Unfettered II

By: Shawn Speakman - editor, Charlaine Harris, Jim Butcher, Brandon Sanderson

Narrated by: Sarah Coomes, Michael Kramer, Emily Woo Zeller, Nick Podehl, Erin Mallon, Gabriel Vaughan, full cast

Length: 20 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's Summary

Life can kick us when we are down.

In Shawn Speakman's case, he is fighting back.

Lacking health insurance and diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2011, Speakman beat the disease as well as the massive medical debt he amassed from its treatment. He did this by publishing Unfettered, an anthology featuring short stories donated by some of the best science fiction and fantasy writers working today.

The fight will not stop there. In an effort to pay forward the aid he received - and to memorialize his mother who passed away from stomach cancer in early 2016 - Speakman has again collaborated with celebrated genre authors to publish Unfettered II. All proceeds from the anthology will either help eliminate medical debt for other authors or be donated to cancer research hubs around the world.

Twenty original new tales comprise this amazing collection and, as the title suggests, the writers were again free to contribute whatever they wished.

Here is the lineup for Unfettered II:

• Foreword by Terry Brooks
• Bradley Beaulieu (Song of Shattered Sands)
• Jim Butcher (Dresden Files)
• Rachel Caine
• Sarah Beth Durst (The Queens of Renthia)
• David Farland (Runelords)
• Charlaine Harris
• Mark Lawrence
• Erin Lindsey (Bloodbound)
• Seanan McGuire
• Aidan Moher
• Naomi Novik
• Peter Orullian (Vault of Heaven)
• J. A. Pitts
• Anthony Ryan (Raven's Shadow)
• Brandon Sanderson (Stormlight Archive)
• Scott Sigler
• Shawn Speakman (Annwn Cycle)
• Michael J. Sullivan (The Legends of the First Empire)
• Django Wexler
• Janny Wufts (Wars of Light and Shadow)

With the help of New York Times best-selling authors as well as talented newcomers, Speakman has taken the platform Unfettered created to not only confront medical debt but to support the battle against one of our gravest illnesses. Unfettered II is a fantastic sequel anthology, but it is more than that; it is proof that we are stronger together than we are apart.

After all, isn't that what genre fiction is all about?

©2016 Shawn Speakman (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

This is a very nice fantasy anthology.

Speakman has been a very solid job collecting works from a number of accomplished authors. As is often the case the big names are the best. Here, Brandon Sanderson's excerpt from The Stormlight Archive "The Thrill" is the real standout if you are already acquainted with his other work.
"Day One" by Jim Butcher featuring a short story about Butters from The Dresden Files is a must read or listen to any fan of Dresden, Urban fantasy, or Gaming.

I think the Hidden Gem (so to speak) here is "And Men Will Mine the Mountain for Our Souls" by Seanan McGuire. I've never read what I can only describe as a first person introspective by a dragon before. But now that I have I can't imagine anybody could do better.

Not every short story in this or any Anthology is a home run. that said I think there's enough here to satisfy most people. And it's very well produced with a great cast. Even Nick Podell makes an appearance although James Marsters is more noticeably absent.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Mixed bag

This collection was incredibly diverse with a few stories unfinished, but the best stories made the whole purchase worth it! Great way to find a new favorite author or voice actor.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

Another excellent collection of stories

I really enjoyed Unfettered I and this collection of stories did not disappoint. Knowing that they were all short stories made me want to have more. I may need to start branching out with some new authors.

A few stories detracted from the entire collection

Many of the short stories were amazing. Unfortunately a few of them were too detailed in their description of sex scenes. I did not purchase this book for graphic details. If language and slightly explicit scenes do not make you uncomfortable then you might really enjoy the stories.

Some better than others

It's a collection of stories. I enjoyed many of then but had to skip over a few that just weren't my style. Like my rating says, overall I enjoyed this collection.

beautiful, if sad.

This book has a thread of sadness throughout it's various stories, but it stands as a wonderful collection of beautiful.

Plenty of great stories

A motley collection of high fantasy and science fiction that stays modern and fresh. I hope Speakman doesn't need another tragedy in his life to give us book 3.

Mostly engaging

Some very good short stories here. There were enough to make it a worthwhile purchase.

Mixed feelings about the book

I have found with purchasing an audio book that has multiple stories by multiple authors, you love some, and some not-so-much.

I purchased this for Jim Butcher's story and was pleasantly surprised with a tale from Butter's view. The narrator was no James Marsters, however he did a decent job. Overall found some new authors I may like to read/listen - Naomi Novik, John A. Pitts, Sarah Beth Durst, and Aidan Moher.

There were more stories that I couldn't even get through - just not my taste of genre.

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most stories were pretty good

while the were a couple stories I didn't find interesting, the majority were decent and a few excellent.
overall feeling of this collection: Grimm style fantasy.
it also gives you a good feeling for several of the authors and narrators.

Very good Collection of small books

An amazing Collection of short stories that very Absorbing and will be worth your time

3 of 3 people found this review helpful