The Pillars of the World

Tir Alainn Trilogy, Book 1

By: Anne Bishop

Narrated by: Erik Synnestvedt

Length: 14 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

The youngest in a long line of witches, Ari senses things are changing for the worse. For generations, her kin have tended the Old Places, keeping the land safe and fertile. Now, she finds herself torn between the world of mortals and the world of Fae, who ignore what occurs in the mortal world, for the roads between the two lands are vanishing into thin air.

©2001 Anne Bishop (P)2010 Penguin

Critic reviews

"Bishop only adds luster to her reputation for fine fantasy.” (Booklist)

“Reads like a beautiful ballad involving two humans who believe love is the ultimate magical force in the universe....Fans of romance and fantasy will delight in this engaging tale.” (BookBrowser)

"Provides plenty of thrills, faerie magic, human nastiness, and romance.” (Locus)

Great Story, Good Narrator

Would you listen to The Pillars of the World again? Why?

I am actually listening to the series a second time right now. The story is wonderfully told (the 2nd and the 3rd are even better) Like many of Anne Bishop's characters, these are ones that you are really able to grow attached to. I really wish she would write more in this series.

What did you like best about this story?

I love the bantering that happens between the male and female characters. There are quite a few "laugh out loud" moments.

What does Erik Synnestvedt bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Honestly, he took a few chapters to get used to. There was always this sort of "inflection" at the end of each sentence that was annoying at first when he was just reading non-dialogue stuff. However, once he started getting into the characters voices, he really does quite well and didn't find the inflection annoying anymore. (I still like John Sherian best for Anne Bishop's books)

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

Defnitely! I would love to be able to listen to all 3 books in the series in one sitting. Alas, I must have a job to be able to pay for my book habit.

Any additional comments?

Listen to all 3 books! The first is a good tale but it really just sets the background for the other 2 which are awesome!

Thrills and Tears

My ex fiancé read this book to me over ten years ago. The narrator did a great job on the character's voices. The story line is thrilling, exciting, and intriguing. The ending made me tear up a little, but they were happy tears.

love Anne bishop

the book is one I own in paperback form and have read several times. the voice actor has a very monotone voice and doesn't give each character a unique tone but the story more then makes up for it.

Well worth the time

Anne Bishop, in my estimation hasn't written a bad book yet. In this series, the central players are the witches and the Fey and the war against the inquisitors. As with all her works, the characters are rich and the story flows well. The only downside is the narration by Erik Synnestvedt, who has an almost 'Capt. Kirk' style of speaking

A good listen so far.

What did you like best about The Pillars of the World? What did you like least?

I'm about a quarter of the way through listening to this book and am truly enjoying the story. However, I agree wholeheartedly with John and P Brown about the narrator. He sounds as though he would do better reading a technical manual. This story could be a much easier listen. A female narrator would give a total different tone on the book.

Fantastic!

Absolutely love this book. Erik did a great job narrating the book.

one of my favorites!

Horrible narrator

Narrator was so bad, I couldn't follow a story that I know well. I stopped listening.

bad narrator.

I realize the major difference between Anne Bishop's Black Jewels books and this series. it's the narration. this group narration will put you to sleep. she is boring and no changes in voice while reading different people. also not much inflection for emotion. Sadly I loved the books while reading them. however I just can't deal with falling asleep with the narration droning on and on.

not bad

it's not my favorite world that anne bishop has created but I'll still continue the series. The magic doesn't feel totally fleshed out yet but maybe we'll learn more in the next book.

Fantastic story

Anne Bishop is an amazing writer, and this is one of her best stories. The narrator does an okay job, though he's not the best at female voices.