
The Sword Defiant
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
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Buy for $30.41
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
George Weightman
-
By:
-
Gareth Hanrahan
About this listen
Set in a world of dark myth and dangerous prophecy, this thrilling fantasy launches an epic tale of daring warriors, living weapons, and bloodthirsty vengeance.
Many years ago, Sir Aelfric and his nine companions saved the world, seizing the Dark Lord's cursed weapons, along with his dread city of Necrad. That was the easy part.
Now, when Aelfric—keeper of the cursed sword Spellbreaker—learns of a new and terrifying threat, he seeks the nine heroes once again. But they are wandering adventurers no longer. Yesterday's eager heroes are today's weary leaders—and some have turned to the darkness, becoming monsters themselves.
If there's one thing Aelfric knows, it's slaying monsters. Even if they used to be his friends.
"I will buy any novel that Gareth Hanrahan ever writes." - The Fantasy Inn
"Hanrahan has an astonishing imagination." - Peter McLean, author of Priest of Bones
©2023 Gareth Hanrahan (P)2023 OrbitListeners also enjoyed...
-
Our Hideous Progeny
- A Novel
- By: C.E. McGill
- Narrated by: Florence Howard
- Length: 12 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The 1850s are a time of discovery, and London is ablaze with the latest scientific theories and debates, especially when a spectacular new exhibition of dinosaur sculptures opens at the Crystal Palace. Mary is keen to make her name in this world of science alongside her geologist husband, Henry—but despite her sharp mind and sharper tongue, without wealth and connections their options are limited.
-
-
Incredible
- By M on 07-19-23
By: C.E. McGill
-
Poison Study
- The Chronicles of Ixia, Book 1
- By: Maria V. Snyder
- Narrated by: Kristin Atherton
- Length: 13 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Locked deep in the palace dungeon for killing her abuser, Yelena knows she’ll never be free again. The laws in Ixia are strict, and murderers must be executed, no matter the reason. But just as she’s resigned herself to her fate, she’s offered an extraordinary reprieve.
-
-
Why remake something that was great
- By friday on 01-26-24
By: Maria V. Snyder
-
The Will of the Many
- Hierarchy, Book 1
- By: James Islington
- Narrated by: Euan Morton
- Length: 28 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Catenan Republic—the Hierarchy—may rule the world now, but they do not know everything. I tell them my name is Vis Telimus. I tell them I was orphaned after a tragic accident three years ago, and that good fortune alone has led to my acceptance into their most prestigious school. I tell them that once I graduate, I will gladly join the rest of civilized society in allowing my strength, my drive, and my focus—what they call Will—to be leeched away and added to the power of those above me, as millions already do. As all must eventually do.
-
-
I don’t know what the other reviews are on about
- By Chase on 06-24-23
By: James Islington
-
Elixir
- A Parisian Perfume House and the Quest for the Secret of Life
- By: Theresa Levitt
- Narrated by: Esther Wane
- Length: 8 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For centuries, scientists believed that living matter possessed a special quality—a spirit or essence—that differentiated it from nonliving matter. But by the nineteenth century, the scientific consensus was that the building blocks of one were identical to the building blocks of the other. Elixir tells the story of two young chemists who were not convinced, and how their work rewrote the boundary between life and nonlife.
-
-
Thrilling History of Organic Chemistry
- By Mark E. White on 06-13-23
By: Theresa Levitt
-
A Disappearance in Fiji
- By: Nilima Rao
- Narrated by: Sid Sagar
- Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
1914, Fiji: 25-year-old Akal Singh would rather be anywhere but this tropical paradise—or, as he calls it, “this godforsaken island.” After a promising start to his police career in his native India and Hong Kong, Akal has been sent to Fiji as punishment for a humiliating professional mistake. Lonely and grumpy, Akal plods through his work and dreams of getting back to Hong Kong. When an indentured Indian woman goes missing from a sugarcane plantation and Fiji’s newspapers scream “kidnapping,” the inspector-general reluctantly assigns Akal the case.
-
-
Good historical story
- By JU on 09-20-23
By: Nilima Rao
-
Citadel
- By: C. M. Alongi
- Narrated by: Emily Lawrence
- Length: 14 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Citadel is the only human city on the alien planet Edalide, ruled by the biweekly tides that bring both deadly danger and much-needed resources. But the drowning waters, constant threat of starvation, and eternal cold aren’t the most dangerous challenge. For the Flooded Forest is ruled by demons: monsters from Hell sent by their vengeful god as penance for their ancestors’ rebellion. To save their souls and return to their former glory, Citadel must kill every single one. Or so they believe.
-
-
Loved every minute of this book.
- By A.J. The Human on 09-05-23
By: C. M. Alongi
-
Our Hideous Progeny
- A Novel
- By: C.E. McGill
- Narrated by: Florence Howard
- Length: 12 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The 1850s are a time of discovery, and London is ablaze with the latest scientific theories and debates, especially when a spectacular new exhibition of dinosaur sculptures opens at the Crystal Palace. Mary is keen to make her name in this world of science alongside her geologist husband, Henry—but despite her sharp mind and sharper tongue, without wealth and connections their options are limited.
-
-
Incredible
- By M on 07-19-23
By: C.E. McGill
-
Poison Study
- The Chronicles of Ixia, Book 1
- By: Maria V. Snyder
- Narrated by: Kristin Atherton
- Length: 13 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Locked deep in the palace dungeon for killing her abuser, Yelena knows she’ll never be free again. The laws in Ixia are strict, and murderers must be executed, no matter the reason. But just as she’s resigned herself to her fate, she’s offered an extraordinary reprieve.
-
-
Why remake something that was great
- By friday on 01-26-24
By: Maria V. Snyder
-
The Will of the Many
- Hierarchy, Book 1
- By: James Islington
- Narrated by: Euan Morton
- Length: 28 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Catenan Republic—the Hierarchy—may rule the world now, but they do not know everything. I tell them my name is Vis Telimus. I tell them I was orphaned after a tragic accident three years ago, and that good fortune alone has led to my acceptance into their most prestigious school. I tell them that once I graduate, I will gladly join the rest of civilized society in allowing my strength, my drive, and my focus—what they call Will—to be leeched away and added to the power of those above me, as millions already do. As all must eventually do.
-
-
I don’t know what the other reviews are on about
- By Chase on 06-24-23
By: James Islington
-
Elixir
- A Parisian Perfume House and the Quest for the Secret of Life
- By: Theresa Levitt
- Narrated by: Esther Wane
- Length: 8 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For centuries, scientists believed that living matter possessed a special quality—a spirit or essence—that differentiated it from nonliving matter. But by the nineteenth century, the scientific consensus was that the building blocks of one were identical to the building blocks of the other. Elixir tells the story of two young chemists who were not convinced, and how their work rewrote the boundary between life and nonlife.
-
-
Thrilling History of Organic Chemistry
- By Mark E. White on 06-13-23
By: Theresa Levitt
-
A Disappearance in Fiji
- By: Nilima Rao
- Narrated by: Sid Sagar
- Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
1914, Fiji: 25-year-old Akal Singh would rather be anywhere but this tropical paradise—or, as he calls it, “this godforsaken island.” After a promising start to his police career in his native India and Hong Kong, Akal has been sent to Fiji as punishment for a humiliating professional mistake. Lonely and grumpy, Akal plods through his work and dreams of getting back to Hong Kong. When an indentured Indian woman goes missing from a sugarcane plantation and Fiji’s newspapers scream “kidnapping,” the inspector-general reluctantly assigns Akal the case.
-
-
Good historical story
- By JU on 09-20-23
By: Nilima Rao
-
Citadel
- By: C. M. Alongi
- Narrated by: Emily Lawrence
- Length: 14 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Citadel is the only human city on the alien planet Edalide, ruled by the biweekly tides that bring both deadly danger and much-needed resources. But the drowning waters, constant threat of starvation, and eternal cold aren’t the most dangerous challenge. For the Flooded Forest is ruled by demons: monsters from Hell sent by their vengeful god as penance for their ancestors’ rebellion. To save their souls and return to their former glory, Citadel must kill every single one. Or so they believe.
-
-
Loved every minute of this book.
- By A.J. The Human on 09-05-23
By: C. M. Alongi
-
Translation State
- By: Ann Leckie
- Narrated by: Adjoa Andoh
- Length: 12 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Enae's grandmaman passes away, Enae inherits something unexpected: a diplomatic assignment to track down a fugitive who has been missing for over 200 years. No one actually expects Enae to succeed; it's an empty assignment meant to keep hir occupied. But Enae has never had a true purpose—no one ever expected hir to do more than care for grandmaman—so sie is determined to accomplish this task to the best of her ability.
-
-
Single themed and not on par with the series
- By Andrew Pollack on 07-01-23
By: Ann Leckie
-
Head Like a Hole
- By: Andrew Van Wey
- Narrated by: Tom Jordan
- Length: 10 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It’s the mid-'90s. Grunge and flannel are fading as the Spice Girls and Hot Topic conquer the malls. Cherry gloss glistens on the lips of the youth. Modems hiss as America comes online. And in a fog-drenched cove at the edge of New England, something terrible awakens when a fisherman reels in a gruesome catch: the remains of a young woman. Remains still pulsing with furious life.
-
-
Very Original Horror Story
- By Mistsofjade on 12-12-22
By: Andrew Van Wey
-
Legends
- A Ronin Saga Short Story
- By: Matthew Wolf
- Narrated by: Michael Kramer
- Length: 1 hr and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Legends uncovers the origin of the Ronin and the final breaking. Kail, leader of the Ronin and threader of wind, along with his eight elemental brothers and sisters have been betrayed. On the cusp of defeat, they go to the Hall of Winds, to the council chamber to discover who in their inner circle is the cursed traitor...Only to discover the darkness is much closer than they ever imagined.
-
-
Loved It
- By Brenda Allen on 02-01-21
By: Matthew Wolf
-
Hammered
- Legacy of Magic, Book 1
- By: Lindsay Buroker
- Narrated by: Vivienne Leheny
- Length: 9 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
She’s happy renovating homes and occasionally thumping bad guys until she learns of a mysterious artifact hidden under the house she’s working on. Everybody from humans to orcs to werewolves wants it, and they’re willing to kill to get it. Things go from bad to worse when someone frames her for murder.
-
-
it's just okay, read the Kindle book.
- By Quinn on 04-16-23
By: Lindsay Buroker
-
Below Us
- The Abyss, Book 1
- By: Nathan Hystad
- Narrated by: Marc Vietor
- Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After a rough break up, Wyatt moves to New York City, eager to prove himself while working on Wall Street. When he’s asked to visit the father of his ex-girlfriend, a billionaire tycoon, his fate is sealed. The revolutionary company, Nu-En, launches a radical innovation, an energy that will allow every person on the planet access to power. Only it doesn’t perform as anticipated. Harnessing the ocean has consequences, and highly dangerous creatures emerge from the depths. Soon, the Earth is fracturing, and the world will never be the same.
-
-
Interesting story but..
- By Mike Fedotov on 09-28-23
By: Nathan Hystad
-
The Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency
- By: Lydia Travers
- Narrated by: Helen McAlpine
- Length: 9 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Edinburgh, 1911: When Maud McIntyre and her lady’s maid, Daisy, form a detective agency, they never dream their first case will take place at a glamorous house in the Scottish Highlands. But when the duchess of Duddingston, concerned that a notorious jewelry thief will target her lavish weekend party, employs Maud to go undercover as a guest to find the culprit, the agency has its first case to solve....
-
-
Many mysteries in one!
- By Kathy W. on 07-12-23
By: Lydia Travers
-
Woods of the Raven
- By: Mary Calmes
- Narrated by: Greg Tremblay
- Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Xander Corey lives simply, sustainably, on the outskirts of Osprey, a small, quaint town in Upstate New York. He’s a librarian when the town’s budget can afford him, a good friend, kind neighbor, and also, a witch. And while that’s of no concern to anyone around him, there are others, non-humans, who have a vested interest in Xander’s family land. Xander knows something dark and dangerous is brewing. He’s just not quite sure what.
-
-
Excellent
- By Karri on 06-24-23
By: Mary Calmes
-
The Possibility of Life
- Science, Imagination, and Our Quest for Kinship in the Cosmos
- By: Jaime Green
- Narrated by: Jaime Green
- Length: 8 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the most powerful questions humans ask about the cosmos is: Are we alone? While the science behind this inquiry is fascinating, it doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It is a reflection of our values, our fears, and most importantly, our enduring sense of hope. In The Possibility of Life, acclaimed science journalist Jaime Green traces the history of our understanding, from the days of Galileo and Copernicus to our contemporary quest for exoplanets. Along the way, she interweaves insights from science fiction writers who construct worlds that in turn inspire scientists.
-
-
A dazzling journey into the vast depths of life’s meaning!
- By E. McDermott on 08-11-23
By: Jaime Green
-
Edison's Ghosts
- The Untold Weirdness of History's Greatest Geniuses
- By: Katie Spalding
- Narrated by: Susie Riddell
- Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
“As Albert Einstein almost certainly never said, everyone is a genius—but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” So begins Katie Spalding’s spunky takedown of the Western canon, and how genius may not be as irrefutably great as we commonly understand. While most of us may never become Einstein, it may surprise you to learn that there’s probably a bunch of stuff you can do that Einstein couldn’t. And, as Spalding shows, the famous prodigies she explores here were quite odd by any definition.
-
-
Wonderful Wonderful Read.
- By marc edge on 06-01-23
By: Katie Spalding
-
Trollslayer
- Gotrek and Felix: Warhammer Chronicles, Book 1
- By: William King
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 9 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After fleeing the authorities in the Imperial city of Altdorf, Felix Jaeger swears a drunken oath to dour dwarf Gotrek Gurnisson to record his death saga. In the cold light of day, Felix's worst fears are confirmed as he learns that Gotrek is a Trollslayer - a dwarf doomed to seek out a heroic death in battle to atone for an unknown personal disgrace. Their travels throw them into a string of extraordinary adventures as Felix tries to survive his companion's destiny.
-
-
love gotrek and felix
- By Angela N. on 12-15-19
By: William King
-
The Song of the First Blade
- The Bladeborn Saga, Book 1
- By: T.C. Edge
- Narrated by: Steven Brand
- Length: 28 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the heart of Vandar, as dark forces close in, Elyon, a gifted Bladeborn knight, fights for his family's survival in a world on the brink of war. In the beleaguered northlands of Tukor, a servant girl with a mysterious past is forced on the run by a treacherous lord, propelling her on a journey that will change her world forever. From the Shadowfort, an ancient power is unleashed, one that will set into motion a series of events that will bring the world to its knees.
-
-
Wow, this was a chore.
- By Captain Spanky Of Nazareth on 11-30-21
By: T.C. Edge
-
The Raveling: The Complete Saga
- By: Alec Hutson
- Narrated by: Guy Williams
- Length: 51 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Long ago, the world fell into twilight, when the great empires of old consumed each other in sorcerous cataclysms. In the south, the Star Towers fell, swallowed by the sea, while the black glaciers descended upon the northern holdfasts, entombing the cities of Min-Ceruth in ice and sorcery. Then from the ancient empire of Menekar, the paladins of Ama came, putting every surviving sorcerer to the sword and cleansing their taint from the land. The pulse of magic slowed, fading like the heartbeat of a dying man. But after a thousand years, it has begun to quicken again.
-
-
Narration is intolerable
- By Kristal L. Fye Jozefik on 04-22-20
By: Alec Hutson
People who viewed this also viewed...
-
The Gutter Prayer
- By: Gareth Hanrahan
- Narrated by: John Banks
- Length: 16 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The city of Guerdon stands eternal. A refuge from the war that rages beyond its borders. But in the ancient tunnels deep beneath its streets, a malevolent power has begun to stir. The fate of the city rests in the hands of three thieves. They alone stand against the coming darkness. As conspiracies unfold and secrets are revealed, their friendship will be tested to the limit. If they fail, all will be lost, and the streets of Guerdon will run with blood.
-
-
Absolutely incredible
- By Bronwyn on 12-01-19
By: Gareth Hanrahan
-
Green Rider
- By: Kristen Britain
- Narrated by: Ellen Archer
- Length: 16 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
What a fantastic discovery!
- By GLENNO on 11-27-14
By: Kristen Britain
-
Deathless
- Annals of the God Eater, Book 1 (The God Eater Saga)
- By: Rob J. Hayes
- Narrated by: Connor Brannigan
- Length: 6 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Seven were the Godless Kings who took their war to Heaven. King Ertide Hostain was once known as the Crimson Prince. He fought side by side with angels and pegasi and defended the Sant Dien Empire against monsters. But his pact with Heaven has become strained. He has grown old, his body rots, and he has yet to choose which squabbling prince will be his heir. The Hostain dynasty has ruled over the empire for millennia, but when Ertide finds cryptic notes from his dead father, he realises not all is as it seems. Has history been rewritten? And if so, what is heaven hiding?
-
-
An Epic story lush with battles, betrayals and power
- By Putney-Parret on 01-09-25
By: Rob J. Hayes
-
Engines of Empire
- By: R. S. Ford
- Narrated by: Alison Campbell, Ciaran Saward, Phoebe McIntosh, and others
- Length: 22 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The nation of Torwyn is run on the power of industry, and industry is run by the Guilds. Chief among them are the Hawkspurs, whose responsibility it is to keep the gears of the empire turning. That’s exactly why matriarch Rosomon Hawkspur sends each of her heirs to the far reaches of the nation. Conall, the eldest son, is sent to the distant frontier to earn his stripes in the military. It is here that he faces a threat he could have never seen coming: the first rumblings of revolution.
-
-
Phenomenally told
- By Lee Muita on 10-06-23
By: R. S. Ford
-
Shadows of the Dark Realm
- By: Tyler Edwards
- Narrated by: Sam Legg
- Length: 22 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The idyllic kingdom of Parisia sat nuzzled securely into massive basin in the Great Emerald Mountains. The kingdom was protected by the Darkstone, which blessed the kingdom with generations of peace and prosperity. When the elder dragon Darka Mors steals the Darkstone, the entire realm is shaken. Desperate, the King calls on a group of Seekers led by the Disgraced Knight Vale Lox.
-
-
Good read for any fantasy fan
- By MiamiSlice on 03-31-25
By: Tyler Edwards
-
Barrowlands
- Iconoclasts, Book 0
- By: Mike Shel
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 1 hr
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
No one enters the doom-haunted Barrowlands without royal sanction. But Hesk Atterley has. Accompanied by seedy companions and a hunger for riches, what he finds may change his life forever...if it doesn't kill him first.
-
-
Short but Interesting
- By Michael on 02-01-21
By: Mike Shel
-
The Gutter Prayer
- By: Gareth Hanrahan
- Narrated by: John Banks
- Length: 16 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The city of Guerdon stands eternal. A refuge from the war that rages beyond its borders. But in the ancient tunnels deep beneath its streets, a malevolent power has begun to stir. The fate of the city rests in the hands of three thieves. They alone stand against the coming darkness. As conspiracies unfold and secrets are revealed, their friendship will be tested to the limit. If they fail, all will be lost, and the streets of Guerdon will run with blood.
-
-
Absolutely incredible
- By Bronwyn on 12-01-19
By: Gareth Hanrahan
-
Green Rider
- By: Kristen Britain
- Narrated by: Ellen Archer
- Length: 16 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
What a fantastic discovery!
- By GLENNO on 11-27-14
By: Kristen Britain
-
Deathless
- Annals of the God Eater, Book 1 (The God Eater Saga)
- By: Rob J. Hayes
- Narrated by: Connor Brannigan
- Length: 6 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Seven were the Godless Kings who took their war to Heaven. King Ertide Hostain was once known as the Crimson Prince. He fought side by side with angels and pegasi and defended the Sant Dien Empire against monsters. But his pact with Heaven has become strained. He has grown old, his body rots, and he has yet to choose which squabbling prince will be his heir. The Hostain dynasty has ruled over the empire for millennia, but when Ertide finds cryptic notes from his dead father, he realises not all is as it seems. Has history been rewritten? And if so, what is heaven hiding?
-
-
An Epic story lush with battles, betrayals and power
- By Putney-Parret on 01-09-25
By: Rob J. Hayes
-
Engines of Empire
- By: R. S. Ford
- Narrated by: Alison Campbell, Ciaran Saward, Phoebe McIntosh, and others
- Length: 22 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The nation of Torwyn is run on the power of industry, and industry is run by the Guilds. Chief among them are the Hawkspurs, whose responsibility it is to keep the gears of the empire turning. That’s exactly why matriarch Rosomon Hawkspur sends each of her heirs to the far reaches of the nation. Conall, the eldest son, is sent to the distant frontier to earn his stripes in the military. It is here that he faces a threat he could have never seen coming: the first rumblings of revolution.
-
-
Phenomenally told
- By Lee Muita on 10-06-23
By: R. S. Ford
-
Shadows of the Dark Realm
- By: Tyler Edwards
- Narrated by: Sam Legg
- Length: 22 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The idyllic kingdom of Parisia sat nuzzled securely into massive basin in the Great Emerald Mountains. The kingdom was protected by the Darkstone, which blessed the kingdom with generations of peace and prosperity. When the elder dragon Darka Mors steals the Darkstone, the entire realm is shaken. Desperate, the King calls on a group of Seekers led by the Disgraced Knight Vale Lox.
-
-
Good read for any fantasy fan
- By MiamiSlice on 03-31-25
By: Tyler Edwards
-
Barrowlands
- Iconoclasts, Book 0
- By: Mike Shel
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 1 hr
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
No one enters the doom-haunted Barrowlands without royal sanction. But Hesk Atterley has. Accompanied by seedy companions and a hunger for riches, what he finds may change his life forever...if it doesn't kill him first.
-
-
Short but Interesting
- By Michael on 02-01-21
By: Mike Shel
-
City of Last Chances
- By: Adrian Tchaikovsky
- Narrated by: David Thorpe
- Length: 19 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There has always been a darkness to Ilmar, but never more so than now. The city chafes under the heavy hand of the Palleseen occupation, the choke-hold of its criminal underworld, the boot of its factory owners, the weight of its wretched poor and the burden of its ancient curse. What will be the spark that lights the conflagration? Despite the city's refugees, wanderers, murderers, madmen, fanatics and thieves, the catalyst, as always, will be the Anchorwood–that dark grove of trees, that primeval remnant, that portal, when the moon is full, to strange and distant shores.
-
-
Occupied Paris during WW2 In Fantasy World?
- By caleb on 06-19-23
-
Kingfall
- The Kingfall Histories, Book 1
- By: David Estes
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 29 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Infused with magic, shadows and starlight, the powerful godblades were believed to be lost nearly half a millennia ago, when the Godswar ended. Now, however, one has been found by the unlikeliest of wielders: Sampson Gaard, a blind but ambitious prince with something to prove. The only question is whether he controls the blade or the blade him. With an insidious evil lurking in the shadows, the answer may very well determine the fate of all Kingfall.
-
-
Pleasant Surprise
- By christain naidu on 07-29-21
By: David Estes
-
The Silverblood Promise
- The Last Legacy, Book 1
- By: James Logan
- Narrated by: Brenock O’Connor
- Length: 17 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lukan Gardova is a cardsharp, academy dropout, and—thanks to a duel that ended badly—the disgraced heir to an ancient noble house. His days consist of cheap wine, rigged card games, and wondering how he might win back the life he threw away. When Lukan discovers that his estranged father has been murdered in strange circumstances, he finds fresh purpose. Deprived of his chance to make amends for his mistakes, he vows to unravel the mystery behind his father's death. His search for answers leads him to Saphrona, fabled city of merchant princes, where anything can be bought if one has the coin.
-
-
Nothing to care about.
- By Skrapps on 07-02-24
By: James Logan
-
The Forgetting Moon
- By: Brian Lee Durfee
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 30 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Welcome to the Five Isles, where war has come in the name of the invading army of Sor Sevier, a merciless host driven by the prophetic fervor of the Angel Prince, Aeros, toward the last unconquered kingdom of Gul Kana. Yet Gault, one of the elite Knights Archaic of Sor Sevier, is growing disillusioned by the crusade he is at the vanguard of just as it embarks on his Lord Aeros' greatest triumph. While the eldest son of the fallen king of Gul Kana now reigns in ever increasing paranoid isolationism, his two sisters seek their own paths.
-
-
alright-ish
- By Matthew on 05-10-19
By: Brian Lee Durfee
-
The Curse of the Mistwraith
- The Wars of Light and Shadow, Book 1
- By: Janny Wurts
- Narrated by: Colin Mace
- Length: 28 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Athera is besieged by the Mistwraith, which blights the land and dims the mysteries guarded by the last fugitives of the old bloodlines. But from a prophecy springs hope: the gifts of two brothers – one dark, one fair, raised on opposite sides of a relentless war – when paired may challenge the Mistwraith’s invasion, though at brutal cost.
-
-
The start of a masterpiece
- By Blaise Ancona on 04-25-24
By: Janny Wurts
-
Kings of the Wyld: Booktrack Edition
- By: Nicholas Eames
- Narrated by: Jeff Harding
- Length: 17 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A retired group of legendary mercenaries get the band back together for one last impossible mission in this award-winning debut epic fantasy. Kings of the Wyld: Booktrack Edition adds an immersive musical soundtrack to your audiobook listening experience!
-
-
Trying Way Too Hard
- By Acerock on 11-26-20
By: Nicholas Eames
-
Rise of the Ranger
- The Echoes Saga, Book 1
- By: Philip C. Quaintrell
- Narrated by: Steven Brand
- Length: 15 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Mankind has lorded over the land of Illian for a thousand years, building on the ruins left by the elves, as if it were their birthright. A thousand years is a long time for an immortal race to see the truth of things, a truth that has remained unsaid for a millennium - elves are superior. They are faster, stronger, and connected to the magical realm in a way that man could never grasp. Illian should belong to them.
-
-
Worth it
- By Ali on 03-24-18
-
Forsworn: A Powder Mage Novella
- By: Brian McClellan
- Narrated by: Julie Hoverson
- Length: 2 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Erika ja Leora is a powder mage in northern Kez, a place where that particular sorcery is punishable by death. She is only protected by her family name and her position as heir to a duchy. When she decides to help a young commoner-a powder mage marked for death, fugitive from the law-she puts her life and family reputation at risk and sets off to deliver her new ward to the safety of Adro while playing cat and mouse with the king's own mage hunters and their captain, Duke Nikslaus.
-
-
Good short story, subpar narration
- By Derpentine on 04-27-15
By: Brian McClellan
-
The Great When
- The Long London Quintet, Book 1
- By: Alan Moore
- Narrated by: Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
- Length: 13 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The year is 1949, the city London. Amidst the smog of the capital stumbles Dennis Knuckleyard, a hapless eighteen year-old employed by a second-hand bookshop. One day, on an errand to acquire books for sale, Dennis discovers a novel that simply does not exist. It is a fictitious book, a figment from another novel. Yet it is physically there in his hands. How? Dennis has stumbled on a book from the Great When, a magical version of London beyond time and space, where reality blurs with fiction and concepts such as Crime and Poetry are incarnated as wondrous, terrible beings.
-
-
Thin plot and characters
- By Scott Hipp on 02-13-25
By: Alan Moore
-
Uprooted
- By: Naomi Novik
- Narrated by: Julia Emelin
- Length: 17 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life.
-
-
Great story, hard to listen to.
- By Rej on 05-21-15
By: Naomi Novik
-
A Darkness Returns
- The Dragonwar Saga, Book 1
- By: Raymond E. Feist
- Narrated by: David Thorpe
- Length: 19 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Hatushaly, last scion of the Firemane dynasty; his beloved Hava, and their dubious friend Donte have been transported across space and time from their war-torn world of Garn to the relative peace of Midkemia. There, on Sorcerer’s Isle, under the guidance of the great magician Magnus and his reincarnated father Pug, Hatu will explore and expand his unique magical abilities: for if Garn is to be saved, they will be needed.
-
-
Shallow compared with Magician series
- By Jorge Viana on 08-23-24
By: Raymond E. Feist
-
The Shadow of the Gods
- By: John Gwynne
- Narrated by: Colin Mace
- Length: 18 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After the old gods warred and drove themselves to extinction, the cataclysm of their fall shattered the land of Vigrio. Now, power-hungry jarls carve out petty kingdoms, and monsters stalk the shadow-haunted woods and mountains. A world where the bones of the dead gods still hold great power, promising fame, and fortune for those brave - or desperate - enough to seek them out. As whispers of war echo over the plains and across the fjords, fate follows the footsteps of three people. All three will shape the fate of the world, as it once more teeters on the edge of chaos.
-
-
Not for me
- By John on 05-31-21
By: John Gwynne
What listeners say about The Sword Defiant
Highly rated for:
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jacob dale clifford
- 07-21-23
Below average
If your like me and have read and listened through the vast majority of classic and modern “well done” dark fantasy and are scraping the bottom of the barrel for something new then maybe this book is worth it. It’s hard to image the same author who wrote “gutter prayer” wrote this book. There are 2 POV characters 1 is the MC who embodies all the most annoying traits of the “past his prime hero” and none of the charm. The second is we’ll probably the most empty,pointless character I’ve ever read in all of fiction. Go read something else unless you’ve already read everything else worth reading
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
22 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jota-Pe
- 05-25-23
gripping with pacing slips
the pacing is a bit wonky but the worldbuilding and characters make up for it in my opinion
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kristine
- 09-25-23
Another first time author
This was a first time author for me and while it said that this was the first book in the series, it felt like there was so much that the reader had missed. Events from the past that were constantly being mentioned, the war that The Nine helped win, the relationships that developed between The Nine. It kind of felt like you were starting this story in the middle and that was a bit disconcerting.
So, this story introduces us to Aelfric. Aelfric has this sword that he is in charge of. It is a sentient sword, and apparently a VERY powerful sword. Part of the reason that he is left with the sword was because he was deemed the most trustworthy of The Nine, after the war had ended. Someone had to keep the sword in check and it was determined that he was the best one to do it.
When the story begins, many years have gone by since this war ended and The Nine has basically fallen apart. They are all HEROES and many tales have been told about their antics. Everyone went their own separate ways and Aelfric is one of the only ones who feels like they still have a job to do protecting their city. As usually happens, there is an evil contingent determined to overtake the city and this faction has been working undercover, kind of "in darkness" to make their play.
Because this is the first book, there is the requisite world building that has to take place. We are given information on the city they saved and then given pieces of information on the magic system in place. Things are parsed out slowly. Also, one of the things I found odd was the way in which we are introduced to the characters. Remember I mentioned that it felt like we started in the middle of the story? Well, because the war with The Nine happens in the past, the actual characters of The Nine are told to us in a way that makes us feel like we should already know them. I really felt lost in the beginning. There are LOTS of characters in this story and it took me a while to figure out who was who and who belonged with whom.
Obviously, the story centers around Aelfric. We are immediately drawn into a storyline involving his sister and her son. The son leaves home to find his famous uncle and is kidnapped - basically, everything is a set up, we just don't know exactly who or why it is occuring.
That is the catalyst that sets everything else off and it becomes apparent that things are NOT okay. The Nine now have to figure out who is still - well, first of all alive - then which side of this fight are they on?
Once I got deeper into the story and got a handle on the characters, I did find myself immersed in the story. I listened to this mostly on audio and enjoyed the narration. In a way, this book felt like it spent most of its time with Alf running around trying to find his old teammates. It felt like trying to wrangle cats. The Nine were definitely not the same people that they were when they saved the city and it became really confusing trying to figure out exactly what was going on.
A lot happens in the end. Honestly, it felt like there was so much build up and then BAM, you got a WHOLE lot of information at the end. Will I continue onward with this series? Yes, I think I will.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Douglas Sundseth
- 11-01-23
Life after a fantasy apocalypse
Beginning a couple of decades after the world has been saved by the protagonist and his companions, this book examines with some very interesting details the aftermath of that sort of apocalyptic event.
None of the characters in the book are saints, and each has taken his or her own path in response to both the psychological effects of surviving an existential threat and the reactions of the world to their heroism.
Then things start to get worse.
This isn't quite the pinnacle of fantasy, but it's quite good.
Recommended if you're not looking for the usual sort of heroic fantasy and don't mind grimdark.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 03-29-24
Impressive.
Great start to a series, creative as hell story, Possible to the level of Wheel of time. Will be Interesting to see if the next book can naintain the intrigue........ .
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jacqueline S. Orrell
- 06-24-23
A fantastic first
What happens after the quest is won? This was the first time I have seen an author go down this road, and seeing the great heroes years after their fabled victory was so cool to read. As an aging mortal myself I loved that the story followed an older hero coming to grips with his mortality and age, absolutely felt some sympathy pain in the knees a few times. This is an instant classic for me- absolutely perfect I’m every sense I was so happy reading this. The world building, character development, twists and turns absolutely kept me on the edge of my seat. I can’t wait to read more from this author!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- L.A.
- 09-26-23
Excellent Narrator!
Decent plot and semi-developed characters, but gratuitous use of the F word!
Why is it that every author seems to think that is the only word that an enraged person can use? I have read every volume in Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series—classic fantasy!— and I don’t remember him ever using that word. (Even when Brian Sanderson finished the series, I don’t think he added the use of that word.)
A truly talented author can manipulate language in such a way that a string of “obscenities” from an irate or evil person can a sound a truly disgustingly vicious, without using any truly obscene language.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- HaSt
- 12-07-23
Audio book Should be 6 Stars
The Sword Defiant was a really good book. The story and world are well written and the author has you guessing right until the end. I would give the novel a strong 4 stars, but the narrator was absolutely phenomenal. He brought all of the characters to life with his vocal changes, and the voices and accents he chose for each character were spot on. You could easily tell who was speaking when he switched to their various voices. I was seriously impressed by his skill and artistry and would give his narration 6 stars if I could. The combination of good writing and exceptional narration make this a must listen for fantasy fans.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Scott Frazier
- 05-30-23
Riveting and unique
Like others have mentioned there’s some pacing issues. But those are more than made up for with the incredible world building and exciting plot.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kentucky Bohemian
- 12-07-23
Here Be Monsters
... and some of them were once considered heroes.
What an amazing, epic adventure. Gareth Hanrahan throws us into the middle of a world that was once saved by The Nine: nine young warriors who opposed an unbeatable force and overcame it. They were elevated to the status of legends, and their exploits were sung about in taverns. But in the twenty years since, The Nine have changed, and in many cases, not for the better.
Aelfric is one of The Nine. But he doesn't feel like a hero. He feels old, separated from the rest of the world, and weighted by the sword he was sworn to protect for life. Protecting a sword may not sound like a weighty concern. But this sword, known as Spellbreaker, belonged to the Dark Lord who was defeated by The Nine. It is a living sword that swears allegiance to its wielder, but in the case of Aelfric, the sword chooses to badger, cajol, and belittle him. When he isn't messing with Aelfric's head and doing its best to cause chaos.
Aelfric's a pretty complex character who wants to be a simple one. He just wants peace, rest, and space. Well, it would also be great if he could be freed from babysitting that blasted sword. As we're thrown into Aelfric's world, we see he's not the only interesting character. Some are noble, loyal, and natural leaders. Some are simple, uneducated, and without guile. Still others are deceptive, ruthless, secretive, and self-indulgent. But not all traits are easily discerned, and all not foes show themselves as such.
This is a magnificent tale and fascinating journey, made all the more so by the fact that this is a story within a story. It would have been natural for an author to begin by writing the tale of The Nine saving the world. But this information is spooled out to the reader in small morsels in between the current happenings of Aelfric's nephew and sister, as well as remnants of The Nine. Even within this massive epic, we are not completely caught up on the full story of the world's salvation, but readers will have most of the key facts by the novel's end.
The narration of the audiobook is sublime. George Weitman delivers a stunning performance, especially with his bone-chilling voicing of Spellbreaker. His performance enhances what is already a truly outstanding book.
For those of us who love a good fantasy with lots of swordplay, magic, royalty, and mayhem, this story is not to be missed. There are threads within this tapestry that beg to be pulled. As profound and richly derived as this story is, there's more that clamors to be told. I'm ready for it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!