Listen free for 30 days
-
The Heart of Stone
- Narrated by: Adam Stubbs
- Length: 18 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Listen with a free trial
Buy Now for £22.89
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Kingfall
- The Kingfall Histories, Book 1
- By: David Estes
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 29 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Infused with magic, shadows and starlight, the powerful godblades were believed to be lost nearly half a millennia ago, when the Godswar ended. Now, however, one has been found by the unlikeliest of wielders: Sampson Gaard, a blind but ambitious prince with something to prove. The only question is whether he controls the blade or the blade him. With an insidious evil lurking in the shadows, the answer may very well determine the fate of all Kingfall.
-
-
Amazing read
- By Toriz on 12-08-21
-
The Forever King
- The Scalussen Chronicles, Book 1
- By: Ben Galley
- Narrated by: Matthew Lloyd Davies
- Length: 23 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Emaneska, to consort with magick is to court death. Banned by the Arka Empire, magick's purging has finally brought peace to war-torn Emaneska. Like any dutiful citizen, Mithrid Fenn wants nothing to do with magick. But when an illegal spellbook washes up on a beach after a battle between giant, unknown ships, Mithrid Fenn is thrust into a war she never knew existed. Her family slaughtered, Mithrid finds herself hunted by daemons and the emperor's assassins.
-
-
Horrid Narration
- By Raine on 16-07-21
-
Empire of the Vampire
- Empire of the Vampire, Book 1
- By: Jay Kristoff
- Narrated by: Damian Lynch
- Length: 27 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It has been 27 long years since the last sunrise. For nearly three decades, vampires have waged war against humanity, building their eternal empire even as they tear down our own. Now, only a few tiny sparks of light endure in a sea of darkness. Gabriel de León, half man, half monster and last remaining silversaint - a sworn brother of the holy Silver Order dedicated to defending the realm from the creatures of the night - is all that stands between the world and its end. Now imprisoned by the very monsters he vowed to destroy, the last silversaint is forced to tell his story.
-
-
The Best
- By tracey pashley on 10-09-21
-
The Shadow of the Gods
- By: John Gwynne
- Narrated by: Colin Mace
- Length: 18 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After the gods warred and drove themselves to extinction, the cataclysm of their fall shattered the land of Vigrið. Now a new world is rising, where power-hungry jarls feud and monsters stalk the woods and mountains. A world where the bones of the dead gods still hold great power for those brave - or desperate - enough to seek them out. As whispers of war echo across the mountains and fjords, fate follows in the footsteps of three people.
-
-
Finished it in a day
- By Samuelson Obigbesan on 09-05-21
-
The Maleficent Seven
- By: Cameron Johnston
- Narrated by: George Weightman
- Length: 14 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Black Herran was a dread demonologist, and the most ruthless general in all Essoran. She assembled the six most fearsome warriors to captain her armies: a necromancer, a vampire lord, a demigod, an orcish warleader, a pirate queen, and a twisted alchemist. Together, they brought the whole continent to its knees.... Until the day she abandoned her army, on the eve of total victory.
-
-
Cartoon characters make this
- By Jaspal on 26-03-22
-
Uncontrollable
- A LitRPG Adventure
- By: Sean Oswald
- Narrated by: Daniel Wisniewski
- Length: 15 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Taken from life as an office drone by a trickster god, Tim finds himself in the magical world of Iocusinte, where change is his only constant. It grants him great potential, enough to be sought out by different factions looking to use him for their own ends. That potential, however, is mercurial. His Class and very appearance shift at random. If Tim is to survive long enough to enjoy this new world and the friends he's making, then he'll have to solve the riddle of his nature and learn to master the uncontrollable.
-
-
Top class storytelling
- By Glennccc on 27-12-21
-
Kingfall
- The Kingfall Histories, Book 1
- By: David Estes
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 29 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Infused with magic, shadows and starlight, the powerful godblades were believed to be lost nearly half a millennia ago, when the Godswar ended. Now, however, one has been found by the unlikeliest of wielders: Sampson Gaard, a blind but ambitious prince with something to prove. The only question is whether he controls the blade or the blade him. With an insidious evil lurking in the shadows, the answer may very well determine the fate of all Kingfall.
-
-
Amazing read
- By Toriz on 12-08-21
-
The Forever King
- The Scalussen Chronicles, Book 1
- By: Ben Galley
- Narrated by: Matthew Lloyd Davies
- Length: 23 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Emaneska, to consort with magick is to court death. Banned by the Arka Empire, magick's purging has finally brought peace to war-torn Emaneska. Like any dutiful citizen, Mithrid Fenn wants nothing to do with magick. But when an illegal spellbook washes up on a beach after a battle between giant, unknown ships, Mithrid Fenn is thrust into a war she never knew existed. Her family slaughtered, Mithrid finds herself hunted by daemons and the emperor's assassins.
-
-
Horrid Narration
- By Raine on 16-07-21
-
Empire of the Vampire
- Empire of the Vampire, Book 1
- By: Jay Kristoff
- Narrated by: Damian Lynch
- Length: 27 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It has been 27 long years since the last sunrise. For nearly three decades, vampires have waged war against humanity, building their eternal empire even as they tear down our own. Now, only a few tiny sparks of light endure in a sea of darkness. Gabriel de León, half man, half monster and last remaining silversaint - a sworn brother of the holy Silver Order dedicated to defending the realm from the creatures of the night - is all that stands between the world and its end. Now imprisoned by the very monsters he vowed to destroy, the last silversaint is forced to tell his story.
-
-
The Best
- By tracey pashley on 10-09-21
-
The Shadow of the Gods
- By: John Gwynne
- Narrated by: Colin Mace
- Length: 18 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After the gods warred and drove themselves to extinction, the cataclysm of their fall shattered the land of Vigrið. Now a new world is rising, where power-hungry jarls feud and monsters stalk the woods and mountains. A world where the bones of the dead gods still hold great power for those brave - or desperate - enough to seek them out. As whispers of war echo across the mountains and fjords, fate follows in the footsteps of three people.
-
-
Finished it in a day
- By Samuelson Obigbesan on 09-05-21
-
The Maleficent Seven
- By: Cameron Johnston
- Narrated by: George Weightman
- Length: 14 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Black Herran was a dread demonologist, and the most ruthless general in all Essoran. She assembled the six most fearsome warriors to captain her armies: a necromancer, a vampire lord, a demigod, an orcish warleader, a pirate queen, and a twisted alchemist. Together, they brought the whole continent to its knees.... Until the day she abandoned her army, on the eve of total victory.
-
-
Cartoon characters make this
- By Jaspal on 26-03-22
-
Uncontrollable
- A LitRPG Adventure
- By: Sean Oswald
- Narrated by: Daniel Wisniewski
- Length: 15 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Taken from life as an office drone by a trickster god, Tim finds himself in the magical world of Iocusinte, where change is his only constant. It grants him great potential, enough to be sought out by different factions looking to use him for their own ends. That potential, however, is mercurial. His Class and very appearance shift at random. If Tim is to survive long enough to enjoy this new world and the friends he's making, then he'll have to solve the riddle of his nature and learn to master the uncontrollable.
-
-
Top class storytelling
- By Glennccc on 27-12-21
-
Apocalypse Knights 1
- By: DB King
- Narrated by: Alex Perone
- Length: 13 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Maximo Strident, war veteran and member of local law enforcement, never wanted to enter the dungeon. With promises of wealth beyond his imagination, his squad mates managed to convince him. Max isn’t a Knight, so he has no magical equipment or spells that could help him against monsters. What he does have, however, are the sword forms he learnt at the Blade Academy. These forms are formidable martial arts that make him the match of Level 0 monsters. But Level 99 monsters? He doesn’t stand a chance.
-
-
Great
- By Osman Ishaq on 15-05-22
-
Son of the Black Sword
- Saga of the Forgotten Warrior, Book 1
- By: Larry Correia
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 16 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After the War of the Gods, the demons were cast out and fell to the world. Mankind was nearly eradicated by the seemingly unstoppable beasts, until the gods sent the great hero, Ramrowan, to save them. He united the tribes, gave them magic, and drove the demons into the sea. Ever since the land has belonged to man and the oceans have remained an uncrossable hell, leaving the continent of Lok isolated. It was prophesized that someday the demons would return, and only the descendants of Ramrowan would be able to defeat them. They became the first kings, and all men served those who were their only hope for survival.
-
-
Has promise and problems
- By Euan on 02-12-15
-
A Warrior's Burden
- Saga of the Known Lands, Book 1
- By: Jacob Peppers
- Narrated by: Ben Farrow
- Length: 14 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
He was once known as Prince Bernard, ruler of his people and the man who led them in the Fey War against creatures out of myth and legend, beings out of nightmare. A man renowned for his strength, a man feared by his own people as much as his enemies. But there are other names for him, too. Kingslayer. Oathbreaker. Traitor. The Crimson Prince.
-
The Wisdom of Crowds
- The Riotous Conclusion to The Age of Madness
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 23 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Some say that to change the world you must first burn it down. Now that belief will be tested in the crucible of revolution: the Breakers and Burners have seized the levers of power, the smoke of riots has replaced the smog of industry and all must submit to the wisdom of crowds. With nothing left to lose, Citizen Brock is determined to become a new hero for the new age, while Citizeness Savine must turn her talents from profit to survival before she can claw her way to redemption. Orso will find that when the world is turned upside down, no one is lower than a monarch.
-
-
Saved by the last few chapters
- By Mr. R. Murray on 18-09-21
-
The Blade Itself
- The First Law: Book One
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 22 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Inquisitor Glokta, a crippled and bitter relic of the last war, former fencing champion turned torturer, is trapped in a twisted and broken body - not that he allows it to distract him from his daily routine of torturing smugglers.Nobleman, dashing officer and would-be fencing champion Captain Jezal dan Luthar is living a life of ease by cheating his friends at cards. Vain and shallow, the biggest blot on his horizon is having to get out of bed in the morning to train with obsessive and boring old men.
-
-
Possibly My Favourite Listen So Far...
- By Andrew on 18-10-13
-
The Impostor Prince
- By: David Debord, Ryan A. Span
- Narrated by: Steve Barnes
- Length: 14 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Killing a man in the heat of the moment, violating a sacred peace among the criminals of Ralon's Bend, a young thief called Joren sets off a chain of events he could never have imagined. He gets banished from his home, caught up in the political intrigue of nations, and wanders the world with his friend, Mattal, the only witness to Joren's crime, trying to fix the mess he caused.
-
-
Wonderful book
- By Helen on 25-04-20
-
Winter's Reach
- The Revanche Cycle Volume 1
- By: Craig Schaefer
- Narrated by: Susannah Jones
- Length: 11 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Conspiracies swirl like shadows around Livia, the pope's daughter, who refuses to be anyone's pawn: chasing the whispers of a deadly coup, she vows to expose the truth and save her church from disaster. Livia has secrets of her own, though, and one wrong move could cost her life and her soul.
-
The Vagrant
- By: Peter Newman
- Narrated by: Jot Davies
- Length: 13 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Vagrant is his name. He has no other. Years have passed since humanity's destruction emerged from the Breach. Friendless and alone he walks across a desolate, war-torn landscape. A s each day passes the world tumbles further into depravity, bent and twisted by the new order, corrupted by the Usurper, the enemy, and his infernal horde. His purpose is to reach the Shining City, last bastion of the human race, and deliver the only weapon that may make a difference in the ongoing war.
-
-
Weird…but I think I liked it
- By Christopher on 02-05-15
-
The Sea-Stone Sword
- By: Joel Cornah
- Narrated by: Genevieve Sibayan
- Length: 11 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Rob Sardan is going to be a legend, but the road to heroism is paved with temptation and deceit. Exiled to a distant and violent country, Rob is forced to fight his closest friends for survival, only to discover his mother's nemesis is still alive, and is determined to wipe out her family and all her allies. The only way the Pirate Lord, Mothar, can be stopped is with the Sea-Stone Sword - yet even the sword itself seems fickle, twisting Rob's quest in poisonous directions, blurring the line between hero and villain.
-
-
sea and fantasy
- By Jeff on 02-12-17
-
Of Blood and Fire
- The Bound and the Broken, Book 1
- By: Ryan Cahill
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 16 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Epheria is a land divided by war and mistrust. The High Lords of the South squabble and fight, only kept in check by the Dragonguard, traitors of a time long past, who serve the empire of the North. In the remote villages of Southern Epheria, still reeling from the tragic loss of his brother, Calen Bryer prepares for The Proving - a test of courage and skill that not all survive. But when three strangers arrive in the village of Milltown, with a secret they are willing to die for, Calen’s world is ripped from under him and he is thrust headfirst into a war.
-
-
A fantastic debut and fantastic performance
- By d on 17-11-21
-
The King's Ranger
- The King's Ranger, Book 1
- By: AC Cobble
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 10 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A ranger’s duty. The rotten heart of a king. Rebellion spilled from the blood of family. Rew, the king’s ranger, accepted a role on the far edge of the realm to avoid the morass of intrigue and betrayal that bleeds from the heart of the kingdom. His only desire is to shoulder the burden he’s taken, to protect the village of Eastwatch, and to monitor the wilderness beyond. When three youths are arrested for petty theft in the village and beg for his help, Rew’s oldest friend insists he take responsibility for them.
-
-
WoW
- By Anonymous User on 25-10-20
-
Furies of Calderon
- The Codex Alera, Book 1
- By: Jim Butcher
- Narrated by: Kate Reading
- Length: 19 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For 1000 years, the people of Alera have united against the aggressive races that inhabit the world, using their unique bond with the furies - elementals of earth, air, fire, water and metal. But now, Gaius Sextus, First Lord of Alera, grows old and lacks an heir. Ambitious Lords manoeuvre to place their Houses in positions of power, and a war of succession looms on the horizon. Far from city politics in the Calderon Valley, young Tavi struggles with his lack of fury crafting.
-
-
I strongly advise getting this book
- By Ian on 10-11-16
Summary
Mercenary. Murderer. Monster. He has been called many names in his time.
Built for war and nothing else, he has witnessed every shade of violence humans know, and he has wrought his own masterpieces with their colors. He cared once, perhaps, but far too long ago. He is bound to his task, dead to the chaos he wreaks for his masters.
Now, he has a new master to serve and a new war to endure. In the far reaches of the Realm, Hartlund tears itself in two over coin and crown. This time he will fight for a boy king and a general bent on victory.
Beneath it all, he longs for change. For something to surprise him. For an end to this cycle of warfare.
Every fighter faces his final fight. Even one made of stone.
The Heart of Stone - the brand new standalone from UK fantasy author Ben Galley - is now available in audiobook format, read by by Adam Stubbs. Find out more about The Heart of Stone at www.bengalley.com/heart-of-stone.
More from the same
What listeners say about The Heart of Stone
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Lachlan Kendall
- 23-03-18
Exceptionally Well Written and Narrated Standalone
I listened to The Heart of Stone as an audiobook. The narrator, Adam Stubbs, does an absolutely amazing job, and the voices fit the characters very well. I enjoyed every moment I spent listening to it.
The book follows our main character, Task, a wind-cut (stone) golem and one of the last of his kind. The magic that built him binds him to do his master’s bidding, whether he likes it or not. Task is a machine built for war. For 400 years he’s moved from one war to another, being made into the perfect war machine.
Setting
A civil war in Hartlund is fought by the Truehards and The Fading. For nine long years the armies have fought for the rights to Hartlund, and there is still no end in sight, until the Truehards conscript a golem to join them. Old magic joins the war, and Task wishes for a way to end all the suffering and violence.
Ben Galley does a fantastic job of building his world. He gives enough information that you know and understand what’s going on, but never so much that you’re overwhelmed by all the detail being thrown at you. In my opinion he’s hits the sweet spot and provides just the right amount of information for the story.
Characters
There is a very large supporting cast throughout the book, and several different POVs are shown. While Task is the main character and the motivating factor behind most of the events, we also get to see the views of General Huff (Task’s new master), the opposing general, a knight conscripted to kill Task, a stable girl, and a very complex spy/adviser.
Once again, Ben Galley hits the nail on the head with his character development. Task is very well developed over the course of the book, and he is given several flashbacks to show his growth from his earlier years. The other characters motivations and reasons are also fleshed out, and it gives a very interesting view into both sides of the war, as well as the difference between the upper and lower classes of soldiers.
All in all the characters in the book are fantastic and well developed. Whilst there are several unlikeable characters — not entirely unexpected in a war — I was still very happy to read and learn more about them.
Plot
Generally, the book is fast paced and action packed — not unexpected in a military fantasy — which makes you want to never put it down. I feel like this book would make an excellent binge read; however I find that somewhat difficult in audio format, so it ended up taking me a while. The book does not necessarily jump from battle to battle, but the war camps are still rife with action and character conflicts which rapidly draw you in.
One of the great things about the way the story unfolds is that you get to see both sides of the war, particularly in the aftermath of battles. Where one side wins, another struggles to overcome its losses. As a military fantasy book, I really love that it shows us both sides and how they each react to each other and try to implement countermeasures. I also really liked seeing the POVs of both the army generals and the lower class soldiers, and the disparity of thoughts between them.
Other Thoughts
This book was fantastic, and I would happily keep on raving about how good it is. It drew me in from chapter one, and didn’t let up at any point. Task is one of the more fascinating MCs that I’ve had the pleasure of reading recently, and I enjoyed every minute I spent following his adventures. Overall, The Heart of Stone is a fantastic book, and I highly recommend it.
Audience
This book is best for people who like:
* Military fantasy
* Character focus
* Multi POV
* Seeing both sides of a war
* Complex characters
* Flintlock fantasy
* Non human POVs
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 22-03-18
An original, innovative, and rockin good book
The Heart of Stone is an absolute delight of a book. You ought to read it, or stick it in your ears. Either way, it won’t disappoint you.
Last year I chose to read 50/50 between traditionally published and self-pub/indie books. THoS is yet another excellent example of all that is good in the self-pub/indie slice of the market.
I enjoyed the read so much that I recently burned an audible credit giving my earholes a treat too. Adam Stubbs is a fantastic narrator and really nails this one.
The story is a really compelling one - I mean, the principle POV character is a feckin golem! The first experience I had if a golem was an evil 8 ft tale sh!t demon from the movie Dogma. I’m glad Galley was able to polish that turd into a diamond and create Task!
Task is a superb character. Galley takes the non-human protagonist and gives you the feels big time. Task is layered up beautifully, and his relationships with Lesky and the Truehard soldiers, and the moments they share, are my favourite parts of the book.
The magic imbued into the wind cut golems is fascinating and I’d like to see more come of that, perhaps in future works.
Overall, the world and landscape of civil war feels kind of Half a King/The Heroes (J.Abercrombie) to me, which is a massive positive, but throw into that as original a protagonist as Task (awesomely voiced by Stubbs in the audio version), and you have a really textured, exciting and surprisingly touching book.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Elaine Brien
- 16-02-22
Brilliant fantasy
Without doubt Ben Galley's best book, vividly imaginative and satisfying as a standalone. Fantastic characters and twists highly recommended
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- CS
- 12-09-21
Well-crafted adventure worth reading
There’s a sense of world building that makes you want to hear future tales from this magical realm. The world makes sense, like you took our world from some point in history and sprinkled in a few magical elements that feel realistic.
I enjoyed the story and the characters. They feel real, too. Some plot points later in the story jump/feel incongruous, hence the docked star.
The narration is fantastic and never gets in the way of the story. Each voice brings its respective character to life.
Takeaway: it’s worth the credit.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Amazon Customer
- 20-04-20
Loved this story!
I really enjoyed tagging along with Task for this story. Definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a new fantasy to read.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Anonymous User
- 14-03-19
Pretty Good overall
Pretty decent. The narrator was forgettable, except for the main characters voice and the villains were fairly weak. Mostly evil for evils sake rather than any real relatable motivation. I enjoyed the main character, but some of the side characters were too forgettable. Battle scenes were well done for the most part.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Drew McVittie
- 19-04-18
Can a stone golem really change?
What did you like best about this story?
Despite the battle scenes, and there are several, there is a strong emotional core to this book. As a being whose sole purpose has been to be used as a weapon of war, Task has seen the worst humanity, or the ‘skin-bags’ as he calls them, has to offer. He has become disillusioned with the entire race but is forever bound to them by the magic that gives him life. As a thinking individual, he fully understands the consequences of his actions and the conflict between what he wants to believe and his lack of free will to resist orders drives a significant chunk of the book. It’s very well written and draws the reader into empathising with Task.
Which scene was your favorite?
There are several scenes showing that the author has invested enough time into the world-building that it could definitely be explored again, even though this is a stand-alone novel.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
Not a moment as such, but the relationship between Task and Lesky is very well done.
Any additional comments?
The narration is excellent, particularly the voice used for the golem.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- BookWol
- 21-03-18
A Satisfying Standalone
First off, I’d like to say that if you’re an audiobook fan then this is one you should own. The performance of Adam Stubbs is nothing short of incredible – his Golem voice quite literally made my jaw drop, and he just does a stellar job from top to bottom.
The Heart of Stone is a multi-PoV military fantasy with a beating heart. A civil war is raging between the Truehards and the Fading – the Truehards are loyal to the king and believe that the Fading attempted a coup after the death of the previous king. The king’s heir, however, was a small boy at the time of the previous king’s death, and the Fading feel that the boy king’s advisers don’t have the best interests of the realm at heart. Both positions are understandable, and one of the many nice touches of the novel is that there are characters who have a lot in common on both sides. There’s a definite feeling that these people could be friends if their situation hadn’t pitted them against one another.
Character development is a big strength of the novel, and that’s something that always makes me happy. Task’s thought processes are alien and fascinating, but he’s imbued with such an interesting sense of morality and humanity that he’s relatable even when he’s mulling over his resentment of humans (to the point that he calls us ‘skinbags’ as a mark of his disgust). All of the main circle of characters are well developed and their motivations are logical (although sometimes shrouded in mystery for the sake of the plot). Lesky in particular is a child character who manages to be precocious and wise without being irritating, which is an achievement in itself. Add to that a fallen knight – Alabast has a drinking problem, a womanizing problem, a debt problem and a yellow belly. Despite this he’s a charming rogue of a character and his growth throughout the novel really won me over.
The magic system of the Golems and the abilities of humans is pretty well explored and interesting, and I don’t want to get into it too deeply here since it’s integral to the plot. The setting is functional and the cultures are developed enough that it feels like an authentic world and not just a backdrop to the story. The dialogue between characters is one way in which the novel really shines, in fact probably my favorite scene in the whole novel is just a simple card game being played between a bunch of the characters. Their interactions and chemistry were so spot-on that they began to feel less like characters in a book and more like friends. I can’t ask for more than that.
The conclusion is excellent and wraps up tidily without loose threads – it’s a very satisfying, bittersweet ending that had me close to tears a couple of times. I know this is one I’ll be happy to revisit over the years. If you’re looking for a standalone novel that delivers, look no further.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Anonymous User
- 20-03-18
Addictive!
One of my favorite things to do after reading a book I loved, is finding it in audio. Ben Galley is a true keyboard wizard, and Adam Stubbs absolutely dazzled us with his silver tounge sorcery! The action never ceases to keep pulling you past the "just one more chapter" phase, and before you know it, it's 3 a.m. FYI you should definitely re-re-read, or listen to, this fictional masterpiece!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Bart Saint Bart
- 02-02-18
A writing style not to my tastes.
This book looked good and maybe it is. I mean a book about a golem, where is the bad part? Well for me it was about the pacing and the POVs.
I went into this book wanting an interesting look at a fantasy world through the eyes of a golem. While that is present there are a bunch of side characters and stories that I just wasn't interested in. I understand that the author was trying to make a big story and I might've enjoyed that except for the pacing.
The pacing in this book is very like that of THE RED KNIGHT, a book I also disliked. The POVs and action move quickly and almost with too much fluidity. Right when I would feel comfortable with a set of characters or part of a story I'd realize that I was already with a new set of characters and in a new part of the story without ever noticing. I got about a quarter of they way through when I realized that I had no idea what was going on or what character I was currently following. So I started from the beginning and didn't make it back to where I'd left off. I mean, I'm working on developing pre-pre-diabetes. I don't have time to re-re-read things that just aren't worth it.
So my verdict is that if you enjoyed the writing style of THE RED KNIGHT or easily followed any book in MALAZAN BOOK OF THE FALLEN then this book might be worth a spin. But if you're like me and you read for fun and not for work:
SKIP IT.
1 person found this helpful