The Scorched Earth

The Chaos Born, Book 2

By: Drew Karpyshyn

Narrated by: Phil Gigante

New York Times best-selling author and acclaimed video game writer Drew Karpyshyn returns with the second novel in an original epic fantasy series - perfect for fans of Terry Goodkind, Peter V. Brett, and Brandon Sanderson - about four young people who will either save the world or bring about its destruction.

The Children of Fire - four mortals touched by the power of Chaos - each embody one aspect of a banished and fallen immortal champion: Keegan, the wizard; Scythe, the warrior; Cassandra, the prophet; Vaaler, the king. Now grown to adulthood, the Children are in search of the ancient Talismans that can stop the return of Daemron the Slayer, ancient enemy of the Old Gods. But in acquiring Daemron’s Ring, they’ve left in their wake death, destruction, and a queen bent on revenge.

For the discovery of the Talismans has unleashed a flood of Chaos magic on the land - and now their strength will be tested and their faith tried as never before. Beset on all sides by both mortal and supernatural enemies, they race to find Daemron’s Sword, the last of the ancient Talismans, before the entire mortal world is engulfed in the flames of war and Chaos that will herald the return of the Slayer.

©2014 Drew Karpyshyn (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Darker and Darker

The evil continues to get worse. However, I jumped for joy at the end. I wanted the surprise ending so bad that I didn't even see it coming. More than merely 'well written.' So much more. So good.

another great job. both by the author and narrator

Karpyshyn and Gigante make a great team. Really looking forward to hearing the final book, but also sad it's the last one.

This is a great book to read it is largely Predic

Just as a great book it is largely predictable however sometimes you just need a good predictable

Better than the first, still basic

I was surprised when I saw that this (Book2) received higher praise than the first book of the trilogy. After reading it, I agree. A lot of my issues remain. The storyline and tropes are still painfully basic and rather boring, but the characters finally begin to achieve some depth which is nice. This has definitely locked me in to reading the final installment, though since everything else has been "by the 'Fantasy Writer's Playbook'", I have a strong suspicion that I won't be surprised by the end.

Again, the narrator is awful. The surprise return of a character is in this book and I couldn't identify said character, because all the voices sound the same.

Could have been great

Overall a really enjoyable story, but there are several times when there is a "flashback" where the viewpoint swaps back and forth between the narrator describing it and the character remembering it. Over, and over, and over. I found really off-putting and it pulled me out of the story. Finishing the book was rough because I kept expecting it to happen again. A huge blemish on an otherwise compelling story.

All credit to Phil Gigante, he narrated as skillfully as always, but the constant back-and-forth viewpoint put me off so much I probably won't even listen the next book.