The Furies

The Kent Family Chronicles, 4

By: John Jakes

Narrated by: Marc Vietor

The Kents' saga expands as its first heroine takes center stage in the relentless struggle to build the family dynasty opening twenty-two years after the events of The Seekers, John Jakes's fourth Kent Family novel spans the blood-soaked era of America's relentless expansion into the West. Amanda Kent, daughter of Gilbert Kent and Harriet Lebow, is one of the few women to escape the massacre at the Battle of the Alamo. Uncommonly brazen and focused, Amanda seeks to make a new life for herself by restoring the Kent family name. Her efforts to build a dynasty take her to northern California, just in time for the Gold Rush. Her passion and determination during these frenzied years make The Furies an exhilarating listen.

©1976 John Jakes (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

The saga continues

The saga continues with the fearless and intrepid Amanda surviving and moving to reclaim her heritage. This is probably my second favorite book so far, with the first one being the best in my opinion.

Amanda Kent

What did you love best about The Furies?

BOOK: (Amazon Summary) The Kents’ saga expands as its first heroine takes center stage in the relentless struggle to build the family dynasty

Opening twenty-two years after the events of The Seekers, John Jakes’s fourth Kent Family novel spans the blood-soaked era of America’s relentless expansion into the West. Amanda Kent, daughter of Gilbert Kent and Harriet Lebow, is one of the few women to escape the massacre at the Battle of the Alamo. Uncommonly brazen and focused, Amanda seeks to make a new life for herself by restoring the Kent family name. Her efforts to build a dynasty take her to northern California, just in time for the Gold Rush.

NARRATION: Marc Vietor narrates the entire series which is a plus. I like the consistency of hearing the same voice throughout the story line. The voices are well done, female and male are easily distinguishable.

Almost gave it 3 stars for story

I was on the fence most of this book, I did end up enjoying and like this one a lot more than the previous book. It was nice that bad guys actually get what they deserve in this book. I’ve felt that the way each book has ended thus far has been very lackluster and not much closure for the Kent’s and their adventures. It’s nice that they finally done away with the one nemesis that I felt was around for WAAAYY to darn long. Hope this next book has more action than politics.

I do appreciate of the historical accuracy though. The author has done an excellent job at staying true to historical events and he blends the story in there those events effectively without compromising historical facts to better story.
I’m determined to finish this series regardless of every book in the series having a moment of me wanting to give up and quit on it, but I have never given up on a book series good or bad.

The best!

This was hands down the best book so far in the Kent Chronicles. Loved it!

Too much profanity. Taking the Lords name in vain

Good character development Good story. Will continue use to the end. Slavery was terrible but the poor Irish were treated so bad in the north A class system is certainly being set up not long after the pilgrims landed there. I though they left England for that being one of the reasons Very obvious the more you read the Kent chr

Great Series

The Kent Family series is wonderful for American history buffs. Terrific writing and very enjoyable.

Good for history buffs!

I like the series in general, and this primary character in particular. This is a great author for history buffs.

The Furies

Any additional comments?

These comments address The Kent Family Chronicles, the entire series of eight books, in audiobook format. All books are narrated by Marc Vietor. The entire series is approximately 125 hours of listening. Shortest book is 15.5 hours, longest over 26 hours. Vietor does a good job with narration, although the uniqueness of male voices is problematic. Most significant, you’ll have little difficulty determining who-says-what-to-who. Tempo and pacing fine, albeit the narration is a bit slow for my taste, bumped it to 1.25.

The entire series is a broad spectrum history of the United States from just pre-Revolutionary War through the 1890s and a chronicle of the Kent family through this time. Beginning with Phillip through the generations to the children of Gideon, a great-great-grandson. Members of the clan fight in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, are at the Alamo, the California Gold Rush, the Great Chicago Fire, the Johnstown Flood, and much more. The author skillfully intersperses vignettes of imagined and factual history. For example, two of the fictional characters of the series are sheltered for a few days at the home of the Lincolns in rural Kentucky - a baby is part of the family, young Abraham. One of the fictional characters is counseled by Benjamin Franklin. Fiction, Phillip’s childhood friend is Marquis deLafayette, non-fiction: deLafayette’s role in United States and French military. The series is rife with this type of paradigm, but it is not difficult to determine what is true and what is fiction. All the instances that involve the Kents and John Jake’s other fictional characters are products of his imagination. Much of the rest is a fun methodology of conveying historical events.

The stories are very listenable. I found no need to re-wind or fast-forward; no segment boring or irrelevant. Theses books are not ‘love stories’ in the typical sense, albeit familial relationships, the crux of The Kent Family Chronicles, must include love stories, n'est-ce pas? In those areas where a sexual encounter is defined it is relevant to the plot and tastefully written. This does not occur often, but the clan does proliferate :-). A word to the prudish: there are a couple of rapes vividly described.

Very typical of the time written, the 1970s, writing is a bit verbose. Several of these books were adapted for television mini-series, popular at the time.

John Jakes is a terrific historical fiction author, recommended. Enjoy!

Very addictive. Very well performed.

I am thoroughly enjoying this series. Though I’m sure the written books are just as wonderful,I don’t think “reading” them work for me. All of the ages and name would likely make me zone out BUT listening is so entertaining and I’m so glad to be learning more (better?) about our country’s history as I’m entertained. Well done!

Sick

Sick of the morally reprehensible characters, and the use of rape as a method of character development. I don’t think I can finish this series.