Better than expected!

A squabbling never ending vendetta like story. God I hated Kariana but I have to commend the political problems, the toxicity of her relationships, and the complexity of her drug abuses. Overall, its a unique story and I enjoyed listening to this. The ten hours blazed through like nothing. In the beginning it was hard to keep track of all the numerous point of views and characters, but it was easy to get familiarized about 20 percent into the story. Would recommend.

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3 people found this helpful

50/50

First half of the book wasn't great but the second half was more promising the next book in this series good be very good.

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3 people found this helpful

Couldnt make it through

I received this book for free, but the review is left of my own accord.

I couldnt make it through this. I gave it 3 stars cause it wasnt awful and is probably just more that my tastes had changed over time. I love Gladiator. I really enjoyed 300 and the Spartacus series on Starz. I figured this was going to be up my alley, but I guess something changed since I last watched all of those.
I did not find this interesting and felt like it spent far too long actually doing anything.

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Different

Found difficult to get into. Had to start again. I. The end was a good story.

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Promising Start to a New Series

This title is a promising start to a Middle-Eastern themed fantasy with touches of political intrigue, religion, drug abuse, and the graphic novel 300. Ralph Lister does a great job bringing everything together with his Narration. The characters are distinct and identifiable. I enjoyed it enough to where I am definitely going to be following up with the next volume in the future.

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6 people found this helpful

A great start

Absolutely fantastic start to what is obviously intended as a series of books. I really enjoyed the writing from start to finish. The characters are interesting and well written and I love the politics of the world. Ralph Lister did an excellent job narrating and I think his voice and style is very well suited to these kind of epic/fantastic tales.

I loved this book from start to finish and can't wait to pick up the next one when it comes out.

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3 people found this helpful

Introduced to two worlds that need help

*I was given this free review copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Ralph Lister is a new narrator for me, and I'm thrilled I listened to him! He has a rustic, husky voice that fits for the characters in this fantasy world. He vocalizes each character with a slightly different tone and personality. The emotion and feelings each character is feeling in the moment comes through as well. He laughs where laughing is mentioned, too. This all brings the characters to life for the story.

The prologue tells us what happened and the prophecy that's going to be a problem. I know some people don't like prologues, but I don't mind them. It sets the stage for the worlds history and why there could be trouble in the future, or the now when we get into the book.

We start with the characters in their lives, seeing how they live and what they know. We learn about the stations and standings in the world.

Yazid goes looking for help for a greater evil that's to come, but what he finds is not healthy for him. In search of Meites, Yazid finds a city where there's a terrible unease in the people's social structure and political structure that will grow to more trouble.

The upset in the political structure of one culture brings a new struggle in the process. The terrible political games of life and death could bring new battles to the doorstep of Nihlos, when Yazid and his crew had come in peace. This book tells what Yazid and his men had to live through along with the conspiracies of Nihlos, where Yazid hoped to find allies. There's going to be a long road to get to the great evil that's coming.

We are seeing how the different groups of people live, and how things are falling apart. Everyone has different beliefs and systems in pay, but each system has it's flaws and the flaws seem to be evident. The political structure in Nihlos is on shaky grounds with the Empress and the games people play. We see it crumble more.

I was curious if I was under the proper understanding when the book started as we spent most of the book in the political structure and battles of Nihlos rather than on the path Yazid set forth on. I'm glad the end of the book came back around to what Yazid was talking of and looking for in the beginning. In the end, I realized this book was to introduce us to the cultures present and show that nothing is ever easy.

There was something about the book that held me, had me keep going. At the end, seeing what happens and the tie to the worlds and potential troubles to come, I'm curious to follow on to the next book.

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An Epic In The Making!

This was good, real good. Once it got going it was a great time. I breezed through this book and couldn't stop listening. This definitely is a great series in the making and i am looking forward to starting Book 2.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

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3 people found this helpful

narrator pacing is slow

I tried to give this book a chance but there is just way too much time between sentences to keep my attention. it made it impossible for me to get immersed in this book. I will have to buy and read the actual book.

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alright

the story is alright but I just couldn't get into it, maybe it was just the narrator's voice I just didn't care for too much.

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