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Morningstar
- Narrated by: David Monteath
- Length: 11 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Classics
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What listeners say about Morningstar
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Chris Coltrane
- 07-01-21
Gripping, lyrical, clever and beautifully read!
This was an unexpected compact masterpiece and a rare treat. Utterly recommended for both writing and narration. Unlike most of Gemmell's books it is written in the first person, and has the the voice of a skilled, warm, honest storyteller sharing both their personal experience and narrative of a classical dark ages epic.
The point of view, however, delivers two unexpected and powerful additions to Gemmell's already accomplished storytelling: first is that the pathos and lyrical quality is profound, authentic and engaging, as the narrator learns and grows in understanding, experience and wisdom, and we share that personal journey; and second, that it creates a compact economy and elegance of language, the self-deprecating efficiency of someone relating a tale in person to a trusted friend, rather than a grand explanatory narrative with worldbuilding and expositions.
It is the most poetic of all the Gemmell books I have read, perhaps because of this personal retelling, and with so many unexpected twists and turns, very subtle, human and insightful character sketches and interactions. Throughout the story there are twists and turns and the structure, and ending, are NOT what you would normally expect from the epic warrior fantasy trope, while at the same time gripping and satisfying, delivering battles, tension, camaraderie, despair and courage with strong and important female characters and an eclectic supporting cast.
And this brilliant writing is brought to life by a superb narration by David Monteath, a masterclass in understated, warm, dramatic and musical Scottish tones through which which he breathes extra emotional depth into the story and further delineates the interesting characters and their relationships, a real pleasure to listen to.
Evidence of the compact, fluent writing is how short it is and how quickly I devoured it, despite the high adventure, the sweeping story arc and the careful character development. I simply could not stop! As a longtime reader of Gemmell I easily recommend this as a standalone and/or an introduction to his work, especially in audio form - it is sublime.
4 people found this helpful
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- sipower
- 15-02-20
A Perfect Gemmell nugget
David Monteath is just perfect for Morningstar. He brings a charm and an empathetic soul to a perfectly written one off story in the true Gemmell mode. Just a pleasure and impossible to resist full immersion in the pictures he paints - one of my favourites!
4 people found this helpful
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- Ming
- 17-07-19
Brilliant one shot fantasy
A fantastic rollocking adventure. A stand alone story with the usual Gemmellian set of macho characters. Love it
2 people found this helpful
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- Kirsty James
- 02-09-21
Great story, wonderfully read
I’ve read nearly all of David Gemmell’s books over the years and have always liked Morningstar for it’s antihero story. David Monteath reads it wonderfully and I just wish he’d do some more - any of the Druss books would be top of my list!
1 person found this helpful
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- AndyMackenzie
- 04-02-21
Morning star
Not one of Davids best books. Found the narrator disappointing all the characters had similar accents. I think Sean Barrett would’ve been a better narrator.
1 person found this helpful
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- Liam D
- 05-11-20
Brilliant
I have read this book many many times and the audible version does not disappoint.
1 person found this helpful
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- Peachybluesdog
- 11-09-20
5 star
great books by a great author ,brought alive by aurable .. read this years ago and just as good nown
1 person found this helpful
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- Mr. Mandeep Lakha
- 18-06-20
Fantastic, my favourite book, now in audio form.
Brilliant fast-paced storytelling, epic scope, with vampires, sword, and sorcery. Well read, but one of the characters should have an Italian accent, instead he had a slower Scottish one instead. Aside from that, very enjoyable.
1 person found this helpful
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- Jonathon Bradbury
- 11-01-20
Very good story
This is a very very good story, if you like hero story this is one of the best 🦸♂️
1 person found this helpful
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- Elaine Summers
- 10-04-22
morningstar
loved this audiobook, read the book about 20yrs ago but the narration does it justice as it lost nothing in the telling,also helped some of the dry humour in the story as the narrator's accent is Scottish (as am i) which fits the story well.
David Gemmell sadly gone but never forgotten due to his legacy of many excellent books ,that now can reach a larger audience thanks to Audio .
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- Carol
- 29-11-18
Sheer Magnificence!
Of David Gemmell's best novels, this 1992 work is perhaps the masterpiece. The story is a standalone and is, I believe, the only novel Gemmell ever wrote in the first person.
As recounted by the bard and 'magicker' Owen Odell, this is the story of Jarek Mace, a charismatic young Angostin noble turned thief, skilled with longbow and sword on on the battlefield and with his--shall we say, lance--in the bedroom. Mace is selfish, amoral, and a murderer, but it seems destiny has more in store for him. As his exploits are recounted and gilded by Odell's songs, Mace becomes the Morningstar, reluctant leader of a band of equally reluctant and seemingly unheroic heroes who will free the Highlands of the cruel Angostin overlord and his malevolent sorcerer sidekick.
You may recognize echoes of several sagas, including Braveheart and Robin Hood, but as always Gemmell's mixology of these and other elements is unique. Magic and sorcery are used both for evil and for good. There are Vampyre Kings and even an army raised from the dead. There are strong female characters and a little romance (but a lot more bromance and battles). Magic is always secondary, however, to the author's magnificent characterizations of the human spirit. And, a master storyteller at his best, Gemmell brings many seemingly unconnected details and events into magnificent fruition at the satisfying conclusion. Pay attention to the little things, they are all important!
David Monteath narrates wonderfully, doing full justice to Odell's voice and Gemmell's storytelling. Readers used to the constantly shifting POVs prevalent in fantasy novels (including Gemmell's other books) may find the focus of a linear narration strange at first; you are hearing the story through the eyes of Owen Odell, and it unfolds only as he experienced it. But this becomes a strength of the book, certainly not a drawback.
Gemmell is read and honored far more in his native England than in the U.S.; indeed, in his memory (he died in 2006 at age 58) literary awards for fantasy (the Gemmell Legend Award for best novel, and the Gemmell Morningstar Award for best newcomer) are awarded annually. Winners have included Brandon Sanderson, Joe Abercrombie, and Patrick Rothfuss, among many other well known names. I hope David Gemmell gains the listenership on Audible his finest works deserve. 'Legend,' his first published book and more typical, may be the best place to start, but don't wait too long to experience the literary treat that is the Morningstar.
8 people found this helpful
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- Roger tobar
- 18-02-20
A young child’s fantasy!
This book is an old favorite of mine. I read it to my sons and loaned it frequently to many others. The weaving of the story and the way it was skillfully written with twists and turns while in the view of “the bard”. Made it a great read. The ups and downs as well as the humor and sadness make for a great tale. If you like fantasy. It will definitely entertain you to say the least.
2 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 30-05-18
Exceptional!
I loved this book. It's one of Gemmell's best that I've heard. I highly recommend it.
2 people found this helpful