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The Wandering Inn #16
King of Duels
The world is full of adventures, big and small. From exploring the [Garden of Sanctuary] to the depths of the sea, there are countless fascinating discoveries to be made.
Not just in the places people go, but the things they create...or recreate from Earth. Chocolate, lifting weights, and alcohol all flow through The Wandering Inn with unexpected consequences at times.
However, there's also war, [Assassins], and scams that ruin or destroy lives. For every monster, there is an adventurer. The Stitch Witch may creep forwards and the King of Destruction continue his rampage across nations, but there will always be a champion who steps forwards.
Not just in the places people go, but the things they create...or recreate from Earth. Chocolate, lifting weights, and alcohol all flow through The Wandering Inn with unexpected consequences at times.
However, there's also war, [Assassins], and scams that ruin or destroy lives. For every monster, there is an adventurer. The Stitch Witch may creep forwards and the King of Destruction continue his rampage across nations, but there will always be a champion who steps forwards.
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First published July 29, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 74 reviews
July 30, 2025
Im having trouble just listening to the new narrator, so it has impacted my view of the book. I can't rate it high if I can't make it past the first chapter. It's sleepy. I should've bought the book and read it myself.
August 9, 2025
Great series. I listened to this on Audible.
The new Narator did a wonderful job at giving us a similar experience to what we are used to with the difference voices and emotions realy coming across.
do i miss the old Narator yes .
was i happy with the new Narator also yes .
The new Narator did a wonderful job at giving us a similar experience to what we are used to with the difference voices and emotions realy coming across.
do i miss the old Narator yes .
was i happy with the new Narator also yes .
August 16, 2025
So it looks like book 16 of this series is where I’m getting off this ride since the driver seems to have lost the plot…literally.
Biggest disappointment is not the change of narrator but the writing itself which up until this book held my interest because of how wonderfully imaginative and creative the world and characters were.
But something has changed in the writing in this book and painted a visual of an angry immature writer who could really do with a few writing classes and dare I say, a slice of humble pie which I think is probably challenging considering the self righteous generation and culture the writer languishes in.
I feel like 2 stars are generous.
Biggest disappointment is not the change of narrator but the writing itself which up until this book held my interest because of how wonderfully imaginative and creative the world and characters were.
But something has changed in the writing in this book and painted a visual of an angry immature writer who could really do with a few writing classes and dare I say, a slice of humble pie which I think is probably challenging considering the self righteous generation and culture the writer languishes in.
I feel like 2 stars are generous.
August 8, 2025
I listened to the audiobook version of this installment. There was a new narrator this time, which threw me off at first. I was a little disappointed with how characters like Erin Solstice were portrayed. After looking into the reason for the change, I understood and sympathized. Still, the new voice didn’t carry the same tone or energy, and some of the character dynamics felt off, especially early in the book. The overall feel was different, and it took time to adjust.
That said, the narration isn’t the reason for my two star rating.
What really brought this book down for me was the shift in content. The story leaned heavily into mature themes, sexual in nature and far more than it needed, it was briefly hit on in a few prior book, but it was fleeting. These scenes went on for too long, involved too many characters, and were unnecessary. What started as a series I’d recommend to younger readers no longer feels appropriate for that age group.
I still enjoyed many parts of the story and some of the character development. But overall, this was by far the weakest entry in the Terandria series.
That said, the narration isn’t the reason for my two star rating.
What really brought this book down for me was the shift in content. The story leaned heavily into mature themes, sexual in nature and far more than it needed, it was briefly hit on in a few prior book, but it was fleeting. These scenes went on for too long, involved too many characters, and were unnecessary. What started as a series I’d recommend to younger readers no longer feels appropriate for that age group.
I still enjoyed many parts of the story and some of the character development. But overall, this was by far the weakest entry in the Terandria series.
August 20, 2025
A book of change for the inn and it has been a long time coming in my opinion. it was getting very samey and I'm happy to welcome in this new direction and see where it goes!
August 6, 2025
So much exciting stuff is happening in this book! I just wish I knew when the next one would release already! The chapter for the books namesake was so exciting! But I think every chapter was excellent. I loved the more casual classic vibes we get at the inn during the interludes. And I’m really starting to love Saliss! Everything in the world really feels like it’s building up to something HUGE! Oh! And that spicy 🌶️ chapter was so much fun! Took me on a roller coaster! Ryoka continues to be one of the most relatable characters I’ve read. I’m so happy to see things moving forward with Lyonette as well as Pawn. And I’m very much hoping to see more Magnolia soon. I’m also glad we are finally getting back to some goblin chapters. I’m just so here for volume 7 as a whole!
Okay so the new narration… I’ll be frank. Andrea Parsneau is just better. She’s probably the best I’ve ever heard. And it’s kinda rough to get used to Erin Bennett. Especially for Erin Solstice’s voice and just the normal narration. But Pirate’s writing shines through regardless and I’m happy to continue with Bennett’s voice. I’d say she’s pretty good.
Okay so the new narration… I’ll be frank. Andrea Parsneau is just better. She’s probably the best I’ve ever heard. And it’s kinda rough to get used to Erin Bennett. Especially for Erin Solstice’s voice and just the normal narration. But Pirate’s writing shines through regardless and I’m happy to continue with Bennett’s voice. I’d say she’s pretty good.
August 9, 2025
4.5/5
very good.
one of the craziest out of pocket Chapters ever in Mating Rituals 2.
new narrator is a set down but still very good.
now to guestion of if I should read the rest.
very good.
one of the craziest out of pocket Chapters ever in Mating Rituals 2.
new narrator is a set down but still very good.
now to guestion of if I should read the rest.
August 3, 2025
Why not a four? Because of the antinium and their blasted sex manual. Because Erin is in stresses that are not of her making ? Because Ryoka finally realizes she may be the same as other?
No, it definitely was the Stich witch, the book, and Mrsha, Bird with Numbtongue.
For mindless recreation this series dips into some deep territory. It tiptoes the line of sublime and silly.
I tried to slow down reading. I even read a library book (with) to slow me. I tried.
I will reread. I would move in with Erin tomorrow if the inn allowed.
No, it definitely was the Stich witch, the book, and Mrsha, Bird with Numbtongue.
For mindless recreation this series dips into some deep territory. It tiptoes the line of sublime and silly.
I tried to slow down reading. I even read a library book (with) to slow me. I tried.
I will reread. I would move in with Erin tomorrow if the inn allowed.
August 22, 2025
3.5 stars (rounded up) I enjoyed the new narrator. The experience of the Wandering Inn felt nearly the same. It's just that the different storylines took unexpected turns. A couple of the chapters felt a bit odd to me. But, I will adjust I suppose. I still will move we forward with the series! Loved the parts about the King of Destruction!
August 14, 2025
Definitely one of the worst entries in the series IMO. Everything to do with Rabbit Eater, Numb Tongue, Rags, and the other goblins was amazing and Relk punching Kilb for being a bad dad to the individual Antinnium was deserved, epic, and great character development for both of them. But I found everything at the beginning about Chocolate to annoying. It was funny the first couple minutes but it really dragged on, it could’ve been in and out like everything else she makes. Also, I’m tired of seeing the Stitch Witch so much. Her scenes weren’t bad, just kinda tired of seeing her every other book. Let’s bring in some new baddies or take some of the guys lurking in the background and let them shine, but no, let’s have The Spider running around more being a dick and complaining about her daughter. The new narrator is not that bad; some of her voices are spot on while others could definitely use practice or another voice actor. I’m really hopeful for the next volume, for it to ramp up the plot a bit and give peeks at more of my favorite side characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2025
I gave the new narrator a chance, but I just can’t get into it.
August 19, 2025
Innworld Just Discovered Reality TV (and It’s Brutal)
Scrying mirrors have become more than tools—they’ve turned Innworld into a stage. Battles, duels, and moments of triumph or shame are no longer private; they’re broadcast, magnified, and immortalized. A single act of courage or dishonour ripples across kingdoms, shaping reputations and rewriting history in real time. It’s spectacle, it’s propaganda, and it’s as world-changing as any spell or blade.
The offworlders’ presence in Innworld is no longer a quiet ripple—it’s a butterfly effect. The choices they make, the knowledge they share, even the small ways they view the world differently are starting to shift kingdoms and shape destinies. Good or bad, the impact is undeniable, and people are beginning to realize that these outsiders are catalysts for change on a scale that can’t be ignored.
That said, not everything landed for me. An entire chapter devoted to sex felt jarring in the middle of such sweeping conflict. It didn’t add much to the story, and honestly, I found myself wishing the time was spent elsewhere. Erin Solstice continues to be one of my biggest sticking points too. The problem isn’t that she’s naïve, it’s her willful ignorance. She keeps her head in the clouds, determined to act like the world isn’t as brutal as it really is. She’ll scold Palt for smoking while happily serving faerie flower drinks that make people hallucinate. She balks at the idea of sex, yet people are fighting, bleeding, and dying around her every day and she accepts it without question. That kind of selective, contradictory ignorance makes her hard to tolerate.
On the other hand, Pirateaba shines in the blurred lines of morality. Belavierr—the Stitch Witch—holy hell. Az’kerash, demons, goblins, the Antinium… all are framed by perspective, and their “evil” depends so much on the stories told about them. Maybe some are evil but layered with a backstory that forces empathy. That said—I take it back. Belavierr is evil, even if she doesn’t know it.
The titular duel between King Raelt and the King of Destruction carried weight, but left me conflicted. Raelt entered an honourable fight he couldn’t win, until one of his men broke that honour by stepping in. What should have been Raelt’s death instead became a rallying point, and through the eyes of the scrying mirrors, the world saw not a broken duel but the image of Raelt pushing Flos to retreat. That perception, magnified and spread, mattered more than the truth of the fight itself—another example of how a single moment can ripple outward, reshaping the way nations view both kings.
Finally, I have to mention the narration. Erin Bennett had an impossible task stepping into Andrea Parsneau’s shoes after fifteen books, and while I think she’ll grow into the role, she isn’t quite there yet. Some voices worked, but others fell flat—Flos especially lacked the larger-than-life gravitas he needs, sounding more like a villain than a legend. Still, for her first outing, it wasn’t bad, and I’m hopeful she’ll find her rhythm with time.
Scrying mirrors have become more than tools—they’ve turned Innworld into a stage. Battles, duels, and moments of triumph or shame are no longer private; they’re broadcast, magnified, and immortalized. A single act of courage or dishonour ripples across kingdoms, shaping reputations and rewriting history in real time. It’s spectacle, it’s propaganda, and it’s as world-changing as any spell or blade.
The offworlders’ presence in Innworld is no longer a quiet ripple—it’s a butterfly effect. The choices they make, the knowledge they share, even the small ways they view the world differently are starting to shift kingdoms and shape destinies. Good or bad, the impact is undeniable, and people are beginning to realize that these outsiders are catalysts for change on a scale that can’t be ignored.
That said, not everything landed for me. An entire chapter devoted to sex felt jarring in the middle of such sweeping conflict. It didn’t add much to the story, and honestly, I found myself wishing the time was spent elsewhere. Erin Solstice continues to be one of my biggest sticking points too. The problem isn’t that she’s naïve, it’s her willful ignorance. She keeps her head in the clouds, determined to act like the world isn’t as brutal as it really is. She’ll scold Palt for smoking while happily serving faerie flower drinks that make people hallucinate. She balks at the idea of sex, yet people are fighting, bleeding, and dying around her every day and she accepts it without question. That kind of selective, contradictory ignorance makes her hard to tolerate.
On the other hand, Pirateaba shines in the blurred lines of morality. Belavierr—the Stitch Witch—holy hell. Az’kerash, demons, goblins, the Antinium… all are framed by perspective, and their “evil” depends so much on the stories told about them. Maybe some are evil but layered with a backstory that forces empathy. That said—I take it back. Belavierr is evil, even if she doesn’t know it.
The titular duel between King Raelt and the King of Destruction carried weight, but left me conflicted. Raelt entered an honourable fight he couldn’t win, until one of his men broke that honour by stepping in. What should have been Raelt’s death instead became a rallying point, and through the eyes of the scrying mirrors, the world saw not a broken duel but the image of Raelt pushing Flos to retreat. That perception, magnified and spread, mattered more than the truth of the fight itself—another example of how a single moment can ripple outward, reshaping the way nations view both kings.
Finally, I have to mention the narration. Erin Bennett had an impossible task stepping into Andrea Parsneau’s shoes after fifteen books, and while I think she’ll grow into the role, she isn’t quite there yet. Some voices worked, but others fell flat—Flos especially lacked the larger-than-life gravitas he needs, sounding more like a villain than a legend. Still, for her first outing, it wasn’t bad, and I’m hopeful she’ll find her rhythm with time.
August 14, 2025
First of all about the new narrator, I honestly mostly like her, most characters sound similar enough to Andrea Parsneau's characters without making it feel like she's doing impressions. Drakes sound like drakes and so on (although antinium do sound a bit weirder with her).
My main issue is that Erin Bennet won't scream or shout when the story calls for it, she whisper screams which mostly diminishes the actions in the story that required shouting.
Honestly I didn't need a whole chapter (2+ hours in audiobook) about Innverse sex. Particularly disturbing was going into details about Alot of the book felt more like lgbt pandering than actual Innverse story, and while I don't mind inclusion in general, this felt extremely forced. I mean, Maybe Pirateaba wrote this part after getting more readers from the community that spoke out about lack of inclusion? I honestly don't know, but so much of this book felt forced and completely unnecessary and mixed with the narrator switch I can see why there was so much backlash. To be fair, I think that in general Pirateaba writes any non-platonic relationship very weirdly but they don't come up that often in the series.
My main issue is that Erin Bennet won't scream or shout when the story calls for it, she whisper screams which mostly diminishes the actions in the story that required shouting.
Honestly I didn't need a whole chapter (2+ hours in audiobook) about Innverse sex. Particularly disturbing was going into details about Alot of the book felt more like lgbt pandering than actual Innverse story, and while I don't mind inclusion in general, this felt extremely forced. I mean, Maybe Pirateaba wrote this part after getting more readers from the community that spoke out about lack of inclusion? I honestly don't know, but so much of this book felt forced and completely unnecessary and mixed with the narrator switch I can see why there was so much backlash. To be fair, I think that in general Pirateaba writes any non-platonic relationship very weirdly but they don't come up that often in the series.
November 22, 2025
4.5*
Aquest setzè volum de The Wandering Inn és una explosió d'epopeia fantàstica que expandeix un món ja d'abast colossal. En aquest lliurament, els duels transcendeixen la simple lluita: esdevenen rituals d'honor, actes de desesperació i batudes emocionals que redefineixen les regles del conflicte.
Pirateaba torna a demostrar el seu do per barrejar acció, humor i introspecció amb un domini admirable. Tot i que es pot trobar a faltar la narradora habitual, la nova veu ho fa extraordinàriament bé per ser la seva primera incursió en la saga. Els personatges que hem acompanyat durant milers de pàgines s'enfronten a decisions que en redefineixen el seu ésser, mentre noves aliances i velles venjances porten la trama a un punt d'ebullició absorbent.
L'obra celebra el creixement, el sacrifici i l'heroisme imperfecte que defineix la saga. Un volum intens, ple de moments emocionants i plens de significat, que demostra que The Wandering Inn segueix creixent sense perdre la capacitat de sorprendre i commoure. Una lectura essencial per als que estimem aquest univers i un testimoni del poder narratiu de Pirateaba.
Aquest setzè volum de The Wandering Inn és una explosió d'epopeia fantàstica que expandeix un món ja d'abast colossal. En aquest lliurament, els duels transcendeixen la simple lluita: esdevenen rituals d'honor, actes de desesperació i batudes emocionals que redefineixen les regles del conflicte.
Pirateaba torna a demostrar el seu do per barrejar acció, humor i introspecció amb un domini admirable. Tot i que es pot trobar a faltar la narradora habitual, la nova veu ho fa extraordinàriament bé per ser la seva primera incursió en la saga. Els personatges que hem acompanyat durant milers de pàgines s'enfronten a decisions que en redefineixen el seu ésser, mentre noves aliances i velles venjances porten la trama a un punt d'ebullició absorbent.
L'obra celebra el creixement, el sacrifici i l'heroisme imperfecte que defineix la saga. Un volum intens, ple de moments emocionants i plens de significat, que demostra que The Wandering Inn segueix creixent sense perdre la capacitat de sorprendre i commoure. Una lectura essencial per als que estimem aquest univers i un testimoni del poder narratiu de Pirateaba.
September 17, 2025
When I started listening to this story and found out we were getting a new narrator, I was skeptical. I was resistant to the new voice actor.
Now, on the other side; having completed the Audible version with the new-to-us narrator, I have to say - I WAS WRONG!
This voice actor did an incredible job! She maintained consistency across the characters. I got lost in the story. It was well written, though I’m starting to have trouble with all of the jumping around to different storylines.
I’m glad she was able to carry through with the voices and accents.
If you are hesitant about this book because of the change in narrator, please don’t be. Change is hard, but it isn’t in this instance.
I loved the twists and turns, even though the witch sections felt kinda rushed.
Now, on the other side; having completed the Audible version with the new-to-us narrator, I have to say - I WAS WRONG!
This voice actor did an incredible job! She maintained consistency across the characters. I got lost in the story. It was well written, though I’m starting to have trouble with all of the jumping around to different storylines.
I’m glad she was able to carry through with the voices and accents.
If you are hesitant about this book because of the change in narrator, please don’t be. Change is hard, but it isn’t in this instance.
I loved the twists and turns, even though the witch sections felt kinda rushed.
December 24, 2025
Took me a little bit to get through this one! Overall, the main plot point regarding the Duel of Kings was some of Piratabas best writing to date. Filled with action, suspense, and vivid imagery, I will remember that chapter for years to come. Aside from that, this book seemed to have a lot of filler chapters where the plot did not progress in the slightest. 3.5 out of 5 for me, better than Witch of Webs, but overall a slightly weaker book in the saga. Will obviously continue the Wandering Inn 🏨 adventure, more to come 👹
Read
September 19, 2025I will eventually reread this with the audiobook, but when I read this in May, it was fantastic.
December 12, 2025
This will be an unusual review for several reasons. If you aren't in the loop on these books, I highly recommend you queue up the first novel in this marvelous adventure. For those who have gone through on audible the first part is for you. Also, if you are one who clutches their pearls when authors make social commentary or go to bed with the nightlight on lest you catch a case of woke, you are probably not even someone who follows my reviews or are on my friends list; but if you are, this isn't the book for you because it deals with tough issues and does it well (i.e., this book recognizes differences of opinions but also accepts that you kind of have to be a douche to feel it is your right to tell others how to live their own lives).
Narration. It can ruin a good book and it can make a great one even better. The latter is what happened for me when I started this series. Andrea Parsneau, for 15 novels, has brought this book to life, literally (not literally, but as close as it can come to being literally alive). It was with great dismay that I saw that Andrea would no longer be narrating this series. I appreciated the foreward she provided in this installment, where she explained that the series had become too big for her and she didn't feel she could continue to perform in a way the series required. While I disagree with her vigorously, my disagreement means precisely nothing because it is certainly her decision. And because I loved Andrea's rendition so much, the new narrator, Erin Bennett, was placed in the impossible position of replacing someone who was irreplaceable in this series.
When I started the book, I hated it. (See above: there was nothing Erin could do.) By book's end, I no longer hated Erin's performance. For the third time, Andrea is irreplaceable, but I tip my hat to Erin and thank her for her dedication to capturing the spirit of what Andrea has done. I honestly did not think I could provide an objective review for Erin but it turns out I can! Because she has done a tremendous job. And you could hear in her delivery as she became more comfortable and mastered the characters. To be clear, it did not start well. Her take on several drakes at the start left much to be desired. Over time it got better and better - and this is not just me getting used to her but you could literally hear her improving and distinguishing the various characters. And the kicker? Erin has worked with Andrea to keep the voices and nuances we love about characters as close as possible. There were a few that she did not get right and by book's end, still left me wishing it was Andrea (Relc is a good example - she just couldn't capture the gravely/whiny tone of his voice). All-in-all, if you had the same concerns as me, don't worry too much. We are in excellent hands with Erin narrating. I won't say she has surpassed Andrea (and probably never will for sheer sake of originality when I started this series), but I also no longer think this book will be ruined by a change of narrators (see: Malazan Book of the Fallen - I hated the narrator change). (Also, see final Edit at the bottom. It is important about the difference in narration, and something I failed to put in the main body - which I probably should have done.)
With a huge amount of space dedicated to the narrator, let me shift gears and speak to the story, which is excellent. I have frequently mentioned how Pirateaba's titles can be misdirection or obfuscation. This is one of those middle-ground ones where you understand the basis behind the title but it also didn't get as much page time as one would think (e.g., Windrunner). We are once again thrust into a situation where we see two sides come to conflict but we have reasons to root for both sides and don't want them to come to blows. It was well done and I'm curious how things will play out in the future.
The first third was dedicated to the above story line and then out of nowhere, Pirateaba does what she does best: flip the script and give us strong storylines about topical themes. In a fairly 'thumb in cheek' "warning" at the beginning of one chapter, Pirateaba cautions us that sexual themes would predominate in that section. It was both hilarious on the one hand, and an excellent weaved-in story that completely fits into this world while simultaneously pointing a mirror at our own. And while it ostensibly applied only to that chapter, it did not end there, with an intriguing revelation about how one important characters is 'different' and does not fit into the world in which they live.
There are a few slow moments, moments where we follow characters familiar to us but did not grip my attention, but those were only fleeting. This is another excellent installment in the world created by Pirateaba. I believe I have mentioned this in prior reviews (FN: I am still writing comprehensive reviews of a series where I am on book 16 which should tell you how much I enjoy these novels) but what makes this series so good is how well crafted the characters are. They are diverse: multinational, multi-species, bigoted and tolerant, witty and silly, and everything in-between. I will confess that I am uncertain how much the narration plays a role in this. My wife mentioned to me after completing most of the first book that she found herself tearing up simply because how well the emotions were expressed by the narrator. That is what this story does. It is one of those rare few that can transport you into the world where you are immersed in the emotions that our characters feel. I won't say that every single thing about these books are perfected; but given how many words I have read through 16 books, I struggle to find a series this consistently good, or even reaching the highs that this book has reached. If they exist, they can be counted on one hand.
Only one more book before I am all caught up and become depressed that there is nothing more to read in this amazing series.
Edit: I frequently will look at other reviewers' take after writing my own review because I like to get different perspectives. Two comments in particular caught my eye. The first is that the commentator didn't like the sex chapter and how the antinum, who are only two or three years old, were engaged in sexual discussions/activity. I will say that this reviewer probably just didn't like the social commentary more than anything else because I doubt that they have said anything about those same two year olds being forced into situations where they are required to fight to the death. But I will concede the general point. I just don't think you can compare them to a human two or three year old which is what this commentator is doing and conflating the issues. (That said, point taken. I don't agree, or perhaps better stated, I appreciate the point because it made me consider those parts in a new light, but I don't think it holds water - but again I acknowledge the point and am glad to have seen it so I could consider it since I had not previously done so.)
The second is something I do agree with fully. Something I did not say about the narration here is that while Erin has done a good job capturing the spirit of Andrea's characters, it is a bit of a hollow shell. They sound familiar, but they do not have the same emotion. I mentioned Relc, but another is Seaborn. Andrea's voice sounded like she was speaking through a filter to capture his sea-like nature. That was not done here. More importantly, you could hear the emotion when someone was yelling or crying. That emotion is missing from Erin's performance even if the voice is the same. This is probably the best and most important distinction in the two's performances, and why Andrea is still irreplaceable in my mind, notwithstanding Erin improving over the course of the book and doing the series justice.
Narration. It can ruin a good book and it can make a great one even better. The latter is what happened for me when I started this series. Andrea Parsneau, for 15 novels, has brought this book to life, literally (not literally, but as close as it can come to being literally alive). It was with great dismay that I saw that Andrea would no longer be narrating this series. I appreciated the foreward she provided in this installment, where she explained that the series had become too big for her and she didn't feel she could continue to perform in a way the series required. While I disagree with her vigorously, my disagreement means precisely nothing because it is certainly her decision. And because I loved Andrea's rendition so much, the new narrator, Erin Bennett, was placed in the impossible position of replacing someone who was irreplaceable in this series.
When I started the book, I hated it. (See above: there was nothing Erin could do.) By book's end, I no longer hated Erin's performance. For the third time, Andrea is irreplaceable, but I tip my hat to Erin and thank her for her dedication to capturing the spirit of what Andrea has done. I honestly did not think I could provide an objective review for Erin but it turns out I can! Because she has done a tremendous job. And you could hear in her delivery as she became more comfortable and mastered the characters. To be clear, it did not start well. Her take on several drakes at the start left much to be desired. Over time it got better and better - and this is not just me getting used to her but you could literally hear her improving and distinguishing the various characters. And the kicker? Erin has worked with Andrea to keep the voices and nuances we love about characters as close as possible. There were a few that she did not get right and by book's end, still left me wishing it was Andrea (Relc is a good example - she just couldn't capture the gravely/whiny tone of his voice). All-in-all, if you had the same concerns as me, don't worry too much. We are in excellent hands with Erin narrating. I won't say she has surpassed Andrea (and probably never will for sheer sake of originality when I started this series), but I also no longer think this book will be ruined by a change of narrators (see: Malazan Book of the Fallen - I hated the narrator change). (Also, see final Edit at the bottom. It is important about the difference in narration, and something I failed to put in the main body - which I probably should have done.)
With a huge amount of space dedicated to the narrator, let me shift gears and speak to the story, which is excellent. I have frequently mentioned how Pirateaba's titles can be misdirection or obfuscation. This is one of those middle-ground ones where you understand the basis behind the title but it also didn't get as much page time as one would think (e.g., Windrunner). We are once again thrust into a situation where we see two sides come to conflict but we have reasons to root for both sides and don't want them to come to blows. It was well done and I'm curious how things will play out in the future.
The first third was dedicated to the above story line and then out of nowhere, Pirateaba does what she does best: flip the script and give us strong storylines about topical themes. In a fairly 'thumb in cheek' "warning" at the beginning of one chapter, Pirateaba cautions us that sexual themes would predominate in that section. It was both hilarious on the one hand, and an excellent weaved-in story that completely fits into this world while simultaneously pointing a mirror at our own. And while it ostensibly applied only to that chapter, it did not end there, with an intriguing revelation about how one important characters is 'different' and does not fit into the world in which they live.
There are a few slow moments, moments where we follow characters familiar to us but did not grip my attention, but those were only fleeting. This is another excellent installment in the world created by Pirateaba. I believe I have mentioned this in prior reviews (FN: I am still writing comprehensive reviews of a series where I am on book 16 which should tell you how much I enjoy these novels) but what makes this series so good is how well crafted the characters are. They are diverse: multinational, multi-species, bigoted and tolerant, witty and silly, and everything in-between. I will confess that I am uncertain how much the narration plays a role in this. My wife mentioned to me after completing most of the first book that she found herself tearing up simply because how well the emotions were expressed by the narrator. That is what this story does. It is one of those rare few that can transport you into the world where you are immersed in the emotions that our characters feel. I won't say that every single thing about these books are perfected; but given how many words I have read through 16 books, I struggle to find a series this consistently good, or even reaching the highs that this book has reached. If they exist, they can be counted on one hand.
Only one more book before I am all caught up and become depressed that there is nothing more to read in this amazing series.
Edit: I frequently will look at other reviewers' take after writing my own review because I like to get different perspectives. Two comments in particular caught my eye. The first is that the commentator didn't like the sex chapter and how the antinum, who are only two or three years old, were engaged in sexual discussions/activity. I will say that this reviewer probably just didn't like the social commentary more than anything else because I doubt that they have said anything about those same two year olds being forced into situations where they are required to fight to the death. But I will concede the general point. I just don't think you can compare them to a human two or three year old which is what this commentator is doing and conflating the issues. (That said, point taken. I don't agree, or perhaps better stated, I appreciate the point because it made me consider those parts in a new light, but I don't think it holds water - but again I acknowledge the point and am glad to have seen it so I could consider it since I had not previously done so.)
The second is something I do agree with fully. Something I did not say about the narration here is that while Erin has done a good job capturing the spirit of Andrea's characters, it is a bit of a hollow shell. They sound familiar, but they do not have the same emotion. I mentioned Relc, but another is Seaborn. Andrea's voice sounded like she was speaking through a filter to capture his sea-like nature. That was not done here. More importantly, you could hear the emotion when someone was yelling or crying. That emotion is missing from Erin's performance even if the voice is the same. This is probably the best and most important distinction in the two's performances, and why Andrea is still irreplaceable in my mind, notwithstanding Erin improving over the course of the book and doing the series justice.
August 31, 2025
Due to how far I've read in the series I knew this would be one of the weaker titles as it has a lot of character chapters I really didn't care about, I also knew they would be changing narrator which is never really good but choosing to do it in this volume just didn't help. Honestly if they break up the future volumes the way I think they will it would have been better to keep the narrator for this volume and the next one because there is a point in the story where it would have been more acceptable to actually change the main characters voice. That said the story was alright and more of the same if you've gotten this far you know what to expect. The narrator tried but every time she did Erin and a few other characters it just felt like she was voice acting a young children's show and I'm pretty sure she switched up what voice she was using for her twice during the book but there are a lot of characters so its hard to juggle. Is she Andrea? No, Did she try? Yes. I'm not sure how I feel about the change aside from disappointed it's hard not to be bias. In the end I will continue to buy the audiobooks to support the writer but I can see the sales dropping after this.
August 12, 2025
I love, love, love this series. It FEELS endless, emotional, funny, serious, heartbreaking, and generally a fantastic romp that I wish could continue forever and ever.
I might be a fan.
I may have stayed up all night to read it, too.
Here's the cool bit: While there are great scenes that had me sitting on the edge of my seat--um, like six of them--making me actually quiver in fear for the characters, it's actually the times where it's everyday life, with funny shit going on, that I cherish the most. There's simply a little bit of everything that I love in fiction in these books. Vast armies, quirky characters, love, care, and even a bit of sex, dealing with massive temptations, great evils, pride, public relations, and of course, LitRPG goodies of leveling and classes, but even more importantly: a timelessness of storytelling, of damn finely-drawn characters both familiar and subverted expertly, and the reality, at least to me, of my LIVING there.
I breathe and live here. It's just that good. And I will be happy to have 40 more of these books, please.
Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews is be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
Arctunn.com
I might be a fan.
I may have stayed up all night to read it, too.
Here's the cool bit: While there are great scenes that had me sitting on the edge of my seat--um, like six of them--making me actually quiver in fear for the characters, it's actually the times where it's everyday life, with funny shit going on, that I cherish the most. There's simply a little bit of everything that I love in fiction in these books. Vast armies, quirky characters, love, care, and even a bit of sex, dealing with massive temptations, great evils, pride, public relations, and of course, LitRPG goodies of leveling and classes, but even more importantly: a timelessness of storytelling, of damn finely-drawn characters both familiar and subverted expertly, and the reality, at least to me, of my LIVING there.
I breathe and live here. It's just that good. And I will be happy to have 40 more of these books, please.
Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews is be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
Arctunn.com
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