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Songs of the Earth
- Narrated by: Allan Corduner
- Length: 16 hrs and 3 mins
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Songs of the Earth
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Summary
Songs of the Earth is the most compelling debut fantasy novel since Patrick Rothfuss first hit the shelves four years ago, with the stunning The Name of the Wind. Combining superb characterisation with an epic story, it is beautifully told and engaging from the very first word. Gair is under a death sentence. He can hear music - music with power - and in the Holy City that means only one thing: he's a witch, and he's going to be burnt at the stake. Even if he could escape, the Church Knights and their witch finder would be hot on his heels while his burgeoning power threatens to tear him apart from within. There is no hope… none except a secretive order, themselves persecuted almost to destruction. If Gair can escape, if he can master his own growing, dangerous abilities, if he can find the Guardians of the Veil, then maybe he will be safe. Or maybe he'll discover that his fight has only just begun.
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What listeners say about Songs of the Earth
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Richard
- 12-04-12
A Rich tapestry and engaging characters
I loved this book from the first few chapters. Well written with superb narration.
A thoroughly engaging read. Really enjoyed it and cannot wait for the parts.
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14 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
- Jack
- 10-04-13
Songs of The Earth
Having been taken in by the book's description in which it is compared to 'The Name of the Wind' I had expected a book of a similar, if not the same, caliber. Unfortunately, as I'm sure you can tell from my rating, I was sorely disappointed.
The characters are so bland and flat that a two dimensional shape would feel pangs of jealousy. Due to his lack of any depth the protagonist, Gair, is simply impossible to like. Not that you'll dislike him either; that would require him to have some sort of personality. He simply exists. While the motivations and feelings of other characters are delved into with slightly more success the descriptions ultimately fail to bring any of them to life.
The plot would be passable were concepts not taken almost directly, 'cookie cutter' style, from other fantasy titles and real history and then stitched awkwardly together. Perhaps I am being slightly too harsh and dismissive in that the plot of the book could have been acceptable had it not been poorly executed. That to me is the crux of the matter, I simply could not stand the trudging, simplistic style.
I am sure there are some out there who will love this book but it's simply not for me and I was exceptionally glad to see the end of it.
That all being said Allan Corduner, the narrator, did a fine job however not even his valiant attempt could save this audiobook for me.
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12 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
- Roxy
- 30-04-13
this is a terrible book
I read bad books. I love bad books. And so when I say this is was a terrible book, I really mean it. Honestly, listening to this it is quintessentially like hearing an abridged online guide to 'writing a fantasy cliche for retarded homeless children'. The characters are stolen. The plot is stolen. The style is stolen. The only thing which might not have been stolen is the money that I paid to listen to this terrible drivel. As far as I can see the only reason no one is suing Elspeth Cooper for plagiarism is the fact that she is such a terrible writer that everything she has ripped off has been so terribly mutilated that it would be unrecognisable in court,
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9 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Alexis
- 18-07-12
Interesting
I came to this willing to like it and I did. I got a bit confused in the middle with the names and different places but I think that was me! I was genuinely moved during the grief moments - well written. The narration was spot on and I look forward to the second installment
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9 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
- Melinda
- 19-05-12
Fantasy Flop
No matter how long I listened, no spark came. Fantasy is vast, and I expect to be transported, dazzled by the author's fantasy world. This was a damp dishrag. Sorry
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8 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Abbie
- 09-05-12
Wonderful!
Really great book! From the first moment you are caught up in Gair's troubles and interested in his past, present and future. The narrator does a brilliant job covering all of the characters and really helps to depict each character for the listener. If I had one complaint - it's too short!
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7 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Marc H
- 21-09-12
Great listen
I decided to try this after being hooked by another similar type of book by Patrick Rothfuss - The name of the wind.
Overall I really enjoyed this story and set ps up the next book really well.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- thomas
- 10-04-13
Nothing really new but still good
This book takes place in a pretty average world run mainly by overzealous priests. The protagonist is well developed and his "magic" is not particularly unique to the world of fantasy books but the way it is presented as music is a nice way of looking at it. The relationships and romance between the characters is very well developed and there is a nice mix of action, adventure, romance, discovery and despair throughout the book. Narration is good.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- G. Pretorius
- 23-12-12
Beautiful Story
This story is charming, well written with excellent characterisations. The narration is good, but female voices can be a bit irritating. Despite that much better than other's I have listened to.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Joy
- 20-10-12
Gripping story; great narration
If you liked 'The Name of the Wind' you will also like this book.The author weaves several narratives which will come together by volume 3 I'm sure. There are some interesting ideas about people's extra abilities. There are also strong female characters - although not the central character who is a young man with something in his past that makes him the centre of a lot of unwelcome attention.It would make a nice change to have a woman as the lead. The one disappointing aspect for me is that at the heart of the story (at least so far) is a struggle between a young and older man - so just like Harry Potter and Voldemort - so it could have been more creative.
The narrator is excellent - he manages to give the women credible voices. I have not read a print version of the book and I did wonder if I would have liked it as much - in other words the narrator lifts the book - I looked a couple of blogs with reviews and the reactions were in general positive but not all five star. Still I do recommend it.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Eivind
- 11-02-12
The beginning
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
I got the strong feeling that this book is the first book of many (Wild Hunt Trilogy). If this friend was well versed in the fantasy genre with its one-book-a-year series, then sure. I would recommend it. It is well written first novel set in a setting of Witchcraft, Inquisitions and Crusades. It is very familiar, yet not something I have really encountered before in any fantasy novel.
Would you be willing to try another book from Elspeth Cooper? Why or why not?
Yes. I did enjoy it and when and if a second book in this trilogy comes out I will probably pick it up as well.
Any additional comments?
Just like the first book in many a series this book suffers somewhat from trying to prepare us for the series and the next books. I felt like the first 90% of the book was spent world-building and setting up possible plots for the
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Peppermint
- 13-02-12
Good start
Would you listen to Songs of the Earth again? Why?
Yes. The book started out very slow (and a bit boring) but it slowly got better and better as it progressed.
What did you like best about this story?
As the story developed I couldn't help starting to care about the different characters. How would they deal with the challenges they faced? Would they succeed? Would they at least survive? It kept me listening well into the night.
Any additional comments?
I do not agree with this being
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