
A Game of Gods
The Great Hearts II
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Buy for $24.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
David Oliver
-
By:
-
David Oliver
About this listen
Calidan Darkheart has survived monsters, men and the first years of the Academy, but will he be able to survive a higher power than his own?
As a young student at the Academy and freshly dealing with the loss of a dear friend, Calidan must endure a new trial, one that will test every fiber of his being. If he survives, he will be forged into something new and be one step closer to his ultimate goal. Revenge.
Alone in the dark, Calidan the Imperator has so far managed to avoid the clutches of a rampaging beast, but now seeks to escape and fulfill his lifelong dream. Intent on saving his best friend Cassius and heading deeper into the barren wastelands, he seeks a prey that will eclipse all others.
He might find that the reality is more than he can handle.
David Oliver's second novel in the Great Hearts series brings back the dual adventures of past and present-day Calidan, following the protagonist's journey from earnest youth to a cold and forbidding Imperator. Brutal combat, terrifying magics, dark secrets, and the antics of a certain panther lay within.
©2021 David Oliver (P)2022 David OliverListeners also enjoyed...
-
The Great Hearts
- By: David Oliver
- Narrated by: David Oliver
- Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Calidan Darkheart is an Imperator. The voice of the Emperor in the wild. A secretive and dangerous job, hunting down those deemed a threat to the Emperor's rule...whether monster or man. Twisted and bitter, he heads down a dark path to hunt a nightmare from his youth. This is his story.
-
-
I hate writing reviews like this.
- By T on 03-14-18
By: David Oliver
-
Wraithblade
- The Wraithblade Saga, Book 1
- By: S.M. Boyce
- Narrated by: Wayne Mitchell
- Length: 27 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Ancient Woods of Saldia hold secrets. The gnarled oaks are home to murderers, slavers, and the legendary blightwolves that ravage the countryside by the light of the twin moons. In a world of rabid wolves the size of horses, not-so-extinct dragons, and magical reagents that grow over every inch of the land, tonight is unique. Tonight, a merciless king dies alone in the forest. Tonight, an usurper rises from within the ranks of the king's trusted noblemen. Tonight, ancient enchantments are unleashed upon an unsuspecting world.
-
-
Awful. Cliche.
- By Chem Lemma on 06-21-21
By: S.M. Boyce
-
The Threadlight Trilogy
- By: Zack Argyle
- Narrated by: Adam Gold
- Length: 34 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Three lives come together in this truly epic fantasy where magic users go missing, old gods return, and creatures of light ravage the land. A high general with a dark voice in his head that begs to be released. A sheltered young woman addicted to magic. A reckless young man whose life changes after he dies. Together, they will change the world—whether they intend to or not.
-
-
A fantastic piece of fantasy
- By Jolene on 11-28-22
By: Zack Argyle
-
A Mark of Kings
- The Shattered Reigns, Book 1
- By: Bryce O'Connor, Luke Chmilenko
- Narrated by: Nick Podehl
- Length: 18 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Despite his youth, Declan Idrys knows of the evils of the world. He knows of the bastards and brigands who plague the King's lands, of the monsters skulking in the wooded depths of the realm. Together with his companion, Ryn - a beast of rather peculiar talent - he has spent the last decade of his life beneath the bloody banners of a half-dozen mercenary guilds, hunting precisely such festering wickedness within the borders of Viridian.
-
-
A difficult slog
- By Tony G. on 10-07-19
By: Bryce O'Connor, and others
-
The Weirkey Chronicles Omnibus
- Books 1-3
- By: Sarah Lin
- Narrated by: Travis Baldree
- Length: 25 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Betrayed. Murdered. Reborn. One last chance, to make it right. Theo's adventure ended with his mentor's hands around his neck. The betrayal cost him his friends, allies, and everything he had built...but not his life. Though broken and powerless, Theo has one last chance to enter the Nine Worlds, wielding the knowledge and expertise of his first life. This time, he needs more than just power, he needs to unravel the deception that killed him once...and is coming for him again.
-
-
Great Story, Interesting in Audio Format
- By Bernard Dixon on 11-09-23
By: Sarah Lin
-
The Umbral Storm
- Sharded Few, Book 1
- By: Alec Hutson
- Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins
- Length: 23 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A thousand years ago the Heart of the World was shattered, its fragments scattered across the lands. In the chaos that followed, martial orders arose to gather these shards, for it was found that great powers were granted when these pieces were bonded to the flesh of the chosen. These are the Sharded Few, warriors imbued with the divine energies that once coursed through the Heart, and driven to absorb enough fragments to claim godhood.
-
-
So good I almost Sharded
- By Grant Hamilton on 02-05-24
By: Alec Hutson
-
The Great Hearts
- By: David Oliver
- Narrated by: David Oliver
- Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Calidan Darkheart is an Imperator. The voice of the Emperor in the wild. A secretive and dangerous job, hunting down those deemed a threat to the Emperor's rule...whether monster or man. Twisted and bitter, he heads down a dark path to hunt a nightmare from his youth. This is his story.
-
-
I hate writing reviews like this.
- By T on 03-14-18
By: David Oliver
-
Wraithblade
- The Wraithblade Saga, Book 1
- By: S.M. Boyce
- Narrated by: Wayne Mitchell
- Length: 27 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Ancient Woods of Saldia hold secrets. The gnarled oaks are home to murderers, slavers, and the legendary blightwolves that ravage the countryside by the light of the twin moons. In a world of rabid wolves the size of horses, not-so-extinct dragons, and magical reagents that grow over every inch of the land, tonight is unique. Tonight, a merciless king dies alone in the forest. Tonight, an usurper rises from within the ranks of the king's trusted noblemen. Tonight, ancient enchantments are unleashed upon an unsuspecting world.
-
-
Awful. Cliche.
- By Chem Lemma on 06-21-21
By: S.M. Boyce
-
The Threadlight Trilogy
- By: Zack Argyle
- Narrated by: Adam Gold
- Length: 34 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Three lives come together in this truly epic fantasy where magic users go missing, old gods return, and creatures of light ravage the land. A high general with a dark voice in his head that begs to be released. A sheltered young woman addicted to magic. A reckless young man whose life changes after he dies. Together, they will change the world—whether they intend to or not.
-
-
A fantastic piece of fantasy
- By Jolene on 11-28-22
By: Zack Argyle
-
A Mark of Kings
- The Shattered Reigns, Book 1
- By: Bryce O'Connor, Luke Chmilenko
- Narrated by: Nick Podehl
- Length: 18 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Despite his youth, Declan Idrys knows of the evils of the world. He knows of the bastards and brigands who plague the King's lands, of the monsters skulking in the wooded depths of the realm. Together with his companion, Ryn - a beast of rather peculiar talent - he has spent the last decade of his life beneath the bloody banners of a half-dozen mercenary guilds, hunting precisely such festering wickedness within the borders of Viridian.
-
-
A difficult slog
- By Tony G. on 10-07-19
By: Bryce O'Connor, and others
-
The Weirkey Chronicles Omnibus
- Books 1-3
- By: Sarah Lin
- Narrated by: Travis Baldree
- Length: 25 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Betrayed. Murdered. Reborn. One last chance, to make it right. Theo's adventure ended with his mentor's hands around his neck. The betrayal cost him his friends, allies, and everything he had built...but not his life. Though broken and powerless, Theo has one last chance to enter the Nine Worlds, wielding the knowledge and expertise of his first life. This time, he needs more than just power, he needs to unravel the deception that killed him once...and is coming for him again.
-
-
Great Story, Interesting in Audio Format
- By Bernard Dixon on 11-09-23
By: Sarah Lin
-
The Umbral Storm
- Sharded Few, Book 1
- By: Alec Hutson
- Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins
- Length: 23 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A thousand years ago the Heart of the World was shattered, its fragments scattered across the lands. In the chaos that followed, martial orders arose to gather these shards, for it was found that great powers were granted when these pieces were bonded to the flesh of the chosen. These are the Sharded Few, warriors imbued with the divine energies that once coursed through the Heart, and driven to absorb enough fragments to claim godhood.
-
-
So good I almost Sharded
- By Grant Hamilton on 02-05-24
By: Alec Hutson
-
Jake's Magical Market
- By: J.R. Mathews
- Narrated by: Travis Baldree
- Length: 20 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jake is working at the neighborhood market under his apartment when the world ends. He expected nuclear war, a computer virus, or even climate change burning everyone to a crisp to bring about the downfall of civilization. But cruel and arbitrary gods from another world? Who would have guessed that? When these cruel gods shuffled Earth like a deck of cards, nothing was in the same place anymore. Monsters, dungeons, and magical items appear scattered across the globe. And suddenly, everyone has access to a new, strange magical card system that gives them magical powers.
-
-
Lots of 5 star reviews
- By Noah M on 01-09-22
By: J.R. Mathews
-
Kingfall
- The Kingfall Histories, Book 1
- By: David Estes
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 29 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Infused with magic, shadows and starlight, the powerful godblades were believed to be lost nearly half a millennia ago, when the Godswar ended. Now, however, one has been found by the unlikeliest of wielders: Sampson Gaard, a blind but ambitious prince with something to prove. The only question is whether he controls the blade or the blade him. With an insidious evil lurking in the shadows, the answer may very well determine the fate of all Kingfall.
-
-
Pleasant Surprise
- By christain naidu on 07-29-21
By: David Estes
-
Along the Razor's Edge
- The War Eternal, Book 1
- By: Rob J. Hayes
- Narrated by: Moira Quirk
- Length: 12 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At just 15, Eskara Helsene fought in the greatest war mankind has ever known - and lost. There is only one place her enemies would send a Sourcerer as powerful as her: the Pit, a prison sunk so deep into the earth the sun is a distant memory. Now, she finds herself stripped of her magic; a young girl surrounded by thieves, murderers, and worse. In order to survive she will need to make new allies, play the inmates against each other, and find a way out. Her enemies will soon find out that Eskara is not so easily broken.
-
-
Old lady rolls her eyes at past self.
- By mat on 12-23-20
By: Rob J. Hayes
-
Gunmetal Gods
- Gunmetal Gods, Book 1
- By: Zamil Akhtar
- Narrated by: Peter Noble
- Length: 17 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fifty thousand gun-toting paladins march behind him, all baptized in angel blood, thirsty to burn unbelievers. Only the janissaries can stand against them. Their living legend, Kevah, once beheaded a magus amid a hail of ice daggers. But ever since his wife disappeared, he spends his days in a haze of hashish and poetry. To save the kingdom, Kevah must conquer his grief and become the legend he once was. But Micah writes his own legend in blood, and his righteous conquest will stop at nothing. When the gods choose sides, a legend will be etched upon the stars.
-
-
Great Narrator, Great Book
- By KYLE LOCKHAVEN on 10-28-21
By: Zamil Akhtar
-
Fatemarked
- The Fatemarked Epic, Book 1
- By: David Estes
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 19 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
They are the fatemarked. Misunderstood. Worshipped. Hated. Murdered at birth. Their time to step into the light has come. An ancient prophecy foretold their coming, the chosen few who will bring peace to a land embroiled in a century of mistrust and war. When kings start dying, that hope and belief swiftly turns to fear. Roan Loren is one of the fatemarked, but has hidden his mark of power his entire life, fearing the damage it might cause to those around him. A great evil is coming. He can't hide anymore.
-
-
Written to fit an ideology, not the story it tells
- By znidarsic.blaz on 04-30-18
By: David Estes
-
Of Blood and Fire
- The Bound and the Broken, Book 1
- By: Ryan Cahill
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 16 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Epheria is a land divided by war and mistrust. The High Lords of the South squabble and fight, only kept in check by the Dragonguard, traitors of a time long past, who serve the empire of the North. In the remote villages of Southern Epheria, still reeling from the tragic loss of his brother, Calen Bryer prepares for The Proving - a test of courage and skill that not all survive. But when three strangers arrive in the village of Milltown, with a secret they are willing to die for, Calen’s world is ripped from under him and he is thrust headfirst into a war.
-
-
Didn’t expect a “grow up power fantasy”
- By Mike Thomas on 07-23-22
By: Ryan Cahill
-
The Last Shadow Knight
- Shadow Knights, Book 1
- By: Michael Webb
- Narrated by: Tim Campbell
- Length: 13 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On the unforgiving streets of Karad, Veron grows up hungry, inexperienced, and stealing just to survive. After tragedy strikes, he is forced to decide what path his life will take. Opportunity arises when he discovers the last survivor of a secret organization called the Shadow Knights. Apprenticed to learn their ways, Veron begins to develop abilities he never dreamed he could have. Meanwhile, an enemy from across the mountains comes to destroy their kingdom’s way of life, and the Shadow Knights are the only ones able to stop him.
-
-
Mostly good but I have reservations.
- By Christopher on 04-19-22
By: Michael Webb
-
Child of the Daystar
- By: Bryce O'Connor
- Narrated by: Mikael Naramore
- Length: 11 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Among the scattered fringe cities bordering the Cienbal desert, the true name of the Monster of Karth is spoken only in whispers...RAZ I'SYUL ARRO. A sellsword of the utmost caliber, Raz is a killer of paramount skill and highest regard. Towering tall even amongst the atherian, he is the only of his kind to live free in the "civilized" confines of mankind's varied cultures. He has no need of loyalties, his sole affections pledged to the gold crowns that buy his time and skills.
-
-
A Solid Start To A Potentially Great Series
- By Drake Vato on 08-26-16
By: Bryce O'Connor
-
The Murder of Crows Boxed Set
- The Post-Break World: The Murder of Crows
- By: Chris Tullbane
- Narrated by: Joseph P. Vernon, J.S. Arquin
- Length: 39 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the post-Break world of superpowers, necromancy is the one gift nobody wants. But an invitation to the Free States' Academy of Superheroes means that same gift might be Damian Banach's ticket to a brighter future... if only he can avoid the madness ingrained in his powers. There has never been a Crow Cape, but Damian isn't the sort to give up. He'll take control of his destiny or die trying... and he just might bring the post-Break world to its knees along the way.
-
-
Started strong didn’t finish as strong
- By Tracy L. Murphy Jr. on 03-20-25
By: Chris Tullbane
-
Demon's Reign
- The Bloodwood Saga, Book 1
- By: David Estes, Ben Galley
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 22 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Tarkosi Terelta is a nobody. A nobody who will save his world from demons and the hellfire they bring. The third-born of a shamed family, Tarkosi's lot in life is to spend his days as a worker, feeding temperamental lancewings under a harsh master. His days in the bloodwood city of Shal Gara are full of drudgery, tedium, and pain, his own ambitions cast aside in the name of order.
-
-
Amazing world with Amazing story!
- By Anonymous User on 12-07-22
By: David Estes, and others
-
Street Cultivation
- Street Cultivation, Book 1
- By: Sarah Lin
- Narrated by: Travis Baldree
- Length: 13 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The days of traveling martial artists and mountaintop masters are over. Power is controlled by corporations, modernized martial arts sects, and governments. Those at the bottom of society struggle as second class citizens in a world in which power is a commodity. Rick is a young fighter in this world. He doesn't dream of immortality or becoming the strongest, just of building a better life for himself and his sister, who suffers from a spiritual illness. Unfortunately, life isn't that easy.
-
-
Listen.
- By Austin on 01-13-20
By: Sarah Lin
-
Portal to Nova Roma
- By: J.R. Mathews
- Narrated by: Christian J. Gilliland
- Length: 22 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After losing the only person he ever cared about, Alexander, a rogue artificial intelligence, opens a portal to an alternate dimension to escape his grief. Scanning trillions of different dimensions, Alexander finally finds a world that is reminiscent of the only time he was ever happy, back when he could play virtual reality games with his only friend. Only this new world isn't full of idyllic adventures and fantasy roleplaying. Instead, Alexander finds himself trapped in the middle of a city where monsters have ravaged the world and the only people alive struggle to survive.
-
-
I liked the author's other book.
- By Ed Pegg Jr on 09-04-22
By: J.R. Mathews
What listeners say about A Game of Gods
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- The Bookwyrm Speaks
- 12-10-22
An outstanding sequel to The Great Hearts!
I have been on a real streak of good luck in reviewing second books in series lately, and The Great Hearts II is no exception. Picking up where the first book left off in both it's present and past timelines, we get an even better look into the Empire and the lives, past and present, of Calidan, Cassius and the rest of their class of Imperator trainees. It's a story with some dark twists and turns that you just don't see coming.
This book has a really interesting bit of worldbuilding due to the way the story is structured with a storyline set in the present and a storyline set years in the past when the Calidan and Cassius were young men training to become Imperators. Its a really jarring difference, seeing a world that is dealing with the consequences of what we see starting from the shadows in the past timeline, and the very different versions of Calidan and Cassius we see in the present day show the realities of what they have dealt with in years of service to the empire. It's done seamlessly, and you really get drawn into this world. There are also some surprising pieces of technology and magic that hint the world may have a deeper backstory than you've seen so far.
While the world building is excellent, the characters are where this book really shines! Calidan especially stands out. Bound to his giant cat Great Heart Seya, he is gifted with abilities the other imps can only dream of, including heightened strength, senses and healing. This could have made him a conceited bully, but his background and Seya's influence help keep him grounded. He also has higher expectations on him due to his abilities, and he really works at improving himself and protecting his friends, and the empire as a whole. Seeing him switch between midway through his training to being an experienced, jaded Imperator is an interesting shift, and is really well done.
The supporting cast is excellent as well. Cassius is a standout, being Calidan's oldest friend, and having gone through the same trauma as Calidan with the slaughter of their village. He plays off Calidan in a lot of ways, being less of a roguish character and is much more trusting of people, sometimes to his detriment. He makes up for it by being an unmatched swordsman and an excellent partner for Calidan. The rest of the supporting cast bring their own talents and personalities to the group, and they add to the story themselves. It was interesting to see the differences in how Calidan sees the Emperor as a young man seeing him as a mentor and as an experienced Imperial agent, jaded with a much different outlook on the Emperor's actions. The villains are finally starting to reveal themselves in both timelines, and the way they are introduced and tied together across the timelines is seamless, and points to bigger things on the horizon, with world shaking consequences.
The audio version is narrated by the author. He does an excellent job bringing his characters to life, giving each their own unique voice. He injects real personality into each character, and you can feel his love of the characters he has created. His narrative pacing is excellent, and the listener is just drawn into the story and kept there until the end.
A second book in a series can often be a letdown, especially with a series opener as strong as this one had, but this is no sophomore slump. Taking what worked in the first so well, this one expanded both the characters and the world they inhabit, creating something truly special. This book will definitely appeal to fans of dark epic fantasy, and anyone who loves an action packed thrill ride with some truly unexpected twists and turns. I give it my highest recommendation.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!