The Skull Throne

By: Peter V. Brett

Narrated by: Pete Bradbury

The first three novels in New York Times best-selling author Peter V. Brett's groundbreaking Demon Cycle series - The Warded Man, The Desert Spear, and The Daylight War - set a new standard for heroic fantasy. The powerful saga of humans winnowed to the brink of extinction by night-stalking demons, and the survivors who fight back, has kept listeners breathless. Now the thrilling fourth volume, The Skull Throne, raises the stakes as it carries the action in shocking new directions.

The Skull Throne of Krasia stands empty. Built from the skulls of fallen generals and demon princes, it is a seat of honor and ancient, powerful magic, keeping the demon corelings at bay. From atop the throne, Ahmann Jardir was meant to conquer the known world, forging its isolated peoples into a unified army to rise up and end the demon war once and for all. But Arlen Bales, the Warded Man, stood against this course, challenging Jardir to a duel he could not in honor refuse. Rather than risk defeat, Arlen cast them both from a precipice, leaving the world without a savior and opening a struggle for succession that threatens to tear the Free Cities of Thesa apart.

In the south, Inevera, Jardir's first wife, must find a way to keep their sons from killing each other and plunging their people into civil war as they strive for glory enough to make a claim on the throne. In the north, Leesha Paper and Rojer Inn struggle to forge an alliance between the duchies of Angiers and Miln against the Krasians before it is too late. Caught in the crossfire is the duchy of Lakton - rich and unprotected, ripe for conquest. All the while, the corelings have been growing stronger, and without Arlen and Jardir there may be none strong enough to stop them. Only Renna Bales may know more about the fate of the missing men, but she, too, has disappeared....

©2015 Peter V. Brett (P)2015 Recorded Books

Extremely Readable, But I Have Gripes

First let me say that I liked this book. I blazed through it in something less than a week, and was taking every spare moment to put an earbud back in my ear. The book is doubtlessly well paced and lively. I am engaged with these characters and, while not as much as he had in previous novels, Brett gives back story to encourage sympathy and understanding with characters you wouldn't otherwise like. Of the four so far, this is probably my third favorite after the first and second, and ahead of book 3, "the Daylight War." If you're pleased with the series thus far, I'd say you're safe dropping a credit on this installment.

Some of the problems with this book are the same Brett's been struggling with since the end of book 1. This book was light on demon fighting and heavy on humans getting in their own way - same as the last book - same as the book before that. It was like Brett told most of the story about the fight against the demons in the first book and now has to draw the story out to get a good length to the series. This means that he puts the main characters, who are driving the demon fight, on the shelf for most of the book while he hashes things out with the smaller roles. I like some of the other characters, and really like a new one introduced this book, but now it just seems like stalling. Get on with the main story arc already!

Far too many of Brett's characters talk like they were raised in a medieval locker room. Don't play a drinking game where you drink whenever a character makes some archaic metaphor for procreation, sex, or genitalia. Some, I get. But Brett overworks this trope like a rented mule. You can't go a paragraph without reading about someone "plowing a furrow" or a man's "spear" or "seed pod." You have 70 yr. old women talking like the most disgusting frat guy you've ever heard.

Lastly, I have lost confidence in Bradbury's reading. All his characterizations are varying degrees of gruff. Gruff is all he's got. He doesn't have much range.

Those gripes out of the way, I still recommend this book if you've been following the series so far. I only gave them so much time because I like the series; I plan to continue it, I just needed to get these problems off my chest.

Intrigue & Character development

Yet another addicting addition! The complexity and depth of the world really grows in this book.

A lot of side stories.

Not much to do with the Warded Man or the Demon of the Desert but a full story of many of the side characters of the previous novels. I liked it because it really built up these characters and now gives you the story from the eyes of multiple eyes and perceptions. It's my belief that this will only make the next installment That much better because you'll feel invested from so many points of view. Like any true story there are many story plots, many schemes and many people all with their own agendas making up the Whole, some you'll like some you'll hate, some you'll root for and some you'll dam but ultimately whatever the story has in store for us is Enevera!

sooo good!

Narrator was great andatched the book well. The book itself was addicting and so hard to pause.

Good listen

I liked it, hard to follow at first but great finish. Looking forward to the next book

Awesome

Great book, can't wait for book five. Narration was well done with good character separation by utilizing different accents and speech characteristics.

Leaving you with wanting more

Narrator top notch as always - never change.
The book continually captivated me, always jolting me back, giving me a feeling of wanting more. Even through a short dry spell it contained.

Keep writing good books and I'll forever listen!

Great job,

good series

I have enjoyed the series. I burned through the four books in a little over a week. I know I have been hooked when a character dies and I truly felt sorrow. I am saddened the character died, was my favorite character in the series. I understood the importance to move the story. I await October for the fifth in the series.

No ending

It just stops.

More unnecessary words to be able to submit a review

Devastation

this book is almost a combination of his story. interestingly, he seems to take Page out of George Martins playbook. that having been said the writing styles are uniquely his own, the storyline twisting, turning, and nail biting.