The Shining Ones

The Tamuli, Book 2

By: David Eddings

Narrated by: Kevin Pariseau

Years ago, the Child-Goddess Aphrael had hidden Bhelliom, the Stone of Power, at the bottom of the sea. Yet now it is needed again to stop a malign force from spreading evil and destruction across the lands. Sparhawk, Queen's champion, sets out to retrieve the Stone. But others seek the gem for their own diabolical ends. Most fearsome of these are the Shining Ones, whose mere touch melts human flesh from bone. Now Sparhawk finds himself stalked by these creatures out of myth...whose touch is all too real.©1994 Del Rey (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

The Shining Ones

Following the events of Domes of Fire, Pandion Knight Sir Sparhawk persuades a reluctant Aphrael to help him to retreive the Bellhiom, the mysterious jewel with which he destroyed the evil god Azash. Unfortunately the trip doesn't go quite as planned. Following the successful recovery of Bhelliom, the party are captured by the enigmatic Delphae, also known as the Shining Ones, who have an unusual request for Sparhawk and an offer of assistance. To that end they send their "princess" Xanetia who, like all Delphae, can sense the thoughts of those around her. But what are the true motives of the Delphae? And what of the ages-old feud between the Delphae and Styricum?
All in all this was an excellent story. The narrator's pronuncations of some of te names is a little off-putting but he at least reads with feeling. David Eddings' characteristic humor does come through in the reading. All in all this was a very interesting listen.

David has magic

With the knowledge of what god is a threat to the tamuli empire Sparhawk and his friends have to go out and get the one item that can fight the strength of a god. at the same time the queen starts to help the emperor overthrow his own government.

David here goes back to writing with two points of interest again. sparhawks adventure recovering the blue rose and his queens point of view as she helps uncover who is a undermining the government and how to overthrow it. this is where he excels I think. unlike his other books in the belgariad series where it was one persons story in each part here they are happening at the same time keeping things more linier.

Another great

Eddings is the master story teller! The characters are inviting and you get sucked in to the drama.

could have been much better

The book is great. The proformence was atrocious. And the musical interruptions are very erritating.

A cast of thousands in one narrator

I thought Kevin Pariseau did a great job with the first book in this series. Imagine my surprise when he stepped up his narrating game for the second book. He has the knack for interpreting the emotional intent of written conversations. So happy with this listen. Can’t wait to hear the next book in the series.