Book description
Guy Gavriel Kay's Written on the Dark arrives as a masterclass in historical fantasy, and its audiobook adaptation proves the perfect vessel for this intricate tale. Set against the visceral backdrop of medieval France, the story centers on Thierry Villar, a sharp-tongued tavern poet whose world of shadows and tavern songs collides violently with courtly intrigue, assassins, and an encroaching war. Kay's genius lies in how he weaves the mundane with the monumental-Thierry's wit and survival instincts become vital tools as political machinations threaten to shatter his beloved city of Orane.
The audiobook format elevates Kay's prose beautifully. The narrator's clear, measured delivery captures Thierry's quick intelligence and dry humor, making his internal monologue feel immediate and authentic. You hear the clink of tavern mugs, the hushed tension of secret meetings, and the rhythmic cadence of Thierry's own poetry-elements that resonate deeply when spoken aloud. The story's rich tapestry unfolds through voices: the aristocratic poetess whose words match Thierry's fire, the young healer guided by inner voices, and the complex figures navigating power. Each character's distinct voice, rendered through skilled narration, avoids cliché and feels entirely lived-in.
Kay doesn't just tell a story of war and ambition; he examines how art and beauty persist, even flourish, amid chaos. Thierry's journey-from the gutter to the heart of a nation's struggle-highlights that creativity isn't escapism but a profound act of resistance. The audiobook's pacing mirrors this theme: deliberate, allowing the weight of each scene to settle, then building tension with the relentless march of armies and betrayals. You feel the cold of Orane's streets, the heat of political confrontations, and the quiet desperation of those trying to heal a wounded king.
What makes this audiobook exceptional is its ability to balance grand historical scope with intimate character moments. Kay's signature style-elegant, deeply researched, and emotionally resonant-transcends genre. The narration never over-dramatizes; instead, it trusts the power of the words and the quiet strength of characters like Thierry, who uses his wit not to dominate, but to endure. The audiobook version makes you lean in, to hear every whispered secret, every line of poetry that becomes a lifeline. It's a reminder that stories, like the best tavern songs, linger long after the last word is spoken-echoing in the space between history's violence and the enduring human need for beauty. For fans of Kay's work and newcomers alike, this is a definitive listening experience, where every voice, every line, serves the heart of the story.
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RiddleRanger
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ThreadTraveler
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Lucky Aurora
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Homerun Diva
I'm impressed by how this app seamlessly syncs across my devices. A perfectly acceptable audiobook that fulfilled its purpose. The narration was competent if not particularly memorable, and the production quality was standard for the genre. It served as decent background entertainment during mundane tasks.
Lunar Treat
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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