Ascendant cover art

Ascendant

Ascendant, Book 1

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Ascendant

By: Craig Alanson
Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
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About this listen

The Wizard's Council of Tarador was supposed to tell young Koren Bladewell that he is a wizard. They were supposed to tell everyone that he is not a jinx, that all the bad things that happen around him are because he can't control the power inside him, power he doesn't know about. The people of his village, even his parents, are afraid of him, afraid he is cursed. That he is a dangerous, evil jinx. The Wizard's Council didn't tell young Koren, because they know what is best for him. Even after their silent deception destroys his life.

Crown Princess Ariana Trehayme will become queen of Tarador on her 16th birthday, if her weak, indecisive mother the Regent hasn't allowed their ancient enemy to conquer Tarador before then. Ariana wants her royal army to strike at the enemy, but her mother knows what is best for her, and the realm.Together, Ariana and Koren can save Tarador, if the adults, who know best, will get out of their way.

©2017 Craig Alanson (P)2017 Podium Audio Epic Fantasy Fiction Royalty Science Fiction Science Fiction & Fantasy Young Adult Fantasy Magic Users Wizardry

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All stars
Most relevant  
loved it good story, and very well read, I look forward to reading the next book

Great story

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First book takes a while to warm up , but stick with it I think it's going to be a good series, just downloaded the next book , need to see what happens next.Thats the sign of a good story.

A bit of slow burner.

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A clearly talented author introducing me to a new genre but getting me hooked within the first chapter. Keep it up

Wasn’t sure at first. But then couldn’t drag myself away

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ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC AND SO INTERESTING THIS BOOK KEEP YOUR MIND BUSY WITH ALL OF THE THING'S WILL GET YOURSELF THINKING THAT ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE TAKING THEIR WILL NEVER GET THIS YOUNG MAN WHO HAS BEEN CALLED A JINKS AND HE BELIEVES THAT IT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE AND NO MATTER WHAT HE DOES HE IS NEVER GETTING ANY GRATITUDE AND HE HAS ALREADY SAVED THE LIFE OF A YOUNG PRINCESS WHO IS ABSOLUTELY SMITTEN WITH HER SAVIOUR BUT THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT GIVEN ANY THING TO MENTION OF THE THING'S THAT HE HAD DONE BECAUSE HE IS A WIZARD BUT HE DOES NOT KNOW AND HE IS AND THEY HAVE GIVEN HIM THE JOB OF BEING THE WIZARD SRVENT SO THAT THE WIZARD COULD NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS AS HE IS NOT A JINKS BUT HE IS A WIZARD THAT HASE NOT BEEN TRAINED AND THAT HE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE THE MOST POWERFULLY WIZARD OF ALL BUT MISTAKES THAT HAVE HIM CHARGED WITH ATEMTED MURDER OF THE PRINCES AND HE HURD PALACE GARDS SAYING THAT HE HAD TO BE FOUND AND TAKEN TO THE DUNGEONS AND FOUND BUT HE MAKES IT OUT AND TRAVELS TO A PORT AND GETS ABOARD A SHIP AND GETS AWAY FROM THE PLACE THAT HE HIDING FROM HIS PROBLEMS BUT CAN HE DO THIS I WILL LEAVE THIS TO YOU AND I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU HAVE TO GET INVOLVED WITH THIS SET OF THESE BOOKS 📚TO YOU JOHN REILLY

ASCENDANT BOOK 1 OF A SERIES OF THREE BOOKS 📚

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love the story telling power of Craig Alanson. this is the second series he has me addicted to. Connor recommend enough.

Wizards. what's not to love?

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After expeditionary force I was hooked on the author.
Great start, brilliantly narrated as always.

Reliably awesome.

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This is book #1 in a story spanning three books.The overall story is enjoyable if more than a little clichéd (orphaned boy discovers he's a wizard and is guided by an older wizard towards an inevitable showdown with a powerful enemy). Still, there's enough going on around the edges to keep it interesting (not least some political skullduggery), and there's some good World-building that adds a layer of depth to the story without burdening it with an overloaded canon. The Magic system is simplisitic not quite as developed as in Brandon Sanderson's or Patrick Rothfuss' works, but seems internally consistent, and serves the story. A World Map would have been really useful. Especially later in the story, there's a lot of references to places and geography relative to other places that are actually critical to the story. It's hard to visualise without a map.

Some characters are well fleshed out, but others seem fairly clichéd and underdeveloped. Not least, the antagonist, who is only fleetingly mentioned in the first book as "the ancient Enemy". Even later in the series, the backstory, motivations and characteristics of the enemy are not really explored in any depth. They're just "the baddies".

Pacing is a common problem throughout all three books. Things happen at an inconsistent pace, and there are large stretches of the story which plod along too slowly. I read that the author doesn't want to use an independent editor; I can understand why, but it shows. An editor could help with pacing, and could also help prevent the frequent repetitions that creep into the narrative.

The narration by Tim Gerard Reynolds is excellent; he's clear, engaging, and his accents are well done. With a lesser narrator, this could have been a 2-3 star review.

Pacing problems aside, an enjoyable series

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I really, really enjoyed Expeditionary Force and I love the narration of Tim Gerard Reynolds. On that basis, I decided to download this audiobook. I haven't been disappointed in the slightest.
Craig Alanson is a fantastic storyteller and is particularly good at carving out realistic characters and making them relatable. He builds tension and personal development of the main protagonists with skill. Tim Gérard Reynolds is a master of his craft also, and is without doubt my favourite male voice performer there is. His inflection and timing is perfection!
I have downloaded the next in the series straight away and I've no doubt I will complete the series in short order. Another hit for Podium! Well done team 👏

Another Classic from CA

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I was engrossed within a few minutes. Love all of the characters, clearly thought out and the storyline is so good! I always (like most I guess) try to figure out how things will go and always delighted to be surprised.

More please!

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I downloaded this book after really enjoying Expeditionary Force, with the brilliant skippy and RC Bray.

This book has no skippy but is really well read with a really enjoyable story.

Great Story

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