The Tempered Steel of Antiquity Grey

By: Shawn Speakman

Narrated by: Eva Kaminsky

Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

"It's a perfect post-apocalyptic mech-filled SF adventure - like Pierce Brown's Red Rising meets Robotech.“ (Aidan Moher, Hugo Award winner)

Forever shamed for family actions a century earlier, Antiquity Grey is a young woman living in a far-future city of Erth. It is a life of danger and hardship, dragons and advanced technology.

But when she discovers an outlawed and operational mech buried in the sands of her planet, she realizes its secrets hold the power to reverse her family’s dishonor while challenging the Imperium’s off-world oppressive might. The Imperium is not so willing to loosen its grip, needing Erth’s valuable titanium resources at a time when war spreads among the stars. In response, the governor of Erth sends Star Sentinel - his mightiest mech, which nothing can stand against - after Antiquity.

As she flees into the wilderness in a desperate attempt to uncover the secrets of her past and free an entire planet, Antiquity learns friendship can mean more than family, even the hardest heart of an enemy can soften, and adventure is not what she thought it would be.

©2020 Shawn Speakman (P)2021 Audible, Inc.

Average and hard to listen to.

Story line was ok. Struggled to listen to the entire story as the narrator's inflection use for the main characters became tedious.

As enjoyable as I hoped it would be!

As advertised! Well written sci-fi with a touch of fantasy. The stakes are high without being so overwhelming or stressful that it makes it hard to listen to - if that makes it YA then so be it, but I really enjoyed it. If/when this becomes a series, I’m here for it!

Good story

Good story. Wonder if there is a sequel and this will be a series or just the one?

Unforgettabe

Well written, outstanding narration. I couldn't​ put this one down. The immersive setting grabbed me right from the start.

Good Read

I appreciated how clean this book is, it was very interesting but also not filled with needless cursing or sex. Just a good read I could enjoy with my children around. Left me wanting another book or the next book, the ending leaves you feeling like it should be a series. Over all good and worth your time.

New Sci-fi series I will follow!

I just finished up the audiobook. I’m hoping this is the first entry in an entertaining series. The author did a great job building a post-apocalyptic sci-fi world with just enough elements of fantasy to keep me engaged. I quite liked the main character, Antiquity. She is feisty and confident, but not arrogant. I find this combination to draw me in most when reading. Antiquity’s friends (some questionable) accompany her in an endeavor to try to save and change their world. I’d definitely consider this as a YA read due to the length and pacing of the book, but there are some rather dark elements that are addressed, so keep that in mind if you’re picking up for a younger person.

Good, old fashion, sci-fi

I enjoyed Eva Kaminsky's narration. She differentiated the characters nicely. For me her work was not a "reading" it was a full fledged performance. some narraters drone and read, Ms Kaminsky performed.

I liked the plot. it was not totally predictable (for me, anyway). the characters fought for what they achieved, and there was no guarantee that they'd win. it's been a while since I read some sci Fi that didn't telegraph the ending a third of the way through.

One of my favorite books, and has a prequel!!!

This is an exciting adventurous book following the journey of Antiquity Grey and the incredible effort and willpower she devotes to overcome all the obstacles in her way.

The Fantastical SciFi storyline is great and engaging; some highlights are: big mechs, a self-aware cute little robot, and frienemies.

I read 1-2 books per week and I very highly recommend this book. For some insight, I love Harry Potter, LotR, Sherlock Holmes, Artemis, etc, and this upcoming series has the potential to be up there with all of those titles!

I wanted to like it

this is probably a case of "it's not made for me". but I really tried to give this a try. I got to the part where the boy with his large cat thing appeared and complained about showing it proper respect when what's his face asked if the woman knew him.

paired with the constant underlying misandry and it proved to much.

despite being set in the future women are still second class citizens?


as well why do these stories always involve a family that has lost its honor, where they where wrongfully accused of something? it's tiring.

the characters are also flat and boring.

I'm glad others liked it. but this book is not for me.

Why so many good reviews?

It's bad. I don't know what else to say. Flat characters, a world that makes little sense. There's so little nuance or complexity to this tale. Depth and detail are replaced by propagandistic pedaling to political ideology. I tried to like it. Just can't find anything to like.