Within the Sanctuary of Wings

A Memoir by Lady Trent

By: Marie Brennan

Narrated by: Kate Reading

Within the Sanctuary of Wings is the conclusion to Marie Brennan's thrilling Lady Trent Memoirs.

After nearly five decades (and, indeed, the same number of volumes), one might think they were well acquainted with Lady Isabella Trent - dragon naturalist, scandalous explorer, and perhaps as infamous for her company and feats of daring as she is famous for her discoveries and additions to the scientific field.

And yet - after her initial adventure in the mountains of Vystrana and her exploits in the depths of war-torn Eriga, to the high seas aboard the Basilisk and then to the inhospitable deserts of Akhia - Lady Trent has captivated hearts along with fierce minds. This concluding volume will finally reveal the truths behind her most notorious adventure - scaling the tallest peak in the world, buried behind the territory of Scirland's enemies - and what she discovered there, Within the Sanctuary of Wings.

©2017 Bryn Neuenschwander (P)2017 Macmillan Audio

delightful series!

gobbled up the whole series in a week! I found the whole concept charming and engaging. a refreshing new take on the dragon mystique. 5 stars.

Great ending

Part 2 was really really hard to get through. Other than that, it was a really fun ending.

engaging story but problematic themes

I love a well-narrated book, and Kate Redding takes this rather predictable story to it's limit. The author attempts to circumscribe modern hot-button issues of colonialism, privilege, and eurocentrism by making up new proper names for places (Africa is "Ariga", Arabic is "Achian", though I am guessing at the spelling). I love a bit of world building but in every aspect but name, these are obviously modelled in detail after our real-life civilizations and cultures, down to the Adam's rib origin story of the protagonist's faith. Despite all the modern discussion on WASP harm across the globe, this author makes no effort to approach the cultural issues that the protagonist encounters regularly with any sort of introspection. It's white girl lit for white girls who want to imagine the world has it out for them. I had hoped when I started that the author was using these cultural pseudonyms to do something inventive, to challenge some beliefs and imagine what it would be like to discover new fields of science and experience new cultures from an alternate perspective (which is to say, something other than clearly British colonialism). Instead it's written as though the only truly oppressed people are white ladies of a certain social status who don't get whatever recognition from older white men they think they deserve. It's tragic that the author did so little with such an opportunity, and this series won't stand the test of time against modern works like NK Jemisen's.

loved all the books in this series

each book was better than the last. listen when traveling with my young adult children. my older children listened separately and we all enjoyed the series.

THE BEST ENDING TO A SERIES EVER

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK!
Marie Brennan did not disappoint with this final book in the series. I didn't get even close to predicting her final discovery. Once I read the plot twist I had to stop reading and just absorb it. It was probably the happiest I have been all year reading this book! I am sad to see this story come to a close, but Brennan couldn't have written a better ending! This is definitely my best book of the year.

Fantastic!

I adore this series, but this finale is a culmination beyond any I expected, in full Lady Trent fashion!

Incredible!

Fantastic final book in a fantastic series. So much fun to listen to! Loved every minute.

An amazing believable world.

I found the performance and the story very relatable and enjoyable. It is A fitting finale to an epic Saga, brought to life by Kate Reading's Stellar narration. At times Lady Trent seems to be a very real person with much to share and teach. The world of Mary Brennan's dragons is so like ours and yet so wonderful, that one wistfully longs to belong there. I'm reminded that even in this real world there are still wonders to be found for the adventurous mind. Upon finishing this book, all the more do I wish I could go on an expedition to some forgotten corner of Earth for what might be discovered. This is what true fantasy should do: Inspire us to make our lives an adventure.

A fantastic conclusion to Lady Trent’s memoirs

This series has a magical combination of historical research, romance, adventure, danger, politics (however unwelcome that is to Lady Trent), and a keen intellectual mind that has enough personality to keep me engaged for hours.

This series has shot to the top of my recommended reading list, and for good reason. It’s a pity there’s only 5 books in the series.

As good as the whole series.

I enjoyed it fully and I am sad that this was the ending book. But all things must come to an end