Book description
City of Lies presents a refreshing twist on epic fantasy through Sam Hawke's innovative approach to world-building and character development. The audiobook format particularly benefits from Hawke's background in martial arts and law, which translates into precise, methodical storytelling that keeps listeners engaged throughout the political intrigue.
The narrative follows Jovan, who serves as both friend and secret protector to the Chancellor's heir. What makes this character compelling isn't just his dual role, but his expertise in poisons and chemistry-a unusual but fascinating specialization that adds scientific authenticity to the fantasy elements. His sister Kalina provides an excellent counterpoint, creating a sibling dynamic that feels genuine and adds emotional depth to the high-stakes plot.
Hawke's experience traveling extensively on minimal budgets informs the rich cultural details that permeate the story, while raising children alongside her jujitsu training partner likely contributes to the authentic family relationships that ground the more fantastical elements. The author's legal background brings a methodical approach to the complex political machinations that drive the plot forward.
The audiobook format excels at conveying the tension between personal loyalty and political necessity that defines the characters' struggles. Listeners benefit from the immersive quality of voice acting that can distinguish between the various ancient spirits and political figures populating this world.
What sets City of Lies apart from typical fantasy fare is its integration of social consciousness. The novel's recognition through multiple awards-including the Norma K Hemming Award for exploring issues of gender, race, disability, and class-demonstrates how Hawke successfully weaves important themes into entertaining storytelling without sacrificing narrative momentum.
The combination of traditional fantasy elements like sieges and ancient spirits with Hawke's unique poison-based magic system creates a distinctive listening experience that genre fans will appreciate.
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Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience