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The Cloud Roads

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The Cloud Roads

By: Martha Wells
Narrated by: Christopher Kipiniak
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About this listen

Moon has spent his life hiding what he is - a shape-shifter able to transform himself into a winged creature of flight. An orphan with only vague memories of his own kind, Moon tries to fit in among the tribes of his river valley, with mixed success. Just as Moon is once again cast out by his adopted tribe, he discovers a shape-shifter like himself... someone who seems to know exactly what he is, who promises that Moon will be welcomed into his community.

What this stranger doesn't tell Moon is that his presence will tip the balance of power... that his extraordinary lineage is crucial to the colony's survival... and that his people face extinction at the hands of the dreaded Fell! Now Moon must overcome a lifetime of conditioning in order to save himself - and his newfound kin.

©2011 Martha Wells (P)2011 Audible, Inc. Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Science Fiction Shifter

Critic Reviews

"Martha Wells' books always make me remember why I love to read. In The Cloud Roads, she invents yet another rich and astonishingly detailed setting, where many races and cultures uneasily co-exist in a world constantly threatened by soulless predators. But the vivid world-building and nonstop action really serve as a backdrop for the heart of the novel - the universal human themes of loneliness, loss, and the powerful drive to find somewhere to belong." (Sharon Shinn)
"Wells merrily ignores genre conventions as she spins an exciting adventure around an alien hero who anyone can identify with." (Publishers Weekly)
"Wells... has created a new world of dragonlike shapeshifters and human tribes that could serve as the background for future novels in this exotic setting. Concise storytelling and believable characters make this a good addition to most fantasy collections." (Library Journal)
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Most relevant
I have read all of the books in the series now... this is the first one and it introduces the characters and world of the Raksura... though I'm still unsure really what they look like do they have human faces in their shifted form or a more dragon like appearance... The gender turnaround is fun and it was a nicely fleshed out story

Good science fiction reading

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This is my second Martha Wells series after Murder Bot. I went into this without knowing what to expect. what I got was an introduction to a great world, amazing characters and a compelling story I just had to binge!

The narration is great, all the characters sound good.

I'm definitely getting the next in the series.

Fantastic world filled with great characters

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I enjoyed this story - nice to read a book that eschews most of the normal gender stereotypes. Great worldbuilding.

Fun story

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Martha Wells is so underrated it is ridiculous. This book has complex world building, a surprising storyline and fabulous characters. The races in this book are brilliant especially the society of shape-shifting Raksura. Highly recommended.
Narration by Christopher Kipiniak is perfect.

Fabulously constructed fantasy world

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