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The Ember Blade

A breathtaking fantasy adventure

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The Ember Blade

By: Chris Wooding BA BA
Narrated by: Simon Bubb
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About this listen

 'The Ember Blade is hands down the best fantasy novel I've ever read' Grimdark Magazine

A land under occupation. A legendary sword. A young man's journey to find his destiny.

Aren has lived by the rules all his life. He's never questioned it; that's just the way things are. But then his father is executed for treason, and he and his best friend Cade are thrown into a prison mine, doomed to work until they drop. Unless they can somehow break free . . .

But what lies beyond the prison walls is more terrifying still. Rescued by a man who hates him yet is oath-bound to protect him, pursued by inhuman forces, Aren slowly accepts that everything he knew about his world was a lie. The rules are not there to protect him, or his people, but to enslave them. A revolution is brewing, and Aren is being drawn into it, whether he likes it or not.

The key to the revolution is the Ember Blade. The sword of kings, the Excalibur of his people. Only with the Ember Blade in hand can their people be inspired to rise up . . . but it's locked in an impenetrable vault in the most heavily guarded fortress in the land.

All they have to do now is steal it . . .

Read by Simon Bubb
(p) Orion Publishing Group 2018 Action & Adventure Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction

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Critic reviews

The Ember Blade is everything I could possibly want in an epic fantasy novel, and so much more. Buy this book as soon as it is available.
If you like Brandon Sanderson you'll love this. The best epic fantasy for years.
It's like David Eddings, Margaret Weis, Tracey Hickman and Terry Brooks had a brainstorming session over a power lunch... then Wooding stole their notes, drank their beer and set about skewing everything. ...great fun, a classic epic fantasy.
A well-written tale of revolution, dark magic, and a quest for an ancient game-changing artifact set in a well-built and well-realised epic fantasy world.
From the excellent characterizations to the relentless chase, from breathtaking set pieces to the intricate world-building, everything was written with finesse. It seriously doesn't matter whether you're a fan of classic, epic, or grimdark fantasy (even better if all three), there's a place for you here. The Ember Blade is a book every fantasy fan will feel right at home with, and yet will find new adventures in it. It's a book that fantasy readers will love to revisit and inhabit longer and longer with every visit.
The Ember Blade is hands down the best fantasy novel I've ever read.
All stars
Most relevant
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is one of the best opening books to a new epic fantasy that I've had the pleasure of listening to in ages. Simon Bubb's performance rivals that of Steven Pacey reading the First Law books by Joe Abercrombie.
Sorry wise it contains one of the best secondary characters in a fantasy novel thanks to Grub. His back story of heroics and then shame along with humour makes him an easy to like character.
The Ember Blade also features the most relentless and scary foes for Aaron and his friends since the black riders first rode to find Frodo Baggins. They are the Deathknights and they are epic.

Absolutely fantastic

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first time for Chris Wooding & Simon Bubb and they did not disappoint, the Emer Blade is a classic in the making, well written and well performed I can't wait for the next installment

Excellent

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Super read! Great story and characters. I found myself emmersed into the world created by the writer and hoping for more

Super read! Great story and characters.

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Really enjoyed this book! It has the makings of an excellent series. He is a great narrator also.

Great

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This was a fantastic listen, I loved the characters Grub being my favourite. Great world building and looking forward to the next instalment. The narrator was brilliant!

My favourite audio book of the year so far

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