His Dark Empire

Tears of Blood, Book 1

By: M.R. Forbes

Narrated by: Jeff Hays

A wizard without family....

A warrior without memory....

A world without hope....

One thousand years ago, the world was broken and reborn beneath the boot of a nameless, ageless tyrant. He erased all history of the time before, enslaving the people and hunting those with the power to unseat him.

The power of magic.

Eryn is such a girl. Born with the Curse, she fights to control and conceal it to protect those she loves. But when the truth is revealed, and his soldiers come, she is forced away from her home and into the company of Silas, a deadly fugitive tormented by a fractured past.

Silas knows only that he is a murderer who once hunted the Cursed, and that he and his brothers butchered armies and innocents alike to keep the deep, dark secrets of the time before from ever coming to light - secrets that could save the world...or destroy it completely.

©2013 Michael R. Forbes (P)2015 Michael R. Forbes

Fantastic Performance with an OK story

What did you like best about His Dark Empire? What did you like least?

A great narrator propped a very so,so story. Interesting moments of action happen often.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Many parts felt rushed odd passages and descriptions of characters (constant references to the fact that Erin is a woman.)

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

Characters were very distinct and one never feels like Jeff reuses another character's voice. He is one of the few male narrators that knocks female voices out of the park. He made this book better.

Could you see His Dark Empire being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I certainly could. It would be a good show for Netflix.

The best book I've experienced since Harry Potter

Would you listen to His Dark Empire again? Why?

Absolutely yes. The story is gripping and not cookie-cutter. There are unexpected twists and it's not just some overpowered hero beating the baddies and taking names. It's a couple unassuming people doing the best they can in the situation they are in.

What other book might you compare His Dark Empire to and why?

Harry Potter series and Star Wars.
This has the makings of an epic. I'd read a dozen more books with these characters.

What about Jeff Hays’s performance did you like?

In the interest of disclosure, Jeff Hays did provide me a copy for review. That being said, if you look at my other reviews of free copies that I've received, you'll see that I don't just give rave reviews for free content.
Jeff has a practiced pace, great audio production, and a great voice. I was on board from the first chapter.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It did drop my jaw a couple times and made me angry others at the antagonist.

Any additional comments?

This is one of the best books I've had in a long time. I definitely recommend it!

Good start to a series

Free listen for an unbiased review...

I liked the book, first few chapters I thought the book would be corny, but it got its footing and finished rather strong while still leaving a lot that can unravel later on. Though I would like further explanation on some parts (i.e. attack in the valley), I will hold judgement as this is just the first book in a series where I hope these things have further relevance. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys this genre.

2 people learn about themselves, against the world

What made the experience of listening to His Dark Empire the most enjoyable?

First, Jeff is such an amazing talent in voices. I could listen to this story to hear his work even if I didn't like the story, which I did enjoy it. At the beginning, I loved the lead in with reading of the title page in the lilt of the character. There was music that set the stage for the story, making me all the more excited to get going with the story. Jeff is talented with his voice variation and putting it all together seamless as to create a piece of work that's fun to listen to. He adds the echo of calls, voices around the character, or laughter of many. I do love these small extras added to the story. The best part, we get the story in the Irish lilt of the setting and characters accents. It's clear to understand the words and gives a feel to the world they are in.

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

I have listened to Jeff Hays and this book is the top of the notch for his works.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

At the end, with the information we learn, I was shocked. My heart stopped as we get the information.

The descriptions Forbes uses as he tells the story are like I'm listening to the sounds and seeing the world through the eyes of the characters. The writing didn't feel boring to me as we come to trouble after trouble with Silas and Eryn. There is something new at each turn, growing the world as we go.

Any additional comments?

Forbes has created an enticing story that we learn about the characters along side them through their battles, internal and external. Silas is a drunk who can't remember his past, and is good with that. Until he sobers up by accident. His body reacts to a threat in a way he never thought he knew how to. Their are accusations made of him. And he starts to remember as his body fights through withdrawal. As he travels and remembers more, we learn the pieces with him. Eryn is cursed and has no idea what that means for her. Eryn learns about the cursed as she travels with a growing determination to end the deaths of the Cursed and their loved ones, for her lost loved ones. These two pair up in a team that feels like a father/daughter relationship, and accept each other for their faults.

We learn about the Cursed as Silas and Eryn do in the book. It's catching when you learn how it all fits together. In the end we get the full explanation of the Cursed and what it is. It's a sort of magic that the people can do. But there is so much more to it and what "He" is hiding.

story ok

I personally couldn't get into this story. great narrator. this is just my opinion. it might appeal to others, just not my reading.

Great Story AND Great Narration

I really enjoyed this story. I love the author's style of writing. Most fantasy stories are full of descriptions of everything, which is great, but here, the story is told with a minimum of detail to the surroundings, just enough to let you know what you need to. Sometimes this leads to a feeling of the story being incomplete or dry, but it is perfect for this tale and allows you to know the characters better without having to learn exactly which shade of green every leaf on each shrubbery happens to be. The tale is engrossing, exciting and moves along quickly with no stagnant areas. The ending could have been a little more complete, but I understand that it is written as a series. I don't care much for that, but it is the trend lately, and it's hard to find a book that isn't, so it will do. I loved the narrator!! He did a wonderful job, but I could do without any sound effects. If I wanted sound effects I would watch television. I'd much rather listen to this wonderful performer reading to me. It makes a book so much more personal than when you are hearing unnecessary noises. I am looking forward to the next part!

Narrated extremely well, page turning story.

This was the first time I've experienced an audiobook, and I enjoyed it a lot! The characters' voices, I thought, were played greatly by Jeff Hays - the story was really brought to life. Furthermore, the tale itself always had me eagerly awaiting what happened next!

Great story, Fantastic narration

Where does His Dark Empire rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Of the 94 books read this year, His Dark Empire is in the top 10% as an individual novel.Of the many novel-series I have read this year, Tears of Blood stands prominently among other popular contenders. Many series I finish simply because I start them, but I am excited to read book 2.

What did you like best about this story?

The world Forbes’s creates is easily understandable, even for those not well versed in Fantasy. Since this story is part of a series, there are many questions I have about the reality/world, the "what happens next? I must know!" Forbes did not leave so much out, as to frustrate readers, and the small “full circle” realizations throughout the novel are nicely paced.I read a variety of genres, but M.R. Forbes’s novel was an interesting and suspenseful read. Although many of the tropes are present in the writing (which is common in any genre novel), I don’t feel they were overdone or oversimplified.Jeff Hays’s ability to narrate multiple characters really enhanced the audiobook as a whole, and the characters on individual levels.

Which character – as performed by Jeff Hays – was your favorite?

Eryn. Hays’s ability to portray female characters without being overtly flamboyant or stressed was a refreshing change. Male performers often have one female voice, which is often poorly done. This is not the case in this novel. I think Hays’s overall ability to change his vocals to reflect different characters is a very strong point in this performance, but I much enjoyed Hays's performance of Eryn, simply because of how well he performed a leading female character.

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

I downloaded this book in the evening. Few audiobooks cause me to stay up late to keep following the story line, and this was one. Book readers talk about not wanting to put the book down -- this book was one I did not want to pause or set a sleep timer for.

Any additional comments?

If I had to nitpick, it would be some of the dialogue during suspense may be read too quickly, but only if readers are reading at a faster speed. The audiobook reads well at 1x speed and 2x speed (I did not read at any higher speed); the beginning chapters were a bit hard to follow (at a higher speed) during intense/dramatic, multiple character scenes.

Oppressed world told with great narration

Contrary to my normal process I’m going to put my narrator review first and book review second.

I rarely give 5 stars to a narrator. I just don’t. So a 5 star review here is a big deal.

I’ve listened to many books by Jeff Hays and have always enjoyed them. He performs rather than just reads, something I always enjoy. Differentiates characters. Puts emotion in. Really makes the story come alive. There have always been a few things that I’m not a huge fan of that he occasionally adds – sound effect/digital effects (laughs, spits, or distortions for monster voices). Usually used sparingly and fairly appropriately. They are still here in this book but used very sparingly and in places that are appropriate. They didn’t annoy me, or take me out of the story as full on sound effects do. Your millage may vary – dislike of these is a personal thing of mine. So it’s still not perfect, but it is great.

The main difference that elevates this book above others Hays has done, and gives it 5 stars, is that the entire thing is outside his native accent. He’s American and this book is done with an Irish narrator and filled with Irish, Scottish and English accents. And yet they all hold true (to my Australian ear). The way the accents are distributed makes sense for the story too – with Irish and Scottish for the poor and working class and stiff English for the Lords or soldiers etc. Those in power are English sounding. While not set in Britain (it’s in a unnamed magical realm) the class stereotypes built into the accents really builds the books.

So the 5 stars is a) for Hay’s always great work, b) the additional work of maintaining a non-native accent and c) the thought put into how accents affect character.


Now… onto the book.

It’s a 3.5 / 5

The story follows two main characters: Eryn, a young girl with the Curse, and Silas, and old drunk with no memory but native fighting skills. In the realm they live He (the unnamed ruler) actively kills off anyone with the Curse. Silas in brought out of his drunkenness during a stint in prison. He then takes action to try stop soldiers killing a Cursed boy, before he goes on the run slowly remembering that he once was a hunter of the Cursed. At the same time Eryn is discovered to be cursed and she and her brother go on the run to escape the soldiers. They are eventually thrown together, both wanting to escape His grasp and also to fight back against Him.

I’ve also listened to several books by M.R. Forbes (some narrated by Hays, some not). Despite being a new release to audio this is not in his most recent works. I’ve read several books put out by him since this one, and he has grown as a writer since then. That said, this is still an enjoyable read.

The book is (intentionally) claustrophobic in its view of the world. Very little is known or told of the world beyond the character’s immediate purview. There is a mention of 30 provinces but towns or cities outside the immediate are not mentioned. This makes sense both for the characters and the world. The characters (a young girl and a man with no memory) aren’t going to know much of the world, while the oppression of the dark ruler gives strength to the idea that the sharing of knowledge of “better places out there” is forbidden.

Because of this the world isn’t too fleshed out. The removal of the history before His rule also removes a lot of the depth to the world. It is hinted that it is there, it is just hidden.

The story provides a small climax, but it doesn’t fell like much of one compared to the grand scheme of what is ahead of these characters. Some greater cause for Him being like He is is hinted at. It reminds me very much of another fairly well known fantasy story that I won’t name because it might be considered a spoiler. But having read other said book it make the ending for this one a little more predictable, which probably played into my disappointment with the ending.

When the rest of the series comes to audiobook I will be picking them up I’m sure.

another great one!

M.R. Forbes narrated by Jeff Hays has proven to be a fantastic combination.

This is the 3rd series I've bought and combo never dissapoints!!!