• The Hod King

  • The Books of Babel, Book 3
  • By: Josiah Bancroft
  • Narrated by: John Banks
  • Length: 20 hrs and 16 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (48 ratings)

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The Hod King  By  cover art

The Hod King

By: Josiah Bancroft
Narrated by: John Banks
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Publisher's summary

The third novel in the highly acclaimed Books of Babel series, set in a labyrinthine world of menace and wonder.  

On the orders of the mysterious Sphinx, Thomas Senlin and his crew are dragged ever further into the Tower's conspiracies. Meanwhile, the hods climb the Black Trail in darkness and whisper of their king.  

©2019 Josiah Bancroft (P)2019 Hachette Audio UK

Critic reviews

"One of my favourite books of all time." (Mark Lawrence, author of Prince of Thorns

"These books are absolutely incredible." (The Quill to Live)

"An engrossing, intoxicating delight." (Forbidden Planet)

What listeners love about The Hod King

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  • Big Mad Jez
  • 05-13-19

Thomas Senlin!

This is my second listen of this book and the story hasn’t diminished because of it! Books like this deserve multiple listens , picking up on details, plots and characters that were missed in previous listens. Great book and now onto the last! I can honestly say Thomas Senlin will be very much missed! Josiah, do not let this be the last we hear of him!!!

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  • Alan
  • 06-24-22

A Work Of Art.

Oh my god, how can you love a book so so much and yet can give you so many anxious moments leaving you with feelings of overwhelming anticipation. This series just keeps getting better and better with its amazing plot scenes, the characters development and worldbuilding is just so sublime. After being left in awe after the first two books Senlin Ascends and The Arm Of The Sphinx, this fantastic third installment The Hod King is my absolute favourite so far with its twists, turns and action sequences that leave you virtually hanging from the edge of your seat. With its startling imagery, and a frustratingly fallible cast, The Hod King continues a grudging reveal of the Tower’s secrets. The imagination and scale of storytelling is beautiful, I love the camaraderie and exchanges between characters as much as the arcane technology and engineering. This series also uses the strange, dark and unworldly Ringdoms to distort the hypocrisy of castes and classes, kings and zealots. Thomas Senlin and his crew have been separated following the orders of the mysterious Sphinx. Taking them to the Ringdom of Phelpia where Tom's wife Marya resides and is married to a Duke. Desperate to get his wife back or to find if he has truly lost her after a year of searching. While Tom is investigating and spying on his own under the alias name of Cyril Pinfeild to uncover a plot to take down the tower, Captain Edith, Iren, Voleta, Byron and Reddleman the resurrected Red Hand are giving the State of the Art the Sphinxes personal warship to visit the Ringdoms on special mission to collect the Bricklayers art pieces in exchange for new technologies. With this series you know things just never go smoothly for our characters, if you love intense, action packed and just something different than your typical fantasy, I very highly recommend The Books Of Babel. Come The Hod King.....😁💙💥🔥

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  • Trey Stone
  • 03-24-21

Best thing I've read in years.

The story, the characters, the writing... everything about this is brilliant! Bancroft has a way with words that will leave you entranced

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  • Kolif
  • 09-18-19

Expansive, witty and enthralling

It just keeps getting better. The journey continues with more and more intrigue and twists. Can't wait for book 4

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  • joe arnold
  • 07-22-19

best yet

what a cracker, the story really picks up in installment of the the books of babel

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  • Nicholaspoiuy
  • 03-05-19

Join the epic adventure ascending the tower!

The book gets high marks for characters, plot, story, world building and pacing. It’s all set in a world full of steampunk technology where mysterious pseudo scientists manufacturer steam powered airships and chimera / cyborg like automatons integrated with humans and animals. The story and characters are similar to those in The Mortal Engines by Phillip Reeve, except rather than the action moving from mobile city to city, it all happens around a tower that is as tall as Mount Everest and divided into 64 county / city sized floors / levels. If you liked The Mortal Engines series or the Abhorsen series by Garth Nyx (Sabriel, Lirael) then you will definitely like the three books of the Tower of Babel series. The narrator was pleasant to listen to but I did set the speed to 1.25x for a more enjoyable listen.

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  • Shaun Kellett
  • 02-11-19

Absolutely phenomenal!

Absolutely phenomenal, Josiah Bancroft might be one of the best living authors we have, his talent for simile, metaphor, analogy and the like is second to none. Couple that with John Banks superb narration and you have a true treat of a series. Phenomenal, honestly.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 02-09-19

amazing

I've always loved the feeling of being engrossed in a new book, feeling connected to the characters and really feeling the impact of the story and their struggles. when it comes to fantasy I do feel it's quite more difficult to get that, to a certain extent anyway. but this series, has blown my expectations out of the water. it's so original, and so fantastical that youd think it almost laughable to connect on any real emotional level with the characters or the story, but these books, the tower of Babel series have honestly touched my heart and my imagination, I felt like a child again listening to the narrators amazing performance. I can honestly say this is my favourite book series (sorry George RR Martin) and I can't wait to see what happens next. The fact that the first book in the series (senlin ascends) was Josiah Bancrofts first book is just unbelievable, can't wait to see what else he comes out with in the future! and hats off to the narrator John banks, another splendid performance! five stars, all I can say is READ IT!

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  • J. R. Marriott
  • 02-06-19

wonderful!

loved it! cant believe I will have to wait another 2 years from the next one !

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  • David
  • 02-05-19

Brilliant ☀️👍

Fantastic follow up to one of the most well written series I have had the joy to encounter.

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  • Phoebe
  • 01-28-19

loved it

Enjoyed this book thoroughly. The first novel in this series took some getting used to and Tom's experience of the tower was so frustrating and futile it was painful to hear. But the action picked up eventually and with the added pathos and humour found in books 2 and 3, this has become a cherished series.

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  • Tim
  • 02-07-19

Absolutely Brilliant!!

I have been anxiously awaiting on the release of Josiah Bancroft's next chapter of Tom Senlin's travels through the tower to seek his wife...

and I was not disappointed!! the progression of the story felt a little long winded at times only to make sense further on!

This new release has been a helpful reprieve on my recent commencement of night shift! and would recommend the series on!

also I must mention John Bank's fantastic reading! Voicing such a vast array of characters must be an exhausting ordeal, but John handles it brilliantly!

Thank you so much for all the effort gone into the series! I am looking forward to the next one!

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  • Sean Daly
  • 03-29-19

Best one so far

If u stuck with it this far..the rewards and pay off come fast and frequent. The first book was a curious chore, the second a bit deeper...this is where it all comes into frame and what a revelation it is! Can not wait for the finale!!!!

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  • Andy
  • 02-11-19

Fantastic female characters

Too many books in the fantasy genre lack female representation or are just down right sexist. This series stands out with a range of strong, interesting and complex female characters whose actions and decisions move the plot along as much as the male protagonist does.
The books also offer a great combination of a fantastical and fascinating world and characters who are relatable, with fully fleshed out emotions and motives. Highly recommended.

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  • Alex Buys
  • 09-18-19

Absolutely incredible!

What an incredible experience. The performance was superb and the story was excellent - well written, page-turner, fantastic character development development. I was hooked on every word. Highly recommended.

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  • Kirstyn
  • 06-19-19

Please make a movie series of this!

Hollywood people, please turn this book series into a tv series or movie! Pretty please

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  • amanda
  • 04-27-19

Just gets better and better

Can't wait to listen to the next installment.
Brilliantly inventive, brilliantly narrated.
A must read for lovers of the fantastical.

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  • Being Living Now
  • 04-25-19

Thoroughly enjoyable!

I couldn't wait to pick this book up, h saving finished book 2, and didn't have to, as I started the series after these first 3 were written. The characters are interesting, and the writing style keeps the story unfolding at pace that allows the scenery, expressions and climate to absorb the senses. My only sorrow now, is that it seems there is more of this series to come, and as yet the next book is not available.
I would like to get a notification once new books are added to any series I've started. This would be an awesome feature for the Audible app!

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 03-31-19

The Books of Babel

This is a fantasy story so the sky is the limit ( or perhaps the top of the tower is the limit)as to imagination , yet human feelings, failings , fears, cruelty , manipulations are all there. So too is love, friendship, loyalty and courage. Friends come in all shapes sizes and genetic composition so there is no room for prejudice or judgement.
I love the imagination of the story and the characters and the humour . I pre bought and waited patiently to listen to " The Hod King" but Oh No!! This cannot be not the end.
What is the next book, when can I listen?
Ann B

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  • MarioG
  • 03-12-19

Common Senlin

Great yarn, love all the angles and views within the story... all the layers... can’t wait for book 4 ... bring it on !!!

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