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The Ruling Elite, and Other Stories
- Narrated by: Xina Marie Uhl
- Length: 2 hrs and 15 mins
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The Ruling Elite, and Other Stories
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Publisher's summary
This is a collection of short fantasy from Xina Marie Uhl and Janet Loftis.
You'll find a slave-mercenary struggling to save the life of his mistress, a palace guard defending his city against the destroyer of prophecy, a wanderer who brings more than past grief into the lives of four sisters, two men who go on a dangerous hunt to kill the witches destroying their village, an outcast trying to outwit the village oracle and get justice for her murdered mother, and a captain who discovers how high the cost is to return the dead to their rightful homes.
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-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 749
Every year, each village is required to send a young woman to the Empire's capital - her fate to be burned alive for the entertainment of the masses. For the last five years, one small village's tithe has been the same woman. Gilene's sacrifice protects all the other young women of her village, and her secret to staying alive lies with the magic only she possesses. But this year is different. Azarion, the Empire's most famous gladiator, has somehow seen through her illusion - and is set on blackmailing Gilene into using her abilities to help him escape his life of slavery.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Nothing special. Highly predictable
- By J. C. Schmidt on 10-10-18
By: Grace Draven
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Flesh and Spirit
- Lighthouse, Book 1
- By: Carol Berg
- Narrated by: Allen O'Reilly
- Length: 14 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 90
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Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 85
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 83
The rebellious son of a long line of pureblood cartographers and diviners, Valen has spent most of his life trying to escape what society - and his family - have ordained for him. His own mother has predicted that he will meet his doom in water, blood, and ice. Her divination seems fulfilled when a comrade abandons Valen in a rainy wilderness half-dead, addicted to an enchantment that converts pain to pleasure, and possessing only a stolen book of maps.
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2 out of 5 stars
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FIGHTING TO ADD MORE WORDS TO THIS COLLECTION
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 07-13-14
By: Carol Berg
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Altar of Influence: The Orsarian War
- A Prelude to the Dying Lands Chronicle
- By: Jacob Cooper
- Narrated by: Michael Kramer
- Length: 11 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 452
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 419
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 420
Sacrifice. The single act capable of bringing both death and life simultaneously. Thannuel Kerr is handsome, young, and brash, fumbling through childhood toward his inevitable inheritance: the next Lord of the Western Province. He struggles to accept his arranged marriage and to grow into the man he must become. The journey toward that end, however, is fraught with more peril than he could possibly imagine.
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5 out of 5 stars
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A Compelling Read!
- By Voracious Reader on 10-17-16
By: Jacob Cooper
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Song of the Beast
- By: Carol Berg
- Narrated by: Claire Christie, Jeremy Arthur
- Length: 12 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 83
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 76
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 76
Brutal imprisonment has broken Aidan McAllister. His music is destroyed, and with it the visions he once gave a kingdom ravaged by dragon war. Now, he risks his hard-bought freedom to uncover the truth behind his incarceration - and to meet his enemy face-to-face....
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5 out of 5 stars
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Dragons rock!
- By MarilynArms on 08-15-13
By: Carol Berg
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Iron Axe
- The Books of Blood and Iron, Book 1
- By: Steven Harper
- Narrated by: P. J. Ochlan
- Length: 13 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 370
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 343
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Story4 out of 5 stars 341
In this brand new series from the author of the Clockwork Empire series, a hopeless outcast must answer Death's call and embark on an epic adventure... Although Danr's mother was human, his father was one of the hated Stane, a troll from the mountains. Now Danr has nothing to look forward to but a life of disapproval and mistrust, answering to "Trollboy" and condemned to hard labor on a farm. Until, without warning, strange creatures come down from the mountains to attack the village.
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5 out of 5 stars
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I DON'T WANT YOU TO FOLLOW ME,
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 07-22-17
By: Steven Harper
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Fatemarked
- The Fatemarked Epic, Book 1
- By: David Estes
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 19 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,983
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,763
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Story4 out of 5 stars 1,756
They are the fatemarked. Misunderstood. Worshipped. Hated. Murdered at birth. Their time to step into the light has come. An ancient prophecy foretold their coming, the chosen few who will bring peace to a land embroiled in a century of mistrust and war. When kings start dying, that hope and belief swiftly turns to fear. Roan Loren is one of the fatemarked, but has hidden his mark of power his entire life, fearing the damage it might cause to those around him. A great evil is coming. He can't hide anymore.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Written to fit an ideology, not the story it tells
- By znidarsic.blaz on 04-30-18
By: David Estes
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The Bear and the Nightingale
- A Novel
- By: Katherine Arden
- Narrated by: Kathleen Gati
- Length: 11 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 8,180
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 7,414
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 7,401
Winter lasts most of the year at the edge of the Russian wilderness, and in the long nights, Vasilisa and her siblings love to gather by the fire to listen to their nurse’s fairy tales. Above all, Vasya loves the story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon. Wise Russians fear him, for he claims unwary souls, and they honor the spirits that protect their homes from evil. Then Vasya’s widowed father brings home a new wife from Moscow. Fiercely devout, Vasya’s stepmother forbids her family from honoring their household spirits, but Vasya fears what this may bring.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Culture-Rich, Unusual, Captivating
- By Jan on 01-28-17
By: Katherine Arden
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No Man of Woman Born
- Rewoven Tales
- By: Ana Mardoll
- Narrated by: Cori Samuel
- Length: 6 hrs
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 57
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 52
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Story4 out of 5 stars 51
From the author of the Earthside series and the Rewoven Tales novels, No Man of Woman Born is a collection of seven fantasy stories in which transgender and nonbinary characters subvert and fulfill gendered prophecies. These prophecies recognize and acknowledge each character's gender, even when others do not.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Not What I expected
- By Customer on 07-27-18
By: Ana Mardoll
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Wit'ch Fire
- The Banned and the Banished, Book 1
- By: James Clemens
- Narrated by: Jennifer Van Dyck, Kevin Pariseau
- Length: 15 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 220
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 202
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Story4 out of 5 stars 203
On a fateful night five centuries ago, three mages made a desperate last stand, sacrificing everything to preserve the only hope of goodness in the beautiful, doomed land of Alasea. Now, on the anniversary of that ominous night, a girl-child ripens into the heritage of lost power. But before she can even comprehend her terrible new gift, the Dark Lord dispatches his winged monsters to capture her and bring him the embryonic magic she embodies.
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4 out of 5 stars
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An Amazing Journey
- By Drink Coffee, Read Books on 12-27-14
By: James Clemens
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Dawn of War
- Blood War Trilogy, Book 1
- By: Tim Marquitz
- Narrated by: John Pruden
- Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 234
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 206
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Story4 out of 5 stars 206
For hundreds of years, the bestial Grol have clawed at the walls of Lathah without success. Now armed with O'hra, mystical weapons of great power, they have returned, to conquer. Witness to the Grol advance, Arrin can abide his exile no longer. He returns to Lathah, in defiance of death, with hopes to save his beloved princess and the child born of their illicit affair. He finds her unwilling to abandon her people.
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5 out of 5 stars
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A sprawling Epic fantasy in the best sense!
- By The Bookwyrm Speaks on 09-03-15
By: Tim Marquitz
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Rhapsody
- Child of Blood
- By: Elizabeth Haydon
- Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins
- Length: 30 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 744
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 678
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 680
Rhapsody is a woman, a singer of some talent who is swept up into events of world-shattering import. On the run from an old romantic interest who won't take no for an answer, Rhapsody literally bumps into a couple of shady characters: half breeds who come to her rescue in the nick of time. Only the rescue turns into an abduction, and Rhapsody soon finds herself dragged along on an epic voyage--one that spans centuries and ranges across a wonder-filled fantasy world.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Good story! Terrible narration.
- By CharmY2K on 04-30-15
By: Elizabeth Haydon
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Witch's Boy
- By: Kelly Barnhill
- Narrated by: Ralph Lister
- Length: 9 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 543
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 485
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 484
When Ned and his identical twin brother tumble from their raft into a raging, bewitched river, only Ned survives. Villagers are convinced the wrong boy lived. Sure enough, Ned grows up weak and slow, and stays as much as possible within the safe boundaries of his family's cottage and yard. But when a Bandit King comes to steal the magic that Ned's mother, a witch, is meant to protect, it's Ned who safeguards the magic and summons the strength to protect his family and community.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Not as good as expected
- By ladybug on 03-19-17
By: Kelly Barnhill
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The Grim Company
- By: Luke Scull
- Narrated by: Gerard Doyle
- Length: 15 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 355
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 313
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Story4 out of 5 stars 316
The Gods are dead. The Magelord Salazar and his magically enhanced troops, the Augmentors, crush any dissent they find in the minds of the populace. On the other side of the Broken Sea, the White Lady plots the liberation of Dorminia, with her spymistresses, the Pale Women. Demons and abominations plague the Highlands. The world is desperately in need of heroes. But what they get instead are a ragtag band of old warriors, a crippled Halfmage, two orphans and an oddly capable manservant: the Grim Company.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Pretty bad, but not actively terrible
- By Travis Lamkin on 09-13-15
By: Luke Scull
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Daughters of the Storm
- By: Kim Wilkins
- Narrated by: Lucy Price-Lewis
- Length: 15 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 45
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 40
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 40
Lying in a magic-induced coma, the King of Thyrsland is on the brink of death: if his enemies knew, chaos would reign. In fear for his life and his kingdom, his five daughters set out on a perilous journey to try to save him, their only hope an aunt they have yet to meet, a shadowy practitioner of undermagic who lives on the wild northern borders. No one can stand before the fierce tattooed soldier and eldest daughter, Bluebell, an army commander who is rumoured to be unkillable....
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4 out of 5 stars
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Boring, could not even get through half…
- By Diana M Meredith on 10-30-23
By: Kim Wilkins
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Debt of Bones
- Sword of Truth Series
- By: Terry Goodkind
- Narrated by: Sam Tsoutsouvas
- Length: 3 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,947
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2,641
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,636
A milestone of storytelling set in the world of The Sword of Truth, Debt of Bones is the story of young Abby's struggle to win the aid of the wizard Zedd Zorander, the most important man alive. Abby is trapped, not only between both sides of the war, but in a mortal conflict between two powerful men. For Zedd, who commands power most men can only imagine, granting Abby's request would mean forsaking his sacred duty. With the storm of the final battle about to save the life of a child....
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4 out of 5 stars
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Bags! This is a good prequel.
- By Patrick Sanchez on 05-02-14
By: Terry Goodkind
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Green Rider
- By: Kristen Britain
- Narrated by: Ellen Archer
- Length: 16 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,463
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2,187
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,188
Karigan G’ladheon, running away from school, is traveling through a deep forest when a galloping horse pounds up to her, its rider impaled by two black-shafted arrows. With his dying breath, he tells her he is a Green Rider, one of the magical messengers of the King. Before he dies, he makes Karigan swear to deliver the message he’s carrying, and gives her his green coat, with the symbolic brooch of his office.
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5 out of 5 stars
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What a fantastic discovery!
- By GLENNO on 11-27-14
By: Kristen Britain
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Spindle Fire
- By: Lexa Hillyer
- Narrated by: Fiona Hardingham
- Length: 8 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 74
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 70
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Story4 out of 5 stars 70
Half sisters Isabelle and Aurora are polar opposites: Isabelle is the king's headstrong illegitimate daughter whose sight was tithed by faeries; Aurora, beautiful and sheltered, was tithed her sense of touch and voice on the same day. Despite their differences, the sisters have always been extremely close. And then everything changes with a single drop of Aurora's blood, a Faerie Queen who is preparing for war, a strange and enchanting dream realm - and a sleep so deep it cannot be broken.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Lovers of fairy tale romance rejoice!
- By Elley Murray on 11-23-17
By: Lexa Hillyer
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Gardens of the Moon
- The Malazan Book of the Fallen, Book 1
- By: Steven Erikson
- Narrated by: Ralph Lister
- Length: 26 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 11,884
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 10,719
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Story4 out of 5 stars 10,712
The Malazan Empire simmers with discontent, bled dry by interminable warfare, bitter infighting and bloody confrontations with the formidable Anomander Rake and his Tiste Andii, ancient and implacable sorcerers. Even the imperial legions, long inured to the bloodshed, yearn for some respite. Yet Empress Laseen's rule remains absolute, enforced by her dread Claw assassins.
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4 out of 5 stars
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An engrossing yet demanding high epic
- By Adnan on 11-20-12
By: Steven Erikson
What listeners say about The Ruling Elite, and Other Stories
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Shoshana Hathaway
- 11-07-15
Lyrical, haunting fantasy
This is a beautifully written, evocative collection of fantasy stories. The writing is so lyrical that these tales read like a cross between prose and poetry. The authors chose their themes from many sources, including, in the case of Xina Marie Uhl, classical mythology. Anyone familiar with the myth of Demeter will delight in what this author does to expand and slightly rearrange the that myth, although she remains absolutely faithful to its essence. The rest of the stories are exquisite, if haunting and strange to those used to more modern themes and presentation.
I must say, however, that the narration is an excellent example of why authors seldom make good narrators. Audio book narration is more than just reading aloud to children, friends, or even small groups. It requires certain skills that were not present in this performance. Although the narration was adequate, it was barely so, and I would have enjoyed this lovely book more had it been presented by a true professional in the field.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for this unbiased review via the courtesy of AudioBookBlast dot com.
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