The Ivory Staff
A Dark Fairy Tale of Kings and War
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
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
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:
-
John Hawks
-
By:
-
M Lachi
About this listen
Samiyah, a young peasant on a quest to find love and honor, wins a chance to attend the royal ball. Beyond her wildest dreams, she finds herself dancing in the arms of Prince Chad, heir to the throne.
As there brews a violent struggle between the brutal ruling-class and the oppressed peasantry, Chad and Samiyah's growing, talk-of-the-town love spawns whispers of bloody uprisings and plots of swift usurpation.
©2017 Mellissa Offoha (P)2017 Mellissa OffohaListeners also enjoyed...
-
A Tale of Light and Shadow: The Tale of Light and Shadow, Book 1
- By: Jacob Gowans
- Narrated by: Shaun Grindell
- Length: 15 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A medieval adventure for young adults, A Tale of Light and Shadow is the story of a boy struggling to become a courageous and honorable man and a girl who is desperately in love with him despite her father's disapproval. The audiobook chronicles the extraordinary tasks their adventure asks of their band of five friends and how those demands can overwhelm and break the bonds of friendship.
-
-
Excellent storytelling and writing!
- By allison keys on 06-01-22
By: Jacob Gowans
-
Citadels of Fire
- Kremlins, Book 1
- By: K.L. Conger
- Narrated by: Cathy Burnham Martin
- Length: 13 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In a world where danger hides in plain sight and no one aspires to more than what they were born to, Inga must find the courage to break the oppressive chains she's been bound with since birth. Even as a maid in the infamous Kremlin, life in 16th-century Russia is bleak and treacherous. That is, until Taras arrives. Convinced that his mother's death when he was a boy was no mere accident, he returned from England to discover what really happened. While there, he gains favor from the Tsar later known as Ivan the Terrible.
-
-
A Totally Fascinating Tale
- By Jill A. Freeman on 06-19-23
By: K.L. Conger
-
From Sand and Ash
- By: Amy Harmon
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
- Length: 12 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As children, Eva Rosselli and Angelo Bianco were raised like family but divided by circumstance and religion. As the years go by, the two find themselves falling in love. But the church calls to Angelo and, despite his deep feelings for Eva, he chooses the priesthood. Now, more than a decade later, Angelo is a Catholic priest and Eva is a woman with nowhere to turn. With the Gestapo closing in, Angelo hides Eva within the walls of a convent.
-
-
Such beauty in the darkest of times <3
- By featherlashes on 12-04-16
By: Amy Harmon
-
The Dragon Cager
- By: Lilian Oake
- Narrated by: Diana Croft
- Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Since her father's sudden death, all Evie wants is comfort and security for her family, especially from dragon cagers. The two-tongued serpents are said to take the shape of a man, woo their ill-fated victims, and then devour them whole. But no one ever told Evie she could be kindred to the creatures. When Evie is framed and exiled, a cager called Lachlann discovers her roaming in the barren dragon country. Now, while being hunted by the same slayers seeking his magic-imbued heart, Evie must put her trust in Lachlann and seek out his clan for help.
-
-
Run....don't walk to get this book
- By BEB on 12-08-22
By: Lilian Oake
-
The House Witch: A Humorous Romantic Fantasy
- The House Witch, Book 1
- By: Delemhach
- Narrated by: Matthew Wolf
- Length: 17 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Finlay Ashowan joins the staff of the King and Queen of Daxaria, he’s an enigma. No one knows where he comes from or how he came to be where he is, which suits Fin just fine. He’s satisfied simply serving as the royal cook, keeping nosy passersby out of his kitchen, and concocting some truly uncanny meals. But Fin’s secret identity doesn’t stay hidden for long. After all, it’s not every day a house witch and his kitten familiar, Kraken, take to meddling in imperial affairs.
-
-
Mary Sue, is that you?
- By Adrienne on 01-25-23
By: Delemhach
-
The Queen of the Tearling
- A Novel
- By: Erika Johansen
- Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren
- Length: 14 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Magic, adventure, mystery, and romance combine in this epic debut in which a young princess must reclaim her dead mother’s throne, learn to be a ruler - and defeat the Red Queen, a powerful and malevolent sorceress determined to destroy her. On her 19th birthday, Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn, raised in exile, sets out on a perilous journey back to the castle of her birth to ascend her rightful throne. Plain and serious, a girl who loves books and learning, Kelsea bears little resemblance to her mother, the vain and frivolous Queen Elyssa.
-
-
Volume changed a lot
- By Nik on 12-20-14
By: Erika Johansen
-
A Tale of Light and Shadow: The Tale of Light and Shadow, Book 1
- By: Jacob Gowans
- Narrated by: Shaun Grindell
- Length: 15 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A medieval adventure for young adults, A Tale of Light and Shadow is the story of a boy struggling to become a courageous and honorable man and a girl who is desperately in love with him despite her father's disapproval. The audiobook chronicles the extraordinary tasks their adventure asks of their band of five friends and how those demands can overwhelm and break the bonds of friendship.
-
-
Excellent storytelling and writing!
- By allison keys on 06-01-22
By: Jacob Gowans
-
Citadels of Fire
- Kremlins, Book 1
- By: K.L. Conger
- Narrated by: Cathy Burnham Martin
- Length: 13 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In a world where danger hides in plain sight and no one aspires to more than what they were born to, Inga must find the courage to break the oppressive chains she's been bound with since birth. Even as a maid in the infamous Kremlin, life in 16th-century Russia is bleak and treacherous. That is, until Taras arrives. Convinced that his mother's death when he was a boy was no mere accident, he returned from England to discover what really happened. While there, he gains favor from the Tsar later known as Ivan the Terrible.
-
-
A Totally Fascinating Tale
- By Jill A. Freeman on 06-19-23
By: K.L. Conger
-
From Sand and Ash
- By: Amy Harmon
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
- Length: 12 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As children, Eva Rosselli and Angelo Bianco were raised like family but divided by circumstance and religion. As the years go by, the two find themselves falling in love. But the church calls to Angelo and, despite his deep feelings for Eva, he chooses the priesthood. Now, more than a decade later, Angelo is a Catholic priest and Eva is a woman with nowhere to turn. With the Gestapo closing in, Angelo hides Eva within the walls of a convent.
-
-
Such beauty in the darkest of times <3
- By featherlashes on 12-04-16
By: Amy Harmon
-
The Dragon Cager
- By: Lilian Oake
- Narrated by: Diana Croft
- Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Since her father's sudden death, all Evie wants is comfort and security for her family, especially from dragon cagers. The two-tongued serpents are said to take the shape of a man, woo their ill-fated victims, and then devour them whole. But no one ever told Evie she could be kindred to the creatures. When Evie is framed and exiled, a cager called Lachlann discovers her roaming in the barren dragon country. Now, while being hunted by the same slayers seeking his magic-imbued heart, Evie must put her trust in Lachlann and seek out his clan for help.
-
-
Run....don't walk to get this book
- By BEB on 12-08-22
By: Lilian Oake
-
The House Witch: A Humorous Romantic Fantasy
- The House Witch, Book 1
- By: Delemhach
- Narrated by: Matthew Wolf
- Length: 17 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Finlay Ashowan joins the staff of the King and Queen of Daxaria, he’s an enigma. No one knows where he comes from or how he came to be where he is, which suits Fin just fine. He’s satisfied simply serving as the royal cook, keeping nosy passersby out of his kitchen, and concocting some truly uncanny meals. But Fin’s secret identity doesn’t stay hidden for long. After all, it’s not every day a house witch and his kitten familiar, Kraken, take to meddling in imperial affairs.
-
-
Mary Sue, is that you?
- By Adrienne on 01-25-23
By: Delemhach
-
The Queen of the Tearling
- A Novel
- By: Erika Johansen
- Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren
- Length: 14 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Magic, adventure, mystery, and romance combine in this epic debut in which a young princess must reclaim her dead mother’s throne, learn to be a ruler - and defeat the Red Queen, a powerful and malevolent sorceress determined to destroy her. On her 19th birthday, Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn, raised in exile, sets out on a perilous journey back to the castle of her birth to ascend her rightful throne. Plain and serious, a girl who loves books and learning, Kelsea bears little resemblance to her mother, the vain and frivolous Queen Elyssa.
-
-
Volume changed a lot
- By Nik on 12-20-14
By: Erika Johansen
-
Ascension
- The Trysmoon Saga, Book 1
- By: Brian K. Fuller
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Gen was a bard's apprentice, his nimble hands meant for the lute and his voice for a song. Then the half-mad and completely bored Shadan Khairn invaded Gen's village to winter there and start a war. He shoved a sword in Gen's hands and tormented his body, shaping a bard into a warrior to be killed for sport. As the days of torture pile up like the snow, Gen searches for death. But the day is at hand when the shattered shards of the world will knit together again, and the world's slain god will be reborn.
-
-
Fantastic Epic Fantasy
- By Andrew Stone on 05-14-15
By: Brian K. Fuller
-
Facing the Sun
- Sun-Blessed Trilogy, Book 1
- By: Carol Beth Anderson
- Narrated by: Carol Beth Anderson
- Length: 11 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Tavi Malin is born facing the sun, filled with greater magic than any other sun-blessed child. At age 14, her magic awakens, but her uncontrolled power nearly destroys her school, leaving her confidence as shaken as her surroundings. Tavi and her friends train to use their gifts, unaware of the threat developing in a distant city. Dissidents have banded together, and they’re killing to attain gray magic, an ominous new force that breaks the rules of ordinary magic. But to seize true power, the Grays must grow their ranks - and Tavi is a prize worth pursuing.
-
-
Unexpected new favorite series
- By Padraik on 10-26-18
-
The Innkeeper's Son
- The Harven Legacy
- By: Jeremy Brooks
- Narrated by: Duncan White
- Length: 25 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Before Desirmor came and broke the peace of the Alexidus monarchy with his army of dark beasts, Princess Harmony Alexidus spoke a prophecy of his rise and fall. He would destroy the warriors of the Harven Mountains. He would make the princess his eternally unwilling bride. Then he would wrap the world in a veil of darkness so tight, the people would forget that light ever existed.
-
-
Cliche fantasy with little to make it stand out.
- By Lore on 07-25-15
By: Jeremy Brooks
-
The Bird and the Blade
- By: Megan Bannen
- Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller
- Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Enslaved in Kipchak Khanate, Jinghua has lost everything: her home, her family, her freedom...until the kingdom is conquered by enemy forces and she finds herself an unlikely conspirator in the escape of Prince Khalaf and his irascible father across the vast Mongol Empire. On the run, with adversaries on all sides and an endless journey ahead, Jinghua hatches a scheme to use the Kipchaks’ exile to return home, a plan that becomes increasingly fraught as her feelings for Khalaf evolve into an impossible love.
-
-
Beautifully written retelling of a world renowned opera
- By TMF5 on 06-12-18
By: Megan Bannen
-
Queen of Someday
- A Stolen Empire Novel
- By: Sherry D. Ficklin
- Narrated by: Elan O'Connor
- Length: 6 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Before she can become the greatest empress in history, 15-year-old Sophia will have to survive her social-climbing mother's quest to put her on the throne of Russia at any cost. Imperial Court holds dangers like nothing Sophia has ever faced before. In the heart of St. Petersburg, surviving means navigating the political, romantic, and religious demands of the bitter Empress Elizabeth and her handsome but sadistic nephew, Peter.
-
-
Hit and Miss.
- By Natalie @ ABookLoversLife on 12-23-14
-
And I Darken
- By: Kiersten White
- Narrated by: Fiona Hardingham
- Length: 13 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
No one expects a princess to be brutal. And Lada Dragwlya likes it that way. Ever since she and her gentle younger brother, Radu, were wrenched from their homeland of Wallachia and abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman courts, Lada has known that being ruthless is the key to survival. She and Radu are doomed to act as pawns in a vicious game, an unseen sword hovering over their every move. For the lineage that makes them special also makes them targets.
-
-
Unique, beautiful, and eye opening
- By joanne on 07-08-16
By: Kiersten White
-
To Keep the Sun Alive
- A Novel
- By: Rabeah Ghaffari
- Narrated by: Rabeah Ghaffari
- Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The year is 1979. The Iranian Revolution is just around the corner, as is a once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse. Meanwhile, in the northeastern city of Naishapur, a retired judge and his wife, Bibi, run an ancient orchard, growing apples, plums, peaches, and sour cherries, and looking after several generations of family members. The days here are marked by long, elaborate lunches on the terrace and arguments about government corruption and the rise of religious fundamentalism, peppered with tales of ancient Persia that foreshadow the seismic political changes to come.
-
-
Interesting story
- By Jayep99 on 11-27-21
By: Rabeah Ghaffari
-
The Affiliate
- By: K.A. Linde
- Narrated by: Erin Mallon
- Length: 10 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On the day of her Presenting, in front of the entire Byern Court, 17-year-old Cyrene Strohm's lifelong plans come to fruition when she's chosen for one of the most prestigious positions in her homeland - an Affiliate to the Queen. Or so she thinks. When Cyrene receives a mysterious letter and an unreadable book, she finds nothing is as it seems.
-
-
Not a fan of Narrator
- By Priscilla on 05-25-17
By: K.A. Linde
-
Beasts of a Little Land
- A Novel
- By: Juhea Kim
- Narrated by: Sue Jean Kim, Raymond Lee
- Length: 13 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1917, deep in the snowy mountains of occupied Korea, an impoverished local hunter on the brink of starvation saves a young Japanese officer from an attacking tiger. In an instant, their fates are connected — and from this encounter unfolds a saga that spans half a century.
-
-
PDF support needed
- By Ann L on 01-06-22
By: Juhea Kim
-
The Healer's Apprentice
- By: Melanie Dickerson
- Narrated by: Jude Mason
- Length: 8 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Rose has been appointed as a healer’s apprentice at Hagenheim Castle, a rare opportunity for a woodcutter’s daughter like her. While she often feels uneasy at the sight of blood, Rose is determined to prove herself capable. Failure will mean returning home to marry the aging bachelor her mother has chosen for her. When Lord Hamlin, the future duke, is injured, it is Rose who must tend to him. As she works to heal his wound, she begins to understand emotions she’s never felt before and wonders if he feels the same.
-
-
A book for the Faithful
- By J.G. on 04-29-17
-
Like a River from Its Course
- By: Kelli Stuart
- Narrated by: Romy Nordlinger
- Length: 14 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An epic novel exposing the ugliness of war and the beauty of hope. The city of Kiev was bombed in Hitler's blitzkrieg across the Soviet Union, but the constant siege was only the beginning for her citizens. In this sweeping historical saga, Kelli Stuart takes the listener on a captivating journey into the little-known history of Ukraine's tragedies through the eyes of four compelling characters who experience the same story from different perspectives.
-
-
Outstanding narrator of a compelling story.
- By DB on 05-07-18
By: Kelli Stuart
-
Kaikeyi
- A Novel
- By: Vaishnavi Patel
- Narrated by: Soneela Nankani
- Length: 17 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
So begins Kaikeyi’s story. The only daughter of the kingdom of Kekaya, she is raised on legends of the gods: how they churned the vast ocean to obtain the nectar of immortality, how they vanquish evil and ensure the land of Bharat prospers, and how they offer powerful boons to the devout and the wise. Yet she watches as her father unceremoniously banishes her mother, listens as her own worth is reduced to how great a marriage alliance she can secure. And when she calls upon the gods for help, they never seem to hear.
-
-
Good effort but dissappointing
- By Purva on 08-17-22
By: Vaishnavi Patel
Related to this topic
-
Ascension
- The Trysmoon Saga, Book 1
- By: Brian K. Fuller
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Gen was a bard's apprentice, his nimble hands meant for the lute and his voice for a song. Then the half-mad and completely bored Shadan Khairn invaded Gen's village to winter there and start a war. He shoved a sword in Gen's hands and tormented his body, shaping a bard into a warrior to be killed for sport. As the days of torture pile up like the snow, Gen searches for death. But the day is at hand when the shattered shards of the world will knit together again, and the world's slain god will be reborn.
-
-
Fantastic Epic Fantasy
- By Andrew Stone on 05-14-15
By: Brian K. Fuller
-
The Affiliate
- By: K.A. Linde
- Narrated by: Erin Mallon
- Length: 10 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On the day of her Presenting, in front of the entire Byern Court, 17-year-old Cyrene Strohm's lifelong plans come to fruition when she's chosen for one of the most prestigious positions in her homeland - an Affiliate to the Queen. Or so she thinks. When Cyrene receives a mysterious letter and an unreadable book, she finds nothing is as it seems.
-
-
Not a fan of Narrator
- By Priscilla on 05-25-17
By: K.A. Linde
-
Like a River from Its Course
- By: Kelli Stuart
- Narrated by: Romy Nordlinger
- Length: 14 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An epic novel exposing the ugliness of war and the beauty of hope. The city of Kiev was bombed in Hitler's blitzkrieg across the Soviet Union, but the constant siege was only the beginning for her citizens. In this sweeping historical saga, Kelli Stuart takes the listener on a captivating journey into the little-known history of Ukraine's tragedies through the eyes of four compelling characters who experience the same story from different perspectives.
-
-
Outstanding narrator of a compelling story.
- By DB on 05-07-18
By: Kelli Stuart
-
Binding Vows
- MacCoinnich Time Travel Series, Book 1
- By: Catherine Bybee
- Narrated by: David Monteath
- Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Duncan MacCoinnich's task... Travel to the twenty-first century Renaissance Faire, deflower the Druid virgins, and go home. Only his job is not so easily accomplished with the virgin in question, Tara McAllister. Time is running out. The evil is closing in on them both. Tara finds Duncan irresistible after what was supposed to be a mock hand-fasting binds them.
-
-
Great Highlander Series - Modern Meets Medieval
- By Maximum Rep Molly on 12-19-13
By: Catherine Bybee
-
The Queen of the Tearling
- A Novel
- By: Erika Johansen
- Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren
- Length: 14 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Magic, adventure, mystery, and romance combine in this epic debut in which a young princess must reclaim her dead mother’s throne, learn to be a ruler - and defeat the Red Queen, a powerful and malevolent sorceress determined to destroy her. On her 19th birthday, Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn, raised in exile, sets out on a perilous journey back to the castle of her birth to ascend her rightful throne. Plain and serious, a girl who loves books and learning, Kelsea bears little resemblance to her mother, the vain and frivolous Queen Elyssa.
-
-
Volume changed a lot
- By Nik on 12-20-14
By: Erika Johansen
-
Finnikin of the Rock
- The Lumatere Chronicles, Book 1
- By: Melina Marchetta
- Narrated by: Jeffrey Cummings
- Length: 12 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At the age of nine, Finnikin is warned by the gods that he must sacrifice a pound of flesh to save his kingdom. He stands on the rock of the three wonders with his friend Prince Balthazar and Balthazar’s cousin, Lucian, and together they mix their blood to safeguard Lumatere. But all safety is shattered during the five days of the unspeakable, when the king and queen and their children are brutally murdered in the palace.
-
-
Finnikin of the Rocks in the Head
- By Skipper on 09-11-15
By: Melina Marchetta
-
Ascension
- The Trysmoon Saga, Book 1
- By: Brian K. Fuller
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Gen was a bard's apprentice, his nimble hands meant for the lute and his voice for a song. Then the half-mad and completely bored Shadan Khairn invaded Gen's village to winter there and start a war. He shoved a sword in Gen's hands and tormented his body, shaping a bard into a warrior to be killed for sport. As the days of torture pile up like the snow, Gen searches for death. But the day is at hand when the shattered shards of the world will knit together again, and the world's slain god will be reborn.
-
-
Fantastic Epic Fantasy
- By Andrew Stone on 05-14-15
By: Brian K. Fuller
-
The Affiliate
- By: K.A. Linde
- Narrated by: Erin Mallon
- Length: 10 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On the day of her Presenting, in front of the entire Byern Court, 17-year-old Cyrene Strohm's lifelong plans come to fruition when she's chosen for one of the most prestigious positions in her homeland - an Affiliate to the Queen. Or so she thinks. When Cyrene receives a mysterious letter and an unreadable book, she finds nothing is as it seems.
-
-
Not a fan of Narrator
- By Priscilla on 05-25-17
By: K.A. Linde
-
Like a River from Its Course
- By: Kelli Stuart
- Narrated by: Romy Nordlinger
- Length: 14 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An epic novel exposing the ugliness of war and the beauty of hope. The city of Kiev was bombed in Hitler's blitzkrieg across the Soviet Union, but the constant siege was only the beginning for her citizens. In this sweeping historical saga, Kelli Stuart takes the listener on a captivating journey into the little-known history of Ukraine's tragedies through the eyes of four compelling characters who experience the same story from different perspectives.
-
-
Outstanding narrator of a compelling story.
- By DB on 05-07-18
By: Kelli Stuart
-
Binding Vows
- MacCoinnich Time Travel Series, Book 1
- By: Catherine Bybee
- Narrated by: David Monteath
- Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Duncan MacCoinnich's task... Travel to the twenty-first century Renaissance Faire, deflower the Druid virgins, and go home. Only his job is not so easily accomplished with the virgin in question, Tara McAllister. Time is running out. The evil is closing in on them both. Tara finds Duncan irresistible after what was supposed to be a mock hand-fasting binds them.
-
-
Great Highlander Series - Modern Meets Medieval
- By Maximum Rep Molly on 12-19-13
By: Catherine Bybee
-
The Queen of the Tearling
- A Novel
- By: Erika Johansen
- Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren
- Length: 14 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Magic, adventure, mystery, and romance combine in this epic debut in which a young princess must reclaim her dead mother’s throne, learn to be a ruler - and defeat the Red Queen, a powerful and malevolent sorceress determined to destroy her. On her 19th birthday, Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn, raised in exile, sets out on a perilous journey back to the castle of her birth to ascend her rightful throne. Plain and serious, a girl who loves books and learning, Kelsea bears little resemblance to her mother, the vain and frivolous Queen Elyssa.
-
-
Volume changed a lot
- By Nik on 12-20-14
By: Erika Johansen
-
Finnikin of the Rock
- The Lumatere Chronicles, Book 1
- By: Melina Marchetta
- Narrated by: Jeffrey Cummings
- Length: 12 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At the age of nine, Finnikin is warned by the gods that he must sacrifice a pound of flesh to save his kingdom. He stands on the rock of the three wonders with his friend Prince Balthazar and Balthazar’s cousin, Lucian, and together they mix their blood to safeguard Lumatere. But all safety is shattered during the five days of the unspeakable, when the king and queen and their children are brutally murdered in the palace.
-
-
Finnikin of the Rocks in the Head
- By Skipper on 09-11-15
By: Melina Marchetta
-
The Great Hunt
- By: Wendy Higgins
- Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
- Length: 9 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When a monstrous beast attacks in Eurona, desperate measures must be taken. The king sends a proclamation to the best and bravest hunters: Whoever kills the creature will win the hand of his daughter, Princess Aerity, as a reward. The princess recognizes her duty but cannot bear the idea of marrying a stranger - she was meant to marry for love - until a brooding local hunter, Paxton Seabolt, catches her attention.
-
-
Brother Grimm inspired YA fairy tale fantasy
- By lisse on 03-10-16
By: Wendy Higgins
-
Sword and Verse
- By: Kathy MacMillan
- Narrated by: Emily Rankin
- Length: 11 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Raisa was just a child when she was sold into slavery in the kingdom of Qilara. Before she was taken away, her father had been adamant that she learn to read and write. But where she now lives, literacy is a capital offense for all but the nobility. The written language is closely protected, and only the king, prince, tutor, and tutor-in-training are allowed to learn its very highest form.
-
-
Hormonal Teenagers in the middle of a Slave Revolt
- By Natalie C on 01-21-16
By: Kathy MacMillan
-
Highland Gladiator
- Scots and Swords, Book 1
- By: Kathryn Le Veque
- Narrated by: Brad Wills
- Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Truth. Justice. Revenge. Behind these stands The Scotsman's Sword. When Lor Careston's quiet Highland village was attacked and burned, he felt helpless against the raiders who destroyed his home. Seeking revenge, but lacking the fighting skills he needs to execute his mission, he sets out to find the Ludus Caledonia - a mysterious fight guild that turns men into warriors. Lor trains hard, proves himself in the ring, and earns a place with the very clan that decimated his home, having decided to set his plan for revenge in motion from inside the clan.
-
-
Wonderful!
- By Virginia on 08-31-20
By: Kathryn Le Veque
-
The Treasure of Isian
- By: Serena Clarke
- Narrated by: Carolyn Kashner
- Length: 5 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Prince Garin is a brave, proud, adventure-seeking prince. Elani is his most trusted servant, and she would do anything for him - even die for him. Their quest to find the mystical Treasure of Isian is immediately interrupted, and they find themselves confronted by angry giants, soul-stealing elves, bewitched dragons, a vengeful water-witch, battling foes, and a mysterious kingdom. Elani must face her greatest fears to save her prince and her kingdom.
-
-
Enjoyable.
- By Natalie @ ABookLoversLife on 12-29-17
By: Serena Clarke
-
The Space Between Us
- By: Thrity Umrigar
- Narrated by: Purva Bedi
- Length: 12 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Best-selling author Thrity Umrigar won the Nieman Fellowship and earned a finalist spot for the PEN/Beyond Margins award with The Space Between Us. Set in modern-day India, this evocative novel follows upper-middle-class Parsi housewife Sera Dubash and 65-year-old illiterate household worker Bhima as they make their way through life. Though separated by their stations in life, the two women share bonds of womanhood that prove far stronger than the divisions of class or culture.
-
-
A Story that stays with you
- By gardener97 on 04-25-15
By: Thrity Umrigar
-
The Falls of Erith
- By: Kathryn Le Veque
- Narrated by: Brian J. Gill
- Length: 11 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
1305 A.D. Being descended from great, though disgraced family, can be a greater curse than most. As a direct descendent of Simon de Montfort, Lady Gray de Montfort Serroux has lived her life with the axe of shame hanging over her head. Because of this, her marriage matches were limited and she wed a dishonorable man who widowed her when he was murdered in a gambling game. Left with a young daughter to support, Gray and her daughter and her mother have been living in poverty.
-
-
Overall moving story from beginning to end
- By Ellen on 10-30-14
By: Kathryn Le Veque
-
Cleopatra's Moon
- By: Vicky A. Shecter
- Narrated by: Kirsten Potter
- Length: 12 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Princess of Egypt.... Cleopatra Selene is the only daughter of the brilliant Queen Cleopatra of Egypt and General Marcus Antonius of Rome. She’s grown up with jewels on her arms, servants at her feet, and all the pleasures of a palace at her command, and she wants only to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a great and powerful queen. Prisoner of Rome.... Then the Roman ruler Octavianus, who has always wanted Egypt’s wealth, launches a war that destroys all Selene has ever known.
-
-
Great Book
- By Linda on 08-07-11
By: Vicky A. Shecter
-
The Sword-Edged Blonde
- By: Alex Bledsoe
- Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
- Length: 8 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It should have been a case like any other: a missing princess, a king willing to pay in gold for her return. But before he realizes it, private investigator Eddie LaCrosse, a slightly shopworn sword jockey with a talent for discretion and detection, is swept up in a web of mystery and deceit involving a brutally murdered royal heir, a queen accused of an unspeakable crime, and the tragic past he thought he'd left behind.
-
-
No Redeeming Qualities
- By MightyMite68 on 09-27-20
By: Alex Bledsoe
-
Push Not the River
- By: James Conroyd Martin
- Narrated by: Dawn Harvey
- Length: 19 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Push Not the River is the rich story of Poland in the late 1700's - a time of heartache and turmoil as the country's once peaceful people are torn apart by neighboring countries and divided loyalties. It is then, at the young and vulnerable age of seventeen, that Lady Anna Maria Berezowska loses both of her parents and must leave the only home she has ever known.
-
-
Save your time; buy something else.
- By AMS on 10-22-15
-
The Glass Castle
- By: Trisha Priebe, Jerry B. Jenkins
- Narrated by: Jaimee Draper
- Length: 5 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Avery, Kate, Tuck, and Kendrick take charge of an underground network of kidnapped children, inspiring them to believe that their pasts do not dictate their futures and pledging to do the hardest thing of all...reunite the children with the homes they left behind. When they discover that one among them might be the child of a man who wants them dead, will everything they are working for be lost?
-
-
Awesome audible
- By Angela C on 08-06-20
By: Trisha Priebe, and others
-
Knight of a Trillion Stars
- Matrix of Destiny, Book 1
- By: Dara Joy
- Narrated by: Rebecca Cook
- Length: 11 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fired from her job and exhausted from her miserable commute, the last thing Deana Jones needs when she gets home is to find an alien in her living room. But how else to explain the man who claims he is from beyond the stars? He says his name is Lorgin and that she is part of his celestial destiny. Deana thinks his reasoning is ridiculous, and she knows he's making an error of cosmic proportions. But his touch is electric, and Deana starts to wonder if maybe their passion isn't written in the stars....
-
-
Don't judge it by the cover!
- By bluebelle on 04-22-11
By: Dara Joy
-
Tess of the Road
- By: Rachel Hartman
- Narrated by: Katharine Lee McEwan
- Length: 16 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the medieval kingdom of Goredd, women are expected to be ladies, men are their protectors, and dragons can be whomever they choose. Tess is none of these things. Tess is...different. She speaks out of turn, has wild ideas, and can't seem to keep out of trouble. Then Tess goes too far. Tess's family decide the only path for her is a nunnery. But on the day she is to join the nuns, Tess chooses a different path for herself. She cuts her hair, pulls on her boots, and sets out on a journey. She's not running away, she's running towards something.
-
-
Beautiful and Boring, Both.
- By Ryan on 04-05-19
By: Rachel Hartman
What listeners say about The Ivory Staff
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- The Book Junkie Reads . . .
- 06-23-19
took too long to get to the dark
Lost. Confused. Then just down right frustrated. The Ivory Staff was filled with some interesting characters, secrets, lies, deception, and then there was the forbidden. The forbidden was what lured me in. Okay that is partial true. The idea of a dark fairy tale lured me in. For me things were slow.
The narrator did the job necessary to provide a vivid picture.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- KRW
- 12-17-17
Dark Fantasy mixes with war, secrets, and love.
This book captivated me from the first chapter. Opening into mystery and suspense is a gripping way to introduce a story, and hooks me in every time. Quickly introduced to colorful characters and a diverse culture from my own, my imagination had plenty to feast on.
Stories about war, especially dark fantasies, are a guilty pleasure of mine. When they are well written, with a pace that flows like butter, I can't get enough. The Ivory Staff definitely qualifies on all accounts, and quickly became a favorite read for 2017. I immediately wanted to know more about the mysterious war, the missing parents, the orphaned boy, and the strong, passionate girl who didn't tolerate being pitied. As the story progressed, I was pulled further into this fantasy, caught up in the dark politics, corruption, and enormous chances taken in love.
Samiyah and Chad's story is mainly told after the fact, to the teenager Maliko by his uncle Pan (the king), and his chief male servant and friend, Saab. Experiencing the stories told to Maliko as he hears them for the first time was a creative way to explain the past, and answer the questions both Maliko and the reader itch to have answered. Filled with clashes of classes, a lottery of a ball for Chad to pick a bride, and rebellious passion, the overall story is captivating. Even though the place is made up, it's easy to imagine it exists, as it pulls you into it's fantasy.
While I'm sure the written version is very good, I had the pleasure of experiencing the audiobook. The narrator did a wonderful job with the characters, and seemed to fit the story very well. His voice pulled me into Mutarobi, giving the story wonderful layers of depth. Considering the story is nearly thirteen hours, I'd say he is definitely a talented narrator, as every minute was captivating.
This is definitely a book to add to your reading list, written or audiobook format. I'm sure it won't disappoint. I would definitely look out for more works by this author, and am grateful to have had the opportunity to escape into this story for a few days.
*I was given a complimentary audiobook edition of this book, from the author, to listen to in exchange for an honest review.
~Rose
@Desert Rose Reviews
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- DabOfDarkness
- 12-31-17
Needs a bit of polishing
It took me a bit to get into this story, partly due to the narration (discussed below). Everything starts off so full of sunshine, kids laughing, family camaraderie, etc. and I was expecting a dark fantasy novel. Now, the story does take a walk on the darkside for much of the book but it takes a little while to get there. Maliko is on the cusp of manhood and has many questions about his parentage. His Uncle Pan and a chief leader, Saab, take us back a generation as they relate the tale of Maliko’s mom, Samiya (AKA Siya).
The world building was the most interesting part of this book. This is a fantasy of sorts that takes place on a mythical island Mutarobi off the coast of Africa set in our modern world. So there’s a distant United States and bill folds and flush toilets and such. There’s not really any magic, just these characters in Mutarobi trying to make the best of a bad situation. The land is in balance at the beginning of the tale but then the bulk of the story happens in this lengthy flashback. The Madanis used to be subjugated by the ruling class, the Kasimo. The tale of Samiya, a Madani, shows us how terrible the subjugation is and how corrupt most of those in power are.
I had difficulty getting attached to any of the characters. Perhaps Maliko is my favorite but he has only a small role at the beginning and the end. I do enjoy flawed characters but I had trouble discerning the nature of each one. For instance, there’s a main character who professes a great love for Samiya and later in thestory he reflects on the simpler and innocent times like the big celebration ball where he met her and all he wanted to do was violate her. Yep. Violate, as in rape. The characters use those two terms interchangeably. So I had trouble rooting for this ‘hero’ especially as he didn’t ever learn that rape is essentially a bad thing.
Samiya goes to this grand ball, feeling it a great privilege to have been invited since she is of the Madani tribe. Yet she goes there full well knowing she may be violated by a ruling Kasimo, and she counts this as a blessing and a chance to increase her value. Hmmm…. yeah. I needed a bit more to make that work for me. So I didn’t really see Samiya as a hero either though later she does become a tragic character.
All the view points are from the male characters and I felt this left an imbalance. Samiya comes off as a bit of a doe-eyed bimbo at the beginning of her tale. Her favorite things to do are please other people and laugh. To me, that sounds like something a 6 year old would say at a beauty pageant. Later she gets a little depth as we see how motherhood affects her, but even then her sensuality is the most important characteristic to the story. We are told how she has these other great abilities, like being able to do intricate math in her head. Yet we never see it. She wasn’t a well rounded character and all the other female characters have very small roles. We never get to ride around in their heads and are left to infer their inner feelings and thoughts by what they say and do. Meanwhile, we get to hang out in the guys’s heads and hear all about their appreciation of the female form, their loves and lusts, and concerns over STDs.
About half-way through the story, the pace finally picks up and big stuff starts happening. I definitely enjoyed the second half of the book quite a bit more than the first half. The characters are reaping the fruits of their deeds and not all are pleased! There’s some drama and murder and possible adultery and big upheavals. The ending was satisfying, explaining to Maliko how the Mutarobi he knows and loves came to be. All together, I give this 3.5/5 stars.
The Narration: John Hawks has a very pleasant voice and an accent fitting for this story. However, there were so many mispronounced words that I often lost track of the story as I puzzled out what was meant. For instance, the word curtsy is pronounced as kurdside, writhed is pronounced as wreathed, glowered is pronounced as glow red, etc. Also, there wasn’t much distinction in character voices and that made it difficult to keep track of who was doing and saying what. His female voices lacked femininity. Also, there were several sentences repeated in the recording. Sometimes the recording sounded like it was done in a cavern. On the other hand, his pacing was good. 2.5/3 stars for the narration.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by M. Lachi. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!