The Hidden Family

Merchant Princes, Book 2

By: Charles Stross

Narrated by: Kate Reading

The Merchant Princes is a sweeping new series from the hottest new writer in science fiction!

The six families of the Clan rule the kingdom of Gruinmarkt from behind the scenes, a mixture of nobility and criminal conspirators whose power to walk between their world and ours make them rich in both. Braids of family loyalty and intermarriage provide a fragile guarantee of peace, but a recently ended civil war has left the families shaken and suspicious.

Miriam, a hip tech journalist form Boston, discovered her alternate-world relatives with explosive results that shook three worlds. Now, as the prodigal Countess Helge Thorold-Hyorth, she finds herself ensnared in schemes and plots centuries in the making. She is surrounded by unlikely allies, lethal contraband, and, most dangerous of all, her family. With her modern American attitudes, she's not sure she can fit in, or if she even wants to, but to stay alive, she really has no choice.

To avoid a slippery slope down to an unmarked grave, Miriam must build a power-base of her own. She started applying modern business practices and scientific knowledge to a trade heretofore dominated by medieval mercantilists-with unexpected consequences for three different timelines, including the quasi-Victorian one exploited by the hidden family.

Blending the creativity and humor, and the rigor and scope of science-fiction on the grandest scale, Charles Stross has set a new standard for fantasy epics.

Charles Stross is one of the big new SF writers of the 21st century, and the saga of The Merchant Princes is his most ambitious work yet.

©2005 Charles Stross (P)2005 Macmillan Audio

Great story and narrator

This story hooks the listener in so many ways with new twists and evolving plots.
Kate Reading is a great story teller.. Her voice has a phenomenal range and depths that only adds to the worth of this audible book.
In fact I have just purchased Book 3 in this series. One should keep in mind that you should start the first book.
I plan on buying the entire series.

My Least Favorite Plot Device

I was on the fence about whether to keep reading the series but killing the love interest at the end really put the nail I. the coffin. I thought I hated Dresden Files killing off Murphy because it was sexist to use her as a plot device for character development. Turns out I hate any good character being used like that to develop another. Also killing the love interest is cliche and heavy handed.

I did like the ideas but the book is a bit confusing at times.

waste of time

I loved Stross's Laundry Files books. if that's why you're here, turn back. I wanted to like this series. the premise is interesting. unfortunately, the execution is inept. the characters are boring - Paulie would have been a much more fun MC, too bad we got Doctor Journalist. I tried to give this series 2 books to grab me but I just couldn't. there are so many good ideas here, too bad Stross didn't feel like picking one or two and fleshing them out, rather than bouncing from idea to idea and getting nowhere.