The Thirteen Hallows

By: Michael Scott, Colette Freedman

Narrated by: Kate Reading

Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's Summary

They are the Hallows of Britain.

They are 13 ancient treasures: mysterious, magical, infinitely powerful, with the potential for great good... or absolute evil. The legends of some of the Hallows are well known - Arthur’s sword, the Grail Chalice, the Stone of Scone - but most of the others have been lost in the mists of antiquity. However, the 13 Hallows survive, protected by hereditary Guardians who can trace their lineage back to the age of Arthur and beyond.

The Hallows have been used time and again in the battle with the Demonkind who once ruled this earth. The last time the 13 Hallows were gathered together was in the time of Arthur, when they were used to drive the Demonkind from this world and seal the entrance between this and the Otherworld. The battle cost Arthur his life, and with his death, the age of the knights passed and the Hallows were dispersed into the safekeeping of the Guardians, the direct lineal descendants of those who carried the first Hallows. The sacred objects have remained with those families for more than two millennia. Now someone is gathering them together.

©2011 Michael Scott and Colette Freedman (P)2011 Macmillan Audio

The metallic smell of blood... over and over...

The Thirteen Hallows was quite a disappointment. From the abstract and the preview I got the impression it could be an entertaining audiobook. Unfortunately it didn't take long to get bored and quite annoyed with the story. Michael Scott has written a couple of children's books that received quite good ratings from listeners here on Audible. Maybe he should have stuck to writing for children.

The Thirteen Hallows is filled with clichés and flat characters and the style is that of a poorly written children's book... except that it's riddled with graphic sex scenes and bloody violence. Apart from that it's repetitive: I stopped counting the number of times the phrase "the metallic smell of blood" reoccurred, but it definitely got on my nerves after the sixth time I heard it. I was expecting it to reappear in every mutilate-and-murder scene that followed and yes: as an unwelcome, annoying guest it came knocking again and again. On top of that an awful lot of the adjectives used seem to come right out of the pulp fiction & horror genre, making the story sound cheap and unimaginative.

Compliments to Kate Reading who did a good job in trying to bring the characters to life, using different accents and tones of voice, but it was not enough to make me interested in the one-dimensional cardboardy characters or really caring about what would happen to them. I was determined to listen all the way to the end of the book, but it was a huge effort. As far as I was concerned it was the second-to-worst audiobook I ever purchased from Audible.

It's all a matter of taste I guess, so don't take my word for it. But I've read a lot of pulp fiction & horror books and I still enjoy a well-written children's book, as long as the story is imaginative, original and entertaining. Unfortunately, I just wasted my money on an audio book that it none of these things.

Disappointed

I am a big fan of Michael Scott's Alchemist series...when I saw this book I was very excited. But...it is as if I were reading a work by a completely different author.

His alchemist books are witty and well thought out and developed--This book is dull and lifeless in comparison. I chose not to write a review when I originally rated this book because I thought I might have had unreasonable expectations because of his YA novels--The alchemist series has vegetarian vampires, historical figures like Shakespeare as elders who are hundreds of years old and still going strong, and the pivotal characters travel from Europe to Alcatraz in search of elders who can teach 'elemental magic' ...

This book has graphic scenes that I was not expecting, lifeless characters I did not like nor dislike, and I never got lost in the story. I did like the final conclusion and recall thinking at the end--if the entire book had been this good I would have given it 5 stars.

If you have started this and put it down...it is worth seeing it thru as the end of the book is by far the best part. The end leaves room for a sequel but I will have to think long and hard before I purchase the next installment.

Mostly just gruesome torture with little plot

Would you try another book from Michael Scott and Colette Freedman and/or Kate Reading?

I love Kate Reading, I am not sure I would listen to anything else from Micheal Scott.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The vivid descriptions are very good, I wish they were describing something other that gory dismemberment at every turn.

Any additional comments?

If you really like realistic torture scenes that involve amputation, skinning and vivisection, this book will be your favorite!

Not what was expected

What did you like best about The Thirteen Hallows? What did you like least?

I liked that the 13 Hallows of England do exist and the writers we able to incorporate that at the end.

I didn't like how gruesome the story was. It was not what I had expected by reading the synopsis.

What could Michael Scott and Colette Freedman have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

It would have been more enjoyable if a few details of the Keepers deaths were less graphic.

Have you listened to any of Kate Reading’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not listened to Kate Reading's other performances before.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Maybe. If they were to do it not showing the gruesome murders of the Keepers.

Not what I was expecting

Would you listen to The Thirteen Hallows again? Why?

I am torn on wethere I will listen to this book again or not. Though it is not written for younger audiences I find that the added adult themes are a bit overly present. The writing and story telling are high quality but tend to dwell to much on the dreggs of society.

What did you like best about this story?

I found the underlying story of the book very intreeging and intereesting. I enjoy it when authors include history in the story they tell even when the history is myth and legend based.

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

Kate is a good reader and her vaoice tone and acting ability fit the story very well. She adds depth and emotion to the book that help the reader/listener understand what is happening.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

N/A not sure I would want to see this a theator.

Any additional comments?

Not a book I would recommend to youth. I am a big Micheal Scott fan and have enjoyed much of his past work. This books adult edge is a bit of a turn off for me but others may enjoy that edge tot the book.

I hated this book

I stopped and started this book so many times and it never got better. I wish I could have returned it

weak story line.

Having read all the alchemist series this one book really fell short. The main plot is interesting but the story isn't strong enough to keep the reader engaged and interested.

NOT A CHILDRENS BOOK!!!!!!

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I purchased this book along with several other books during the Kids Sale in July 2014. Yes, it was listed with the other young readers sci-fi. Yes Micheal Scott has written other young reader books - some of which my children have enjoyed. THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM. I am so glad I listened to it first, because I would not want to explain to my 11 year old, the several , detailed, ritualistic sex acts that are throughout this book.

What do you think your next listen will be?

The Hundred-foot Journey.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

I liked the back story of the Hallows of England.

Like a TV Movie - Not a Major Motion Picture

Would you try another book from Michael Scott and Colette Freedman and/or Kate Reading?

Kate Reading is phenomenal. SOOOO good at creating the characters voices - bravo. As for the story, I liked the fast pace, different characters and overall story. Good read, but not exceptional.

Would you recommend The Thirteen Hallows to your friends? Why or why not?

This story would be a good referral if it had a second or third book (which I would purchase). Some more story depth and character development would bring it more to life.

Which character – as performed by Kate Reading – was your favorite?

Sara

Was The Thirteen Hallows worth the listening time?

Yes

Recommended

If you could sum up The Thirteen Hallows in three words, what would they be?

Characters are compelling, the story engaging and the narrator is excellent.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the characters and story line.

Have you listened to any of Kate Reading’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Kate Reading is one of my favorite narrators.