FREE: The Jester (A Riyria Chronicles Tale)
Written by: Michael J. Sullivan
Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
Length: 54 mins
Series: The Riyria Chronicles
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:01-17-14
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Fantasy
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0
Publisher's Summary
WHO WILL HAVE THE LAST LAUGH?
Stop me if you’ve heard this one. A thief, a candlemaker, an ex-mercenary, and a pig farmer walk into a trap…and what happens to them is no joke. When Riyria is hired to retrieve a jester’s treasure, Royce and Hadrian must match wits with a dwarf who proves to be anything but a fool. Difficult choices will need to be made, and in the end those who laugh last do so because they are the only ones to survive.
This is a standalone short story of 7,200 words. No prior knowledge of The Riyria Revelations or The Riyria Chronicles is required to enjoy it to its fullest, making this a perfect introduction for new readers or a chance for Riyria veterans to spend a little more time with old friends. The Jester is a story of adventure, bonds of friendship, and a recognition that the choices we make dictates the future we find.
©2014 Michael J. Sullivan (P)2014 Audible Inc.
Written by: Michael J. Sullivan
Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
Series: The Riyria Chronicles
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:01-17-14
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Fantasy
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0
Publisher's Summary
WHO WILL HAVE THE LAST LAUGH?
Stop me if you’ve heard this one. A thief, a candlemaker, an ex-mercenary, and a pig farmer walk into a trap…and what happens to them is no joke. When Riyria is hired to retrieve a jester’s treasure, Royce and Hadrian must match wits with a dwarf who proves to be anything but a fool. Difficult choices will need to be made, and in the end those who laugh last do so because they are the only ones to survive.
This is a standalone short story of 7,200 words. No prior knowledge of The Riyria Revelations or The Riyria Chronicles is required to enjoy it to its fullest, making this a perfect introduction for new readers or a chance for Riyria veterans to spend a little more time with old friends. The Jester is a story of adventure, bonds of friendship, and a recognition that the choices we make dictates the future we find.
©2014 Michael J. Sullivan (P)2014 Audible Inc.
Review:
Royce, the thief, and Hadrian, the ex-mercenary, have joined to create a business known as Riyria. They take odd jobs to recover lost objects or escort travelers and seekers. Once again they have stepped into a job that brings trouble. They were hired by a candlemaker to help gather pieces of a treasure map and then locate the treasure. The problem is that the treasure belonged to a dwarf who not only left mixed, riddling clues, but the passage is riddled with traps. One of the clues was possessed by a pig farmer who insisted on joining the treasure hunt. Now he is sorry he came along as the four escape one monster only to get trapped in another room. They face another puzzle and have to make the right choice of action if they want to survive and escape.
I enjoyed the puzzle and the moral in the solution. There is plenty of action and fun dialogue to make it interesting even though short. I enjoyed the main protagonists in Volumes 1 and 2 of The Riyria Revelations. I have Volume 3 in my Audible library and plan to listen to that soon. I was glad to pick up this free story that gives a short, quick visit with Royce and Hadrian. If you haven't read in the Revelations or Chronicle series this is a good way to get just a little taste of the excitement and fun. If you have read any of the other books you will no doubt want to grab this morsel to enjoy. The story can easily be read or listened to without having read the other works, although I recommend the whole series.
Audio Notes: Tim Gerard Reynolds does a wonderful job with this quick story. He manages voices for each of the characters that conveys a bit of their personalities that fit into the tale. I am looking forward to listening to Reynolds on Heir of Novron.
This is a very quick story from my own TBR library. It qualifies for TBR Double Dog Dare, and COYER and Audio challenges.
