was hearing Thalmagon). His female voices were usually good but sometimes when he had to show that this lady or that lady was emotionally upset, like Mei when she’s reunited with her love, his female voices would age up quite a bit making them sound like ancient crones. But all characters had their unique voices and the pacing was good. There were no tech issues with this recording. 4/5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

More Slavic tales of yore

The author continues his re-imagining of Slavic mythology, this time telling of a highborn longwalker journeying to retrieve a magic staff. Along the way he falls for the sister of his enemy, which affects his better judgement. When demons come a-calling, can he regain his faith enough to save the day?

The author has this re-imagining malarkey almost down to an art form at this stage, properly evoking the epic vibe that permeates much if his work. The characters could slot into any mythology, and the world it is set in sounds very familiar (longwalkers assuming that other peoples will automatically defer to them?).

The narrator does a pretty good job, although the pseudo-Scottish accents for the longwalkers seemed a bit out of place.

A good story, not the most original, but definitely entertaining.

An intriguing but flawed fantasy book

The Highborn Longwalker is an intriguing fantasy, but I had a hard time getting through the audiobook. The story has a lot going for it, and there were moments when I was captivated. I think my issue was that I found it hard to get behind the characters. I found the lead character to be arrogant, foolish, and somewhat stupid. This gave a lot of room for character growth, but in the end I would still use the same words to describe him. There are some readers who enjoy having a flawed hero and may appreciate this, but apparently I’m not one of them. The book has some scenes that are pretty violent including one of my personal favorite scenes underground in a demon crypt (where I found myself rooting for the demons to finish off the hero). This is the first book in a series, so if you do enjoy it, there are more to read or listen to.

The narrator is very talented at doing an assortment of voices; however, the voice he chose for the hero emphasizes my opinion of the character. Perhaps a more attractive voice would have made him easier to follow.

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook. This is my honest and voluntary review.

much fub

I loved the story the narrator was good for the most part as well. I love all the world building and the consistancy of it between novels. this was a great insight into a character that you. met an earlier published novel but the story takes place before you met him which is nice to see who he was and who he is in later years.

Awesome magical adventure!

The Highborn Longwalker by Joshua Robertson and narrated by Todd Menesses is an audible book I requested and the review is voluntary. This book has the feel of an epic fantasy adventure with magical elements to it. I certainly want to learn more about this world. It is a cruel world with creatures that look horrible and used as slaves. So much in here I want to explore! Intriguing characters, some a bit crazy, but all interesting! I just rested on my bed and let my mind travel and experience this adventure! Amazing! Great action, adventure, dialogue, world building, and characters.
Narration was terrific!

ENJOYABLE

The Highborn Longwalker, my first read/listen from author Joshua Robertson. Well-written & enjoyable fantasy, I found it very enjoyable. Todd Menesses’s narration made the 8-hour 26-minute tale pass quickly. I was given an Audible copy of this book & am voluntarily reviewing it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

Boasting Boasting

Book drove me nuts with all the constant male boasting, 5 chapters in I have no idea wtf is going on with any sort of plot. Aside from some random stranger whooping one of the boasters butt real bad.