Those Above cover art

Those Above

The Empty Throne, Book 1

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About this listen

They enslaved humanity 3,000 years ago. Tall, strong, perfect, superhuman, and near immortal, they rule from their glittering palaces in the eternal city in the centre of the world. They are called Those Above by their subjects. They enforce their will with fire and sword.

Twenty-five years ago mankind mustered an army and rose up against them only to be slaughtered in a terrible battle. Hope died that day, but hatred survived. Whispers of another revolt are beginning to stir in the hearts of the oppressed: a woman, widowed in the war, who has dedicated her life to revenge; the general, the only man ever to defeat one of Those Above in single combat, summoned forth to raise a new legion; and a boy killer who rises from the gutter to lead an uprising in the capital.

Those Above is the first of an extraordinary new fantasy epic by the author of the acclaimed Low Town series that will sweep the reader into a wholly alien, wholly recognizable world of rebellion and revenge, of love and death, of intrigue and pitiless war.

©2015 Daniel Polansky (P)2015 Hodder & Stoughton Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction War Heartfelt

Critic reviews

Praise for The Straight Razor Cure: "Quite brilliant.... The Straight Razor Cure is as good a debut as I've read in along time. [It] has it all - and as the name suggests, it is sharp, steely and viciously bloody. Highly recommended." (John Berlyne, SF Revu)
All stars
Most relevant
This is the masterpiece that was promised by the skill shown in low town. Can't wait for the next.

a much more expansive tale than previously

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes good and consuming story

What did you like best about this story?

The way it built and the diverse charectors

What about Andrew Wincott’s performance did you like?

Good voice, clear demarcation of charectors

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No

Took a chance surprisingly good

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I didn't very much enjoy this book, although that may be to do with the genre, rather than any innate failing of the book itself.

I didn't enjoy the style of narration that sounded so over the top aggressive, and I didn't like the unnecessary crassness that appeared regularly as if it was required for the genre rather than the story - someone's idea of how manly men speak and think maybe.

There may be a reasonable story here in this first instalment, but don't think I'll be continuing with it.

Not my cup of tea

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