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  • The Pen and the Sword

  • Destiny's Crucible, Book 2
  • By: Olan Thorensen
  • Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
  • Length: 17 hrs and 9 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (204 ratings)
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The Pen and the Sword cover art

The Pen and the Sword

By: Olan Thorensen
Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
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Summary

The Narthani, a militant realm who believe their manifest destiny is to rule the entire planet, Anyar, plan to absorb Caedellium into their empire and crush any resistance. Yozef Kolsko (a.k.a. Joe Colsco) works to find ways to increase the chances of resistance to the Narthani's planned conquest.

Complicating his life is attraction to a brilliant daughter of an island leader, and his uncertainty of his own mind, hers, or intricacies of Caedellium customs.

Despite his desire to devote himself to introducing new knowledge, Yozef is drawn more and more into developing weapons and giving tactical and strategic advice - things he knows he's unqualified to give. The enemy is coming. The odds seem overwhelming, and it will take all Yozef can do, the courage of his new people, and luck, to survive.

©2016 Olan Thorensen (P)2017 Podium Publishing

What listeners say about The Pen and the Sword

Average customer ratings
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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Tedious

A lesson in how to spin out very little story to the maximum length possible would sum up this book. Incredibly boring battles, clumsy dialogue and one of the worst bedroom scenes I've come across for some time. I could go on but have no desire to induce the same levels of boredom as the author.
I won't be buying the third book because I really couldn't care less what happens to any of the characters and can't bear to sit through another brain numbing experience.

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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

A damn good read, I would highly recommend.

One can identify with Yozef Kolsko, the main character, and his dilemma of having advanced knowledge but being unable to apply it in a society thats 300years behind that which he was removed from.

Read the first and second books back to back, couldn't put them down. I cant wait for the third book, will the Natharni be finally pushed back off the island? What about windmills/water wheels as energy source. Will we see steam power and the beginnings of an industrial revolution emerge.

Bring on the third instalment.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Much stronger than the first book

The first book felt a bit random in comparison to its sequel. The Pen & The Swords story follows a much more logical trajectory now that Olan had spent book one creating his universe. Josef's life on Anyar has become much more driven and his character development has progress to make him a more likeable and relatable character. He isn't a typical hero, he doesn't want to fight, he wants to use his knowledge for the better of the people.

Now that the momentum has ramped up and the supporting characters have been fleshed out a bit, Destiny's Crucible has now started to get interesting. Now where is book three in my library...?

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

Not about innovation

The first book was al about innovation and the social aspect with the whole town, wich was good. This book was all about war and his wife. I was really missing the aspect of trying to share more knowledge.

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

More of the same as book 1

Sigh. Not much more of the bigger story so you have to like old style battles. I liked it enough to keep going but it was hard work. The performance was not my style either, I got used to the voice, but it never really did the characters that well.

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

Could be better

I downloaded this in error after having returned the first one through frustration. Why I don't know I decided to stick with it a bit of a mystery. Its OK and an interesting concept though Im sure it could be better if the padding were removed along with the repitition and the story speeded up bit through some good editing. I find the narrator to be a bit annoying and rather whiney and a long way behind the likes of Sean Barret or Carl Prekopp. Though in fairness that type of American accent does not work for me. RC Bray would have been preferable if it had to be an American.

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

Great Book...I'm hooked

I'm hooked on a completely new genre of books thanks to Audio...thanks ☺ and Narrator was EXCELLENT again

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

Excellent again!

Second book as good as first. One of my favourite books. The story sucks you right in.

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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

this second book did not disappoint

this is the first book that I actually stayed up all night to listen as I just couldn't put it down

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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

Brilliant

Usually when you get a trilogy of books the middle one is the poorest one this one is better than the first I hope this continues in the third one which I am deafly going to listening to

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