The Broken Man

The Rise of the Fisher King. Book 1

By: Hawkings Austin

Narrated by: Anthony Bell

A Shadow Man is stalking the children of Ard, leaving the dead lying in the forest with their eyes black pits. The people are in a panic, but the investigating Ruad philosophers have no explanation. Seeking someone to blame, the people of the ancient city of Ard demand the head of the most dangerous person in their midst, the giant Waylaid.

Once great among the Fomor - a prince, a sorcerer, a priest - Waylaid has been cast out by his people. He has come to Ard with his Bolg apprentice, Piju, to live quietly and study in Brea’s library. Can he escape the maddened crowed and find the killer without breaking his vow to give up sorcery?

And has he failed to teach his young and impetuous apprentice the most important lesson of them all, that the price of using sorcery is always too high?

©2021 Hawkings Austin (P)2022 Richard L. Altstatt

Good but not great

The story was very good overall, but it was difficult to get into. Many characters and a complex world that took time being fleshed out. I’d just as soon read the story, the reader was spotty sometimes extra loud and sometimes almost inaudible. Also the various voices were not well defined. The narration wasn’t terrible, but I’ve become accustomed to better. Still the story was worth while.