A Mark of Kings cover art

A Mark of Kings

The Shattered Reigns, Book 1

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A Mark of Kings

By: Bryce O'Connor, Luke Chmilenko
Narrated by: Nick Podehl
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About this listen

Despite his youth, Declan Idrys knows of the evils of the world. He knows of the bastards and brigands who plague the King's lands, of the monsters skulking in the wooded depths of the realm. Together with his companion, Ryn - a beast of rather peculiar talent - he has spent the last decade of his life beneath the bloody banners of a half-dozen mercenary guilds, hunting precisely such festering wickedness within the borders of Viridian.

Unfortunately, fate is quick to pull on the leash of its favorite children. When one particularly troubling contract goes sideways, Declan and Ryn find themselves thrust into a war thought legend and long-ended, a conflict so old it is synonymous with a time in which dragons still ruled the western skies. Now, as dead men rise from their graves and the terrible beasts of the northern ranges descend into the kingdom with an appetite for savagery and flesh, Declan is faced with a profane choice. He can turn, can flee an ancient rising horror that would see the realms of man left as shattered death and wind-blown ash.

Or, Declan can face this mounting threat, can come to terms with the fact that his oldest friend might just be more than he appears, and learn to wield an ageless power all his own.

Centuries pass, after all, but the Blood of Kings does not fade....

©2019 Bryce O'Connor and Luke Chmilenko (P)2019 Podium Publishing
Action & Adventure Dark Fantasy Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Royalty Sword & Sorcery King
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What listeners say about A Mark of Kings

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

One of the best I've recently read

I think i might shortly find this author on my hard to get on top lists. One less star only because some of the times the background expose was interrupted became a touch stillted and there was a lot of it. That said I still thoroughly enjoyed the presentation and feel it was giving nods to our favorites without being too obv or stealing (like some 'sword' books we might love/hate). I think it was just me noticing the freshness of a new author shining through, but if so, a damn good one.
Heartbroken the sequel isn't out, and looking forward to being really wowed

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2 people found this helpful

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

Wish I started this instead of Wheel of Time!

Wasn't sure when I started, bought this pretty much entirely because of the narrator, but I was pleasantly surprised. I did come off the back of Wheel of Time which is the worst thing ever almost written but this was much more like it!

Good characters and a well set up story, the magic system is a little basic and not really gone into in great depth. Not as bad as The Wheel of Time though but maybe there will be more in the coming books.

World building was good too, again not the deepest but I'm pretty happy with it.

I really liked how it started, gave it a good foundation going forward and adding to it as characters were introduced.

Nick did a great job as usual, can't really fault anything with the narration, great variety of voices including the female ones and perfect pacing. I think I would buy anything he narrated... except WoT obviously.

I don't much like the 5 star system, I think this was worth a 7/10 but I can only give it 3 or 4 so I'm going for a 3 for story but it's more like 3.7.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Not bad but nothing compared to wheel of time

I enjoyed this book but there were a few moments where I was thinking nothing was really happening. It was gripping but I guess after WOT this doesn’t compare

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

Good setup

Good start, its setting up the scene and back story for the series, but I felt more should have happened instead it's lot of story telling of the past and travelling on the road, still I have faith it will get better in the next book.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Thrilling and descriptive

Between the realness of the struggles and the descriptiveness of past history and magic it really got my attention. Main character wasn’t over powered from the start and the steady rise in power is believable.
Would recommend to anyone a fan of magic or dragons.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A good story

Enjoyed the story but couldn’t stand the performance or the narrator sorry. The story and characters were well written and believable so I persevered.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

The main character is a bit slow minded.

He always get shocked by everything or confused. It's really annoying when I can understand whats happening but the MC can't.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

i cannot get into it at all

its just not clicking at all, i can not connect with the mc, hes a complete blank nothing there

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Show, Don't Tell

Ive never been so annoyed about the lack of agency in a book. The "hero" of the book is constantly getting shocked by every thing he encounters without taking any significant initiative.

Half of what I've read so far is either info dumps or incredibly descriptive travelling information.

The only thing I've enjoyed about this book so far is Nick Podhel's Narration.

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8 people found this helpful