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  • Apple Boy

  • The Quiet Work, Book 1
  • By: Isobel Starling
  • Narrated by: Gary Furlong
  • Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (22 ratings)
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Apple Boy cover art

Apple Boy

By: Isobel Starling
Narrated by: Gary Furlong
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Summary

A new LGBT fantasy series from award-winning author Isobel Starling 

A lost lordling, a farm boy, and a tale of mystery, magic, and murder!

After a traumatic event, Winter Aeling finds himself destitute and penniless in the backwater town of Mallowick. He needs to travel to the city of Serein and impart grave news that will bring war to the Empire, but without a horse, money, and with not a soul willing to help him, he has no choice but to line up with the common folk seeking paid work on the harvest. 

As wagons roll into the market square and farmers choose day laborers, Winter is singled out for abuse by a brute of a farmer. The only man who stands up for him is the farmer's beguiling son, Adam, and on locking eyes with the swarthy young man Winter feels the immediate spark of attraction. 

Winter soon realizes there is a reason he has been drawn to Blackdown Farm. The farmer possesses a precious item that was stolen long ago from Winter’s family, and he determines to retrieve it. He also cannot take his eyes off Adam, and as the young man opens up Winter can’t help wondering if Adam is just kind or his kind! 

FYI - Apple Boy has an M/M couple, graphic gay sexual activity, and a cliffhanger ending.

*The next book in the series, Dark Harvest (The Quiet Work, Book 2), is coming soon!*

©2019 Isobel Starling (P)2019 Decent Fellows Press and Isobel Starling
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: LGBTQ+

What listeners say about Apple Boy

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

Great book and awesome narrator

Another great book by Isobel starling and Gary Furlong as narrator. I can't wait for more in the series. Listened to several times. Highly recommend.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

Brilliant performance

Furlong isn't a reader, he is a character actor! Seriously brilliant.

I love Starling's use of language but I kept zoning out with the abundant descriptions of clothing. The story itself tended to lull in the middle, but the beginning and end carried it through. The use of apple analogies was almost like a game, but not overused to the point of annoyance. The author pulled it out every now and again just to refresh the memory.

I'd recommend giving this a listen!

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

Brilliant

Well what can I say? Wow.
I was thoroughly impressed with this audiobook. I admit I was a bit skeptical when I first started - I'd thought about getting this book previously as it has been recommended to me, but I wasn't sure the story would be for me so I hadn't taken the plunge.

In the end, I received this audiobook for free in return for an honest review - it was a pleasure to do so!

I was new to both the author and narrator and I'll be back for both! A few minutes in and I was hooked, and listened for hours at a time. Isobel Starling's story is fantastic. So imaginative, complex, and full of twists - it really had me guessing.
There's mystery, intrigue, medium angst, and quite a bit of sexual tension between the two m/c (but not much actual sex). Gary Furlong narrates wonderfully. The characters' emotions are brought out perfectly, and his accents are completely devine! I LOVE it when Adam says "Gods, Winter" - gives me shivers :)

Although book one of a series, and despite setting up book two nicely at the end, there isn't a cliffhanger and the story rounds off nicely. I really appreciate this in a book - I can't stand a cliffhanger! I still want to hear book two though - I'll certainly be getting it in the near future.

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

good book

A lost lordling, a farm boy, and a tale of mystery, magic, and murder!

After a traumatic event, Winter Aeling finds himself destitute and penniless in the backwater town of Mallowick
its a good book

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

Depth, Intrigue, and one hot-as-hell Apple Boy

Wow. I can't believe it's over. Get me book 2, stat!

At first, I wasn't sure about this book, as I'm not a fan of historical romances, and hadn't realised that this was a fantasy, plus Win seemed a bit odd to start with. But as he and Adam started to bond, their connection came alive.

The suspense as they made their journey had me hanging on every word for snippets of information on Win's past. Once they got to Serein, the possibilities exploded, and the ramifications of their magic became clear.

You know it's a good book when you actually groan out loud at the word 'epilogue'...

P.S. Adam's accent! 😍

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

Sweet apples? Fruitilicious magic

Gary Furlong is a new to me narrator and Isobel Starling is a new to me author, but I thought that Gary does a wonderful job of capturing the smooth, cultured voice of the lost lordling Winter Aeling, the broader coarser tones of Apple Boy Adam, and his brute of a father the farmer of Blackdown Farm, as well as a myriad of voices for various secondary characters.
Isobel crafts a beguiling tale of Winter who has encountered misfortune in his travels, but who sees Adam's worth as soon as they meet. I loved taking the journey with them as they start to fall for each other, make their escape from under the brutish thumb of Adam's father, find their way to Saerin and the magic that comes to surround and live within them along the way.
A magical encounter...highly recommended. I look forward to see what happens next for them as they come into their own.

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

So good!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5 stars
🔥🔥🔥 Heat Level: 3.5
🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 Narration: 5

So good!

This story is a mysterious adventure into a new world of magic, mages, mysteries, and murder. It has a unique historical undertone that makes it that much more enjoyable as you follow Winter and Adam, as they discover the truth of the world they live in and the special connection they share.

The book does end on a cliffhanger that’ll leave you dying for more but the story itself is a thrilling adventure I couldn’t put down!! I loved the attention to detail, here and there and the world Isobel has created is incredible. I love a good mystery and this has that in the bag! I look forward to the next book and can’t wait to see were Isobel will take us next!

I thought the connection between Winter and Adam was wonderful. They are drawn together and while there are situations beyond their control I found their connection very organic and their chemistry electric. I love the historical undertones were some town forbid Winter and Adam’s connection and that adds to the thriller and mystery of their bond and the magic they spark together.

A great creation by Isobel and I highly recommend giving it a listen. Gary does a fantastic job, gives each character a voice and draws you into the mystery and adventure! 5 stars from me!!!

Thanks for reading!

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

amazing new world

this book was quite amazing. The world building was very very interesting and the story compelling.
I loved Win and Adam. They were so different, but so similar in the ways that count. I love how the story gets deeper and darkens as we go and follow them on their journey.

I loved how they grew with each other.

I really loved the narration, Gary Furlong was able to make such great and different voices. Very good as well.

Looking forward to the next book

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

Good story

This is set in a rich world, that is very cleverly done with and it is a complicated, overarching storyline that takes place over three books.
Book one is all about Winter and Adam, it is full of mystery and magic.
I haven’t read the book but I will do now and have Gary Furlong’s dulcet tones in my ear. Ends with a slight cliffhanger so I am now looking forward to book 2.

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

Enjoyable fantasy/fairy tale

Enter a beautifully crafted fantasy where a down on his luck young aristocrat called Winter Aeling (Win) meets up with Adam, a handsome farmers son, who helps him in his time of need and joins him on his adventure.
Isobel Starling has really impressed me with her impressive world building, attention to detail, well developed characters and exciting plot.
There are bad guys, one being a nasty cruel farmer (Adams father), magic, talking parrots and of course love ❤️ what more could you ask for?
Gary Furlong did and exceptional job narrating and his upper class English accent for Win was the best I have ever heard in an audiobook. I'm English by the way 😉

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