Book description
Empire of Grass
The Last King of Osten Ard, #2
Tad Williams returns to Osten Ard with surgical precision. No wasted movements. No冗长 exposition.
The audiobook format suits Williams' prose perfectly. His sentences breathe better when spoken aloud. The rhythm of his storytelling finds its natural cadence in narration.
Characters carry weight here. Simon, Miriamele, Count Eolair - they move through familiar lands transformed. Not by magic. By time. By loss. By the quiet accumulation of consequences.
Williams understands something crucial about sequels. They must honor the past while refusing to become prisoners of it. Empire of Grass operates in this delicate space. Nostalgia tempered by maturity.
The political machinations feel lived-in. No clean heroes. No simple villains. Just people making difficult choices with incomplete information. The kind of storytelling that makes fantasy relevant beyond its traditional boundaries.
What strikes most deeply is Williams' restraint. He trusts his audience. Trusts his characters. Trusts the story to unfold without constant explanation or justification.
The audiobook narrator captures this perfectly. No theatrical overreach. Just clear, compelling delivery that lets the words do their work.
This is fantasy for adults. Complex. Nuanced. Unwilling to provide easy answers to difficult questions.
Osten Ard feels real because Williams treats it as such. No convenient resets. No deus ex machina. Just the grinding progress of history and the small rebellions of individuals against overwhelming odds.
Empire of Grass succeeds because it remembers what made the original trilogy special while refusing to simply recreate it. Evolution, not repetition.
The audiobook format reveals new layers. Subtleties in dialogue. Nuances in description. The story works differently when heard rather than read. More intimate. More immediate.
Williams has earned the right to take his time. These characters have earned our patience. The story earns its epic scope through careful attention to human detail.
Fantasy that respects its readers. Rare enough to celebrate.
New York Sixlet
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Eerie Mizzen
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Nightmare King
The narrator's voice in some audiobooks is so soothing, it's like a spa for the ears. This app's versatility and convenience have transformed my screen time into a productive reading journey.
InsightInkwell
Thank you for making literature more accessible, enjoyable, and immersive. This app is a game-changer! ListenBook’s bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book.
Miss Fix It
Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro is a fun way to customize my listening experience. Audiobooks on demand – this app's functionality is a true technological gem. ListenBook's support for looping and shuffling playback adds versatility to my audiobook enjoyment. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a true savior for immersive listening, even in busy surroundings.
Campfire Mama
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Mint Ness
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Kabuki
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Trixie Doodle
Audiobooks made simple – this app's functionality is a breath of fresh air. Download options are abundant, from WiFi to iTunes. It's all about convenience with this app.
InsightfulInk
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a blessing for clear listening in noisy environments. 🎧 Satiate your reading cravings while managing household affairs – this app has it all! 📚💼 CarPlay compatibility takes my driving experience to a whole new level. Audiobooks on the road have never been better. Looping playback is a fantastic study tool. It helps me focus and retain information effectively. Tone adjustment is a brilliant addition that lets me personalize the narration to my liking. It adds an extra layer of connection to the audiobooks.
Sass Burst
ListenBook has made my commutes more enjoyable, transforming them into learning sessions. I'm hooked on this app's effortless downloading process – I can have my favorite audiobooks in seconds. I can't thank this app enough for making my audiobook experience exceptional. Its intuitive interface and diverse compatibility are a true game-changer. 📱🎧 Automatic extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my library.
Loot
Frequent updates ensure there's always something new and exciting to listen to. Kudos to the creators for making literature so accessible and enjoyable. Audiobooks have become a source of inspiration and motivation, thanks to this app. This app's ease of use has made my downtime more enriching and enjoyable.
The Happy Jock
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WanderWord
The app's intuitive design makes it easy to find and listen to my favorite authors. 🌟 Transforming laundry time into a journey through fantastic stories – thank you, this app! 👚📖 📚 The simplicity and functionality of this app are top-notch. I can start a book with just a tap and immerse myself in the story instantly. 📱📖 ListenBook's loop and shuffle playback options are essential for my audiobook enjoyment and study. The app never crashes. It’s reliable and stable.
Dance Bloom
My child has also fallen in love with audiobooks, all thanks to the app's kid-friendly collection. The adjustable playback speed is a secret weapon for getting through educational content faster. My daily workouts are more enjoyable now, thanks to seamless integration with Apple Watch.
Papa Smurf
The 'Discover' section is a treasure trove for finding hidden literary gems. With ListenBook, I can immerse myself in captivating stories and enriching knowledge, all in one convenient app.
DreamDiver
I love the cloud integration. I can access my books from anywhere. An audiobook I’ll listen to again! The story was engaging, and the narrator’s performance made it even better. Some parts were so well-delivered that I replayed them just to hear the emotion again.
Cool Iris
ListenBook's dedication to providing a smooth and enjoyable listening experience is evident in every aspect of the app. ListenBook has become my go-to audiobook app. It's dependable, user-friendly, and enhances every listening session.
Black Mustard
💪 Flexing my reading muscles with this app's easy-to-use controls – I'm devouring books while managing my busy schedule. 💼📚 Navigating through chapters is a breeze. I can easily jump to the parts I want to listen to. ListenBook is a must-have for audiobook enthusiasts. It's reliable, versatile, and a pleasure to use. This was a workmanlike audiobook that did the job without flair. The narration was clear and the pacing appropriate, though the delivery lacked some emotional depth. The production quality was acceptable with no major technical issues.
RoarSweetie
The ability to change playback speed and audio volume on ListenBook gives me full control over my listening experience. I can't imagine my life without this app – it's my daily dose of literature. The app's compatibility with Apple Watch elevates my workouts, making them more engaging and productive. Absolutely loved the narration! The voice actor brought the characters to life with distinct tones and emotions. The production quality was top-notch, with no background noise or distractions. A truly immersive experience! It was fine. The narrator did an adequate job but nothing about the performance particularly stood out to me. Got me through my commute though.
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