The Hidden City

The House War, Book 1

By: Michelle West

Narrated by: Eva Wilhelm

At last, the story fantasy fans have been waiting for!

The incredible story that fans of The Sun Sword series have been waiting to listen to - the battle for control of House Terafin.

Orphaned and left to fend for herself in the slums of Averalaan, Jewel Markess - Jay to her friends - meets an unlikely savior in Rath, a man who prowls the ruins of the undercity in search of artifacts and treasure. Nursing Jay back to health is an unusual act for a man who renounced his own family long ago, and the situation becomes stranger still when Jay begins to form a den of other rescued children in Rath’s home. But worse perils lurk beneath the slums: The demons that once nearly destroyed the Essalieyan Empire are stirring again, and soon Rath and Jay will find themselves targets of these deadly and ruthless beings.

©2007 Michelle Sagara (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Deep, dark, lovely

I had read this book once before, although not the series, and was very happy to see it on audible. I was drawn in immediately to the story and the characters, The author does a good job making you care about her characters, and the narrator does a good job portraying them. Then narrator did seem to get a little monotonous at times, but I'm not sure if that was entirely her fault, or the fault of the narration itself. The story was long and twisted, and if you aren't already familiar with this world that the author is creating, you needed some description and explanation. This series is a prequel to the Sun Sword series by the same author, but unfortunately it's not on audible. I am looking forward to listening to the rest of the House Wars series.

Excellent series

Excellent series, perfect narrator, and epic story. On my 4th reread/ listen. The characters are the best.

An unexpected gem.

Would you listen to The Hidden City again? Why?

A story like this is worth listening to again. The cast of characters is petty big and the mystery they weave is revealed slowly with lots of twists and turns.

What other book might you compare The Hidden City to and why?

I found this book similar to Kristen Britain's Green Rider. An excellent story with believable characters that you care very much about.

What does Eva Wilhelm bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The characters are richly presented. Through her narration I developed an emotional attachment to all of them.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

She reveals the difficult and challenging lives that these young children have endured. The author takes her characters through a number of "gut wrenching" situations that leave you emotionally drained.

Not an "easy" read, but definitely a rewarding one

What did you love best about The Hidden City?

I loved how easily I became engaged in the characters and the world that Michelle created. I think her characters seem very "real" and I wanted to know more about the history of all of them and what had made them who they were. Some were hard to like, some are easier to like, but I think that's true about real people.

I am especially interested in the "Hidden City" and I hope we learn more about it in the future, it was more of just a tease in this novel.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Maybe Teller. He's not that prominent but I like what he represents.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

A lot of moments in this book moved me. This story has a very visceral feel to it. It's hard to listen to sometimes, but it makes the characters more believable and gives them a lot of depth. In some ways Michelle's writing reminds me of George R. Martin, not afraid to go into the dark areas of life, showing how they shape a person.

Any additional comments?

I needed more of a "brain candy" book after this to lighten my mood, but I will use my next credit to get the next book in this series because I want to know what happens next.

Great new series

Terrific story, great characters, interesting local. Rich with action, back story and human emotions. Can't wait to hear the next book. The narrator was fine, not great. Too many voices sounded the same.