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The Cycle of Arawn cover art

The Cycle of Arawn

By: Edward W. Robertson
Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
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Summary

The White Tree (Book 1): In Mallon, the dark magic of the nether has been banned for centuries. Its users have been driven out or killed. Its secrets lost.

But the holy book of the nethermancers has just been found by a boy named Dante.

As he works to unlock the book's power, he's attacked in the street. The nethermancers aren't gone—and they want their book back. Caught between death cultists and the law, Dante fights for his life, aided by his growing skills and a brash bodyguard named Blays. Together, they're drawn into a centuries-old conflict that brings Mallon to the brink of civil war.

Surviving won't be easy. But if they make it out alive, they'll step down the path to becoming two of the greatest warriors the world has ever known.

The Great Rift (Book 2): Dante and Blays have averted war against their new home of Narashtovik. But they didn't do so alone. It's time to repay their debts.

The norren who helped them remain enslaved by the Gaskan Empire. While arming the norren clans for rebellion, Dante hears one of them is in possession of the legendary Quivering Bow. If he can track down the weapon, it could secure norren independence.

But the wheels of war have already begun to turn. As Gask moves to crush the rebellion, Dante and Blays find themselves at the head of a campaign for survival—for norren and Narashtovik alike.

The Black Star (Book 3): Narashtovik has been saved—but Dante and Blays' friendship has been destroyed.

Blaming the Gaskan king for the loss of his love, Lira, Blays infiltrates the enemy nobility. There, he schemes to bankrupt Gask and drive its ruler from the throne. But Dante's been waiting for Blays' return. If he finds and exposes him, Blays will be executed as a spy.

As they squabble, strange lights shine in the east. Harbingers of a long-forgotten threat. If the signs go ignored, Narashtovik will be annihilated by an enemy it never knew it had.

©2012 Edward W. Robertson (P)2015 Podium Publishing

What listeners say about The Cycle of Arawn

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Good potential, poorly executed.

I did plough through the whole trilogy (probably only because it all came at the cost of a single credit for 66 hours of story), but have to admit to being rather disappointed. There was so much potential with the world created, but the plot seemed to lurch from event to event, with huge gaping holes glibly glossed over. Similarly, the characters were under-developed, and all seemed to have the same flippant attitude to events of consequence.............all rather disappointing.

I also found some of the story telling quite jarring at times. For example, this is an "old-world"; with sword fighting and horses as the means of travel.....Yet a throw-away quip by one of the lead characters references "zombies"??!!! I had to rewind just to check I hadn't misheard. Felt horribly out of place.

By the third book in the trilogy, I think the author had settled down a little, and the characters were a little more defined (Blays becomes a little more interesting) but the plot was still so frustratingly shallow and with so many gaping holes its a wonder an editor ever let it get to production.

The narration was ok, although very few characters had real differentiation which could be challenging at times.

If you want mindless entertainment and you are aren't too picky about plots and character development, then this is probably sufficiently entertaining to distract...............however, if you choose to pass this one by, you won't be missing anything.

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35 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Gave up half way.

Any additional comments?

I've got no idea how this novel has attained such a high average score. I listened to over 20 hours before I decided I couldn't take anymore and gave up. The only reason I haven't given it one star is because I have not completed it therefore I cannot completely condemn it as something wonderful may happen after the first 30 hours of listening. The two leading characters are criminally underdeveloped. Why does Dante so desperately want to have magical powers - because he saw somebody else do it once, is that it? Why does his eventual side kick Blase seem willing to follow him unquestionably? Again the answer appears wafer thin. The nonchalant attitude the teenage protagonist show to murder and death really shows the lack of true characterisation. I have read some reviewers talk of how they love the way the two characters talk to each other in crudities and they site this as some sort of evidence of good characterisation however when I listen to it all I hear is pithy nonsense, two teenage best friends who never have a real or meaningful conversation, I've never know such a thing, what is the point of a best friend when your at the most vulnerable time of your life if not to share some of that teenage angst? Plot, in the first 20 hours I have not found one, the main characters bumping into people and believing whatever they are told, going wherever they are directed to go, doing whatever they are told to do, does not constitute a plot in my book. We've got protagonist that don't think, how are you supposed to drive a narrative if you don't think for yourself - the answer is they do not. I am a great fan of the fantasy genre, I love gritty realism and I enjoy getting value for money with a long listen but this is really poor.

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33 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing laughs and thought provoking

This good is amazing.
The world that it's set in sounds like it could become a very familiar place indeed.
One of the main reasons I loved this is that the people in it talk to each other just like me and my friends would in the real world couldn't get euff of it was sad to get to the end of the books toughly in joyed every moment if I can find more like it then I will

Thank you for the laughs and the tears

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25 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good story spoiled

This could have been great, it had all the ingredients to make an amazing adventure yarn, but is spoiled by too much sarcasm, no one gives a straightforward answer without there being an attempt at humoured smart aleck replies, don't get me wrong, in the right place sarcasm can be funny, but for Dante's sake, give it a rest!!
Having said that I did enjoy the trilogy, but at the same time am glad its finished and I can move on to something with a more balanced and intelligent narrative and storyline.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
  • MR
  • 26-07-15

Great value but!!!

Any additional comments?

A bit slow and not a patch on Joe Abercrombie's First Law Trilogy but you do get a lot of listening for 1 credit so for those who like long books like me it's great value and well worth it.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An immersing in depth fantasy book.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

to a friend ? to most people . it is a classic book coming of age with with two boys as the main characters one a nethermancer one a swords man. both with good humorous dialogue.

What did you like best about this story?

I really like the interaction an banter found in the book made it very relate able. they dont take them selves to seriously.

Have you listened to any of Tim Gerard Reynolds’s other performances? How does this one compare?

yes the ryira chronicles which also had two main characters.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

as ive said in many many reviews this is a stupid question.

Any additional comments?

this ladies and gents is a good book with a wide world and a great depth of characters , i was so glad all the books where in one as they flow very well and it was enjoyable to see the growth of the lads. it doesn't always go their way as well. would recommend

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Very well narrated!

I'm not sure I would have liked this book half as much if it hadn't been for the narrator. The story was ok, but Tim Gerard Reynolds really brought the characters and story to life. Overall, it was well worth the money.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Very slow book Boreing

What would have made The Cycle of Arawn better?

A story line

What could Edward W. Robertson have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Give the boys a life, a story line within the first chapter, add something interesting to keep us wanting to listern, I found it far to slow and no story line until you get into the middle of the book and by that time I was tired of trying to get through it.

Would you be willing to try another one of Tim Gerard Reynolds’s performances?

No

You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

No I found this book very hard to get into because it was so boreing and no story for such a long time

Any additional comments?

Tim Gerard Reynolds read this book very well, I tried to listern to this book every day for 1 or two hours to get me though it, but I gave up after two weeks at 2 hours a day, I'm sending this book back. I simply find it to boring.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Exceptional work

What did you like most about The Cycle of Arawn?

Strangely realistic for a fantasy book with likeable an interesting charectors.

What other book might you compare The Cycle of Arawn to, and why?

Works by Peter Brett or Brandon Sanderson.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

Would give away plot.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The world can be as ugly as it's heroes

Any additional comments?

Fantastic value for money

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

very 👍

Really long book really good took some reading took a long time to finish Funny parts Definitely looking to read more from this author Good value for money

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6 people found this helpful