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  • Nights of the Witch

  • War God, Book 1
  • By: Graham Hancock
  • Narrated by: Barnaby Edwards
  • Length: 22 hrs and 56 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (242 ratings)
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Nights of the Witch cover art

Nights of the Witch

By: Graham Hancock
Narrated by: Barnaby Edwards
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Summary

A young girl called Tozi stands at the bottom of a pyramid, waiting to be led to the top where her heart will be cut out....

Pepillo, a Spanish orphan who serves a sadistic Dominican friar, is aboard the Spanish fleet as it sails towards Mexico.... This is the epic story of the clash of two empires, two armies and two gods of war.

Five hundred desperate adventurers are about to pit themselves against the most brutal armies of the ancient Americas, armies hundreds of thousands strong. This is a war of gods and men.

Dark powers that work behind the scenes of history show their hand as the prophecy of the return of Quetzalcoatl is fulfilled with the arrival of Cortes. The Aztec ruler Moctezuma fights to maintain the demands of the war god Huitzilopochtli for human sacrifice. The Spanish Inquisition is planning an even greater blood-letting.

Caught up in the headlong collision between two gods of war are Tozi, Pepillo and the beautiful sex slave Malinal whose hatred of Moctezuma runs so deep she will sell out her own land and people to destroy him.

©2013 Graham Hancock (P)2016 Audible, Ltd

Critic reviews

"[P]art historical fact, part fantasy, the effect is as intense as the events themselves. It's a fascinating read that will have you booking a flight to Mexico long before you finish the book." ( Evening Standard)

What listeners say about Nights of the Witch

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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

Compelling Historical Fiction, Excellent Narration

This book, the first in what is currently a trilogy, is definitely in my top three of 'fictional books that I have ever had the pleasure of listening to' (No mean feat). You may not struggle too hard to guess the other two. Okay so it is not entirely fiction, a lot of it is based on historical fact, but all of the story lines of the people involved are compelling and as the stories evolve the author has allowed us to love and hate almost every character, in fact you may find yourself 'jumping ship' and siding with your original enemy on many occasions before 'jumping back' again and again. Each to his own. In my humble opinion this is a very clever, compelling and absorbing book, as is the rest of the series, written by a very intelligent human being. To add insult to injury the narrator is the perfect man for the job and again is one of the best that I have listened to. All in all the combination of Author and Narrator really does make this the next audiobook you must listen to.

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16 people found this helpful

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

Loved it.

Great story. Very well read. Endearing characters and despicable villains. Looking forward to book two.

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12 people found this helpful

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

Hancock talent is undeniable

Most people might believe that Hancock is better known for his factual, if a little controversial, books on ancient civilisation and the many inconsistencies that question the standard model of how civilisation began. I have listened to 4 of these books and have found them really interesting if a little too much focus on all things celestial and cosmic.

It was a huge surprise when I came across the War God Trilogy as 'surely a factual writer who has dedicated his life to endless research and travel could not have the skillset to be capable of such storywriting'

Was I wrong? Not only was I wrong but the term 'story' does little justice to the incredible epic book that uses the underpinning of his historical research to develop one of the most engrossing audiobooks I have yet listened to. This book was responsible for several poor night's sleep while I was unable to stop listening to the unfolding drama and the development and subsequent changes in the key characters.

No desire to divulge spoilers other than the book has the conquistadors and the indigenous tribes coming together in the most epic of tales. I'm sure that some historians will scoff at this story citing some aspects as being ad odds with conventional historical thinking. That misses the point. To develop the engrossing storyline the author was not on a quest to write a step by step historical text book. However, along with an amount of poetic licence Hancock's story undoubtedly captures historical events with the gaps bridged through the development of characters and their interaction with historical events.

The book is blood thirsty and graphic in places. However, to avoid this would be to ignore the savagery that was very much a part of this time in history.

Hancock also alludes to facts that are often ignored by historians, facts that are therefore little understood by people of today. Primarily the notion that indigenous people were no more than savages with no civilization. The truth is the opposite. These tribes showed incredible knowledge in architecture, crop cultivation, governmental structures and social interaction that we only associate with civilization. The appalling and systematic mass human sacrifices is unfortunately at odds with their otherwise developed society.

The Spanish, 'for God and King' tried to impose their way of life. This, however, was a smoke screen hiding their true motivation of greed, slaughter of what they saw as sub humans and the theft of lands and property.

Hancock has really surprised me with a gift of story telling, so much so that I have finished the 2nd and 3rd books.

Any good book requires a good narrator. Barnaby Edwards is a British actor who has wrote his own novels, acted in many parts including a dalek in Doctor Who and has directed some of Doctor Who episodes. It's a little amusing that many of the accents he used are those found in many parts in England. But you soon forget this and appreciate his skill in delivering the narration. I have listened to other books narrated by Edwards that, whilst good, are not on a par with the enthusiasm he narrates this book. It is almost as if Edwards completely enjoyed reading this book and was able, when tensions in the storyline increased, was adept at conveying the urgency and excitement of what was happening.

If you are struggling for an excellent historical fiction novel....this is very, very hard to beat.

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9 people found this helpful

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

not what I expected but!

Not what I thought it was going
be but I enjoyed it an interesting mix of history and fantasy. I am now going to read the rest of the trilogy

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6 people found this helpful

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

Great riveting story that comes together perfectly

This book has kept me engrossed from start to finish. Already got second book ready to roll. If it’s half as good as book 1 war god I’m not moving till it’s done,
I feel like I’m learning history as I listen... definately one of the best books I listened too in three years

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4 people found this helpful

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

really enjoyed this book

I downloaded this book in error thinking it was sci-fi but it was an unexpected gem that had me so hooked i have bought the next one...couldn't wait for my next credit

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4 people found this helpful

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

don't buy just cause you like the historical books

big time fan of the more historical books here. this is interesting but I felt like the story was a little immature.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Nights of the witch

Another great book. I couldn't stop listening. This book kept me rivited. I am to looking forward to the next one.

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3 people found this helpful

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

Amazing mix of myth, history and fiction

I have heard Graham Hancock's documentary style books and loved his detailed articulation of events. This book builds on his factual research, mixes in a lot of myth and fiction and builds up an amazing storyline with great characters. Having visited Mexico it takes me back to the wonderful lands. Unfortunately people were subjugated in the name of religion and freedom and their culture was trampled over. There are no real heroes in this story, only different people trying to justify bloodletting on different premises of following a religious path. Its the women who stand out for their fierceness and determination to fight against all odds. Great series and I will continue to delve deeper into this great epic. Brilliantly narrated as well

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2 people found this helpful

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

A great story

A true pleasure reading/ listening to the story, can't wait to continue with the next book

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2 people found this helpful