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  • Arm of the Sphinx

  • Books of Babel, Book 2
  • By: Josiah Bancroft
  • Narrated by: John Banks
  • Length: 14 hrs and 5 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (183 ratings)
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Arm of the Sphinx cover art

Arm of the Sphinx

By: Josiah Bancroft
Narrated by: John Banks
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Summary

Forced by necessity into a life of piracy, Senlin and his eclectic crew struggle to survive aboard their stolen airship. Senlin's search for his lost wife continues, even as her ghost haunts his every step. But the Tower of Babel proves to be as difficult to reenter as it was to escape.

In desperation, he turns to a rumoured legend of the tower, the mysterious and dangerous Sphinx. But help from the Sphinx does not come cheaply, and one of his crew already knows the terrible cost.

©2018 Josiah Bancroft (P)2018 Hachette Audio UK

Critic reviews

"Like its predecessor, it is a brilliant piece of work...these two books are genius. I just love them. The story, characters and imagination shine." (Mark Lawrence)

"Thomas Senlin is the most unlikely yet likeable hero since a certain hobbit rushed out of Bag End leaving his second breakfast half-finished and entirely unwashed-up." (Fantasy Faction)

What listeners say about Arm of the Sphinx

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

A great adventure

There’s a lot more friendship in book 2 and it was wonderful. Wat an enjoyable experience. Great story, interesting characters, want to know even more about their adventures.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Great delivery but not as good as it might be

I read the fist book and was disappointed. Senlin is simply boring. The other characters are much more interesting. I decided to buy and listen to the remaining books on audio. If I am being honest the whole series would be better if Senlin had been lost in the first book! The books are more interesting and gripping when his character is missing.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Given this series a go, but not for me

Wanted to try at least the sequel, and decided to go for the audiobook this time to see if 1) I enjoy it more and 2) I can get through it faster... And oh, I wish I could love this series but I think I need to cut my loses and leave it here. I did get thought it faster, but I enjoyed it worse that my first foray.

I don't really see what all the hype is for. I found this book to be incredibly tedious and I just didn't care about the plot or the characters. Senlin seemed to not really focus on his main task of finding his wife, and went on futher convulted adventures that didn't really set that exciting spark for me.

Excellent voice actor! Banks really made this for me. The range of voices he brought to this reading almost made it feel like a full cast and made the story a little more bearable. I will be keeping an eye out for my of his narrations.

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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

Just Truly Amazing Literature

Brilliant, brilliant, brillliant, what a highly imaginative and exciting second book in The Books Of Babel series. I absolutely loved the first book Senlin Ascends, Arm Of The Sphinx just blew that one out of the water. I know I've mentioned the prose before, but holy moly they are just so good. Josiah Bancroft's worldbuilding, storytelling and his main characters are truly wonderful. Our main protagonist Thomas Senlin is still searching for his wife Marya. How he has survived making his way through these sinister, crazy world of the ringdoms is incomprehensible. Thomas Senlin has picked up a few freinds along the way and now goes by the name of Tom Mud a wanted man and now Captain to an airship the Stone Cloud. His First mate Edith and crew Iren, Voleta and Adam have vowed to help him in his search after helping them to escape their own nightmares from the Tower. The higher they go the more stranger and darker the ringdoms get with the weird and odd characters like the Mythical Sphinx, The Antlered Byron and the Hods. All the main characters are dealing with their own demons and conflicting desires, while trying to manage their various flaws and to stay alive in this mad world that they find themselves in. The series continues to be very exciting, amazing and highly inventive, for any fantasy fan looking for something new, different and totally awesome look no further than this master piece. I very highly recommend....😁🔥💥💙

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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

As unique & intriguing as the 1st

Fantastic. This really was as unique and intriguing as the first book. Colourful characters and settings, wonderful twists and turns.

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

Another gem

This book follows on nicely from the first book. I have enjoyed both books and I am looking forward to listening to the third. This trilogy is well worth indulging in and loosing your self.
Don’t miss it

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

Entertaining and intelligent

Better than the first book. Much more compact in the story plots and character development. Wonderful. And by the way, the ending was unexpected and delicious, leading the reader on to the next chapter.

Looking forward to the third book.

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

Fell off a cliff after the first book

I enjoyed the first book quite a lot but soon into the 2nd I got SO bored. All the thing I enjoyed from the first were gone (the progression of Senlin the main thing). I realised all the female characters were far too similar, essentially all spunky and misunderstood (all tomboys). I was left with a case of characters that I didn't particularly like, living out an idea that had long past legitimacy and they were continuing to make decisions I couldn't agree with.

It was a real slog to make it to the end of this one.

I have a slight inkling to know what happens but would much rather read a plot summary than endure another book.

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

The epic adventure up the tower continues!

The book gets high marks for characters, plot, story, world building and pacing. It’s all set in a world full of steampunk technology where mysterious pseudo scientists manufacturer steam powered airships and chimera / cyborg like automatons integrated with humans and animals. The story and characters are similar to those in The Mortal Engines by Phillip Reeve, except rather than the action moving from mobile city to city, it all happens around a tower that is as tall as Mount Everest and divided into 64 county / city sized floors / levels. If you liked The Mortal Engines series or the Abhorsen series by Garth Nyx (Sabriel, Lirael) then you will definitely like the three books of the Tower of Babel series. The narrator was pleasant to listen to but I did set the speed to 1.25x for a more enjoyable listen.

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

much better than the first book

Although the first book was ok, with the ending of the previous encouraging me to continue into the second, this book is a vast improvement. Thoroughly enjoyable and can't wait for the third.

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