-
The Ruling Elite, and Other Stories
- Narrated by: Xina Marie Uhl
- Length: 2 hrs and 15 mins
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Prime members: New to Audible?Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
The Ruling Elite, and Other Stories
Buy for $6.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Publisher's summary
This is a collection of short fantasy from Xina Marie Uhl and Janet Loftis.
You'll find a slave-mercenary struggling to save the life of his mistress, a palace guard defending his city against the destroyer of prophecy, a wanderer who brings more than past grief into the lives of four sisters, two men who go on a dangerous hunt to kill the witches destroying their village, an outcast trying to outwit the village oracle and get justice for her murdered mother, and a captain who discovers how high the cost is to return the dead to their rightful homes.
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
The Song of Achilles
- A Novel
- By: Madeline Miller
- Narrated by: Frazer Douglas
- Length: 11 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 38,053
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 33,965
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 33,860
Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the kingdom of Phthia to be raised in the shadow of King Peleus and his golden son, Achilles. “The best of all the Greeks”—strong, beautiful, and the child of a goddess—Achilles is everything the shamed Patroclus is not. Yet despite their differences, the boys become steadfast companions. Their bond deepens as they grow into young men and become skilled in the arts of war and medicine—much to the displeasure and the fury of Achilles’ mother, Thetis, a cruel sea goddess with a hatred of mortals.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Wasn't Expecting to Like It- BOY! was I wrong!!
- By susan on 06-11-14
By: Madeline Miller
-
Fatemarked
- The Fatemarked Epic, Book 1
- By: David Estes
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 19 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,036
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,811
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 1,804
They are the fatemarked. Misunderstood. Worshipped. Hated. Murdered at birth. Their time to step into the light has come. An ancient prophecy foretold their coming, the chosen few who will bring peace to a land embroiled in a century of mistrust and war. When kings start dying, that hope and belief swiftly turns to fear. Roan Loren is one of the fatemarked, but has hidden his mark of power his entire life, fearing the damage it might cause to those around him. A great evil is coming. He can't hide anymore.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Written to fit an ideology, not the story it tells
- By znidarsic.blaz on 04-30-18
By: David Estes
-
Green Rider
- By: Kristen Britain
- Narrated by: Ellen Archer
- Length: 16 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,494
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2,215
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,216
Karigan G’ladheon, running away from school, is traveling through a deep forest when a galloping horse pounds up to her, its rider impaled by two black-shafted arrows. With his dying breath, he tells her he is a Green Rider, one of the magical messengers of the King. Before he dies, he makes Karigan swear to deliver the message he’s carrying, and gives her his green coat, with the symbolic brooch of his office.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
What a fantastic discovery!
- By GLENNO on 11-27-14
By: Kristen Britain
-
Debt of Bones
- Sword of Truth Series
- By: Terry Goodkind
- Narrated by: Sam Tsoutsouvas
- Length: 3 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,962
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2,653
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,648
A milestone of storytelling set in the world of The Sword of Truth, Debt of Bones is the story of young Abby's struggle to win the aid of the wizard Zedd Zorander, the most important man alive. Abby is trapped, not only between both sides of the war, but in a mortal conflict between two powerful men. For Zedd, who commands power most men can only imagine, granting Abby's request would mean forsaking his sacred duty. With the storm of the final battle about to save the life of a child....
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Bags! This is a good prequel.
- By Patrick Sanchez on 05-02-14
By: Terry Goodkind
-
The Darkness That Comes Before
- The Prince of Nothing, Book One
- By: R. Scott Bakker
- Narrated by: David DeVries
- Length: 20 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,004
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 881
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 881
In a world scarred by an apocalyptic past, evoking a time both 2,000 years past and 2,000 years into the future, untold thousands gather for a crusade. Among them, two men and two women are ensnared by a mysterious traveler, Anasûrimbor Kellhus - part warrior, part philosopher, part sorcerous, charismatic presence - from lands long thought dead. The Darkness That Comes Before is a history of this great holy war, and like all histories, the survivors write its conclusion.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Finally in audiobook!
- By Andy on 06-28-12
By: R. Scott Bakker
-
Fireblood
- Whispers from Mirrowen, Book 1
- By: Jeff Wheeler
- Narrated by: Michael Page
- Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,368
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,216
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 1,217
In a world beset by plagues, Tyrus of Kenatos has made it his life’s work to end the devastation. Yet when he first ventures into the Scourgelands to uncover the secret of the plagues’ origin, he barely makes it out alive after being ambushed by a mysterious, unseen enemy. Tyrus knows the plagues will rise again - more powerful than ever before - and he is determined to complete his mission. To aid in his new quest, he summons his nephew Annon and his niece Hettie - both of whom possess an innate magic called the fireblood - and a pack of unlikely allies.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Slow start, mediocre characters, + cliff hanger.
- By Phillip on 01-23-14
By: Jeff Wheeler
-
The Song of Achilles
- A Novel
- By: Madeline Miller
- Narrated by: Frazer Douglas
- Length: 11 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 38,053
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 33,965
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 33,860
Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the kingdom of Phthia to be raised in the shadow of King Peleus and his golden son, Achilles. “The best of all the Greeks”—strong, beautiful, and the child of a goddess—Achilles is everything the shamed Patroclus is not. Yet despite their differences, the boys become steadfast companions. Their bond deepens as they grow into young men and become skilled in the arts of war and medicine—much to the displeasure and the fury of Achilles’ mother, Thetis, a cruel sea goddess with a hatred of mortals.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Wasn't Expecting to Like It- BOY! was I wrong!!
- By susan on 06-11-14
By: Madeline Miller
-
Fatemarked
- The Fatemarked Epic, Book 1
- By: David Estes
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 19 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,036
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,811
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 1,804
They are the fatemarked. Misunderstood. Worshipped. Hated. Murdered at birth. Their time to step into the light has come. An ancient prophecy foretold their coming, the chosen few who will bring peace to a land embroiled in a century of mistrust and war. When kings start dying, that hope and belief swiftly turns to fear. Roan Loren is one of the fatemarked, but has hidden his mark of power his entire life, fearing the damage it might cause to those around him. A great evil is coming. He can't hide anymore.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Written to fit an ideology, not the story it tells
- By znidarsic.blaz on 04-30-18
By: David Estes
-
Green Rider
- By: Kristen Britain
- Narrated by: Ellen Archer
- Length: 16 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,494
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2,215
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,216
Karigan G’ladheon, running away from school, is traveling through a deep forest when a galloping horse pounds up to her, its rider impaled by two black-shafted arrows. With his dying breath, he tells her he is a Green Rider, one of the magical messengers of the King. Before he dies, he makes Karigan swear to deliver the message he’s carrying, and gives her his green coat, with the symbolic brooch of his office.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
What a fantastic discovery!
- By GLENNO on 11-27-14
By: Kristen Britain
-
Debt of Bones
- Sword of Truth Series
- By: Terry Goodkind
- Narrated by: Sam Tsoutsouvas
- Length: 3 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,962
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2,653
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,648
A milestone of storytelling set in the world of The Sword of Truth, Debt of Bones is the story of young Abby's struggle to win the aid of the wizard Zedd Zorander, the most important man alive. Abby is trapped, not only between both sides of the war, but in a mortal conflict between two powerful men. For Zedd, who commands power most men can only imagine, granting Abby's request would mean forsaking his sacred duty. With the storm of the final battle about to save the life of a child....
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Bags! This is a good prequel.
- By Patrick Sanchez on 05-02-14
By: Terry Goodkind
-
The Darkness That Comes Before
- The Prince of Nothing, Book One
- By: R. Scott Bakker
- Narrated by: David DeVries
- Length: 20 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,004
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 881
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 881
In a world scarred by an apocalyptic past, evoking a time both 2,000 years past and 2,000 years into the future, untold thousands gather for a crusade. Among them, two men and two women are ensnared by a mysterious traveler, Anasûrimbor Kellhus - part warrior, part philosopher, part sorcerous, charismatic presence - from lands long thought dead. The Darkness That Comes Before is a history of this great holy war, and like all histories, the survivors write its conclusion.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Finally in audiobook!
- By Andy on 06-28-12
By: R. Scott Bakker
-
Fireblood
- Whispers from Mirrowen, Book 1
- By: Jeff Wheeler
- Narrated by: Michael Page
- Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,368
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,216
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 1,217
In a world beset by plagues, Tyrus of Kenatos has made it his life’s work to end the devastation. Yet when he first ventures into the Scourgelands to uncover the secret of the plagues’ origin, he barely makes it out alive after being ambushed by a mysterious, unseen enemy. Tyrus knows the plagues will rise again - more powerful than ever before - and he is determined to complete his mission. To aid in his new quest, he summons his nephew Annon and his niece Hettie - both of whom possess an innate magic called the fireblood - and a pack of unlikely allies.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Slow start, mediocre characters, + cliff hanger.
- By Phillip on 01-23-14
By: Jeff Wheeler
-
Ransom
- By: David Malouf
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 4 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 40
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 37
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 37
This is the story of the relationship between two grieving men at war: fierce Achilles, who has lost his beloved Patroclus in the siege of Troy; and woeful Priam, whose son Hector killed Patroclus and was in turn savaged by Achilles. A moving tale of suffering, sorrow, and redemption, Ransom is incandescent in its delicate and powerful lyricism and its unstated imperative that we imagine our lives in the glow of fellow feeling.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Ponderous narration, tortured prose
- By Gail N. on 01-26-20
By: David Malouf
-
The Witch and the Tsar
- By: Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
- Narrated by: Katia Kapustin, Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
- Length: 13 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 61
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 52
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 52
As a half-goddess possessing magic, Yaga is used to living on her own, her prior entanglements with mortals having led to heartbreak. She mostly keeps to her hut in the woods, where those in need of healing seek her out, even as they spread rumors about her supposed cruelty and wicked spells. But when her old friend Anastasia—now the wife of the Tsar, and suffering from a mysterious illness—arrives in her forest desperate for her protection, Yaga realizes the fate of all of Russia is tied to Anastasia’s. Yaga must step out of the shadows to protect the land she loves.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Why not let the Russian sound Russian?
- By Kindle Customer on 09-23-22
-
Counted with the Stars
- Out from Egypt, Book 1
- By: Connilyn Cossette
- Narrated by: Sarah Mollo-Christensen
- Length: 10 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 654
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 596
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 594
Sold into slavery by her father and forsaken by the man she was supposed to marry, young Egyptian Kiya must serve a mistress who takes pleasure in her humiliation. When terrifying plagues strike Egypt, Kiya is in the middle of it all. Choosing to flee with the Hebrews, Kiya finds herself reliant on a strange God and drawn to a man who despises her people. With everything she's ever known swept away, and now facing the trials of the desert, will she turn back toward Egypt or surrender her life and her future to Yahweh?
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
It had potential but fell a little flat
- By Amanda on 02-22-18
-
Phoenix Unbound
- The Fallen Empire Series, Book 1
- By: Grace Draven
- Narrated by: Katharine Lee McEwan
- Length: 14 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 854
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 767
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 764
Every year, each village is required to send a young woman to the Empire's capital - her fate to be burned alive for the entertainment of the masses. For the last five years, one small village's tithe has been the same woman. Gilene's sacrifice protects all the other young women of her village, and her secret to staying alive lies with the magic only she possesses. But this year is different. Azarion, the Empire's most famous gladiator, has somehow seen through her illusion - and is set on blackmailing Gilene into using her abilities to help him escape his life of slavery.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Nothing special. Highly predictable
- By J. C. Schmidt on 10-10-18
By: Grace Draven
-
The Judging Eye
- The Aspect-Emperor, Book 1
- By: R. Scott Bakker
- Narrated by: Kevin Orton
- Length: 19 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 264
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 241
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 241
A luminary in the fantasy genre firmament, R. Scott Bakker returns fans to his acclaimed Prince of Nothing universe with The Judging Eye. Aspect-Emperor Kellhus is waging a terrifying war, subjugating all nations in his path. There are those willing to stand together against him, but these rebellious souls must act quickly and decisively to thwart his mad schemes of power and domination.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Terrible narrator
- By TRT on 05-25-19
By: R. Scott Bakker
-
The Ancient Ones
- The Ancient Ones Trilogy, Book 1
- By: Cassandra L. Thompson
- Narrated by: Miles Meili
- Length: 11 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 32
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 31
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 31
When David stumbles upon a tragic young woman in a sordid Limehouse pub, he has no idea she’d recognize him as the last vampyre alive, nor that she’d be the one to pull out his story. Yet as he recalls his life from the sweltering vineyards of ancient Rome to the cold horrors of medieval Romania—as well as his tumultuous past with the mad and mysterious Lucius—he realizes she is much more than what she seems. Gothic horror and mythological fantasy blend seamlessly together in this thrilling adventure, breathing new life into vampire lore as it reveals its true origins.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
So gooooood!
- By Fam Bam on 01-19-24
-
Dragon Whisper
- Dark Age Trilogy Series, Book 1
- By: Niamh Murphy
- Narrated by: Gabrielle Baker
- Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 75
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 64
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 64
In the dying forests of the Weald Wood, Breanna, a young outcast, is simply trying to earn a Hunter's axe. When she witnesses the sacred Forest Drake kill her father and destroy her village home, she knows her life is forever altered. But Breanna holds a secret that could be the key to stopping the Ancient Dragon God's rampage. The fate of every being in the land now depends on one young woman who can hear the Dragon's Whisper.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Took a bit
- By Tanya Viceroy on 02-12-20
By: Niamh Murphy
-
Elektra
- A Novel
- By: Jennifer Saint
- Narrated by: Beth Eyre, Jane Collingwood, Julie Teal
- Length: 10 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 460
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 402
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 401
When Clytemnestra marries Agamemnon, she ignores the insidious whispers about his family line, the House of Atreus. But when, on the eve of the Trojan War, Agamemnon betrays Clytemnestra in the most unimaginable way, she must confront the curse that has long ravaged their family. In Troy, Princess Cassandra has the gift of prophecy, but carries a curse of her own: No one will ever believe what she sees. When she is shown what will happen to her beloved city when Agamemnon and his army arrives, she is powerless to stop the tragedy from unfolding.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
The Fall Of The House Of Atreus
- By Stefan Filipovits on 05-04-22
By: Jennifer Saint
-
Forest of a Thousand Lanterns
- Rise of the Empress, Book 1
- By: Julie C. Dao
- Narrated by: Kim Mai Guest
- Length: 13 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 171
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 158
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 158
Eighteen-year-old Xifeng is beautiful. The stars say she is destined for greatness, that she is meant to be empress of Feng Lu. But only if she embraces the darkness within her. Growing up as a peasant in a forgotten village, Xifeng longs to fulfill the destiny promised to her by her cruel aunt, the witch Guma, who has read the cards and seen glimmers of Xifeng's majestic future. But is the price of the throne too high? Because in order to achieve greatness, she must spurn the young man who loves her and exploit the callous magic that runs through her veins.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Wow...
- By KaitheShopper on 09-22-18
By: Julie C. Dao
-
Song of the Beast
- By: Carol Berg
- Narrated by: Claire Christie, Jeremy Arthur
- Length: 12 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 86
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 79
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 79
Brutal imprisonment has broken Aidan McAllister. His music is destroyed, and with it the visions he once gave a kingdom ravaged by dragon war. Now, he risks his hard-bought freedom to uncover the truth behind his incarceration - and to meet his enemy face-to-face....
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Dragons rock!
- By MarilynArms on 08-15-13
By: Carol Berg
-
Transformation
- Rai-Kirah, Book 1
- By: Carol Berg
- Narrated by: Kevin Stillwell
- Length: 16 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 302
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 279
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 283
Seyonne is a man waiting to die. He has been a slave for 16 years, almost half his life, and has lost everything of meaning to him: his dignity, the people and homeland he loves, and the Warden's power he used to defend an unsuspecting world from the ravages of demons. Seyonne has made peace with his fate. With strict self-discipline he forces himself to exist only in the present moment and to avoid the pain of hope or caring about anyone.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Seriously Excellent
- By Sharon on 09-25-13
By: Carol Berg
-
The Immortal Crown
- Saga of Kings, Book One
- By: Kieth Merrill
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 20 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 597
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 568
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 564
A thousand years ago, the Navigator crossed the great deep in ships lit with 16 stones touched by Oum'ilah, the God of Gods. Over time the stones were scattered, and a prophecy arose declaring that a "child of no man" would gather them again, obtain immortality, and reign forever as god and king of Candelarr. Two religious groups have sprung up around the prophecy, each with its own champion.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Good story. Ended abrupt.
- By Fransmom on 10-13-16
By: Kieth Merrill
Related to this topic
-
Phoenix Unbound
- The Fallen Empire Series, Book 1
- By: Grace Draven
- Narrated by: Katharine Lee McEwan
- Length: 14 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 854
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 767
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 764
Every year, each village is required to send a young woman to the Empire's capital - her fate to be burned alive for the entertainment of the masses. For the last five years, one small village's tithe has been the same woman. Gilene's sacrifice protects all the other young women of her village, and her secret to staying alive lies with the magic only she possesses. But this year is different. Azarion, the Empire's most famous gladiator, has somehow seen through her illusion - and is set on blackmailing Gilene into using her abilities to help him escape his life of slavery.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Nothing special. Highly predictable
- By J. C. Schmidt on 10-10-18
By: Grace Draven
-
Flesh and Spirit
- Lighthouse, Book 1
- By: Carol Berg
- Narrated by: Allen O'Reilly
- Length: 14 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 91
-
Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 86
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 84
The rebellious son of a long line of pureblood cartographers and diviners, Valen has spent most of his life trying to escape what society - and his family - have ordained for him. His own mother has predicted that he will meet his doom in water, blood, and ice. Her divination seems fulfilled when a comrade abandons Valen in a rainy wilderness half-dead, addicted to an enchantment that converts pain to pleasure, and possessing only a stolen book of maps.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
FIGHTING TO ADD MORE WORDS TO THIS COLLECTION
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 07-13-14
By: Carol Berg
-
Altar of Influence: The Orsarian War
- A Prelude to the Dying Lands Chronicle
- By: Jacob Cooper
- Narrated by: Michael Kramer
- Length: 11 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 453
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 419
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 420
Sacrifice. The single act capable of bringing both death and life simultaneously. Thannuel Kerr is handsome, young, and brash, fumbling through childhood toward his inevitable inheritance: the next Lord of the Western Province. He struggles to accept his arranged marriage and to grow into the man he must become. The journey toward that end, however, is fraught with more peril than he could possibly imagine.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A Compelling Read!
- By Voracious Reader on 10-17-16
By: Jacob Cooper
-
Song of the Beast
- By: Carol Berg
- Narrated by: Claire Christie, Jeremy Arthur
- Length: 12 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 86
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 79
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 79
Brutal imprisonment has broken Aidan McAllister. His music is destroyed, and with it the visions he once gave a kingdom ravaged by dragon war. Now, he risks his hard-bought freedom to uncover the truth behind his incarceration - and to meet his enemy face-to-face....
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Dragons rock!
- By MarilynArms on 08-15-13
By: Carol Berg
-
Iron Axe
- The Books of Blood and Iron, Book 1
- By: Steven Harper
- Narrated by: P. J. Ochlan
- Length: 13 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 371
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 344
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 342
In this brand new series from the author of the Clockwork Empire series, a hopeless outcast must answer Death's call and embark on an epic adventure... Although Danr's mother was human, his father was one of the hated Stane, a troll from the mountains. Now Danr has nothing to look forward to but a life of disapproval and mistrust, answering to "Trollboy" and condemned to hard labor on a farm. Until, without warning, strange creatures come down from the mountains to attack the village.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
I DON'T WANT YOU TO FOLLOW ME,
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 07-22-17
By: Steven Harper
-
Fatemarked
- The Fatemarked Epic, Book 1
- By: David Estes
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 19 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,036
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,811
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 1,804
They are the fatemarked. Misunderstood. Worshipped. Hated. Murdered at birth. Their time to step into the light has come. An ancient prophecy foretold their coming, the chosen few who will bring peace to a land embroiled in a century of mistrust and war. When kings start dying, that hope and belief swiftly turns to fear. Roan Loren is one of the fatemarked, but has hidden his mark of power his entire life, fearing the damage it might cause to those around him. A great evil is coming. He can't hide anymore.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Written to fit an ideology, not the story it tells
- By znidarsic.blaz on 04-30-18
By: David Estes
-
Phoenix Unbound
- The Fallen Empire Series, Book 1
- By: Grace Draven
- Narrated by: Katharine Lee McEwan
- Length: 14 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 854
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 767
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 764
Every year, each village is required to send a young woman to the Empire's capital - her fate to be burned alive for the entertainment of the masses. For the last five years, one small village's tithe has been the same woman. Gilene's sacrifice protects all the other young women of her village, and her secret to staying alive lies with the magic only she possesses. But this year is different. Azarion, the Empire's most famous gladiator, has somehow seen through her illusion - and is set on blackmailing Gilene into using her abilities to help him escape his life of slavery.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Nothing special. Highly predictable
- By J. C. Schmidt on 10-10-18
By: Grace Draven
-
Flesh and Spirit
- Lighthouse, Book 1
- By: Carol Berg
- Narrated by: Allen O'Reilly
- Length: 14 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 91
-
Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 86
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 84
The rebellious son of a long line of pureblood cartographers and diviners, Valen has spent most of his life trying to escape what society - and his family - have ordained for him. His own mother has predicted that he will meet his doom in water, blood, and ice. Her divination seems fulfilled when a comrade abandons Valen in a rainy wilderness half-dead, addicted to an enchantment that converts pain to pleasure, and possessing only a stolen book of maps.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
FIGHTING TO ADD MORE WORDS TO THIS COLLECTION
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 07-13-14
By: Carol Berg
-
Altar of Influence: The Orsarian War
- A Prelude to the Dying Lands Chronicle
- By: Jacob Cooper
- Narrated by: Michael Kramer
- Length: 11 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 453
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 419
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 420
Sacrifice. The single act capable of bringing both death and life simultaneously. Thannuel Kerr is handsome, young, and brash, fumbling through childhood toward his inevitable inheritance: the next Lord of the Western Province. He struggles to accept his arranged marriage and to grow into the man he must become. The journey toward that end, however, is fraught with more peril than he could possibly imagine.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A Compelling Read!
- By Voracious Reader on 10-17-16
By: Jacob Cooper
-
Song of the Beast
- By: Carol Berg
- Narrated by: Claire Christie, Jeremy Arthur
- Length: 12 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 86
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 79
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 79
Brutal imprisonment has broken Aidan McAllister. His music is destroyed, and with it the visions he once gave a kingdom ravaged by dragon war. Now, he risks his hard-bought freedom to uncover the truth behind his incarceration - and to meet his enemy face-to-face....
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Dragons rock!
- By MarilynArms on 08-15-13
By: Carol Berg
-
Iron Axe
- The Books of Blood and Iron, Book 1
- By: Steven Harper
- Narrated by: P. J. Ochlan
- Length: 13 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 371
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 344
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 342
In this brand new series from the author of the Clockwork Empire series, a hopeless outcast must answer Death's call and embark on an epic adventure... Although Danr's mother was human, his father was one of the hated Stane, a troll from the mountains. Now Danr has nothing to look forward to but a life of disapproval and mistrust, answering to "Trollboy" and condemned to hard labor on a farm. Until, without warning, strange creatures come down from the mountains to attack the village.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
I DON'T WANT YOU TO FOLLOW ME,
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 07-22-17
By: Steven Harper
-
Fatemarked
- The Fatemarked Epic, Book 1
- By: David Estes
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 19 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,036
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,811
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 1,804
They are the fatemarked. Misunderstood. Worshipped. Hated. Murdered at birth. Their time to step into the light has come. An ancient prophecy foretold their coming, the chosen few who will bring peace to a land embroiled in a century of mistrust and war. When kings start dying, that hope and belief swiftly turns to fear. Roan Loren is one of the fatemarked, but has hidden his mark of power his entire life, fearing the damage it might cause to those around him. A great evil is coming. He can't hide anymore.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Written to fit an ideology, not the story it tells
- By znidarsic.blaz on 04-30-18
By: David Estes
-
No Man of Woman Born
- Rewoven Tales
- By: Ana Mardoll
- Narrated by: Cori Samuel
- Length: 6 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 57
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 52
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 51
From the author of the Earthside series and the Rewoven Tales novels, No Man of Woman Born is a collection of seven fantasy stories in which transgender and nonbinary characters subvert and fulfill gendered prophecies. These prophecies recognize and acknowledge each character's gender, even when others do not.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Not What I expected
- By Customer on 07-27-18
By: Ana Mardoll
-
Wit'ch Fire
- The Banned and the Banished, Book 1
- By: James Clemens
- Narrated by: Jennifer Van Dyck, Kevin Pariseau
- Length: 15 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 224
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 205
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 206
On a fateful night five centuries ago, three mages made a desperate last stand, sacrificing everything to preserve the only hope of goodness in the beautiful, doomed land of Alasea. Now, on the anniversary of that ominous night, a girl-child ripens into the heritage of lost power. But before she can even comprehend her terrible new gift, the Dark Lord dispatches his winged monsters to capture her and bring him the embryonic magic she embodies.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
An Amazing Journey
- By Drink Coffee, Read Books on 12-27-14
By: James Clemens
-
Dawn of War
- Blood War Trilogy, Book 1
- By: Tim Marquitz
- Narrated by: John Pruden
- Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 234
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 206
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 206
For hundreds of years, the bestial Grol have clawed at the walls of Lathah without success. Now armed with O'hra, mystical weapons of great power, they have returned, to conquer. Witness to the Grol advance, Arrin can abide his exile no longer. He returns to Lathah, in defiance of death, with hopes to save his beloved princess and the child born of their illicit affair. He finds her unwilling to abandon her people.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A sprawling Epic fantasy in the best sense!
- By The Bookwyrm Speaks on 09-03-15
By: Tim Marquitz
-
Rhapsody
- Child of Blood
- By: Elizabeth Haydon
- Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins
- Length: 30 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 754
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 686
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 688
Rhapsody is a woman, a singer of some talent who is swept up into events of world-shattering import. On the run from an old romantic interest who won't take no for an answer, Rhapsody literally bumps into a couple of shady characters: half breeds who come to her rescue in the nick of time. Only the rescue turns into an abduction, and Rhapsody soon finds herself dragged along on an epic voyage--one that spans centuries and ranges across a wonder-filled fantasy world.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Good story! Terrible narration.
- By CharmY2K on 04-30-15
By: Elizabeth Haydon
-
Witch's Boy
- By: Kelly Barnhill
- Narrated by: Ralph Lister
- Length: 9 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 553
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 494
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 493
When Ned and his identical twin brother tumble from their raft into a raging, bewitched river, only Ned survives. Villagers are convinced the wrong boy lived. Sure enough, Ned grows up weak and slow, and stays as much as possible within the safe boundaries of his family's cottage and yard. But when a Bandit King comes to steal the magic that Ned's mother, a witch, is meant to protect, it's Ned who safeguards the magic and summons the strength to protect his family and community.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Not as good as expected
- By ladybug on 03-19-17
By: Kelly Barnhill
-
The Grim Company
- By: Luke Scull
- Narrated by: Gerard Doyle
- Length: 15 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 366
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 324
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 327
The Gods are dead. The Magelord Salazar and his magically enhanced troops, the Augmentors, crush any dissent they find in the minds of the populace. On the other side of the Broken Sea, the White Lady plots the liberation of Dorminia, with her spymistresses, the Pale Women. Demons and abominations plague the Highlands. The world is desperately in need of heroes. But what they get instead are a ragtag band of old warriors, a crippled Halfmage, two orphans and an oddly capable manservant: the Grim Company.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Pretty bad, but not actively terrible
- By Travis Lamkin on 09-13-15
By: Luke Scull
-
Daughters of the Storm
- By: Kim Wilkins
- Narrated by: Lucy Price-Lewis
- Length: 15 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 45
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 40
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 40
Lying in a magic-induced coma, the King of Thyrsland is on the brink of death: if his enemies knew, chaos would reign. In fear for his life and his kingdom, his five daughters set out on a perilous journey to try to save him, their only hope an aunt they have yet to meet, a shadowy practitioner of undermagic who lives on the wild northern borders. No one can stand before the fierce tattooed soldier and eldest daughter, Bluebell, an army commander who is rumoured to be unkillable....
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Boring, could not even get through half…
- By Diana M Meredith on 10-30-23
By: Kim Wilkins
-
Debt of Bones
- Sword of Truth Series
- By: Terry Goodkind
- Narrated by: Sam Tsoutsouvas
- Length: 3 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,962
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2,653
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,648
A milestone of storytelling set in the world of The Sword of Truth, Debt of Bones is the story of young Abby's struggle to win the aid of the wizard Zedd Zorander, the most important man alive. Abby is trapped, not only between both sides of the war, but in a mortal conflict between two powerful men. For Zedd, who commands power most men can only imagine, granting Abby's request would mean forsaking his sacred duty. With the storm of the final battle about to save the life of a child....
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Bags! This is a good prequel.
- By Patrick Sanchez on 05-02-14
By: Terry Goodkind
-
Green Rider
- By: Kristen Britain
- Narrated by: Ellen Archer
- Length: 16 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,494
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2,215
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,216
Karigan G’ladheon, running away from school, is traveling through a deep forest when a galloping horse pounds up to her, its rider impaled by two black-shafted arrows. With his dying breath, he tells her he is a Green Rider, one of the magical messengers of the King. Before he dies, he makes Karigan swear to deliver the message he’s carrying, and gives her his green coat, with the symbolic brooch of his office.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
What a fantastic discovery!
- By GLENNO on 11-27-14
By: Kristen Britain
-
Spindle Fire
- By: Lexa Hillyer
- Narrated by: Fiona Hardingham
- Length: 8 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 75
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 71
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 71
Half sisters Isabelle and Aurora are polar opposites: Isabelle is the king's headstrong illegitimate daughter whose sight was tithed by faeries; Aurora, beautiful and sheltered, was tithed her sense of touch and voice on the same day. Despite their differences, the sisters have always been extremely close. And then everything changes with a single drop of Aurora's blood, a Faerie Queen who is preparing for war, a strange and enchanting dream realm - and a sleep so deep it cannot be broken.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Lovers of fairy tale romance rejoice!
- By Elley Murray on 11-23-17
By: Lexa Hillyer
-
Markswoman
- Asiana, Book 1
- By: Rati Mehrotra
- Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller
- Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 64
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 55
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 55
Kyra is the youngest Markswoman in the Order of Kali, a highly trained sisterhood of elite warriors armed with telepathic blades. Guided by a strict code of conduct, Kyra and the other Orders are sworn to protect the people of Asiana. But to be a Markswoman, an acolyte must repudiate her former life completely. Kyra has pledged to do so, yet she secretly harbors a fierce desire to avenge her dead family. When Kyra's beloved mentor dies in mysterious circumstances, and Tamsyn, the dangerous Mistress of Mental Arts, assumes control, Kyra is forced on the run.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Everything I look for in a fantasy series!
- By Shawscribbles on 02-11-18
By: Rati Mehrotra
-
Ransom
- By: David Malouf
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 4 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 40
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 37
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 37
This is the story of the relationship between two grieving men at war: fierce Achilles, who has lost his beloved Patroclus in the siege of Troy; and woeful Priam, whose son Hector killed Patroclus and was in turn savaged by Achilles. A moving tale of suffering, sorrow, and redemption, Ransom is incandescent in its delicate and powerful lyricism and its unstated imperative that we imagine our lives in the glow of fellow feeling.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Ponderous narration, tortured prose
- By Gail N. on 01-26-20
By: David Malouf
What listeners say about The Ruling Elite, and Other Stories
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance2 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Shoshana Hathaway
- 11-07-15
Lyrical, haunting fantasy
This is a beautifully written, evocative collection of fantasy stories. The writing is so lyrical that these tales read like a cross between prose and poetry. The authors chose their themes from many sources, including, in the case of Xina Marie Uhl, classical mythology. Anyone familiar with the myth of Demeter will delight in what this author does to expand and slightly rearrange the that myth, although she remains absolutely faithful to its essence. The rest of the stories are exquisite, if haunting and strange to those used to more modern themes and presentation.
I must say, however, that the narration is an excellent example of why authors seldom make good narrators. Audio book narration is more than just reading aloud to children, friends, or even small groups. It requires certain skills that were not present in this performance. Although the narration was adequate, it was barely so, and I would have enjoyed this lovely book more had it been presented by a true professional in the field.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for this unbiased review via the courtesy of AudioBookBlast dot com.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!