Audio Book Review: Infinity Blade: Awakening by Brandon Sanderson

This is engaging fantasy and I want to continue with the rest of this series.
Infinity Blade: Awakening
By Brandon Sanderson
Narrated By: Samuel Roukin

Duration: 4 h 41 min
Date: January 2018
Publisher: Recorded Books
Genre: Fantasy, Sword & Sorcery
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Summary:
Trained from birth in swordplay and combat, a young knight named Siris has journeyed to the Dark Citadel with a single purpose: fight through the army of Titans to face the tyrannical God King in one-on-one combat. This was his father's sacred mission, and his father's before him, going back countless generations in an effort to free their people from enslavement.
But when Siris somehow succeeds where all those from his bloodline previously have failed, he finds himself cast into a much larger world, filled with warriors and thieves, ancient feuds and shifting alliances, Deathless immortals and would-be kings. His quest for freedom will take him on an epic journey in search of the mythical figure known as the Worker of Secrets - the one being in the world who can unravel the secrets of the Infinity Blade.
Based on the bestselling video game from ChAIR Entertainment and Epic Games, this all-new adventure from acclaimed fantasy author Brandon Sanderson digs deeper into the fantastical world of Infinity Blade, a world of mystery and intrigue where magic and technology are indistinguishable, and even life and death are not what they seem.
Brandon Sanderson has published six solo novels with Tor Books-Elantris, the Mistborn trilogy, Warbreaker, and The Way of Kings-as well as four books in the middle-grade Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians series from Scholastic. He was chosen to complete Robert Jordan's long-running Wheel of Time series, to which he added 2009's The Gathering Storm and 2010's Towers of Midnight, as well as the final book in the series, A Memory of Light, scheduled for release in 2012. Currently living in Utah with his wife and children, Brandon teaches creative writing at Brigham Young University.

Review:
Siris trained in swordplay all his childhood and youth, giving up a normal childhood and even regular, everyday food choices. He was completely disciplined knowing he was the family’s and community’s designated knight to face the tyrannical, immortal godking of his country. No one expected Siris to succeed as the town leaders know he is just a sacrifice. But, to their surprise, and subsequent dismay, Siris kills the godking and returns home. They refuse to allow him to stay as they expect retribution.

Siris decides he will return to the scene of the battle to determine what he can do to protect himself from being the target of vengeance. What he finds changes his world and thrusts him into a further battle he hadn’t planned on. Along the way he picks up two companions who may or may not be trustworthy. One is Isa, a female warrior who wants to still the blade. The other is a changeable, stick golem named Tel, who will obey Siris’ commands except for answering specific questions about his mission.

I liked Siris, Isa and Tel, who are well developed characters set in an interesting plot of power and change. I appreciated the conflict and growth in Siris’ character. I also liked that the full story in a short book. I am not familiar with the game but still enjoyed the book. I do want to read the next in the series. I recommend this to fans of sword and sorcery.

Audio Notes: Samuel Roukin does a great job with the narration. His British accent fits the nature of the story and the characters. I enjoyed the rolling “rs”. The narration enhanced my enjoyment of the story. I will want to listen to the next.

Source: 3/28/2020 Audiobooks.com Two For One Credit. This qualifies for 2021TBR and 2021Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson

This is wonderfully well written and creative story telling.

The Emperor's Soul
By: Brandon Sanderson
Narrated by: Angela Lin

Length: 3 hrs and 55 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 11-02-12
Language: English
Publisher: Recorded Books
Genre: Fantasy, Supernatural, Thriller
My Rating: 5.0 0f 5.0 Story and Audio.

Publisher's Summary
When Shai is caught replacing the Moon Scepter with her nearly flawless forgery, she must bargain for her life. An assassin has left the Emperor Ashravan without consciousness, a circumstance concealed only by the death of his wife. If the emperor does not emerge after his hundred-day mourning period, the rule of the Heritage Faction will be forfeit and the empire will fall into chaos.
Shai is given an impossible task: to create—to Forge—a new soul for the emperor in less than one hundred days. But her soul-Forgery is considered an abomination by her captors. She is confined to a tiny, dirty chamber, guarded by a man who hates her, spied upon by politicians, and trapped behind a door sealed in her own blood. Shai's only possible ally is the emperor's most loyal counselor, Gaotona, who struggles to understand her true talent.
Time is running out for Shai. Forging, while deducing the motivations of her captors, she needs a perfect plan to escape...
©2012 Dragonsteel Entertainment, LLC (P)2012 Recorded Books

Review:
Shai is a magical “forger” using mediums and soul stamps to forge art, both small and large. If she knows the make-up elements of her subject she is able to recreate it. She is caught as a result of a betrayal. On the eve of her scheduled execution the official arbiters, offer Shai a deal if she will forge a new soul for the secretly comatose Emperor. Although her Soul-Forgery skill is considered an abomination, the arbiters are willing to use it to help them retain their positions of power.

Shai agrees to the project which would allow her freedom… and life. She is ever the opportunist. The arbiters are cautious about her skills as several believe that she is skilled enough to change even the fabric of her cell to make an escape. They go to great lengths to secure her. Shai does plan to forge an escape but she is under constant watch. She is supervised by Gaotona, a man who respects the quality of her skills but disdains her use of them for forgery – not recognizing her form of art.

Shai is offered secret deals by a power-hungry arbiter. She fears that even if she accepts the offer the woman will have her killed before letting her go free. It may take all of Shai’s excellent skills to fashion a way out of her situation and she has a limited amount of time and resources.

This story is wonderfully creative, imaginatively plotted, beautifully written and executed. I kept seeking times to listen as I was fascinated by Shai’s mind maneuvering and the rapport she builds with Gaotona. The story is full even though it is short. By the end my thoughts were “author Brandon Sanderson is an artist”. I recommend this to readers who enjoy a skillfully crafted mystery and fantasy.

Audio Notes: Angela Lin is a narrator who is new to me. Her voice captured the character of Shai and the twisting nuances of the story. The narration enhanced an already excellent work. I would be glad to listen to other books she has narrated.

Source: Audible March, 2017 Daily Deal $1.95 (a bargain). This qualifies for 2018TBR and Audio Challenge.

Audible Review: Steelheart: Reckoners, Book 1 by Brandon Sanderson

This was great listening entertainment!
Steelheart: Reckoners, Book 1
Written by: Brandon Sanderson
Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews

Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins
Series: Reckoners, Book 1
Release Date:09-24-13
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Sci Fi Fantasy, Action
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
From the number-one New York Times best-selling author of the Mistborn Trilogy, Brandon Sanderson, comes the first book in a new, action-packed thrill ride of a series - Steelheart. Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics.
But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his wills.
Nobody fights the Epics...nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them.
And David wants in. He wants Steelheart - the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David's father. For years, like the Reckoners, David's been studying, and planning - and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience.
He's seen Steelheart bleed.
And he wants revenge.
©2013 Dragonsteel Entertainment, LLC (P)2013 Audible Inc.

Review:
Ten years ago “The Calamity” struck earth in the form of a flash in the sky which left certain men and women with superhuman powers. Normal people hope that these superhumans, called Epics, will help the world. Unfortunately the super power gifts that make them strong also corrupt them by increasing their drive to rule over others, usually in tyranny and terror.

David was only eight when he saw his first two Epics. He witnessed his own father, as well as everyone else in the bank, ruthlessly struck down by Steelheart. But David saw something that no one else saw – he saw Steelheart bleed. David became the sole survivor and he lived planning his revenge. David spent the next ten years studying the strengths and weaknesses of every Epic. He also studied the skills of the Reckoners, the underground rebel group - the only ones- who dare to challenge the Epics.

David manages to get into a rebellion skirmish so he can join the Reckoners. The rebellion team isn’t looking for new recruits who just pop up. Initially they don’t know if they can trust David but slowly he convinces them that he has a wealth of knowledge, particularly knowing the vulnerabilities of the Epics, that will help the Reckoners in their battles.

Each of the Reckoners has a particular battle skill. Slowly they share their skills with David as he shares his knowledge with them. They hide in unfinished tunnels below Newcago (what is left of Chicago) as they pull together a plan to call out Steelheart. They have to get him face to face to test the several theories they have as to his vulnerability.

There is plenty of action in this story which is very reminiscent of a comic book with the good guys battling the evil super villains. The leader of the Reckoners, "Prof", is an older fellow with mysterious wisdom and inventions. There is a minor romantic element as David crushes on one of his teammates even though she tends to scorn his youthful geekiness. I enjoyed the characters, the fast-paced action and the clever plot twists. I found the total package very entertaining and will want to read more by this author. (I have the Mistborn trilogy and just have to decide if I will read those next or get more in the Reckoner series.) I recommend this to young, and older, adult readers who enjoy comic book style action and twists.

Audio Notes: This was an excellent listen. MacLeod Andrews does a super job capturing the different personalities both human and Epic. His narration made the story come alive for me and I could almost picture it as a comic book action strip. If you are a sci fi action reader who enjoys audio I highly recommend this in audio for strong entertainment.

This was from 2013 in my Audible library. This qualifies for my Audiobook challenge as well as being part of my TBR reading.