Audio Book Review: Relentless Souls

Relentless Souls

By:  Ryan Kirk

Publish Date:  November 28, 2018, Audiobook Release March 27, 2019

Format:  Audiobook - 11 hrs 35 mins
Narrated By:  Andrew Tell

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  Stand-alone

Impression:  The fight is on.

Synopsis:
A new threat has risen.

For years, peace has reigned within the boundaries of the empire. Monks, gifted with extraordinary powers, wander the land, keeping order by any means necessary. Their gifts make them invincible, or so most believe.

A lone warrior disagrees. Guided by a shadowy organization, Fang seeks to break the monasteries. Once left for dead by powerful monks, revenge has driven him to unimaginable strength. Only one obstacle stands in his way.

His name is Lei, and he is no hero. Exiled by the monasteries for an unforgivable crime, he’s more comfortable with a drink in his hand than a sword. But he’s about to be thrust into a fight he had no part in starting.

As destiny hurtles the two men into inevitable conflict, the fate of the empire hangs in the balance.

First Sentence:
The stiff breeze flapping through Jian's white robes portended a storm.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles 

Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:

*I was given this free review copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

It's been a while since I've listened to Andrew Tell. I've enjoyed his stories in the past and glad I got to one with his narration. Andrew did not let me down. He voices the story clean and clear through out. He tells the story of Lei and Fang in a way I don't know it's being narrated. This is credit to Ryan's writing as well since I can see the fights as the characters are experiencing them.

We start with a prologue that tells there is something coming, but the news doesn't make it back to the monastery. We learn a little about Lei, and how he's not part of the monastery anymore, along with his angry feelings toward his brother. This prologue is important as it sets the stage for Lei and his brother's relationship. But it also connects the trouble that's coming to our characters.

We get the chapters from Lei or Fang's eyes. It's easy to know who we are with as each chapter starts with naming them in the first sentence. The story is very straight forward and of a simple feel with the characters. We know what they want and what they are to do. Lei just wants to be left alone, but his life takes a turn when his brother dies. Lei experiences more than he expected and comes to have a respect for some things in life. Fang wants to please his Master.

Both men have a grudge against the Monasteries and monks. But it's what you do with that grudge and how you act on it that makes a difference. The two men have a few things in common, though the end results of their time with the Monastery is different. That end result is what formed the person they become. This is an interesting story of how what you life through influences your responses.

I enjoy the neat and orderly writing of Ryan's. I find the story is easy to follow and things are not overly hidden in the story. The feel of an oriental influence in the story is strong and very nice to read/listen to.

If you enjoy fighting, this book is for you. We are in the head of one of the fighters as they battle. You can see the fight and what's happening to the area around them.



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Audio Book Review: Primal Dawn

Primal Dawn

By:  Ryan Kirk

Publish Date:  September 26, 2016, Audiobook Release January 19, 2017

Format:  Audiobook - 5 hrs 11 mins
Narrated By:  Andrew Tell

Genre:  Science Fiction

Series:  1st in Primal Series

Impression:  Humans searching for life, and what they find.

Synopsis:
Tev is a hunter, one of the best in his clan. Trained since birth in the art of tracking and killing, Tev has never met a challenge he couldn’t overcome. But when a mysterious fireball falls from the sky, Tev will question everything he has ever known. For the first time in his life, he isn’t the one doing the hunting.

He is the prey

Primal Dawn is the first short novel of the Primal Series, spanning centuries of conflict following first contact. Each novel tells a complete story in the ongoing saga of two cultures learning to explore the vastness of space together.

First Sentence:
Tev woke up before the sun rose, as was his custom.

Purchase At:
Amazon  

Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:
*At my request, this audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review.


From the beginning I enjoyed the suspense added by Andrew's voice to Ryan's words. The action of what the character was doing was something common, but between the two (Ryan's writing and Andrew's vocal) the tension is added, bringing the hunt to life. Andrew gives each character their own voice in tone and feel. Andrew has brought the story to life without me even knowing it. His narration has given the characters voices and personality, and he doesn't get in the way of what the author has created. A wonderful job for Andrew.


The clash of a primal world of simple humans with humans of another world full of science and technology.

The story is well written, from what I feel and hear in the audiobook, but it just feels as though Ryan hasn't brought anything new to the idea of humans coming to a new planet to take samples.

We get two point of views in this story; Tev and Kindra. They are both of different origins and views of what's to come about in their lives. They are both very strong characters as well. In the beginning I wasn't sure about Tev, but he quickly became my favorite character as he developed into more through the pages.

Tev is a smart and logical person. I liked that Ryan does not downplay Tev's mental capacity even though he's not of the technologically inclined world. Tev logically thinks things out, even though his world's not as advanced as Kindra's. By getting Tev's POV we see how he thinks through things to communicate and takes in what he finds.

What I found interesting was Kindra and a huge decision she makes. This decision feels unusual from what I thought she would do. Ryan takes the leap to make his characters go further and gives them a setting to do things they would not normally do. This is a decision that will change lives, but could be the only choice to save the life on the planet they've visited. Very interesting. This is one thing that sticks out in my mind about the story, and makes the story individual.

This is the starts to a new series. It feels basic in humans searching for life and finding it. But I think the series will take off now that we've gotten through this and heading back out to space to search some more. I'm looking forward to the situations the characters will have to face.

I'm curious to see where the characters go after this. There is another planet being searched at the same time, so what's found there by others? And where else is there to visit?


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Mythical Monday #69 - The Myth of Samurai

Art work by: @Burntlaughter on Twitter

It seems there are many books influenced by or based on Myths and Mythological Beings.

There are many different Mythology's and Mythological Beings recorded. Some are very popular and well known, others not so much. There are many similar beings, yet different depending on the culture it’s based in.  The definition of Myth covers about anything in the Urban Fantasy/Fantasy realm to me.

I’ve invited authors to share briefly the Mythological being or Myth that influenced their character(s) or story, or what their character(s) are based on influencing their books.  Hosting here, one author and being or myth per week.

The Myth of Samurai

When Melissa came to me and asked me to contribute to mythical Mondays, I was excited. You see, I believe that the stories and myths that we read and tell ourselves have a deep impact on the way we view the world.

Today I decided to write about the samurai, the warrior class that dominated Japan’s culture and politics for hundreds of years. It may seem a strange topic for mythical Monday, being as the samurai definitely existed, but bear with me for a moment.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with samurai. Not ninjas, not knights, not any other type of warrior society throughout history. Just samurai.

I grew up on a steady diet of samurai pop culture, from books to anime to movies. I loved the idea of a warrior class, bound by honor and duty. I loved the weapons, particularly the katana. I loved the idea of two warriors fighting each other while others watched on, bound to accept the fate of the fight. You see, what I loved was the idea of the samurai.

I’m older now, and what I’ve realized is that the samurai have obtained a pseudo-mythical status, particularly in Western culture. What many of us think and believe when we think of samurai is no more real than vampires and werewolves battling for the hearts of teenagers.

In reality, samurai were human, and as such, were deeply flawed. They were corrupt, violent, and used their power to evil ends. They were also skilled warriors, capable of great deeds and great art. In short, they were as good or evil as anyone else. The reality of the samurai is nowhere near as inspiring as the tales we tell about them.

But I’ve also found peace with that idea, because even if the samurai, as we think of them, are a myth, they are also an ideal for us to strive for. If we can grow up to be strong, honorable people capable of great sacrifice and great art, our lives will be much the better.

It was this idea that was the seed that led to Nightblade, my debut fantasy novel. I didn’t want to write about the samurai or Japan, because I’m not an expert, and it would be an injustice for me to try. But I wanted to write about the ideals the samurai myth gives us. I wanted to create a world where there was a class of people gifted with skills beyond the average citizen, and wanted to see what such a world would look like.

I think that the power of myth is that it gives us a new way to view the world. Even if the samurai (as I thought of them) weren’t real, they shaped the way I wanted to grow up, and for that, I shall always be grateful.


About the Author:
Ryan Kirk is an author and entrepreneur based out of Minnesota. He is the author of the Nightblade series of fantasy novels and the founder of Waterstone Media.

He has been writing for longer than he can remember. His first attempts at stories were written in the third and fourth grade, but he is pretty sure he doesn’t remember anything before high school.
Ryan has always been a fan of science fiction and fantasy stories, and adventures in particular. He loves writing, traveling, and being outside as much as possible.

He also finds it incredibly challenging to write about himself in the third person.

Find the Author:
Twitter:  @Waterstonebooks
Author Site

Purchase the Books:
 

Audio Book Review: The Wind and the Void

The Wind and the Void

By:  Ryan Kirk

Publish Date:  July 4, 2011, Audiobook Release November 2, 2011

Format:  Audiobook - 13 hrs 3 mins
Narrated By:  Andrew Tell

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  3rd Nightblade novel: 1st Book ~ Nightblade, 2nd Book ~ World's Edge

Impression:  Fitting conclusion to the world.

Synopsis:
The invasion is here. Already decimated by civil war, the armies of the Three Kingdoms struggle desperately to mount a defense against a force stronger than any they have fought before.

In the midst of the chaos the actions and choices of a select few will shape the future of the land. Akira prepares to give up his Lordship. Ryuu wanders the Southern Kingdom, searching for a reason to fight. Moriko sits quietly, biding her time before she leaves the Three Kingdoms for good. Finally, across the Three Sisters, Nameless fight to keep his fragile alliance of clans together.

A new age is dawning in the Three Kingdoms. An age born in blood and sacrifice. An age shaped by the wind and the void. . .

First Sentence:
General Toro awoke to a cold, crisp morning, the third in a row.

Purchase At:
Amazon  

Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:
*This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review at my request.

With the shift of power in ruling of the kingdoms, General Toro and The First have been called home. Though it seems the new Lord doesn't realize the power of the Azarians waiting at the forts walls. But with snow appearing in the pass, the army may have their opportunity to return and hold off Azarians until spring. Spring comes and war breaks out. Will those of the Three Kingdoms be strong enough to hold the Azarians from taking their land? There are things and views that will have to change if they want to stand a chance.

Andrew has become a talented fantasy narrator that I look forward to listening to. He voices each character with a different tone and personality, both feeling to fit the character created by Ryan. He has a smooth cadence and rhythm to his narration that keeps the story moving forward and that I can listen to. It feels as there is much meaning to every word.

I've put off finishing this trilogy long enough. It's always that bitter sweet ending and I always feel bummed for it to end, hence the dragging my feet to listen.

Ryan's written words are smooth as they flow to create the fantasy realm full of worries. I was drawn to the blend of his writing and Andrew's seamless flow of words, envisioning the world and troubles that are on the horizon. Ryan takes his time with each scene as it flows to the next. They aren't drawn out to be boring but well written to feel as you are actually in the world and get the full view and feel of events surrounding you. All options are explored and thought through to come to one decision.

There is so much happening in this world at different places that one POV doesn't cover it all. Ryan has given us chapters by specific characters at the center of the events. We hear from Ryuu, Moriko, Akira, and Nameless. This makes things so much easier to understand and follow, and Ryan keeps it very well organized for us to follow.

The world is in trouble with the Azarians breaking through the pass. But there are a few factors that come into play. The Azarians have a leader, but his main intent was to show his people to a world they could flourish and grow what they need to survive. Then we have Akira, a Lord that feels beaten by another Lord but will do what he must for his people, even if that's stepping down. Akira wants to see the Three Kingdoms united again. Yet Akira grows in his stepping down. He also grows in character with his actions he takes when the world is invaded. He's not the ruler you expect on the sidelines. No. He's the one that acts and does what will help his people. Ryuu feels he's not whole anymore, he has his own struggles. But with the help of Moriko he finds his way. Moriko just wants to leave the land, but she seems to be shown again and again things that surprise her.

This book does give us all we hope for in the trilogy. We have the magical Sense of the Nightblades and Dayblades. We see the Azarians and their true reason to drive into the Three Kingdoms, and how they planned to pull it off. Things get rather rough before they get better for the characters, and even a few don't make it. There was one death that really pulled at my heart strings. Touching. Everyone we've meet is affected in this book, as it should be.

Wonderful conclusion!



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Audio Book Review: World's Edge

World's Edge

By:  Ryan Kirk

Publish Date:  November 20, 2015, Audiobook Release February 24, 2016

Format:  Audiobook - 11 hrs 26 mins
Narrated By:  Andrew Tell

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  2nd in Nightblade series; 1st Book ~ Nightblade

First Impression:  The world is changing, Ryuu and Moriko are caught in the cross hairs.

Synopsis:
Two cycles have passed since Ryuu lost his adopted father, and he dares to hope that he’s found peace at last. But nightblades live by the sword, and when a new breed of warrior threatens the Southern Kingdom, Ryuu and Moriko are pulled to opposite edges of the known world to uncover mysteries that have lain dormant for hundreds of cycles.

As the Three Kingdoms descend into chaos, the two nightblades must decide what they stand for. There’s no place to hide, and the secrets they reveal will have the power to change the world forever.

First Sentence:
Akira, Lord of the Southern Kingdom, ran his hand through the grass.

Purchase At:
Amazon 

Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:
*I requested to review a copy of this audiobook for an honest review from the author or narrator.

Two cycles have passed and a new threat comes to their attention. Once enemies find allies in each other when facing the same threat. New enemies are found. And forgotten pasts are found in the way of Nightblades and Hunters.

Akira and his generals are surprised when spring arrives and Azarians don't come to fight for the pass as they do every year. A scout returns with word of a whole village of Azarians. They are dead. Not one wounded. And there were four or five attackers that pursue him that can't be human by their actions.

Ryuu and Moriko have lived at Ryuu's hut for several moons, growing closer. They are content to live on like this. Until a strange shadow comes near their home. It resembles a man yet feels primal to Ryuu's sense. Ryuu doesn't know why but they are being hunted. When they are attacked by these shadow men Ryuu worries for the first time he may not be strong enough for what's to come. Ryuu and Moriko go to learn what is after them and why, and how to take care of them.

Andrew gets more of a chance at the beginning to voice numerous characters. There is more dialog and Andrew takes time to voice each character to go with the descriptions written by Ryan. When the story is focused on Ryuu we get narration from Ryuu more than discussions. Andrew feels to fit his voice to personalities of the characters perfectly, for my view. He fits them in the way of curiosity and knowledge, whether having or looking for it. He has slight differences in tones to differentiate the characters for us, which works hand in hand with the personalities he voices.

I am going to try very hard to not spoil the story yet give some information to you and with my feelings. If you read the first book, you'll want to continue on.

Ryuu and Moriko are the strong silent type with the Nightblade training and raising they've had. So there's not much speaking in their sections but lots of thinking and observing. Not long into the story I slipped back into their strong personalities and thoughts, almost like they were speaking to me in their thoughts.

We get four different views in this story. Ryuu, Moriko, Akira, and Tanak. They are all on different sides as we dive into the book. Tanak lord of Western kingdom and Akira lord of Southern Kingdom. Treaties are broken. But there is something else in the world too. Ryuu starts to see it attacking him, Akira sees affects in the Azarian land. Ryuu and Moriko go looking for answers to why they are attacked, and got two different ways to find answers and learn more than they could ever know.

The world grows for us in this book. We get to learn more of the sense as Ryuu learns from elders and focused Nightblades and Dayblades. We also get to learn about the Azarians too.

Both Ryuu and Moriko grow in their Nightblade abilities. Moriko learns quick and on her own in battle with dangerous Hunters determined to kill her. Ryuu learns of new tricks from elder Nightblades and Dayblades, but he leaves before he learns how they do their amazing feats, but knowing what can be done, Ryuu tries to teach himself how to do it. And he's learned a few new ways to fight.

We are not left wanting with the big battles at the end. We see what was learned and the individual growth of strength for both Moriko and Ryuu. They've battled the doubt and what they didn't want the whole book, until they had to face it. And face it they do.

I'm curious to see what choices will be made next. I do look forward to the third book coming out in audio!



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Audio Book Review: Nightblade

Nightblade

By:  Ryan Kirk

Publish Date:  August 3, 2015, Audiobook October 16, 2015

Format:  Audiobook - 13 hrs 18 mins
Narrated By:  Andrew Tell

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  1st in Nightblade series

Impression:  The return of a power in the people that was kept as shamed and guarded.

Synopsis:
Ryuu is a boy orphaned by violence at a young age. Found by a wandering warrior, he learns he may have more strength than he ever imagined possible.

A quiet child, Moriko is forced into a monastic system she despises. Torn from her family and the forest she grew up in, she must fight to learn the skills she’ll need to survive her tutelage under the realm’s most dangerous assassin.

Young, beautiful, and broke, Takako is sold to pay for her father’s debts. Thrust into a world she doesn’t understand and battles she didn’t ask for, she must decide where her loyalties lie.

When their lives crash together in a Kingdom on the brink of war, the decisions they make will change both their lives and their Kingdom forever.

If they can stay alive.

First Sentence:
I am crawling, silent as a shadow, through the tall grass, each prolonged moment bleeding into the next.

Purchase At:
Amazon

Audible


My Thoughts and Summary:
*This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com, at my request.

Ryuu, Moniko, and Takako are young children in different parts of the kingdom that have a touch of the sense. Each is sent on a different path in life. Ryuu watched his parents killed by bandits and is rescued by a man skilled with a sword. Ryuu follows Shigeru home and finds a father figure in the man while he learns the ability to use the sense strong in him along with the sword, growing into a powerful Nightblade. Moniko is found by the monks to have the old form of the sense and she's taken to the monastery to life under the thumb of the Abbot, in solitude with others like her. Moniko is different than those here and is taught by Herochi to be a Nightblade. Takako's father can't take care of all in his family and sells her to a brothel. Takako's kind soul struggles with all that happens after meeting Ryuu and the friendship they have when Ryuu comes to save her from the Generals cruel son. Their lives cross as time moves on, causing fear of the Nightblades to rise again.

This is the first for me listening to Andew as a narrator. He does subtle differences for a few characters, but this story doesn't seem to have as much dialog as it does thinking by the characters. Before I knew it, I thought there were notable differences for the characters, even when doing a drunk speaking. The chapters are set in each characters POV so it's easy to differentiate who's who. Andrew's work is clear and easy to understand as a narrator. The audio is clean and smooth. There were no distractions from his voice as he told the story. Andrew started to become the voice of the story and characters for me, long before half way.

There is a magic, of sorts, present. It's referred to as The Sense. Only some people are born with it. It seems to have changed in the way it works over the generations since the Great War. But there are a few that the power of the old ones is present, and strong. It seems this is the power that the Nightblades and Dayblades held, and could be what is feared by those of standing in the kingdom as they blame the Nightblades for the fall of the Great Kingdom. We start with seeing the Sense as a way to sense others or things around them. They can feel more keenly than others, beyond the natural five senses, and sense what move would be next in battle.

I really like the way Ryan leads us to learn of the Nightblades and Dayblades, and that there is a slight difference between the two. Through the lessons of these three kids as they grew to adults, we learn the different stories and history Nightblades and Dayblades have to the land.

Our three main characters start young and age through the book. The world searches for those of the Sense, but don't always find the ones of the old ones power. Ryuu is a perfect example of this. He's saved by Shigeru when his caravan returning home is attacked by bandits. Moriko is found by a monk that tests all the young children, only because of touch. She is spared from death by the Abbot to become like Herochi, a Nightblade that can track others of his kind, which the Abbot wants in his command. Takako is a gentle soul sold to a brothel by her father. She doesn't want fighting and death, but she's stuck in the middle watching it happen around her.

The world has those that are strong with a blade yet have a strong honor and restraints on themselves. A sort of with power comes great responsibility, and consequences when it's used. Then there is the opposite of the mindless cruelty and abuse of power and revenge. The book did have me thinking on how peace would be nice to have as the characters spoke their thoughts, and some listened to what was said.

There's not much dialog early in the book. Feels as though thoughts and telling of the world through events the characters live through. We start with a prologue. I could go either way on this, keep or not. It's here as a catcher to draw you into the story. I wondered for a good bit of the book when we would learn where it was from. I think I did finally place it, but it wasn't referenced in the same manner as where I thought it fit. As we get into the book and meet our characters, I felt like there was over explaining of family and family history. My mind started wondering in these moments, which is like skimming when reading. But as the book moved on, this became less and less and we got more of the current events and worries.

There is a strong sense of Oriental influence in this story from the dress to the manner of descriptions by characters to the honor of sword battle. I loved this feel to the book.

I found that I rather enjoyed the story here. There were some slow moments in the beginning but the story finished strong. I look forward to continuing the series.