Greatshadow

The Dragon Apocalypse, Book 1

By: James Maxey

Narrated by: Jake Urry

A classic sword and sorcery dungeon crawl to hunt a dangerous dragon!

After stealing a priceless relic from the Church of the Book, Infidel is the world’s most infamous mercenary. Now she’s got her eyes on a new prize, the fabled treasure trove of the dragon Greatshadow. Joining forces with a band of dangerous rogues, can she survive her own allies long enough to face the dragon?

Narrated by Jake Urry!

©2012 James Maxey (P)2017 James Maxey

Critic reviews

"This one is worth reading right now." (Orson Scott Card)

"Greatshadow's level 30+ adventure is charming, not po-faced, with a group of flawed, sarcastic, quick-witted and oddball adventurers that are equally comfortable with set-piece battle and rapid fire sarcasm." (Pornokitsch)

"A magnificently entertaining romp bursting with charm." (SFX)

Ghosts, Dragons, Shapeshifters and More!

James Maxey, author of the Bitterwood series and Nobody Gets the Girl has written another series of epic fantasy with captivating characters, twists you won't see coming and a surprising amount of heart and philosophy.

It's epic fantasy with wit and a sense of adventure and it's not to be missed.

If you are hesitant to read a fantasy series that is incomplete have no worries. They're all written and published! Jump in now and enjoy the rest of the audio books as they are released!


AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY

Deserves the stars

I've read quite a few independent titles in my day, and I just want to start out saying that this is a book that absolutely deserves the 4- and 5-star ratings that it has been getting. I don't say that lightly, either. This is the first time I've given anything a 5-star rating. Let me reiterate: this book was worth it. Every. Minute. Everything just works. Normally I'm not a fan of first-person storytelling, but even that worked in this instance. The character telling the story is not the main hero. In fact, he isn't even seen throughout much of the book. (Hah! Try to wrap your head around that!)

It took me a while to put my finger on what was the most compelling thing about the book, then it hit me: this is a genre mashup, cleverly disguised. Superhero fantasy! The characters here are well thought-out, detailed, and interesting. Heroes, villains, and rogues all stand out and are well-developed - the good, the bad, and the (very) ugly. You see their strengths and their flaws, their motivations and their beliefs. They could have come across as overly powerful and nigh-unbeatable, but the dangers they face are as tough - even tougher - than the strongest of them. (Also, this book has the BEST explanation EVER for the old-school pulp fantasy magazine cover metal bikini.)

The setting stands out as strikingly original, as well. This world is unique in that priestly magic dominates instead of the usual scholarly wizard. If you're familiar with old-school Dungeons and Dragons then the the land would be one part Dragonlance (epic storytelling, over-powerful dragons) and one part Dark Sun (elemental magic, powerful heroes). It's a well-thought-out mythology that is unique and added to my interest in the book.

Jake Urry does a great job with the narration. His voice is smooth as silk, and he does a fine job with the characters. I don't think I could have even imagined a better voice for No-Face. His voice was so smooth at times I wished he had a little more variation to his delivery to fit the mood of the situation, particularly in the action scenes.

Stagger and Infidel are on a great quest. There are dragons to fight. Ruins to explore. Friends (and frenemies) to meet like Lord Tower, Relic, Menagerie, and Aurora. Battles will be won. Lives will be lost. Won't you come along? I bet you won't be disappointed.

A truly original epic fantasy

Greatshadow is a truly original epic fantasy. The story it’s self is that a group of unlikely allies get together to try and kill a dragon, and anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. There is a good amount of silly mixed in, but it kept me engaged from start to finish. I didn’t want to pause the book at all, which is hard to say for most 13 hour novels. What really sets this book apart from other epic fantasy novels is the way in which the story was told. I’ve never heard of another story told from the POV of a dead guy, who isn’t really the main character. Plus, there are a few times that he breaks the fourth wall, but it an entertaining and well-done way. There is also large and diverse cast that shouldn’t be able to work together, yet somehow, they do... Kind of. The story has fantastic narration, with Jake Urry performing a huge amount of voices, but keeping them all separated and easily distinguishable. He especially does a great job with the dragon voices. Overall, this was a thoroughly entertaining book and I can’t wait for book two.

This audiobook was provided by the narrator at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review.

Love the narration and point of view

Would you listen to Greatshadow again? Why?

No but I dont listen to audio books more than once.

Who was your favorite character and why?

stagger

What does Jake Urry bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

his portrayal of stagger is great, he doesn't really use much to distinguish between other characters tho.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Any additional comments?

I didn't even think this would be a great book but I have a large library and good books are getting scarce. so it was pleasant to find this one. almost a blend of super heroes and sword and sorcery. the world building is a little lacking but the characters are vibrant and you get to know them really well. And it has a perfect amount of humor added in to the story. The point of view is honestly one of the best, a first person but also third person as well and done in an extremely unique way. It was great!

Will there be Monkey for dinner?

If you like fantasy, dragons, and a band of rogues with a mission, I think you will enjoy reading or listening to “Greatshadow” which is the first book in “The Dragon Apocalypse” series. The book is written by James Maxey and the audiobook edition is skillfully performed by Jake Urry. Take pieces of “Lord of the Rings”, “NeverEnding Story”, “The Da Vinci Code”, and “Ocean’s Eleven” and you get a small taste of what you can expect in Greatshadow. Strap on your seatbelt as this is an action-packed fantasy tale that takes a well-warn idea and makes it new, exciting, and interesting. The physical book comes in at about 360 pages and the Audible audiobook is nearly thirteen and a half hours long. The story is complex, the characters are fragile, the task is impossible, and the consequences are the lives of our band of adventurers; potentially the entire world. One thing that sets this book apart from many others is that although it is a series, the book can be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone work. I’m not sure if that will be the case for future books or not. The story is not only about defeating a grand and powerful dragon. It is also a battle for not only treasure, but truth as well. If this sounds interesting, I recommend you pick up a copy and dive into this majestic adventure. What’s stopping you, the book has dragons in it!

Although there were times I was briefly lost when the story shifted from one plot line to another, it was easy to pick back up and get on track. In many ways, the story’s complexity made it feel larger and more substantial, but I highly recommend setting aside time to read and enjoy it. It requires focus; this is not a book you can listen to while performing tasks requiring your attention. I enjoyed the author’s use of aptronym when naming his characters. In some ways, such usage reminded me of “Pilgrim’s Progress”; for those familiar with the book you will understand what I mean. The book’s character names often fit or reflected their overall personalities. I appreciated the detailed writing and storytelling style giving me a better view into this new and rather strange fantasy world. Even though the book was packed with action, such as with the opening scene, the author did not fail to include some deeper and important aspects that brought the characters to life. There were scenes that included both deep emotional aspect and even some light (at times crude) humor. I felt the book was well balanced by keeping me on a rollercoaster ride emotionally. In a day and age where nearly every main story characters are invincible, like super heroes, this book’s characters were more life-like because each was flawed and needed to depend on the other characters strengths to survive. It was like the relationships of Gilligan’s Island placed in a fantasy world.

The book had a few of the standard fantasy tropes one would expect, but it also included some new and unique creatures, powers, and magic systems. I liked the concept of the Wardolls giving the story a bit of a futuristic or steampunk feel at times. Many of the main characters had rather strong backstories so you could better empathies when they struggled. The band of characters are quite a unique as most of them would often be repelled by each other if not for the central goal of hunting the dragon. What surprised me most about the book was the perspective from which it was told. I do not want to give any spoilers, but needless to say I was caught off guard, but once I got used to it, I enjoyed it quite a bit. As intense as the story was, the author provided relief through the use of humor, many times when it was needed. I had to laugh out loud when one of the characters favorite foods is monkey and their favorite color is black. The author pulls from details shared at different times and surprises the reader with them much later in the book. I liked the many surprises.

Jake Urry has a deep and rich narrating voice which adds to the weighty and heavy feel of the book. The multiple characters were all well and uniquely voiced along with their many different accents. Although there were a few slight volume inconsistencies, they were only noticeable if you listened very closely. There were no observable audio artifacts while I listened. Even though he does not have a large number of narrations released on Audible (at the time of this review), I have already enjoyed a few of his other works and he has quite a diverse category of genres he voices.

For parents or younger readers, this book contains some crass and childish humor, light use of vulgar language, along with some adult subject matter of a sexual nature. At times, there are references or dialogue around specific bodily parts and a scene describing passionate romantic love which may be a bit more intense for younger readers. If you are at all offended by any of these, I would recommend to not read this book.

In summary, the book was overall enjoyable yet at times quite complex with some time travel, flashbacks, etc. that could have you feeling lost or confused. Stick with it and you will find a tale that is full of twists and turns, intrigue, and strong relationships. If you can get past a few of the language issues pointed out above, I would recommend picking up this book. Although it is a series, remember it can be read as a stand-along novel. What would it hurt by dipping your toes into this first book of what is to become a much bigger story?

Disclaimer: I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.

Fantastic & Funny!!!

Greatshadow is book one in what is sure to be a must read series for all Fantasy fans. I found the story fresh and funny and captivated me from start to finish. Jake Urry did well as narrator with easy to understand yet distinguishable characters. I look forward to more in this series and from this Author and narrator.

Intriguing Fantasy.

Whilst being chased through the jungle by pygmies, Stagger and Infidel have no choice but to jump off a cliff into the water. Unfortunately Stagger accidentally stabs and kills himself with his knife. He then becomes bound to the knife and has to go where it goes. Infidel, is distraught but gathers up his knife and flees. She needs a job so joins a quest to slay the mighty Greatshadow, but the gang of unlikely accomplices have there work cut out for them trying to slay an elemental Dragon.

I have to say that I did not expect to love this as much as I did!! The author has created a very vivid and intrinsic world and one I absolutely adored! There is so much happening within the pages that it was impossible to put down. The world the author created was extremely well crafted and pleasantly unique.

Character wise, we have a wide variety of them but each was well written and developed. We have a warrior whom is nearly indestructible, a priest who can sense lies and other untruths, he is also powerful in his own right, we have a deceiver who can make you believe anything, a man who can bring armor into being just by opening a book and more, plus we have dragons!!! It was amazing to read about them all.

The plot was fast paced and so entertaining. The quest they set out on is impossible because everyone who has tried has failed, plus, how can you defeat the Dragon of fire? I also loved how the story was told!! It was told via Staggers POV, even though he is a ghost!! It was a refreshing way for it to be told and I thoroughly enjoyed Stagger!

In all, an intriguing, exciting and adventurous tale and I'm so glad it seems to be a series. I want to know more about the world and characters!!

Jake Urry surpassed himself with his narration here. Every book I've listened to that he has narrated has been a 5 star narration, but this one was even better. The sheer amount of tones and voices he had was phenomenal! He was goofy and silly when needed (the goons) and tense and serious when called for. His voice for the dragons were amazing and he nailed the performance of the whole book. Amazing narration!!!

I was voluntarily provided this audiobook for free from the author, narrator, or publisher. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.

Great writing!

What made the experience of listening to Greatshadow the most enjoyable?

I love how different each character is.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I liked Lord Tower and his holy armor.

Which character – as performed by Jake Urry – was your favorite?

No face was hard to understand at times. Other than that, each one sounded unique and real.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I found myself excited to pick up where I left off. But it did take me a week to find the time to finish it.

Any additional comments?

Great story, great writing, can't wait for the next one!

LOVE!!

I received this #Audible #audiobook in exchange for an honest review via #LibraryThing.

TBH, the first 30 minutes or so of the book, I was not sold...in fact, I almost DNFed this one.

I am glad I didn't.

This was a very entertaining read...it reminded me a little bit of Eragon, but for adults. It was adventurous, funny, and all-together captivating!

I loved the different characters in the group...their powers were fantastic and really pushed the book forward in regards to keeping my interest...what will happen next!? I love the fantastical creatures and people, I would love to see a prequel in this series for the Black Swan...definitely an interesting character!

I really hope that I can be a reviewer for any future books in this series! The narrator was fantastic, which also helps with maintaining engagement as a listener.

#punkrocklibrarian

Entertaining adventure entwined with characters

What did you like best about this story?

We start off with seeing Stagger and Infidel in their full character as they escape a lava pygmy temple. How they escape says a lot about their personalities and friendship. Also gives us a action start to bring us into the world with them. I totally loved it. I was sold on the daring characters from the opening.

Infidel is one brutal woman! I love it! She's magically strong and seems to have no fear with her strength as she does withstand some heavy events and keeps on going. Infidel comes to a realization early in the book and grows from it as we move through events. Infidel feels to have been a person in need of healing, and didn't realize it until she lost one person dear to her. Wonderful writing for Infidel and her growth.

Have you listened to any of Jake Urry’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

A cool addition in listening to the audiobook for me, we get small sound effects! There's a noise that matches the waterfall, lightly in the background to give us the feel of the story with the narration. I enjoyed the sly or laid back, knowing voice of the clientele at Black Swan that he used. Very fitting of the characters! I found I really enjoyed Jake as the narrator for this book. He felt to bring life to the words and characters as he spoke. When listening to audiobooks, sometimes a wonderful thing happens - you don't even know you are listening. Yep, it happened here. Jake told the story with what felt to be the characters personalities and lived in their emotions. This brings a book to a whole fourth dimension that's enjoyable for us.

Any additional comments?

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

I very much enjoyed the story from the beginning. It's told from Stagger's view of things happening. I was pleasantly surprised at how well everything fits as we watch and experience with him. We interact with many different beings from Ogre to dwarf and magic inclined people. And of course, dragons. Very interesting world.

The story plot has an overall slower pace like traditional fantasy. But it's what happens in those moments that are amazing. Even though the plot is slower, the story is far from it. We get to see the world and know the characters through adventure and danger. There is magic and different beings present that we get to meet through actions. I even found I got to smile and chuckle at this story. When you meet Reeker and get to witness what he can do, you'll be smiling too. lol.

I found it interesting how the characters on the journey to kill Greatshadow have their lives intertwined with this adventure. We learn a great deal about them and face dangers as we journey, and I didn't realize that we were still working to get to the dragon. I didn't feel as though the book needed to skip ahead or anything. I truly enjoyed the story from the view point we got it.