• Wrath of the Royals

  • The Darkslayer, Book 1
  • By: Craig Halloran
  • Narrated by: Lee Alan
  • Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (26 ratings)

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Wrath of the Royals  By  cover art

Wrath of the Royals

By: Craig Halloran
Narrated by: Lee Alan
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Publisher's summary

Fans of RA Salvatore's Drizzt Do' Urden, Frizt Leiber's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, David Gemmell's Druss the Legend, Raymond E. Feist's Pug the Wizard, and Robert E. Howard's Conan, like The Darkslayer series. Perhaps you will as well.

Welcome to the unwelcome world of Bish.

Bish is the land of constant strife and turmoil. The rise and fall of the blazing suns make the days long and the people disagreeable. Its barren Outlands are as comforting as a bed of thorns as there is little sanctuary to be found in the sweltering forests or the dank caves below the ground. Its caviling cities are overrun with death, greed, and corruption, but few complain. It is a place where tempers flare and alliances last as long as a tankard of ale. It is a place where the women are as beautiful as they are scarred and deranged. A place where good doesn't thrive, it endures. It is the land of fight or die.

Enter Venir the incorrigible, a fierce warrior, who has been secretly keeping the underling forces at bay for years. He is the Darkslayer, a man possessed by a mantle of power he cannot let go.

Enter Melegal the resilient, a crafty rogue, and Venir's reluctant shadow.

Enter the underlings, a purely evil race of sadistic killers bent on the destruction of mankind.

Enter the humans, a greedy, self-absorbed race of shameless survivors.

Enter the orcs, halflings, dwarves, ogres, and other races, some good, some bad, all caught in the maelstrom of treachery and seduction.

How will they survive to fight and skim another day? Only Bish knows.

©2010 Craig Halloran (P)2016 Craig Halloran

What listeners say about Wrath of the Royals

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good Endures Says it all

This book is filled with all manner of plot twists that twist you up then unwinds you. In the description, it tells us that good endures and there is a lot of enduring. I am reminded of the Clint Eastwood movie where the Native American says, "Endeavor to endure." Good continues in spite of evil trying to prevail. This was a dark story but not oo dark. The narrator was good and enhanced the story. I got this book via audiobook boom.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser on Meth!!!!

Fritz Leiber pretty much wrote the defining team of a warrior and a thief with Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. Others pretty much followed his lead as Gary Gygax did with Chert the Barbarian and Gord the Rogue, and even shades of that came to pass with RA Salvatore's Wulfgar and Drizzt. Heck, even Sir PTerry, i.e. Terry Pratchett parodied them with his characters, Bravd and the Weasel, in the Colour of Magic. So you can see, Warrior thief combos have a solid track history. I am not in any way implying that Halloran models his characters, Venir the Warrior and Melegal the thief, after Leiber's characters. Not at all. All I am saying is that they do justice to the tradition of the team-up. Justice? I mean he HONORS the tradition as these two are some hardcore fantasy characters.

As it stands, they are not above getting themselves into trouble, and then getting themselves in even deeper as they try to dig their way out. Honestly, If I lived in a fantasy realm I would stay the hell out of taverns. Nothing good ever happens there. I don't know anyone that ever managed to sleep through an entire night, and in the end someone always dies. Yeah, just stay out of taverns. Anyway, Venir is a one bad grass mojo mofo who you most certainly do not want to tangle with; he's one of those guys that wakes up and finds himself trapped in a dungeon and says, "Welp, must be a Monday. Gotta get to work!" And then procedes to pretty much walk away. Of course, he's a little harder to kill than most. Warrior and thief work well together, and are a natural pairing. The story is vibrantly described, flows incredibly well, and is chalk full of top tier villains. Truthfully, this is some of the most fun I've had in a fantasy world in a while.

The heroes, Venir in particular, come to learn that they are but pawns in the mechinations of a god, and that he is supposed to oppose the Underlings, a race of nasties that like to eradicate other races just for the fun of it. Turns out that they have become entangled in a fight they can never win, so should they continue on? Find out by reading this awesome series.

I love the cover of this book, it shows Venir in battle with the Underlings, and is in full on battle rage mode. This looks like a viking warrior going full on beserk against a race of vampires, and it sells the story. It sells it hard. Lee Alan does an incredible job narrating. I really enjoyed his take, and the way that he brought the characters to life. As I said earlier, this is one of the most fun fantasy worlds I have visited in a long time, and he can take a lot of credit for that because he made the readings so exciting.

Halloran writes a fast paced break neck style of adventure that barely lets you catch your breath!!! It goes from one point of action to another, but not in a mindless way. But guldurn it! Does it ever make the story fun! Don't miss out! I'm going to be looking for the next story in this series. Even though I did receive a promo code for this review it in no way influenced my considerations of the material, and in fact, inspired me to be more honest. In fact, getting a code generally makes me harsher as a reviewer as I am more often concerned what someone like Me will decide based on my review.

If this review helped, please press the YES below. Thank you immensely!!!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it

Any additional comments?

I was very excited that the DarkSlayer had finally made it to audible after reading through the series twice already. The narration really brought the book to life. I can't wait to listen the rest of the series.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Poor production work

The recording production/mixing was sub-par. The story was not half bad but the production ruined it for me.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Out of this world; And into the Fantasy Realms

Craig Halloran has expanded his universe to include the story of Bish, who is a man on a quest, like most standard fantasies. The thing with Halloran's writing is that the plots aren't too complicated, but the characters are tangible, and leap off the page. Halloran is very capable with ideas, and can really get you feeling for Bish, or Nath, or even Melegal.

These books, or any of Halloran's work, are a great introductory to the Fantasy epic, for anyone interested in making a foray into this world, or a journey that anyone would like to start with their children. His books are a little young, and the narrator his very exaggerated, but they are solid work. They are also a quick real read, if you want to read the work before you listen with the kids.

My nephews love all of the adventures that Halloran has so elegantly told. Mr. Lee Alan is a bit too much and obnoxious for me, but his sound effects, and his exuberance keeps my nephews enthralled for long sittings at a time.

I highly recommend this book, and all of the Halloran-Mythtos for anyone who wants to be able to enjoy fantasy with their children, and be able to share their passions with a new generation.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The Darkslayer is one bad dude! Fun and Grisly!

Would you listen to Wrath of the Royals again? Why?

Maybe, once I've finished the complete series. Mr. Halloran has a lot of books I want to try.

What other book might you compare Wrath of the Royals to and why?

R.A. Salvatorre, Icewind Dale seires, with Drizz't , also, David Gemmel, Druss the Legend, Conan, and a flare of the LOR settings.

Which character – as performed by Lee Alan – was your favorite?

Venir, the Darkslayer, but Melegal has some classic lines.

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

FIGHT OR DIE!

Any additional comments?

Craig Halloran's stories have an edge I like. Everytime I read or listen, he brings personalities I can relate too and a new surprising creative element. The many characters have nice layers, each with a distinct personality. The stories had a lot of brutal battle scenes, but the overall content is clean, like traditional fantasy, and without those seedier elements that invade literature today. Meets my approval for my teenagers. I enjoyed rooting for Venir and his allies battling those nasty Royals, half-ogres, forest magi, vicious and Underlings.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

I love Chongo.

This was great a lot going on. Though a bit of a cliffhanger which I don't care for. I look forward to the next part.
The narrator brings it to life.
This Audiobook was given to me for free at my request from the publisher, author or narrator and I provided this unbiased voluntary review.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Action-packed, Easy-to-read, Entertaining, Funny, Great world building, Tragic, Wonderful characters.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A story to get lost in.

This story was an interesting one and makes you think on who is really in control. There was only a sprinkling of magic in this one. It felt like a DnD game to me but we'll told.

The characters you never really get to fully know in one sitting. you are left wondering all the time about them. they feel realistic enough but over all you never get to meet any one character on a deeper level.

many outside forces seem to play over this world and it gives you pause to think if the same is happening to our world.

through this story, there is no clear overarching enemy. you run into an antagonist that is delt with but, the story feels a bit unguided. a lot of stuff happens but it's hard to tell where the story is going. The out of word scenes felt a bit jarring when they come up and pulled me a bit out of the story.

over all it's a good story but it could use a bit more lead in to the plot.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

great

I have read the whole series. but to be able to hear them is almost like being there.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

it's different and you have to be patient!!!

the production is interesting and it moves strangely but it grows on you and the story and writing is pretty good. at least enough to keep you invested.

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