"The Demon Apostle - Part 2" Book 3 of "The Demon Wars Saga" By R.A. Salvatore
"The Demon Apostle - Part 2"
Book 3 of "The Demon Wars Saga"
By R.A. Salvatore
Multicast Performance
Produced by GraphicAudio
Approx. 6 Hours
GraphicAudio continues with their "Movie in Your Mind" production of R.A. Salvatore's "Demon Wars Saga" with book 3 of the 7 book saga. I haven't decided yet If I'm fond of the cutting the book into three parts. On one hand this makes the books in smaller digestible audio book chunks, but on the other hand GraphicAudio really knows where to divide the books and create massive cliffhangers between the sections, and this one ends with the listener craving to know what happens next.
This anxiety is felt even more so in that this third book is the end of the first trilogy of the series and the end of the first epoch in the world of Corona.
Here we find Pony and Elbryan separated for the first time since their youth. Elbryan is in the north helping to rebuild while Pony has moved south to Palmaris to try to find the whereabouts of Roger Lockless, to find the latest movements of the Abellican Church, and to hopefully ensure the safety of hers and Elbryan's unborn child.
It seems as though Roger Lockless has found his way back to Elbryan. He has been given the task of leading 5 monks who are not liking the way the church is headed and seek to find the friends of Avelyn Desbris, the monk labeled as a heretic but in actuality the one that destroyed the physical form of the demon dactyl. Brother Francis the right hand man to Father Abbot Markwart is starting to have doubts about the church and that is why he asked Roger to escort the monks to Elbryan.
The newly appointed Bishop of Palmaris, Bishop De'Unnero, is becoming quickly unpopular with the common folks and merchants. First he's repossessing all the magic gemstones, even the ones purchased directly from the church, and creating a police state. Some of the people not wanting to give up the stones are being tortured and one is even executed in public. Markwart sees this as a possible bad image for the new direction for the church and sends De'Unnero to hunt down Elbryan. De' Unnero, it should be noted is a trained assassin and proficient with the tiger's paw gemstone, a gemstone that gives the user the power of a tiger and even transforms the arm of the user into that of the big cat. De'Unnero becomes so proficient that he can turn his entire self into a tiger.
In the bishop's absence, Markwart sends Brother Francis, now Master Francis, to serve as interim bishop and ease up on the hardships created by De'Unnero and to prepare for Markwart's and the King of Honce the Bear's visit to Palmaris .
Elbryan, Roger Lockless, Bradwarden the centaur, and two elves set out to escort the 5 monks to the grave of Avelyn for a pilgrimage to find hope for the future of the world of Corona. The rest of the elves are dispatched to Palmaris for a possible meeting with the king but more so to watch out for Pony and the unborn son of Elbryan the ranger.
With all this excitement and intrigue GraphicAudio continues to create the perfect production for these audio books to help you to get lost in the world of R.A. Salvatore's "Demon Wars Saga."
Labels: audio book, audiobook, book review, books, demon apostle, demon wars, demon wars saga, demons, fantasy, graphic audio, graphicaudio, high fantasy, r.a. salvatore, the demon awakens, the demon spirit
posted by Gil T. @ 9:41 PM
"The Demon Spirit Part 3" The Demon Wars Saga by R.A. Salvatore
"The Demon Spirit Part 3"
The Demon Wars Saga
by R.A. Salvatore
Multi-cast production
produced by Graphic Audio
Approx. 6 hours
Part 3 of "The Demon Spirit" audio book brings to a close the second book of R.A. Salvatore's The Demon Wars Saga, and running the risk of making this review too short, this book in the 7 book series ends with an extreme cliffhanger. To recap the story thus far in a nutshell: the Demon Dactyl awakened and was defeated by a Ranger, Warrior, Wizard, Centaur and Elf before he could take over the land of corona. The Wizard was a holy man known as Avelyn Desbris from the Abellican Church who after leaving the church was hunted down for "stealing" the magic gemstones. Avelyn's mentor discovered Avelyn was not the heretic the Father Abbot Markwart set him out to be, but rather a saint that saved the land. The Centaur, Bradwarden, is discovered alive and the church tries to torture him into confessing that Avelyn was a heretic. The Ranger, Elbryan and the Warrior, Pony, continue fighting giants, goblins and dwarves (leftover from the Dactyl's armies) to save the commonfolk in the land of Corona.
I guess that sums up the last book and 2/3 worth of material that makes this captivating saga. To close out "The Demon Spirit" book there are lots more deceits and heroism to keep this series well worth investing your time.
Elbryan and Pony have grown closer and have become officially married. They, however, put off having children until all the enemies of Corona have been defeated and the land is once again safe. In protecting the land they become targets for the evil Father Abbot Markwart and his assassins named Brothers Justice. Markwart hears of magics being used in the northlands and knows the magic can only be performed using the gemstones "stolen" by Avelyn Desbris. Markwart arrives in Pony's hometown and arranges for the murder of the Abbot of the local church. Markwart also schemes to get back the stolen gemstones from Pony. One of his servants, Marcalo De'Unnero, uses his exceptional training in the martial arts to create two new Brothers Justice to find the woman and the gemstones and deal with them both.
Markwart adds Pony's adopted parents to the torture chambers with the Centaur Bradwarden and attempts to torture them to find Pony as well as have them become allies in the making of Avelyn a heretic.
The Church no longer has a solid foundation, however. Master Jojonah is a high-ranking member of the Church and a former teacher of Avelyn Desbris, begins to see the rot in their beloved institution and works quietly to bring about the truth of Avelyn. This work eventually leads Jojonah leading Elbryan, Pony, and the elf, Juraviel to the dungeons to free the captives.
As I said earlier in this review, R.A. Salvatore ended this book with a massive cliffhanger, that leaves you wondering, will the church survive and in what incarnation?
The best part of listening to this series in audiobook form is that it is produced by GraphicAudio. With GraphicAudio's "movie in your mind" approach, listening to these books can make you feel as though you are launched into the magical/mythical land of Corona and sitting alongside watching the story unfold. The acting is superb, the sound effects are ultra-realistic and the incidental music helps shape the moods of the story. Bravo GraphicAudio.
Labels: audio book, book review, books, demon wars, demon wars saga, graphic audio, graphicaudio, r.a. salvatore, the demon spirit
posted by Gil T. @ 9:24 PM
"The Demon Spirit - Part 2" The Demon Wars Saga by R.A. Salvatore
"The Demon Spirit - Part 2"
The Demon Wars Saga
by R.A. Salvatore
Multicast production
Produced by GraphicAudio
Approx. 5 hours
R.A. Salvatore created a phenom in the Demon Wars Saga, spanning seven books and a role playing game. This saga of high fantasy in the Land of Corona is one of action and adventure equal to that of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy by Tolkien. In the first book, which Graphic Audio produced in audio form in three parts, the listener was introduced to the Heroes; Elbryan the Ranger, Jilesponie the warrior and wizard in training, Avelyn Desbris the Wizard Monk, Bradwarden the Centaur and Juravial the elf. The all went to battle the Demon Dactyl which had awakened and sent it's armies of dwarves/powries, goblins and giants into the Land of Corona to clear the way for the Demon to take command. Avelyn and Bradwarden and many humans lost their lives in destroying the Demon Dactyl and Elbryan and Pony returned to the humans in hopes the evil was gone.
"The Demon Spirit - part 2" continues with Elbryan, Pony and the elf, Juraviel trying their best to rid the land of Corona of Fomorian Giants, Bloody-Cap powrie dwarves and goblins. This time they run into the generals of the powries and giants and decide to destroy those higher ranking officials in hopes that without leaders the powries and giants will leave the lands and the goblins will soon follow suit. The battles ensue and when it looks like a major victory for the humans a problem arises. This problem is from one of its own. A thief turned hero by the name of Roger Lockless is Jealous of Elbryan, otherwise known as the ranger Nightbird.
To Roger it seems as though Nightbird is stealing his thunder and his possibility of being the leader of the rag-tag band of humans wanting to get their towns back from the leftover armies of the destroyed demon dactyl. Nightbird is constantly making plans for skirmishes and for routes the band should take to which Roger thinks Nightbird wants to take control. Roger must be taught the big lesson of humility, if he wants all his townfolk to remain safe, and realize his own pride is getting in the way. Juraviel, Pony and Nightbird are just the teachers for that lesson.
On the other side of the land the Abellican Church led by Father Abbot Markwart have found and are torturing the Centaur Bradwarden. Yes Bradwarden lives! Markwart is out to make the hero Avelin Desbris, who gave his life destroying the demon dactyl, seem as though he joined the dactyl and died deceiving the humans. Master Jojonah knows different and begins to see that the Church is turning into a very dark force. Pony's adopted parents are held captive by Father Markwart in hopes to find the stolen magic stones of Pimaninicut which Avelin had "stolen."
Pony's Ex-Husband, the nobleman Conner Bildeborough, learns of this and seeks out Pony, known to him as Jilly, to warn her of the danger.
Once again GraphicAudio continues the "Movie in your mind" tale in the audio book with great acting and production. This time around I found myself fascinated by the sound effects of the horses. All sound effects of the horses in this production are perfectly placed. When they need to run they run when they stop they stop. During one battle it sounds as though they recorded an actual horse stomping in the skull of an actual giant. Very realistic. Giants don't really exist do they?
Labels: audio book, book review, books, corona, demon wars, demon wars saga, demons, elbryan, fantasy, high fantasy, pony, r.a. salvatore, the demon awakens, the demon spirit
posted by Gil T. @ 10:50 PM
"The Demon Spirit - Part 1" The Demon Wars Saga" by R. A. Salvatore
"The Demon Spirit - Part 1"
The Demon Wars Saga"
by R. A. Salvatore
Multicast production
Produced by Graphic Audio
Approx 5 hours.
R.A. Salvatore created a phenom in the Demon Wars Saga, spanning seven books and a role playing game. This saga of high fantasy in the Land of Corona is one of action and adventure equal to that of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy by Tolkien. In the first book, which Graphic Audio produced in audio form in three parts, the listener was introduced to the Heroes; Elbryan the Ranger, Jilesponie the warrior and wizard in training, Avelyn Desbris the Wizard Monk, Bradwarden the Centaur and Juravial the elf. The all went to battle the Demon Dactyl which had awakened and sent it's armies of dwarves/powries, goblins and giants into the Land of Corona to clear the way for the Demon to take command. Avelyn and Bradwarden and many humans lost their lives in destroying the Demon Dactyl and Elbryan and Pony returned to the humans in hopes the evil was gone.
Graphic Audio once again will knock you out of your socks with their superb audio production of this audio book. From the swords clanging to giant's skulls being bashed in to the screams of goblin agonies, Graphic Audio makes all the moments of battle or peace in this audio book seem as if they were recorded live and on the spot, placing you in the center of the action.
"The Demon Spirit - Part 1" tells the story of how after destroying the Demon Dactyl, Elbryan and Pony set off to return to their homeland hoping that the end of the Dactyl means the end of evil on the land. This is not the case, instead the armies of the Dactyl are now scattered throughout the land of Corona with no leader. The armies, giants and dwarves are wreaking havoc on the land. Elbryan and Pony meet up with Juraviel the elf and he tells them of how the Dactyl may have ruined the lands of the elves forever and that the humans could lose the battles with the leftover armies of the Dactyl. They then team up and decide to rid the land of the Demon Spirit left behind.
In the meantime the monks of St.-Mere-Abelle still believe that Avelyn Desbris has become in legion with the Dactyl and the monks set out to destroy Avelyn not knowing that he was the hero who destroyed the Dactyl. The monks head to the Barbicon and Mount Aida to recover the magic gemstones Avelyn stole from the monestary and to destroy Avelyn. When they arrive at the Barbicon a different story is told in the destruction that is found. But it seems the Demon Spirit has infiltrated the monks and maybe they don't want the truth to be know.
Great Production, Great acting and most of all a great story make this yet another Graphic Audio Production to seek out and enjoy.
Labels: centaurs, demon wars, demon wars saga, dwarves, elbryan, fantasy, giants, goblins, pony, r.a. salvatore, the demon spirit
posted by Gil T. @ 1:53 PM
