Madrenga

By: Alan Dean Foster

Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds

A vital message. A desperate queen. A hero in the making.

He is plainly too young and too inexperienced for the mission, but on the advice of her aged adviser Natoum, and with her husband off at war, the queen reluctantly assigns the task of delivery to...Madrenga.

Accompanied only by a runt of a pony and a scrap of a pup, he sets off to transport the royal message to its destination. No matter what it might take.

But things are not always what they seem. Heroes are sometimes made of the strangest stuff, and love is to be found in the most unexpected places...if one doesn’t die while treading the lethal path.

©2020 Alan Dean Foster (P)2020 Podium Audio

Critic reviews

“Rip-roaring action sequences and the mystery of Madrenga’s curious powers propel the story through a series of consistently surprising twists and turns.” (Publishers Weekly)

"Alan Dean Foster is the modern-day Renaissance writer, as his abilities seem to have no genre boundaries.” (Bookbrowser)

"Foster's brisk and eventful novel should please any reader looking for a quick and diverting adventure.” (Booklist)

Satisfying nondescript fun

This was an easy listen with a warm likable protagonist. A bit too YA for me, but we’ll executed.

This story takes a twist midway and changes it all

I enjoyed the first portion of the book on face value but it was almost getting cliche when it takes a turn you just couldn't predict. Very unique and interesting. A fun tale with unusual characters and imaginative world building. light hearted and original.

Great book to release at Christmas.

Very well written. I just finished in the parking lot at work (hospital) on Christmas Eve morning.

Very enjoyable listen.

I really enjoyed this one. It had me just waiting to see what crazy thing would happen next. My only complaint is sometimes the MC would be way to trusting especially towards the end after everything that had already happened to him . Tim Gerard Reynolds was fantastic as always.

More!!!

Please do not let this be the end! It doesn't seem finished. Madrenga needs to go home.

Hidden gem.....WORTH the credit!

I didn’t know what to expect when I purchased this audiobook given that the short sample focused on the queen rather than the “boy” (main character). And the book summary was centered around a boy with an impossible quest. However, just past those first few minutes of the book you delve into the world of Madrenga. His (MC) story is compelling, fast paced and thoroughly entertaining. There never seems to be a dull moment, which is rare for an epic fantasy book. My only gripe (a small one at that) is the authors excessive tendency toward magniloquence. I’m always game to learn a new word or two when listening to a book (in fact that is a benefit when you read many books) but when you have to stop every ½ hour to look up a word when it really wasn’t needed to get the point across....it becomes an annoyance. When you listen to the book, I’m sure you’ll agree. However, if there were to be a sequel I would absolutely get it. The reason I even discovered this book was due to my admiration for the narrator, Tim Gerard Reynolds. He could read a dictionary from A-Z and make it enjoyable. If you’re on the fence about whether to spend your credit on this book....do it!

It what I expected

The author is always compelling in his stories.
He is very expressive without being overdone.

Unique and captivating!

This is my first Alan Dean Foster book. And I can see now, it will most certainly NOT be my last.

From start to finish, was an amazing tale. As a connoisseur of fantasy, this one grabbed me quickly and didn’t let go. The story took me so many different directions I never once guessed where the courier to the Queen, Madrenga, would lead next. The one constant, Madrenga, captured my heart and imagination, and never once did I see where the boy--or not--- his pup and pony--or not--were headed but I was enamored by their journey. Even to the surprise ending where the mystery of Madrenga’s lineage unfurled in such a way that I audibly gasped.

And speaking of “audible”, Tim Gerard Reynolds-- what can I say?! This is, without a doubt, one of your his best performances. He brought the unusual boy-man to life and painted an effusive tapestry of characters for the title character to engage. I’ve listened to many of Mr. Reynolds narratives but this was his best work.

This was worth a credit, without a doubt.

Fun Stuff!

"No time can be called wasted that is spent making friends."
Just one great Alan Dean Foster quote that you'll find in this book!
The adventure of a boy that can only be underestimated by those who oppose him, and who even underestimates himself, as he proves more than equal to every form of adversity.

A jarring experience

I enjoyed this story so far as about chapter 14/15. I was able to get lost enough in the book but when a certain event happened it was like being flung forcibly in a different direction. It didn’t really recover for me after that but I finished it. It’s like most of the story was going then it suddenly became something else. Maybe if events had been reversed in ways it would of been fine but turned me off. If there’s a sequel I’m not sure if I’ll pick it up or not. As always I love Tim’s performance but I gave the story a lower rating.