Book description
Aerin's mother's story wasn't just heard-it was breathed into her bones. A witchwoman who ensorcelled a king, bore a daughter instead of a son, and turned her face to the wall in despair. That was Aerin's inheritance, etched not in stone but in silence. Yet the tale held more: her own destiny, woven with threads of magic and blood, waiting to be claimed. She was to wield the Blue Sword. Not as a queen, not as a princess-but as the true hero.
This is where Robin McKinley's The Hero and the Crown finds its soul, and the audiobook format makes it breathe. The narrator's voice, rich and unhurried, carries the weight of generations. You feel Aerin's quiet dread as she steps into her mother's shadow, the echo of that turning face in every pause. The magic isn't loud-it's in the space between words, the way the wind carries the scent of ancient stones, the slow, sure rhythm of a sword being forged. You hear the thrum of the Blue Sword's power, not as a shout, but as a hum beneath the skin, a promise in the quiet.
McKinley doesn't give us a warrior born; she gives us a girl learning to be worthy. The audiobook's pacing mirrors Aerin's journey: slow, deliberate, building toward moments that crack the air. When she finally grips the Blue Sword, the narrator's voice doesn't surge-it deepens, becomes steady, like water finding its course. You don't just hear the story; you feel the shift in Aerin's bones, the moment she stops seeing herself as her mother's regret and begins to see the hero she was always meant to be.
This isn't fantasy for spectacle. It's a quiet revolution in the heart of a girl who was told she was a mistake. The audiobook, with its lyrical cadence, makes the despair tangible, the hope luminous. You hear the walls her mother turned her face to-and then, the sound of Aerin turning hers back toward the light. A hero isn't born in thunder. She's born in the quiet, unyielding choice to face the dawn. And in this telling, that choice rings like a bell, clear and true.
Bleach
ListenBook's compatibility with playlists and CUE files is a great addition for those who love organized listening. With this app, I'm discovering the joy of reading during my commutes. π± Carrying my library in my pocket β this app makes every moment a reading opportunity! ππ Iβm blown away by how feature-rich ListenBook is. From the customizable themes to the car mode, everything is designed with the user in mind. The app works flawlessly, and Iβve had zero issues with crashes or bugs. Highly recommend!
Switch
This app's convenience has transformed my reading habits β it's a game-changer. β° Early mornings have become my favorite time to listen to audiobooks β energizing! π π§
Drugstore Cowboy
The auto-rewind feature is a small detail that enhances my listening experience. It's these thoughtful touches that matter! The intuitive chapter navigation and quick access to controls make my audiobook experience seamless.
ThoughtTrailblazer
ListenBook has made managing and enjoying audiobooks, lectures, and speeches effortless and enjoyable. The ability to download audiobooks directly is fantastic. ListenBook is very convenient. The interface is beautiful and functional. ListenBook is my go-to app for audiobooks.
Club Nola
Being able to download audiobooks for offline listening is a game-changer. The statistics feature on ListenBook helps me track my audiobook consumption β a fantastic way to measure my progress. I can't believe how much more I'm 'reading' now, all thanks to this app. πΆπ Setting the mood with stories instead of songs β this app is my go-to playlist! π§π Great for fans of this genre! The pacing, narration, and production quality were all excellent. It felt like a movie playing in my mind. Iβll be checking out more from this narrator for sure.
Killer Curio
Looping playback helps me retain knowledge from audiobooks effectively. It's an invaluable tool. ListenBookβs playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches. I love the quick access to settings. It makes tweaking the app so easy.
Mr. Spy
Kudos to the developers for optimizing this app for iOS 16. It runs like a dream on my device. ListenBook has transformed my daily activities into opportunities for learning and enjoyment. Unlimited length audiobooks with ListenBook Pro are a huge plus! The bookmark feature is fantastic. I can easily pick up where I left off.
Roller Turtle
Audiobooks have brought a new level of enjoyment to my daily workout routine. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch integration ensures that I can enjoy my content wherever I go. This app is a time-saver β I can 'read' even when I'm on the move.
Super Flick
This app has made me appreciate the art of storytelling even more. With ListenBook, my audio content is organized, accessible, and ready to inspire me. I'm hooked on this app's effortless downloading process β I can have my favorite audiobooks in seconds. This app is a must-have for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is intuitive, and the app supports all formats. I love the auto-bookmark featureβit saves my place automatically, so I never lose track. Highly recommend!
3P-own
This app has made waiting in lines and queues an opportunity for exploration and enjoyment. ListenBook Pro's unlimited audiobook length is a boon for those who enjoy deep dives into lengthy narratives. ListenBook has redefined my audiobook experience. It's an essential tool that enhances every listening session.
Bazooka Har-de-har
π Adding excitement to each day β this app ensures that every moment is an opportunity to explore new stories. ππ ListenBook has transformed my daily routine into an opportunity to learn, relax, and enjoy. Sharing audiobooks with friends is a thoughtful gesture that ListenBook makes seamless.
Snake Eyes
Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro is a fun way to customize my listening experience. This app is my secret weapon for learning while I'm on the move. π₯ Elevating my reading routine to new heights β this app is a real page-turner! ππ The app is very easy to use. ListenBook makes managing my audiobook library simple.
Indigo Red
I'm impressed by the extensive statistics feature, allowing me to track my audiobook consumption over time. With ListenBook Pro, long audiobooks are no problem. I love it!
Dora the Destroyer
The convenience of downloading audiobooks for offline listening is a game-changer. ListenBook has enriched my life with a diverse range of content, all at my fingertips. Audiobooks made easy β this app's functionality is truly a gift. Absolutely love this app! It's made my daily commute so much more enjoyable. Automated artwork and metadata retrieval add a professional touch to my carefully curated audiobook collection.
ManMaker
Audiobooks have turned road trips into unforgettable journeys of imagination. ListenBook's user-friendly controls and innovative features have made it an essential tool for my audiobook enjoyment. No more interruptions β the auto-rewind feature is a genius solution for seamless listening. The audio filters make a noticeable difference. ListenBook provides an excellent listening experience.
Sw00sh
π Ironing has become a joy with audiobooks β wrinkles are no match for these captivating stories! ππ§ The playback speed adjustment is a game-changer for busy individuals. Time saver! The automatic extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my audiobook library. Solid performance, but not outstanding. The narrator did a fine job, though their tone was a bit monotonous at times. The story itself was engaging enough, but I wouldnβt call it unforgettable.
Club Nola
π This app has turned my errands into exciting quests β I can conquer the grocery store while enjoying a book! ππ This app is perfect for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is sleek and modern, and the playback controls are super responsive. I also appreciate the cloud integration, which lets me access my books from anywhere. Great work!
Gr8 Flick
This app's customizable features, like playback speed and bookmarks, have transformed my experience. I can't believe how much more I'm 'reading' now, thanks to this app. Binaural audio processing really helps reduce fatigue. Noise reduction and tone changing are awesome features.
Chocolate Thunder
ListenBook has taken my listening pleasure to new heights β it's a true audio marvel. This app has brought the magic of books back into my life. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has significantly improved the audio quality of my recordings. Packed with useful features. ListenBook is my favorite audiobook app. The ability to download audiobooks directly is fantastic. ListenBook is very convenient.
Snapple Whistler
Audiobooks on this app have turned my exercise sessions into moments of education. This app has made waiting in lines and queues an opportunity for exploration and enjoyment.
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