The Legender

Arkosaegan, Book 1

By: Jason Link

Narrated by: Scott Richard Ehredt

Kingdoms and mountains crumble, but legenders endure.

Arkos, a reclusive artisan, bides the long age of peace carving animal bones and remembering his days of adventure. In the ancient city of Tierrion where he dwells, no one suspects he is one of the legenders - those forces of nature clad in human form who spoke with the elements and shaped them into mighty beasts. After the legenders fought in the bygone war against the living shadow, they faded into myth and have remained in historical obscurity. That is, until a great evil strikes Tierrion and Arkos saves the city with his power over the elements. This grand revelation of his true identity comes at a cost, however, for there are kings and politicians who would use a legender for their own purposes. Bound by an oath of service, Arkos must obey their commands - dire consequences descend upon legenders unfaithful to their vows.

Fearful that Tierrion's catastrophe portends war, the kingdoms order Arkos to the uncharted wastelands of the north to discover if the Living Shadow and his legions are preparing to mount an attack once again. Arkos' journey takes him over perilous mountains and through hostile terrain where he must use his elemental abilities to overcome dangers fatal to man. As he travels onward, a sinister and mysterious figure watches from afar, awaiting his dreadful schemes to unfold. When Arkos reaches the dark unknown and finds secrets lost in history, an unexpected choice confronts him: to take his long-awaited freedom or save the kingdoms that would enslave him.

The Legender draws the audience into a fantastical new world of rich characters. Beyond the excitement invoked by adventure and political intrigue, the story at its core resounds with identities redeemed and courage found, arguing that there is more to us than we ourselves would believe.

©2015 Jason Link (P)2015 Jason Link

Great story

Would you listen to The Legender again? Why?

Yes, I love Scott Ehredt's voice and how he creates the characters within the story. It's so easy to listen and get caught up in the world that Jason Link has created.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I have to say the blue stone, I know that won't make sense till you read it, but I think the character of the blue stone is fascinating!

Have you listened to any of Scott Richard Ehredt’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No I haven't, but can't wait to get another book he's read and listen! :)

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Follow the Legender into a world of Fantasy and Danger and Thrills!

Any additional comments?

I liked the story and it definitely will draw you into this world that Jason Link has created. You can picture the landscape and all the dangers from his descriptions, but Scott Ehredt brings it to life.

An intrigue story and an epic quest.

What did you love best about The Legender?

I loved the character growth throughout the story and the journey along his quest.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Legender?

I don't want to give away too much, but the scene on the mountain was pretty amazing.

What does Scott Richard Ehredt bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I loved the voices he used and how he really brought the characters to life. It made the story a lot more fun and interesting as each character's personality shown through his words.

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

I would have liked to, but at over 13 hours there was no way that was going to happen, however, I did knock it about in 4 chunks, I really enjoyed it.

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone that likes fantasy books.

Awesome story!

The story was great! I wish I didn't have to wait for the rest of the series to come out now. Highly recommended!

Jason Link creates a fantastical, believable world

What did you love best about The Legender?

Jason Link has a gift for not only creating a captivating new world, filled with creatures and cultural practices a reader has never thought of, but also maintaining a consistent and believable voice throughout the twists and turns of the story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Legender?

Without giving too much away, the moment in which Arkos has reunited with his long lost love on the precipice of the mountain is certainly a memorable moment with some very interesting twists and turns!

Which scene was your favorite?

I loved to see the picture come together as the nations gathered for the race at the very beginning as Jason has carefully crafted each culture that enters the city, complete with customs and culture that give the feel of a real world.

Engaging story that leave me wanting more

What other book might you compare The Legender to and why?

The Legender is shaping up to be a nicely written (and in the audio book's case, performed) fantasy series with a well-thought out history for the world and characters. It compares favorably with some other fantasy series from Robert Jordan and Terry Goodkind.

What about Scott Richard Ehredt’s performance did you like?

As an American, it took me a little bit to get used to the accent, but once I did, I thought the performance was wonderful and nuanced. I was able to pick out the characters by voice and inflection after a very short period of time.

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

It would be difficult to listen to 14 hours in one sitting, but I spend 2-1/2 - 3 hours a day in my car for a commute. It was a wonderful way to pass the time in traffic.

Any additional comments?

Really looking forward to the next installment.

An increadble story in a fantasic world.

If you could sum up The Legender in three words, what would they be?

Exciting, deep, compelling.

What does Scott Richard Ehredt bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Scott Richard Ehredt is a great actor with a voice that adds depth to characters that is a fun experience unique to the audio-book.

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

I listened in a few sittings but they were normally over an hour long.

Any additional comments?

The Legender is fantastic. This book kept surprising me with its originality and creative plot. Perhaps the best part of reading was that feeling you get when you are immersed into a different world, which is exactly what Link has built. There are cultures, geographies, languages, and creatures that come together to make a fun yet deeply sophisticated world. In this way, the Legender reminded me of the greats like Tolkin. I would highly recommend and have done so even to friends who read little fantasy.