decent

I kept falling in and out of love for this novel. For hours I'd spend my time on the back of a magical stallion, moving mountains, struggling to find my place in the world... then suddenly I'd be ripped off my stallion and tied to an uncomfortable folding metal chair. Someone would tape my eyelids open and turn on the medieval magical CNN political bargaining bulletin station and while slow drips of water hit me in the forehead, I'd have to listen while ignorant tyrants do what they always do. The stark contrast killed me, I found it hard to want to follow at times but I'm all for moving to the next novel, so it was definitely worth it and well written besides.

5 people found this helpful

Brilliant and easygoing book

Would you listen to Jaunten again? Why?

I will definitely listen to this book once more.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Jaunten?

I don't want to give away any of the goodies in this book, but i found this book very good overall.

Have you listened to any of Mark McClain Wilson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have listened to "kingslayer" where he did a great job. Definitely one of the better narrators i have listened to in a while.

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

Yes.

Any additional comments?

Everyone who loves books/series such as: the name of the wind, the wheel of time, the legend of drizzt, saga of recluse and so on will probbably like this book. The only "bad" thing would be that only the first book from this series is out in audioformat so far, and i hope that audible will release the rest of the series ASAP.

5 people found this helpful

A story for a younger audience

What did you like best about Jaunten? What did you like least?

I liked the narration but did found the story very simple with a bland plot. Kids might like it though.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

I liked the horse Night who could talk, but found the constant complaining of the young colt, was overdone. The entire scene of feeding and caring for the baby Night seemed silly The constant references to remember to thank his mother for being a great mom and the on going inner dialog about how hard it was to put up with the brat colt was tiresome. .

Which character – as performed by Mark McClain Wilson – was your favorite?

He did a great job with the taking Nightmare creature.

Could you see Jaunten being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

The plot was so thin, I don't see it as a movie.

Any additional comments?

this story seemed like a poor copy of the great work, of L. E. Modesitt Jr. and his seven book series which I love.
I did like the book King Slayer, by this author, and wished that this book had been a sequel to that story.

7 people found this helpful

a great change

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I do not find books that make me laugh often, so it is a great surprise when I find one.audiable needs to get the rest of books uploaded, can't wait untill the next book is out!!!!

8 people found this helpful

If they had more stars I would give it 100

Well once again I lucked onto a great series! I had never heard of Honor Raconteur, but she is my author of choice right now. This book is a great start to a great series and it so well narrated too. I cannot recommend these books highly enough, I love the plot, I love the characters and I love the bits of humour that come every now and again as well. It is Fantasy with a capital F, with a very novel cast of Mages, no not just .magicians, but full blown Mages, an Earth Mage who can travel about beneath the earth, I don't think I have met that before in any novel I have read and I have read a lot of novels in my long life. So people go for it and enjoy. Josie

1 person found this helpful

Pretty good overall

I generally prefer a little more action, but it still a good story. Maybe this was just a setup for the series. I will give the next book a try and see what comes of it.

1 person found this helpful

I can see why he/she got so many rejection letters

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I don't blame the narrator, I blame the author for giving the narrator such bad material to work with.

What could Honor Raconteur have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

A book that didn't start off with a big, fat Dues Ex Machina in the very first 10% of the first chapter.

What I got form the cover was that the main character was going to be teh greatest mage in the world. I thought the book would detail his growth into that position. What the author gives us instead is a shortcut to this greatness.

The "Jaunten" are a race that passes knowledge down through the blood. So whatever the persons ancestors knew they know. No this isn't a spoiler, it's spelled out within the first 10 pages or so of the first chapter. Our protagonist meets Jaunten and they trade blood. Ta-da! Instant suped up main character without any need to actually grow into the role of the advent Mage.

How could the performance have been better?

Have a better novel to read. Honestly the narration suffered because the writing was just horrible.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Jaunten?

The entire scene where our main character meets the Jaunten. If the author's resorting to these sorts of shortcuts in the very beginning of a book they really should restructure the plot.

Any additional comments?

I have the impression the narrator was trying to go for a Asian accent of some sort for our protagonist but he just sounded like he was constipated. An Asian accent would have been understandable given names of people(s) and places. The narrator just can't do the accent justice though.

11 people found this helpful

A fun adventure

This book is appropriate for kids but still lively enough to entertain adults too. The narrator also does a wonderful job.

Fantastic!!

What did you love best about Jaunten?

How well you are immersed into the story and the Characters. the author explains things in the book but it doesn't feel like a lecture or lesson it just flows very will.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Jaunten?

When Night is born and those first few weeks and Garth is thinking to himself that he needs to thank his mother.

Which character – as performed by Mark McClain Wilson – was your favorite?

He did a great job on all of them i knew who was talking just by the voice.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When the King saw the sword and realized Ellis was dead, he was truly sad

Any additional comments?

Wonderful Series!

Jaunten

enjoyable but at times a little simplistic. appears to be a enjoyable and fast moving