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Goldenhand

The Old Kingdom, Book 5

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Goldenhand

By: Garth Nix
Narrated by: Heather Wilds
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About this listen

The long-awaited fifth installment in Garth Nix's New York Times best-selling Old Kingdom series, for listeners who enjoy series by Rae Carson, Kristin Cashore, Scott Westerfeld, and Cassandra Clare.

Goldenhand takes place six months after the events of Abhorsen and follows the novella Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case, which is featured in Across the Wall.

Lirael lost one of her hands in the binding of Orannis, but now she has a new hand, one of gilded steel and Charter Magic. On a dangerous journey, Lirael returns to her childhood home, the Clayr's Glacier, where she was once a Second Assistant Librarian. There a young woman from the distant North brings her a message from her long-dead mother, Arielle. It is a warning about the Witch with No Face. But who is the Witch, and what is she planning? Lirael must use her new powers to save the Old Kingdom from this great danger - and it must be forestalled not only in the living world but also in the cold, remorseless river of Death.

©2016 Garth Nix (P)2016 Listening Library Action & Adventure Epic Fantasy Fiction Literature & Fiction Science Fiction & Fantasy Fantasy Magic Magic Users Royalty Witchcraft
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This one was no exception, although I think perhaps you feel less tension than Abhorsen, it's pretty hard to make anything seem as serious as the world destroyer. I found the romance aspect of this book slightly rushed as well, but still enjoyable. The voice acting was not my favourite but it wasn't awful

I always love an old kingdom book

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That was an amazing story. For the whole book it sounded like a robot talking though. Only negative I can find.

Robot

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Great performance and voice acting, such a shame Tim Curry had a stroke before these were written but this was read wonderfully!

Epic conclusion to the old kingdom series

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l like the story, characterisation and narrator. It was was to visulise this story.

good listening

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Garth provides a wider insight into the Old Kingdom and I enjoyed exploring the Old Kingdom through Nick's eye's while exploring Ancelstierre through Lirael's. I think the romance was paired well being both sweet and awkward which suits them perfectly.
I absolutely adored new characters such as Fenrin and was captivated with each part as her story unfolded.
It was great seeing old favourite characters briefly too.

Unfortunately, the narrator did an absolute horrific job. The diction, pacing, tone, character voices were shockingly bad. I absolutely struggled to listen to the book, first time for an audiobook, frequently fell asleep, and even without losing consciousness I had to relisten over and over again as her narration ripped me from the story continuously.

I honestly can say I will never listen to a book narrated by Heather Wilds ever again. I truly hope Garth and his team re-do the narration of this with Billie (narrator of Terciel and Elinor) who was quite brilliant.

Thrilling Plot Yet Spoilt By Poor Narration

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I love the story but its a different narrator to the others and sometimes she sounds disjointed and weirdly paced.

Loved the series

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I love everything Nix writes, this is a lovely addition to Lirael's story.

I really struggled with the narration, having to come back to the book a few times. She declared her words through the book like each half sentence was it's own phrase, or like she was trying to put too much gravitas into her words. Every few word seemed to be emphasised 'like This to make the Words seem more Powerful' and it got old quick.

Great story, difficult narrator

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beautifully narrated with distinct voices for different characters. a great continuation of the story I grew up reading. Best part was the battle towards the end of the book.

Goldenhand

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I love the Old Kingdom series, I've thoroughly enjoyed going back to this world again.

This was my first audiobook experience and I found it challenging, but convenient.
the narrator was quite versatile and did a good job of distinguishing characters whilst still keeping the flow to the story. I did struggle with the pace of reading, and struggled with some of the way words were pronounced. As you can imagine, don't mentally sound out or picture things the way they are interpreted by another.


Overall good story, I found Lirael a bit frustrating as a protagonist...but that's because I compared her to Sabriel, the much more confident, more established in her craft Abhorsen (even in the first book when their father died). It's a fine balance though, to be grieving, having grown up as an outcast and to have an intimidating older sister/queen must be hard.
I hope there's another Old Kingdom book one day. I love the world, the characters

Loved the story. Having audiobook meant I could listen during walks and the like, so I'll probably give it another go in future

Not bad, but not sold on audio just yet

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loved listening to Tim curry read the first three books in the old kingdom series

sabriel

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