Steven Brand has narrated 49 audiobooks on Listento.it by 22 authors, with an average listener rating of 4.3★ across 1,033 ratings. The most-rated is Blood Song.
Blood Song
Summary
From "a new master storyteller" comes the beginning of an epic fantasy saga of blood, honor, and destiny.... The Sixth Order wields the sword of justice and smites the enemies of the Faith and the Realm. Vaelin Al Sorna was only a child of 10 when his father left him at the iron gate of the Sixth Order. The Brothers of the Sixth Order are devoted to battle, and Vaelin will be trained and hardened to the austere, celibate, and dangerous life of a Warrior of the Faith. He has no family now save the Order. Vaelin’s father was Battle Lord to King Janus, ruler of the unified realm. Vaelin’s rage at being deprived of his birthright and dropped at the doorstep of the Sixth Order like a foundling knows no bounds. He cherishes the memory of his mother, and what he will come to learn of her at the Order will confound him. His father, too, has motives that Vaelin will come to understand. But one truth overpowers all the rest: Vaelin Al Sorna is destined for a future he has yet to comprehend. A future that will alter not only the realm, but the world.
©2013 Anthony Ryan (P)2013 Penguin Audio
Tower Lord
Summary
Vaelin Al Sorna, warrior of the Sixth Order, called Darkblade, called Hope Killer. The greatest warrior of his day, and witness to the greatest defeat of his nation: King Janus' vision of a Greater Unified Realm drowned in the blood of brave men fighting for a cause Vaelin alone knows was forged from a lie. Sick at heart, he comes home, determined to kill no more. Named Tower Lord of the Northern Reaches by King Janus's grateful heir, he can perhaps find peace in a colder, more remote land far from the intrigues of a troubled Realm. But those gifted with the blood-song are never destined to live a quiet life. Many died in King Janus' wars, but many survived, and Vaelin is a target, not just for those seeking revenge but for those who know what he can do. The Faith has been sundered, and many have no doubt who their leader should be. The new King is weak, but his sister is strong. The blood-song is powerful, rich in warning and guidance in times of trouble, but is only a fraction of the power available to others who understand more of its mysteries. Something moves against the Realm, something that commands mighty forces, and Vaelin will find to his great regret that when faced with annihilation, even the most reluctant hand must eventually draw a sword.
©2014 Anthony Ryan (P)2014 Penguin Audio
Queen of Fire
Summary
In the thrilling conclusion to the "deftly and originally executed" (Booklist) New York Times best-selling trilogy, Vaelin Al Sorna must help his queen reclaim her realm. Only his enemy has a dangerous new collaborator, one with powers darker than Vaelin has ever encountered. "The Ally is there, but only ever as a shadow, unexplained catastrophe, or murder committed at the behest of a dark, vengeful spirit. Sorting truth from myth is often a fruitless task." After fighting back from the brink of death, Queen Lyrna is determined to repel the invading Volarian army and regain the independence of the Unified Realm. Except to accomplish her goals, she must do more than rally her loyal supporters. She must align herself with forces she once found repugnant - those who possess the strange and varied gifts of the Dark - and take the war to her enemy's doorstep. Victory rests on the shoulders of Vaelin Al Sorna, now named battle lord of the realm. However, his path is riddled with difficulties. For the Volarian enemy has a new weapon on their side, one that Vaelin must destroy if the realm is to prevail - a mysterious Ally with the ability to grant unnaturally long life to her servants. And defeating one who cannot be killed is a nearly impossible feat, especially when Vaelin's blood-song, the mystical power that has made him the epic fighter he is, has gone ominously silent.
©2015 Anthony Ryan (P)2015 Penguin Audio
The Wolf's Call
Summary
VAELIN AL SORNA RETURNS Anthony Ryan's debut novel Blood Song - the first book of the Raven's Shadow series - took the fantasy world by storm. Now, he continues that saga with The Wolf's Call, which begins a thrilling new story of razor-sharp action and epic adventure. Peace never lasts. Vaelin Al Sorna is a living legend, his name known across the Realm. It was his leadership that overthrew empires, his blade that won hard-fought battles - and his sacrifice that defeated an evil more terrifying than anything the world had ever seen. He won titles aplenty, only to cast aside his earned glory for a quiet life in the Realm's northern reaches. Yet whispers have come from across the sea - rumours of an army called the Steel Horde, led by a man who believes himself a god. Vaelin has no wish to fight another war, but when he learns that Sherin, the woman he lost long ago, has fallen into the Horde's grasp, he resolves to confront this powerful new threat. To this end, Vaelin travels to the realms of the Merchant Kings, a land ruled by honor and intrigue. There, as the drums of war thunder across kingdoms riven by conflict, Vaelin learns a terrible truth: that there are some battles that even he may not be strong enough to win.
©2019 Anthony Ryan (P)2019 Penguin Audio
Spy the Lie
Summary
Audie Award Nominee, Business and Educational, 2013 Three former CIA officers - among the world’s foremost authorities on recognizing deceptive behavior - share their proven techniques for uncovering a lie. Imagine how different your life would be if you could tell whether someone was lying or telling you the truth. Be it hiring a new employee, investing in a financial interest, speaking with your child about drugs, confronting your significant other about suspected infidelity, or even dating someone new, having the ability to unmask a lie can have far-reaching and even life-altering consequences. As former CIA officers, Philip Houston, Michael Floyd, and Susan Carnicero are among the world’s best at recognizing deceptive behavior. Spy the Lie chronicles the captivating story of how they used a methodology Houston developed to detect deception in the counterterrorism and criminal investigation realms, and shows how these techniques can be applied in our daily lives. Through fascinating anecdotes from their intelligence careers, the authors teach listeners how to recognize deceptive behaviors, both verbal and nonverbal, that we all tend to display when we respond to questions untruthfully. For the first time, they share with the general public their methodology and their secrets to the art of asking questions that elicit the truth. Spy the Lie is a game-changer. You may never experience another book that has a more dramatic impact on your career, your relationships, or your future.
©2012 Philip Houston, Susan Carnicero, Don Tennant, Michael Floyd (P)2012 Macmillan
The Black Song
Summary
A matchless warrior is pitted against a near-God in the second epic installment of the Raven's Blade series. It has long been our lot in life, brother, to do what others can’t. Vaelin Al Sorna was known across the realm as the greatest of warriors, but he thought battles were behind him. He was wrong. Prophecy and rumor led him across the sea to find a woman he once loved and drew him into a war waged by the Darkblade, a man who believes himself a god - and one who has gathered a fanatical army that threatens all of the known world. After a costly defeat by the Darkblade, Vaelin's forces are shattered, while the self-proclaimed immortal and his army continue their terrible march. But during the clash, Vaelin regained some of the dark magic that once gave him unrivaled skill in battle. And though the fight he has been drawn into seems near unwinnable, the song that drives him now desires the blood of his enemy above all else....
©2020 Anthony Ryan (P)2020 Penguin Audio
Rise of the Ranger
Summary
300,000 Copies Sold Worldwide The Echoes of Fate, a Prophecy Uttered Unto the World a Thousand Years Ago, Cannot Be Denied.... Mankind has lorded over the land of Illian for a thousand years, building on the ruins left by the elves, as if it were their birthright. A thousand years is a long time for an immortal race to see the truth of things, a truth that has remained unsaid for a millennium - elves are superior. They are faster, stronger, and connected to the magical realm in a way that man could never grasp. Illian should belong to them. Unaware of the shadow that looms in the east, the six kingdoms of man are fractured, unallied, and clawing at each other's gates for more power. This isn't just war set to ravage the land, but a slaughter - the world of man cannot hope to survive. Thrown into the heart of this war is a man known by many names; an Outlander of the wilds, an assassin, a ranger. Asher was born a thousand years ago, to a life he doesn't remember. Forty years of brutal training and killing for money has beaten the earliest years of his life away, leaving his ties to the oldest of evils a mystery to all.... Rise of The Ranger Launches an Unmissable Epic Fantasy Series.
©2018 Podium Publishing; 2017 Philip C. Quaintrell
The Waking Fire
Summary
The New York Times best-selling Raven's Shadow Trilogy was a perfect listen for "fans of broadscale epic fantasy along the lines of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series and George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire novels". Now Anthony Ryan begins a new saga, The Draconis Memoria....
Throughout the vast lands controlled by the Ironship Trading Syndicate, nothing is more prized than the blood of drakes. Harvested from captive or hunted Reds, Greens, Blues, and Blacks, it can be distilled into elixirs that bestow fearsome powers on the rare men and women known as the Blood-blessed.
But not many know the truth: that the lines of drakes are weakening. If they fail, war with the neighboring Corvantine Empire will follow swiftly. The Syndicate's last hope resides in whispers of the existence of another breed of drake, far more powerful than the rest, and the few who have been chosen by fate to seek it.
Claydon Torcreek is a petty thief and an unregistered Blood-blessed who finds himself pressed into service by the Protectorate and sent to wild, uncharted lands in search of a creature he believes is little more than legend. Lizanne Lethridge is a formidable spy and assassin facing gravest danger on an espionage mission deep into the heart of enemy territory. And Corrick Hilemore is the second lieutenant of an Ironship cruiser whose pursuit of ruthless brigands leads him to a far greater threat at the edge of the world.
As lives and empires clash and intertwine, as the unknown and the known collide, all three must fight to turn the tide of a coming war - or drown in its wake.
©2016 Anthony Ryan (P)2016 Penguin Audio
Relic of the Gods
Summary
300,000 Copies Sold Worldwide The Echoes of Fate Have Been Heard. After a Thousand Years, the Prophecy Has Almost Come to Pass.... The final days of hope have come and gone. The kingdoms of Illian stand on the edge of ruin, threatened by the armies of Valanis. As evil spreads across the land, too few are left to hold the line. A world away, the children of fire and flame may be the only hope for the realm, but the dragons have been defeated before. Now Verda's future hangs in the balance. Reeling from their losses, Asher and his companions journey north, trying to outrun the savage Darkakin. A confrontation awaits the ranger but, even with Paldora's gem, he dare not challenge Valanis yet. The days of the Dragorn have come again, and with them, a relic of the gods has been brought into the light. The knowledge of Verda's true history weighs on Gideon Thorn, and he would see the world rid of the evil that has cursed it from the shadows for so long. A great change is coming, and a new Age dawns on the horizon. Whether it be the light or the dark that finds victory, one soul will suffer the burden of destiny for all.... Relic of the Gods Continues This Unmissable Epic Fantasy Series.
©2018 Philip C. Quaintrell (P)2018 Podium Publishing
Empire of Dirt
Summary
300,000 Copies Sold Worldwide The Echoes of Fate Will Not Be Forgotten. The Words Uttered a Thousand Years Ago Will Come to Pass, and a New Age Will Dawn.... War is set to ravage Illian. The elves sail from the east. The savage Darkakin rise from the south. Valanis, the dark elf, is finally free of his prison and eager to see his work finished. Only then will he be free of the gods who still haunt him. A new hope rises in The Red Mountains. There, the last remaining dragons have been discovered. Gideon and Galanör, human and elf, will have to work together if they are to convince Adriel, the last of the Dragorn order, to intervene in the coming war. Devoid of hope and unsure what road to take, Asher and his companions must decide what role they will play as the realm unravels into bloodshed. The only weapon known to rival Valanis' power is in a place the ranger has avoided for a long time, a place where, until now, neither man nor elf would dare to tread. Civil war has shattered the empire in The Arid Lands as the slaves make their stand against the highborns. But, while revolution brews, a greater threat looms. As a thunderous cacophony of steel and savagery marches through The Undying Mountains, who will stand before this army of death.... Empire of Dirt Continues This Unmissable Epic Fantasy Series.
©2017 Philip C. Quaintrell (P)2018 Podium Publishing
A Sellsword's Compassion
Summary
War sweeps the land as the sons and daughters of the late King Marcus battle over who will claim their father’s throne and able-bodied men and women flock to one cause or the other in the hopes of a better tomorrow. At least, most of them. If life has taught the jaded sellsword Aaron Envelar anything, it’s that hope is for fools and causes are a sure remedy for breathing. But when his latest job leads him to the corpse of a prince and a conspiracy that threatens to destroy the entire realm, Aaron is forced to choose sides in a war he doesn’t want, between forces he doesn’t understand. Thrust into a world of mythical assassins, a madman with superhuman strength, and a nagging ball of light with a superiority complex who claims to be the embodiment of compassion, Aaron takes on his hardest job yet - staying alive. This debut novel from Jacob Peppers is a new entry in the great epic fantasy tradition of Brandon Sanderson, Patrick Rothfuss, and Joe Abercrombie.
©2017 Jacob Peppers (P)2018 Podium Publishing
Above the Clouds
Summary
"Kilian Jornet is the most dominating endurance athlete of his generation." (New York Times) "Inspiring and humbling." (Alex Honnold) The most accomplished mountain runner of all time contemplates his record-breaking climbs of Mount Everest in this profound memoir - an intellectual and spiritual journey that moves from the earth’s highest peak to the soul’s deepest reaches. Kilian Jornet has broken nearly every mountaineering record in the world and twice been named National Geographic Adventurer of the Year. In 2018 he summitted Mount Everest twice in one week - without the help of bottled oxygen or ropes. As he recounts a life spent studying and ascending the greatest peaks on earth, Jornet ruminates on what he has found in nature - simplicity, freedom, and spiritual joy - and offers a poetic yet clearheaded assessment of his relationship to the mountain...at times his opponent, at others, his greatest inspiration.
©2020 Kilian Jornet (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers
Stiger's Tigers
Summary
Winner of the 2016 Independent Publisher Book Bronze Award for Fantasy The empire has endured many centuries but is now threatened by multiple wars and a major rebellion in the South. A nobleman from an infamous family, an imperial legionary officer, a fighter, and a right proper bastard of a man, Captain Ben Stiger finds himself reassigned from a crack legion to the rebellion simmering in the South. Placed in command of a truly terrible company, the 85th Imperial Foot, he is unknowingly sent on a suicide mission to resupply an isolated outpost, the garrison of Vrell. Along the way he must rebuild his new company; gain the respect of the men he leads; survive an assassination attempt; and fight bandits, rebels, and an agent of an evil god. His companions on this journey of discovery and adventure are one of the few remaining elven rangers and a paladin on a quest for the High Father. The battle to save the empire and the world begins here in the first book of this exciting new series.
©2015 Marc Alan Edelheit (P)2016 Podium Publishing
The Tiger
Summary
Abandoned and cut off from friendly lines, Stiger takes the fight to the enemy! A nobleman from an infamous family, an imperial legionary officer, a fighter, and a right proper bastard of a man... Captain Ben Stiger captured Castle Vrell and rid it of a minion of a dark god. Now he finds himself cut off from the empire, with a hostile rebel army marching on the legion's fortress where they guard the entrance to Vrell Valley. It is not in Stiger's nature to simply wait for the enemy. Badly outnumbered and facing odds greater than 20 to one, he sets out to impede the enemy's advance and show them the steel that the legions are made of. To help him on his way he has the services of his friend, Eli, one of the last remaining elven rangers. As if matters could not get worse, an army of dwarves is preparing to retake Castle Vrell, a sacred place they name Grata'Kor. There are forces at play greater than Stiger can imagine. To survive he must contend with not only a well-supported rebel army but also a hostile dwarven nation intent on fulfilling a mysterious prophecy that has the potential to shatter the world and bring ruin to the empire. The battle to save the empire and the world continues in this action-packed adventure.
©2015 Marc Alan Edelheit (P)2016 Podium Publishing
Stiger
Summary
The long awaited prequel to the award-winning Chronicles of an Imperial Legionary Officer series that started with the best-selling military fantasy book Stiger's Tigers. A nobleman from an infamous family, Ben Stiger finds himself freshly assigned to Third Legion, Seventh Company as a lowly lieutenant in the opening stages of war between the Empire and the Kingdom of the Rivan. Third Legion has been tasked with pursuing a retreating Rivan army back to the border where the Empire can take the fight into enemy territory. However, a major obstacle stands in Third Legion's path: the river Hana. The crossing is sure to be contested and dangerous. Should Third Legion fail to force a crossing, the entire campaign could grind to a disastrous halt. This is Stiger's first military appointment. Inexperienced, young and unsure of himself, Stiger is ostracized by his fellow lieutenants. Worse, he's been placed under the command of an incompetent officer. With life and reputation on the line, he must learn to understand men far beneath his station and lead them into battle. Stiger struggles not only against the enemy, but against his family's history and his own side to prove himself worthy of serving the empire he loves and earning the respect of the men he leads. Set amidst the backdrop of an epic war, there are greater forces at work than the young Stiger can even begin to imagine, setting him on the dangerous and lonely path of destiny. Note: This is a prequel novel. To avoid unwanted surprises or spoilers, it is recommended to begin the series with Stiger's Tigers, Book 1 of the Chronicles of an Imperial Legionary Officer series. However, if that sort of thing does not bother you, feel free to dive in and enjoy the adventure.
©2016 Marc Alan Edelheit (P)2017 Podium Publishing
A Dark Foretoken
Summary
The best-selling, award-winning author of Stiger's Tigers delivers the next action-packed installment in the Tales of the Seventh series. Where a Stiger goes, death follows. Stiger has survived the brutal ordeal at Fort Covenant, which saw his company shattered and an enemy army destroyed. The campaign season has finally drawn to a close, and Stiger is looking forward to the relatively quiet months ahead as the snow falls across the land and his company regains its strength. Stiger is slowly being accepted into the legion. There are still some who seek to make him feel like an outcast. Can he ever prove himself, or will he bear the shame of dishonor to the end of his days? Unexpectedly, he finds himself summoned to see the general. Stiger is dispatched on a critical mission for the empire. He must travel to the island kingdom of Thresh to deliver a message and a large quantity of gold. Despite the mission’s importance, it seems like an easy job: a march through friendly territory well away from the enemy and a short journey by sea aboard an imperial warship. He brings only a handful of men, including an elven ranger and a paladin of the High Father. But before Stiger can even make it to Thresh, he stumbles upon a horrifying evil that has the potential to threaten everything, including the legion’s survival. Trapped and cut off from help, he must face this insidious darkness or die in the attempt. Set amidst the backdrop of an epic war, there are greater forces at work than the young Stiger can begin to imagine, and he must confront them or all will be lost. His path down the long road to destiny has begun. A Dark Foretoken is set in the Chronicles of an Imperial Legionary universe.
©2019 Marc Alan Edelheit (P)2019 Podium Publishing
Fort Covenant
Summary
The best-selling, award-winning author of Stiger's Tigers delivers the action-packed next installment in the Tales of the Seventh series. In this military fantasy, Ben Stiger is given a simple mission: march his understrength company to the Cora’Tol garrison far to the southeast. Once there, he is to take a fellow officer into custody and promptly return. But when Stiger arrives, he finds the Rivan have destroyed the garrison and slaughtered the inhabitants of the valley. Suddenly, what was supposed to be a quick and easy task turns into something far more dangerous. With a Rivan army now moving to flank the imperial army to the west, Stiger makes a desperate decision. Short on rations, and hopelessly outnumbered, he must find a way to delay the enemy so Third Legion can react to this dire threat before it is too late. The solution lies in Fort Covenant, a forgotten place with a history important not only to his people, but the elven nations as well. Set amidst the backdrop of an epic war, there are greater forces at work than the young Stiger can begin to imagine. Fort Covenant is set in the Chronicles of an Imperial Legionary universe.
©2017 Marc Alan Edelheit (P)2018 Podium Publishing
The Tiger's Time
Summary
Winner of the Independent Publisher Book Award for Best Adult Fiction A nobleman from an infamous family, imperial legionary officer, and born fighter, Ben Stiger is trapped in the past and cut off from everything he has known. The World Gate is sealed behind him, and Delvaris, the man he traveled through time to save, is dead. With this great man’s death, the future has been altered by the evil god Castor. Stiger has lost his purpose. For the first time in a great long while, no one needs saving, and no one needs killing. Stiger is a man out of his time and, worse, a prisoner of the dwarves. Cast adrift in a time not his own, Stiger believes his time as a leader of men is at an end. But the gods are not done with him yet. A terrible evil looms over the Vrell Valley like a grim shadow. Castor’s dark servants are hard at work. Despite being a man out of his time, Stiger is viewed as a threat to be eliminated, for a dread destiny has been stamped onto his line from the time of Karus. The Horde is on the march, and the Thirteenth Legion is in Vrell without a legate. There is only one man who can lead the Lost - Stiger. This is the Tiger’s Time! The question is...can the damage done by Castor’s servants be repaired and will it be enough to change his destiny?
©2018 Marc Alan Edelheit (P)2018 Podium Publishing
The Tiger's Fate
Summary
2017 Gold Medal Winner for Best Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror E-Book Independent Publisher Book Awards A nobleman from an infamous family, an imperial legionary officer, and a born fighter, Captain Ben Stiger has successfully thwarted the attack from an army of the Cyphan Confederacy. Now Stiger, his men, and his new dwarven allies have fallen back behind the great walls of Castle Vrell. Stiger finds himself named Legate of the Vanished, the long-lost 13th Legion. This title and his own word binds him to the terms of the Compact, an ancient and mystical alliance formed nearly 2,000 years before. The snows have come, and the mountain summit into Vrell is impassable. On one side of the pass sits an army of the Cyphan Confederacy some 20,000 strong. On the other sits Stiger, his company, the remnants of the 13th Legion, and a dwarven army. Each side is waiting for the spring thaw. Bottled up in the Vrell valley, Stiger and his elven companion, Eli, learn of Garand Thoss, an ancient and abandoned dwarven city. Within its hallowed halls resides a prize of unimaginable value - a prize that will reveal the true history of the empire and force Stiger to face a new enemy more deadly than he has ever faced before.
©2016 Marc Alan Edelheit (P)2016 Podium Publishing
A Sellsword's Wrath
Summary
Aaron Envelar thought a sellsword's life was as dangerous as any life could be. He was wrong. Trapped in a conquered city with a reward on their heads, Aaron and his companions must find a way to elude the soldiers pursuing them while he struggles to understand his bond with Co, a magical creature of myth and the Virtue of Compassion. There is power within the bond, power that could help him protect his friends, if he's lucky enough to master it before the darkness within the bond consumes him. But luck, Aaron knows, is a blade reached for in the dark, the man who grasps it as likely to bleed for his trouble as find the handle. Stalked by Belgarin's soldiers, Aaron and his companions struggle to find allies before it's too late. But Belgarin's army is not the only danger they face, and even should they escape, even should Aaron master his bond with a legendary creature of magic, they may still fail. They may still die. For there are other legends in the world, other magic. And not all legends are good ones. Not all magic is benign.
©2018 Jacob Peppers (P)2019 Podium Publishing