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  • Conan: Blood of the Serpent

  • The All-New Chronicles of the World's Greatest Barbarian Hero
  • By: S. M. Stirling
  • Narrated by: Bradford Hastings
  • Length: 12 hrs and 10 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (201 ratings)

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Conan: Blood of the Serpent

By: S. M. Stirling
Narrated by: Bradford Hastings
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Publisher's summary

The pulse-pounding return of Conan, the most iconic fantasy hero in popular culture

Conan the Barbarian, the world’s most famous fantasy hero, returns in an all-new novel tied directly to the famous works by his legendary creator, Robert E. Howard.

In this story, set early in his life, Conan has left his northern homeland to cut a bloody swath across the legendary Hyborian Age. A mercenary, a soldier, a thief, and a pirate, he faces conquering armies, malicious sorcerers, and monstrous creatures—against which he wields only the sword held in his powerful grasp.

The first new Conan novel in more than a decade, Blood of the Serpent leads directly into one of Robert E. Howard’s most famous sword-and-sorcery adventures, “Red Nails,” which as a bonus feature is included in this volume.

©2022 Conan Properties International LLC (“CPI”) (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing

What listeners say about Conan: Blood of the Serpent

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Different from the Conan I used to read.


Descent story. Leaves you hanging for the climax... next book better come our soon.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

the story was read well and the writing was super descipive and had good pace, bravo.

only that it ended, keep good works like that coming. Are there any new or relatively new Conan stories if so bring them to my attention. Very good listening, thank you.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Entertaining read

Good, well-told story. Stirling gets the character better than most pastiche authors. It made me want to re-read “Red Nails” next, and continue the adventure.

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1 person found this helpful

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

When Conan met Valeria

The story directly precedes the original Conan story “Red Nails” by Robert E Howard. So any reviews saying it ended with the story unresolved haven’t read the original Conan stories or they would have immediately recognized the ending of this book is the literal beginning of Red Nails.

That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book as a recent Conan fan, having read most if not all original Conan pulps by REH. It provided some thorough background information to events only briefly alluded to in Red Nails. The original Conan pulps have a vague chronology at best and much of what happens in between if left to our imagination, so a story like Blood of the Serpent fills some gaps nicely and provides more depth to the Conan universe. I would totally read more Conan material that does just that, since REH’s life was tragically cut short.

The narrator was alright. Not great like any of the Ender’s Game narrators or the Elric of Melniboné narrator or Wil Wheaton from Ready Player One, but he kept me entertained and focused. I’d listen to more Conan audiobooks from him if more are made.

My only major criticism of this audiobook is that despite what the Title Details in the Audible store suggest, this audiobook does NOT include a reading of “Red Nails”. The printed copy of the book probably includes the printed prose but unfortunately this audiobook does not include an audio equivalent. Not the biggest deal for me because I already own a printed copy of “Red Nails” and the Titan comic adaptation, but was still disappointed. So you’ll need to look elsewhere to continue Conan and Valeria’s adventure.

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

Conan returns!

It’s so wonderful to have a new and worthy Conan adventure. Crom shall look on in satisfaction.

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

Ok to good story

I didn’t like the narrator as Conan does not sound like a barbarian. The story itself was ok to good.

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

Weird end

Ends abruptly without resolving a main plot point. Otherwise not bad but not great either.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Conan:Blood of the Serpent

A very good cone and tail. The author was very familiar with the Hyborian age and the references to that age were very welcome.
A true Conan aficionado will appreciate this prelude to one of the greatest Konan stories ever written

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1 person found this helpful

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

Meh, good enough to buy the next one.

It wasn’t great. The story meandered and it wasn’t Conan enough. There was no real ending and it seemed like it was leading up to Red Nails. The narrator was average. I’ll buy the next book just to see where it goes and because it’s Conan. I don’t have high hopes though.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Well written and delivered

This was off the same trail as the originals. The story was also subtly modern. I enjoyed it and hope for more books. Thanks for keeping the torch lit on this story!

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