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The Rage of Dragons
- The Burning, Book One
- Narrated by: Prentice Onayemi
- Series: The Burning, Book 1
- Length: 16 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy
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The Fires of Vengeance
- The Burning, Book 2
- By: Evan Winter
- Narrated by: Prentice Onayemi
- Length: 15 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Desperate to delay an impending attack by the indigenous people of Xidda, Tau and his queen craft a dangerous plan. If Tau succeeds, the queen will have the time she needs to assemble her forces and launch an all-out assault on her own capital city, where her sister is being propped up as the 'true' Queen of the Omehi. If the city can be taken, if Tsiora can reclaim her throne and reunite her people, then the Omehi might have a chance to survive the coming onslaught.
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Still decent
- By Anonymous User on 22-12-2020
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Dreadgod
- Cradle, Book 11
- By: Will Wight
- Narrated by: Travis Baldree
- Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Performance
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Story
The battle in the heavens has left a target on Lindon’s back. His most reliable ally is gone, the Monarchs see him as a threat, and he has inherited one of the most valuable facilities in the world. At any moment, his enemies could band together to kill him. If it weren’t for the Dreadgods. All four are empowered and unleashed, rampaging through Cradle, and grudges old and new must be set aside. The Monarchs need every capable fighter to help them defend their territory.
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amazing as usual. wish it was longer
- By Amazon Customer on 10-07-2022
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The Shadow of the Gods
- By: John Gwynne
- Narrated by: Colin Mace
- Length: 18 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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After the gods warred and drove themselves to extinction, the cataclysm of their fall shattered the land of Vigrið. Now a new world is rising, where power-hungry jarls feud and monsters stalk the woods and mountains. A world where the bones of the dead gods still hold great power for those brave - or desperate - enough to seek them out. As whispers of war echo across the mountains and fjords, fate follows in the footsteps of three people.
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non believable female characters
- By Anonymous User on 01-08-2021
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Nightfall
- The Kingfall Histories, Book 4
- By: David Estes
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 42 hrs and 41 mins
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As heroes and villains seek to secure the seven godblades, the greatest evil to threaten Kingfall draws ever closer. Six of the seven godblades have been revealed, but is Kingfall any safer than it was before these ancient weapons were returned to the light? This and myriad other questions must be answered before the world can know true peace.
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The Sword of Kaigen: A Theonite War Story
- By: M. L. Wang
- Narrated by: Andrew Tell
- Length: 24 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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On a mountainside at the edge of the Kaigenese Empire live the most powerful warriors in the world, superhumans capable of raising the sea and wielding blades of ice. For hundreds of years, the fighters of the Kusanagi Peninsula have held the Empire's enemies at bay, earning their frozen spit of land the name "The Sword of Kaigen". Born into Kusanagi's legendary Matsuda family, f14-year-old Mamoru has always known his purpose: To master his family's fighting techniques and defend his homeland.
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beautiful
- By Anonymous User on 27-07-2022
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The Pariah
- The Covenant of Steel, Book 1
- By: Anthony Ryan
- Narrated by: Steven Brand
- Length: 19 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Born into the troubled kingdom of Albermaine, Alwyn Scribe is raised as an outlaw. Quick of wit and deft with a blade, Alwyn is content with the freedom of the woods and the comradeship of his fellow thieves. But an act of betrayal sets him on a new path - one of blood and vengeance, which eventually leads him to a soldier's life in the king's army. Fighting under the command of Lady Evadine Courlain, a noblewoman beset by visions of a demonic apocalypse, Alwyn must survive war and the deadly intrigues of the nobility if he hopes to claim his vengeance.
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simply amazing
- By Boris on 31-08-2021
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The Fires of Vengeance
- The Burning, Book 2
- By: Evan Winter
- Narrated by: Prentice Onayemi
- Length: 15 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
Desperate to delay an impending attack by the indigenous people of Xidda, Tau and his queen craft a dangerous plan. If Tau succeeds, the queen will have the time she needs to assemble her forces and launch an all-out assault on her own capital city, where her sister is being propped up as the 'true' Queen of the Omehi. If the city can be taken, if Tsiora can reclaim her throne and reunite her people, then the Omehi might have a chance to survive the coming onslaught.
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Still decent
- By Anonymous User on 22-12-2020
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Dreadgod
- Cradle, Book 11
- By: Will Wight
- Narrated by: Travis Baldree
- Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
The battle in the heavens has left a target on Lindon’s back. His most reliable ally is gone, the Monarchs see him as a threat, and he has inherited one of the most valuable facilities in the world. At any moment, his enemies could band together to kill him. If it weren’t for the Dreadgods. All four are empowered and unleashed, rampaging through Cradle, and grudges old and new must be set aside. The Monarchs need every capable fighter to help them defend their territory.
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amazing as usual. wish it was longer
- By Amazon Customer on 10-07-2022
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The Shadow of the Gods
- By: John Gwynne
- Narrated by: Colin Mace
- Length: 18 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After the gods warred and drove themselves to extinction, the cataclysm of their fall shattered the land of Vigrið. Now a new world is rising, where power-hungry jarls feud and monsters stalk the woods and mountains. A world where the bones of the dead gods still hold great power for those brave - or desperate - enough to seek them out. As whispers of war echo across the mountains and fjords, fate follows in the footsteps of three people.
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non believable female characters
- By Anonymous User on 01-08-2021
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Nightfall
- The Kingfall Histories, Book 4
- By: David Estes
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 42 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As heroes and villains seek to secure the seven godblades, the greatest evil to threaten Kingfall draws ever closer. Six of the seven godblades have been revealed, but is Kingfall any safer than it was before these ancient weapons were returned to the light? This and myriad other questions must be answered before the world can know true peace.
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The Sword of Kaigen: A Theonite War Story
- By: M. L. Wang
- Narrated by: Andrew Tell
- Length: 24 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On a mountainside at the edge of the Kaigenese Empire live the most powerful warriors in the world, superhumans capable of raising the sea and wielding blades of ice. For hundreds of years, the fighters of the Kusanagi Peninsula have held the Empire's enemies at bay, earning their frozen spit of land the name "The Sword of Kaigen". Born into Kusanagi's legendary Matsuda family, f14-year-old Mamoru has always known his purpose: To master his family's fighting techniques and defend his homeland.
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beautiful
- By Anonymous User on 27-07-2022
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The Pariah
- The Covenant of Steel, Book 1
- By: Anthony Ryan
- Narrated by: Steven Brand
- Length: 19 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Born into the troubled kingdom of Albermaine, Alwyn Scribe is raised as an outlaw. Quick of wit and deft with a blade, Alwyn is content with the freedom of the woods and the comradeship of his fellow thieves. But an act of betrayal sets him on a new path - one of blood and vengeance, which eventually leads him to a soldier's life in the king's army. Fighting under the command of Lady Evadine Courlain, a noblewoman beset by visions of a demonic apocalypse, Alwyn must survive war and the deadly intrigues of the nobility if he hopes to claim his vengeance.
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simply amazing
- By Boris on 31-08-2021
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Jade City
- By: Fonda Lee
- Narrated by: Andrew Kishino
- Length: 19 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Two crime families, one source of power: jade. Jade is the lifeblood of the city of Janloon - a stone that enhances a warrior's natural strength and speed. Jade is mined, traded, stolen and killed for, controlled by the ruthless No Peak and Mountain families. When a modern drug emerges that allows anyone - even foreigners - to wield jade, simmering tension between the two families erupts into open violence.
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Asian inspired fantasy with a Mafia twist
- By Kate on 30-01-2019
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The Hunger of the Gods
- Book Two of the Bloodsworn Saga
- By: John Gwynne
- Narrated by: Colin Mace
- Length: 22 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Story
Lik-Rifa, the dragon god of legend, has been freed from her eternal prison. Now she plots a new age of blood and conquest. As Orka continues the hunt for her missing son, the Bloodsworn sweep south in a desperate race to save one of their own - and Varg takes the first steps on the path of vengeance. Elvar has sworn to fulfil her blood oath and rescue a prisoner from the clutches of Lik-Rifa and her dragonborn followers, but first she must persuade the Battle-Grim to follow her. Yet even the might of the Bloodsworn and Battle-Grim cannot stand alone against a dragon god.
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Incredible
- By Telmach on 24-04-2022
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The Poppy War
- The Poppy War, Book 1
- By: R. F. Kuang
- Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller
- Length: 18 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Opium runs through the heart of the Nikara Empire, a constant reminder of the war with the Federation of Mugen that brought it to the empire’s shores. A war that only ended thanks to three heroes - the Vipress, the Dragon Emperor and the Gatekeeper - known as the Trifecta. They were legendary figures, each bestowed with godlike powers, who united the warlords of the Empire against the Federation.
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Incredible!
- By Laura on 10-04-2019
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Malice
- The Faithul and Fallen, Book 1
- By: John Gwynne
- Narrated by: Damian Lynch
- Length: 23 hrs and 56 mins
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Young Corban watches enviously as boys become warriors, learning the art of war. He yearns to wield his sword and spear to protect his king’s realm. But that day will come all too soon. Only when he loses those he loves will he learn the true price of courage. The Banished Lands has a violent past where armies of men and giants clashed in battle, the earth running dark with their heartsblood. Although the giant clans were broken in ages past, their ruined fortresses still scar the land.
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The Narrator
- By Rylan on 11-03-2021
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Unsouled
- By: Will Wight
- Narrated by: Travis Baldree
- Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Sacred artists follow a thousand Paths to power, using their souls to control the forces of the natural world. Lindon is Unsouled, forbidden to learn the sacred arts of his clan. When faced with a looming fate he cannot ignore, he must rise beyond anything he's ever known...and forge his own Path.
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An unbelievably underrated series
- By Matthew on 12-04-2019
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Soulsmith
- By: Will Wight
- Narrated by: Travis Baldree
- Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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Outside Sacred Valley, ancient ruins rise from the earth, drawing sacred artists from miles around to fight for the treasures within. Factions rise and fall as warriors bicker over rare resources, but time is limited. A powerful family from the Blackflame Empire is coming to claim the ruins, and when they arrive, no one else will have a chance at the prize. Lindon has reached Copper, taking the first step on the road to power, but the warriors of the outside world are still far beyond him.
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great ending to this one
- By travis on 24-08-2021
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Reaper
- Cradle, Book 10
- By: Will Wight
- Narrated by: Travis Baldree
- Length: 13 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Sacred Valley has been saved...at least, what’s left of it. With his home finally secure, Lindon delves deep into the ancient labyrinth, seeking long-lost Soulsmithing knowledge and the secret to destroying the Dreadgods. Monarchs plot against him and against each other, unaware of the threats gathering in realms beyond. Far above Lindon and the Monarchs and the Dreadgods, another war is waged. Suriel and the Abidan clash against the Mad King and his forces in a battle for the fate of many worlds. And if it is lost, Cradle will be destroyed.
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One of the best
- By Joshua Jones on 15-07-2022
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The Blade Itself
- The First Law: Book One
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 22 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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Inquisitor Glokta, a crippled and bitter relic of the last war, former fencing champion turned torturer, is trapped in a twisted and broken body - not that he allows it to distract him from his daily routine of torturing smugglers.Nobleman, dashing officer and would-be fencing champion Captain Jezal dan Luthar is living a life of ease by cheating his friends at cards. Vain and shallow, the biggest blot on his horizon is having to get out of bed in the morning to train with obsessive and boring old men.
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Gritty, violent, dark..... And hilarious. Enjoy
- By Marc on 15-11-2015
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Jade War
- By: Fonda Lee
- Narrated by: Andrew Kishino
- Length: 24 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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On the island of Kekon, the Kaul family is locked in a violent feud for control of the capital city and the supply of magical jade that endows trained Green Bone warriors with supernatural powers they alone have possessed for hundreds of years. Beyond Kekon's borders, war is brewing. Powerful foreign governments and mercenary criminal kingpins alike turn their eyes on the island nation. Jade, Kekon's most prized resource, could make them rich - or give them the edge they'd need to topple their rivals.
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A gut wrenching masterpiece of fantasy fiction
- By Lachlan on 07-08-2019
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He Who Fights with Monsters 6
- A LitRPG Adventure (He Who Fights with Monsters, Book 6)
- By: Shirtaloon, Travis Deverell
- Narrated by: Heath Miller
- Length: 15 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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The world teeters on the brink of destruction. The people who should be saving the Earth ignore Jason Asano's warnings and choose to loot the house as it burns down around them. He lacks the strength to save the world himself, but resolves to do it anyway, impossible be damned. The impossible, in this case, means seizing a power that no mortal should touch. It's a choice from which there is no turning back, and marks Jason's first step into a wider cosmos that he is not yet ready to face. Holding the fate of two worlds in his hands, Jason must decide for himself what home truly means.
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love these God Dam books
- By Anonymous User on 03-07-2022
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Blackflame
- By: Will Wight
- Narrated by: Travis Baldree
- Length: 11 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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Lindon has a year left. When his time runs out, he’ll have to fight an opponent that no one believes he can beat. Unless he learns sacred arts the right way, from scratch, he won’t have a chance to win...and even then, the odds are against him. In the course of their training, he and Yerin travel to the Blackflame Empire, where they fight to master an ancient power left behind by a fallen clan. This is Lindon’s chance to learn a true Path, but there are those who do not wish to see these lost techniques revived.
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Everything changed when the fire nation attacked
- By Kindle Customer on 15-11-2020
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Kings of the Wyld
- The Band, Book 1
- By: Nicholas Eames
- Narrated by: Jeff Harding
- Length: 17 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Clay Cooper and his band were once the best of the best - the meanest, dirtiest, most feared and admired crew of mercenaries this side of the Heartwyld. But their glory days are long past; the mercs have grown apart and grown old, fat, drunk - or a combination of the three. Then a former bandmate turns up at Clay's door with a plea for help: his daughter Rose is trapped in a city besieged by an enemy horde 100,000 strong and hungry for blood.
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Some Will Like It - Others Wont
- By Fred on 18-06-2020
Publisher's Summary
The Omehi people have been fighting an unwinnable war for generations. The lucky ones are born gifted: some have the power to call down dragons, others can be magically transformed into bigger, stronger, faster killing machines.
Everyone else is fodder, destined to fight and die in the endless war. Tau Tafari wants more than this, but his plans of escape are destroyed when those closest to him are brutally murdered.
With too few gifted left the Omehi are facing genocide, but Tau cares only for revenge. Following an unthinkable path, he will strive to become the greatest swordsman to ever live, willing to die a hundred thousand times for the chance to kill three of his own people.
The Rage of Dragons launches an unmissable epic fantasy series about a world caught in an endless war and the young man who will become his people's only hope for survival.
Critic Reviews
"A captivating epic fantasy from a major new talent." (Anthony Ryan, author of Blood Song)
"Intense, inventive and action-packed from beginning to end - a relentlessly gripping, brilliant read." (James Islington, author of The Shadow of What Was Lost)
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What listeners say about The Rage of Dragons
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Valerie
- 04-11-2020
Fight and Kill and do it again in the next chapter
I am only 2 chapters in and so far it’s all blood. As far as I can tell, one group of people are driven out of their homeland and so invade someone else’s homeland, and guess what, they resist. So they keep fighting. Lots of blood and horrible death, with dragons and magical powers thrown in. Not sure what the point of this will be and am not inclined to bother to find out. If a book starts with 2 long chapters of blood and gore then I’m out. Other reviews are stellar so I dare say I am missing something. The narrator is excellent.
2 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 14-03-2021
A little hard to get into but wanted to read again
Foreign names sounding similiar were a confusion firstly but got my head around 2nd read
1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 16-11-2020
Absolutely amazing!
captivating, epic, emotional rollercoaster. this is definitely on the 'buy hardcover list'. readers performance was 10/10, every voice was distinct and memorable.
1 person found this helpful
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- GIO
- 17-09-2020
best book I've read all year
So much fun. from the world detail and character growth are incredible not to mention the fight scenes
1 person found this helpful
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- Telmach
- 17-09-2020
Wow!
Really great work. It has a darkness to it, in such a well executed way. It took a few hours to really get into the good bits but was immensely captivating once you get there.
I think at first the accents were a bit distracting even though they were very understandable because it's just not what I'm used to (I think even if they were my ethnicities accent I would have felt the same) but once I got into it, I couldn't imagine the story without them, and felt like they really added to the immersive experience. The orator has a really nice voice and switches between the accents and the non-accented 3rd person flawlessly and executed both perfectly.
1 person found this helpful
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- Mark B
- 12-04-2020
Outstanding! Couldn't stop listening
Absolutely loved it. Admittedly the beginning was a bit on the slow side but once Tau's mission was established it took off from there. Absolutely loved Tau and his development shaped by revenge, you can feel his anger and his pain. The development of Tau's swordbrothers throughout the story are fantastic.
A lot of fantasy is influenced largely by english history and culture. Winter went a completely different path and took a lot of his inspiration from african/Zulu history and culture. You can see it in his description of Omehi and how they are built. It is a huge breath of fresh air in the genre and one that gripped me from start to finish. Cannot wait for Book 2 which looks set for release end of July 2020.
5/5
1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 03-06-2022
oh my lord
wow wow, this book is one of the most exhilarating stories I've come across. 10/10.
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- Anonymous User
- 07-09-2021
refreshing and brilliant
Great coming of age, well balanced development and "page turner". Cannot wait to add these books into mu reading rotation 5/5
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- Me
- 08-06-2021
Do not leave unfinished
Gave me chills, would highly recommend this to all. Great sorry and great narrator.
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- Tim
- 04-02-2021
Badass action with a smidge of fantasy
A real swords and sandals type novel, more so than a full on fantasy. Great narration, and the plot was surprisingly good.
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- A fellow human being
- 07-11-2020
Interesting idea, bad execution
In short, this reads like an action movie, or a video game,
There aren't a lot of deep ideas in this book, The main character doesn't really pay any discernable price for it's actions, and the solution to almost every problem the protagonist face is try harder.
That being said the book has it's fight scenes and cathartic closures, mostly in it's midpart, which is probably the best.
The setting and worldbuilding are unreal in the sense that they wouldn't hold in an actual scenario. The economy is illogical and a lot of details don't really make sense. The characters get wounded and come back to battle to quickly for it to matter that they have been almost mortally wounded a few hours back and that kind of makes everything not matter some times.
That being said, if you understand that it's not a book to think about too deeply, it's a fun ride and has it's fair share of cool fight scenes. If I pick up the next installment, it's because I want to turn my mind off, not on.
2 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 07-11-2019
Five Stars It Is
My friends usually tell me, I am too harsh with criticism and I'm a naysayer. They say I should suspend my disbelief if I am to enjoy a book. Sometimes I think they maybe right. But not right now. Not after finishing this book. This is a debut novel from a first time author and now it's also how I tell my friends to fuck themselves.
2 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 16-09-2019
WOW
A wonderful book, so much so that 60 odd books later on Audible this is my first written review.
2 people found this helpful
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- david
- 03-03-2020
I really loved this book
I am giving it 5 stars because I ended up loving the story and the main characters arc.
it is a revenge story where the main character trains harder than anyone else and is ready to sacrifice himself to accomplish his task.
1 person found this helpful
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- Chris
- 17-01-2022
Really enjoyed this. Worth the credit!
Worth the credit. Was fun and cool and interesting. Enjoyed the whole story and recommend it for anyone looking to try it out
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- Patrick Metzler
- 10-11-2021
Excellent epic fantasy
What starts out as an “cultural underdog coming of age” story quickly turns into a captivating world-building and intrigue rich masterpiece.
For me this series feels similar (not in content, but in concept) to the excellent Red Rising series.
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- Amazon Customer
- 17-08-2021
Magnificent. African. Powerful.
I was completely blown away by this beautifully crafted African fantasy. Compelling, nuanced and breathtaking in its scope, this is a story I want more of. I am proud to be African.
A NOTE ON OTHER REVIEWS
I have been extremely disappointed by the thinly veiled racism in so many of the reviews and the fact that there seems to be no moderation of these. It is important that we protect the work of black and African writers and narrators from being buried by this conscious and unconscious bias.
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- Ryan Jamieson
- 11-06-2021
Absolutely Incredible
I cannot believe this is Evan Winter's first novel. The characters and story are just amazing. I sat listening to the last three hours of this book in one sitting. I cannot recommend this incredible work of art enough
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- Barelyspicy
- 22-04-2021
Underwhelming
70% of the book was 2.5/5, there wasn't a lot of progress in the story and most of the chapter were mostly about Tau training and boring revenge talk. the last 2 chapters are what turned it to 3 stars for me.
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- Anonymous User
- 18-12-2020
W is for WOW!
Fantastic! and an unexpectedly much better start to this series : ' The Burning ' . I thought it was hype but from the moment I started listening to this fresh take on the high-fantasy genre,with it'sAfrican themes and very action packed pace, I was hooked. Starting the sequel right away. 7; stars! *******.
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- Rob Hayes
- 05-08-2019
A fantastic start to a fresh new epic fantasy
What a fantastic start to a fresh new epic fantasy tale.
So let’s start with this. The blurb says Rage of Dragons is Game of Thrones meets Gladiator. Well it’s very like Gladiator in many ways, but to say it’s anything like Game of Thrones is doing a disservice to both parties. This book is nothing like GoT. Nothing.
I think this is my first African-inspired epic fantasy book. I certainly can’t remember reading another one. It has a distinct flavour to it from the beginning through to the end, and it really helps to focus the immersion. In a market still largely populated by euro-centric settings, this made the book very fresh to me and I loved it. It felt new, different, and unique.
The narrator, Prentice Onayemi, was fantastic. He really helped bring the characters to life and put a lot of heart into the performance. A narrator can make or break a book when it comes to audio and Prentice certainly helped make this one. It’s fair to say I’ll be continuing the series in audio when future installments release.
So RoD is the story of a civilisation at war with its neighbours. The Omehi people are refuges/invaders and have been fighting against the native population for two hundred years. The war is unwinnable. They’re also a people who have built their society around not only war, but a rigid caste system designed to benefit those of strong blood (basically people who are taller and stronger in this case). Oh, and 1 in every 1000 (I think) women are born gifted which gives them magical powers that can tear a person’s soul out of their body into the underworld, enrage a person to make them giant killing machines, or even call down dragons. Thrown into this world we follow Tau, a commoner with no gifts or special power, or any prospects other than being just another expendable soldier. But Tau has something no one else has… a singular purpose, a drive that makes him push himself beyond his abilities and beyond his station.
There’s a lot of fighting in this book. The world Winter has created revolves around war and we follow a young man training to be a warrior. The fighting is well done with a good balance between description and narrative flow. It works well.
We only really have the one character arc. Tau is our only Point of View (mostly) and he develops naturally. At times he is frustrating as the hells, but then you don’t want your character to be perfect. Still… I wanted to crawl inside the book and slap some sense into him once or twice.
There’s quite a few twists and turns throughout and though a couple are obvious, others are not so much. It also does a fantastic job of setting up the conflict and world for the next in the series. This one is epic fantasy and makes no apologies for it. I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes next.
I have a couple of gripes. There’s some single chapter point of view swaps that make no sense to me. The rest of the book is told through Tau’s perspective and swapping heads just twice was odd and jarring. There’s also a few turns of phrase that were so awkward they pulled me out of the story to scratch my head and in one case laugh… in the middle of a gruesome battle scene. Oh and a sexy-time shaving scene. Ok, that last one is a personal niggle because shaving scenes aren’t sexy, they’re weird and awkward.
I enjoyed the hell out of RoD and can’t wait to continue with the story. I’ve no idea when book 2 will be coming out, but I’ll be picking it up as soon as it does.
I’m going with 4.5 stars for this one so I can round it up to 5. 😀
12 people found this helpful
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- andrea
- 18-11-2020
Great
Loved listening to this book. The narrator had the perfect voice for this story which was gory, sexy and addictive.
2 people found this helpful
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- Cabbages
- 29-02-2020
A slow burner
I do like my fantasy books but am normally fairly vanilla with them in that I like the basic premises people associate with them.
I bought this on the basis of others reviews and am really pleased I did. It's a slow burner and can take a while to understand some of the words used to describe classes and people, however it is well worth sticking with.
The fallible hero and other characters are very well done and you care about their individual personalities.
The set up for the next book is excellent and I am already chomping at the bit for it.
As far as the person reading this, they are just....just..excellent. they have a soft voice that draws you in and help bring each of the different people to life.
Well worth listening to and sticking with.
2 people found this helpful
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- Bella A
- 05-01-2022
Mixed bag
I really enjoyed the world building and there were interesting themes explored. However, as the story progressed it just got clunkier and repetitive. The narrator was not great - really limited range and horrible pronunciation of names which threw me out of the story. I switched off after a while with all the battle scenes and though I made it through to the end of the book, I won't be hanging around for the next one as I was not vested enough in any of the characters or the story.
1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 08-09-2020
4/5. Very cool Mr. Winter
It was a very fun listen and a fantastic first novel by author Evan Winter. I felt that the book tried to do too much in the space it had, and as a result the character work was weaker than I had hoped. Without spoiling anything, much of the development for the protagonist feels forced and, especially at the end, inconsistent. The setting however makes up for it, both for the place and magic systems built up. It's wonderfully original and feels extremely dynamic, helping keep the pace, meaning I finished the book very very quickly.
The audiobook however I felt was let down by the narration. I feel that the big emotional scenes of the book were poorly serviced by the narrator's emotional expressiveness (or lack thereof).
Overall 4/5. An original setting carries the story hard, but it isn't like the characters are unlikable either. I'm looking forward to what Mr. Winter puts out next- I'll be very sad if things don't get better with a start this strong given the author's potential.
1 person found this helpful
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- SoulFireMage
- 26-10-2019
Fantastic, rich, unforgettable
I finished this 5 weeks ago and intended to review it then. It still leaves an impression now. Why oh why isn't the next one ready?
Tau (I may have misspelled it) is brilliantly drawn. If you like to see a character grow and change because of what is happened, because of his choices, and because of the situations he is propelled through, then this swordsman will grab you.
He grinds through hell and blood to gain any scrap of skill he grows into, and you feel his hurt, his experience, everything.
The start is a slow burn, it will take you a little time to feel why the first chapter is at it is but give that rich warm narration the patience it deserves and you'll be rewarded.
This isn't a shallow piece of brain candy, it's an involving detailed brain feast.
The central characters are not dragons themselves, but the people and their fight. It doesn't have simple good and evil, but you will feel a sense of right and wrong, through every slash and blow.
Swordplay is a major part of Tau and of the story but don't let that fool you. If a well developed character battling his way through the problems of his world in a manner that is far from simple has any appeal, then read this.
I loved it.
1 person found this helpful
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- Harry Frost
- 22-07-2022
fresh and brilliant
By the end of the first book in was totally hooked, there were points I didn't trust the author to give me an outcome that felt right, but he did, and kept me guessing. satisfying characters, well judged arcs. the narrator is incredible, I have nothing but praise.
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- Anonymous User
- 04-07-2022
A must read for those interested in fantasy novels
It took a while to understand what was going on and who was who, but as soon as I did I couldn't stop listening to it.
With great character development and extended action scenes this novel was gripping and compelling.
A must listen/read for those who like, The Inheritance Cycle, The Stormlight Archive, or LOTRs etc.
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- Craig Boyle
- 13-05-2022
Incredible
There's something too compelling about a hero overcoming prejudice and getting revenge. Add to that the unusual African inspired setting and the incredible narration and you've got a recipe for one of my favourite fantasy books ever. Blown away.
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- Anonymous User
- 16-03-2022
fantastic book!
I loved this book! It is a combination of swords and sandals style warfare combined with a fantasy world of magic, demons and dragons.
the story itself is as exhilarating and unforgiving.
the Narrator was great, using a soft tone whilst narrating which contrasts perfectly with the harder spoken characters.
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