Holtgart

Harkentale Saga, Book 1

By: Jeremy James Smith

Narrated by: Dustin Sipes

Angus Redbeard was nobody until a fateful mistake made him one of the most famous dwarves in history. Now he has a year to prove himself worthy of his new title - and become a hero. Like ripples from a skipping stone on a still lake, Angus’ exploits reverberate, triggering dormant entities. Before long, fights become battles and battles become wars, and Angus finds himself defending people he never expected to know from long-latent threats roused by his own escapades.

Follow Angus on his quest to find elves, outwit politicians, survive goblins, orcs, and trolls, and discover what he’s really made of. Holtgart begins the epic fantasy series The Harkentale Saga, a comedic romp forged from equal parts action and adventure, with a dash of world-saving, and a hearty side of diverse new friends.

©2020 Jeremy James Smith (P)2023 Jeremy James Smith

Fantastical Adventure and More!

Angus Redbeard is either accident-prone, extremely lucky, or a true hero. Regardless, he has a year to prove his worthiness! His journey to prove himself triggers many incidents and wakes many entities thus creating battles that soon escalate into wars! Throughout Angus’ adventurous journey, he encounters many with their agenda including elves, politicians, goblins, orcs, and trolls. All guarantee an adventure worth experiencing!

The author, Jeremy James Smith, weaves a fantastical narrative that is rich with action, and adventure, and peppered with moral decisions. Smith is deliberate in his world and character building providing a strong narrative that immerses the listener completely. Each plot twist is well executed and moves the story forward in a logical manner. I thoroughly enjoyed his building of the character Angus which emphasizes not only luck and hard work but also that sometimes things just happen because they are meant to. The dialogue was strong and kept the story moving forward at a steady pace.

The narrator, Dustin Sipes, vividly brings each character to life using distinct accents and rich tones. His consistency in voices and deliberate cadence further enrich the narrative. With epic-length audiobooks, a solid and entertaining narrator is necessary to keep the audience focused and entertained. Dustin Sipes delivers!

This is a highly entertaining novel that draws in the listener, keeping them immersed until the end. I look forward to hearing what Angus Redbeard does next!

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.

Jeremy James Smith tells a fantastical tale

In Holtgart, the listener is introduced to Angus, a virtual invisible nobody in his community of dwarves, whose fate takes a turn for the better, and gives him fame. Eventually, he keeps having to always prove his worth. I haven't listened to anything from this author before, and I really enjoyed it. I did read the print version of the story, and enjoyed it, but I also really enjoyed this audiobook. Angus has to go through a lot of things, battles, wars, and defending people. What an incredible world built by Jeremy James Smith. Jeremy James Smith has a great imagination. Angus is a dwarf, but he is something special, even when he thought he was a nobody. Angus is determined and tenacious. This story is a timeless tale, fantasy. I hope to listen to more books by Jeremy James Smith. This is an epic story, and I hope there are more to come, as the volume says it's one of the Harkentale Saga. It's a great story to follow and try to figure out what will happen next. The listener embarks on a fantastical journey. I like that there is serious parts of the story, such as war and survival, but it is also balanced with comedic actions and dialogue. What a great story to read! Who could ask for more when it's filled with magical/fantastical creatures and other interesting beings? The narration brings it to life, as the narrator can change his accents from when he narrates, and then when he is doing dialogue of the story. Holtgart on audiobook is a definite listening recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I look forward to listening to many more titles by this author. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who listens to this book, to also write a review.

Smart, endearing, and hilarious

I've read the paperback version of Holtgart, but when I saw that I could listen to it with characters having unique accents and voices, I jumped on it. This audiobook version did not disappoint. The skills of the narrator combined with the author's already smart humor took it over the top for me. If you want an experience that will make you laugh out loud, you need to download Holtgart and listen right now.

Angus, a young dwarf at 90, makes a huge mistake. In order to prove to his Holt that it was unintentional and to live up to his new name, Angus must traverse their world to tell of his deed and rekindle ancient alliances with elves, humans, and other Holts. His young nature combined with Dwarven pride and brandy, lead him to make political and social, if unintentional, mistakes that only add to a brewing war. He must decide which side he will take and how involved he and his Holt will be.

Angus takes you for a ride. You'll be embarrassed for him in one scene, laughing at him in another, and ready to rally at his side when he stands for what is right in a third. The author's humor is meant for adults, but is light and positive. There are hints of a theme surrounding leadership and whether it should be based on experience or other qualifiers, but those themes are deeply embedded in an epic fantasy that leans on fun world building and relatable, diverse characters. A must listen for anyone that loves fantasy.

Experience Evolved

Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2024
Jeremy James Smith crafts an enchanting fantasy masterpiece that draws readers into the extraordinary journey of a unique dwarf, Angus. Angus, a humble yet endearing dwarven character, quickly wins over the reader's heart with his youthful eagerness and continuous struggle to prove his worth. His endearing qualities make him a character to root for as he faces the challenges of battle, wars, and defending others, which only strengthens his determination. The banter between characters adds a delightful touch to the narrative.

Holtgart presents an expertly woven world of a diverse tapestry of cultures and races, seamlessly intertwining them into the narrative without overwhelming the listener. The seamless integration of weighty themes such as war and survival with lighthearted moments creates an engaging listening experience that leaves the audience craving more of this story while eagerly anticipating the next installment in the Harkentale Saga.

The fabulous voice-acting rendition by Dustin Sipes vividly paints pictures in listeners' minds, while the narrator's perfect tone and pauses balance the characters’ accented dialogue. Each character's distinctive voice is perfectly executed, creating a flawless fantasy story experience that immerses the listener in Angus' journey as he meets every challenge. Holtgart is an epic journey no fan of fantasy should miss.

Story and Narration both A+

This is delightful story of a dwarf who consistently fails upwards in a comedy of errors that never gets old. Both earnest and tongue-in-cheek, this light-hearted romp will have you laughing and on the edge of your seat in equal measure. 10/10 will listen again.