The Waking Fire

The Draconis Memoria

By: Anthony Ryan

Narrated by: Steven Brand

The New York Times bestselling Raven’s Shadow Trilogy was a perfect read for “fans of broadscale epic fantasy along the lines of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series and George R. R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire novels.”* Now, Anthony Ryan begins a new saga, The Draconis Memoria...

Throughout the vast lands controlled by the Ironship Trading Syndicate, nothing is more prized than the blood of drakes. Harvested from captive or hunted Reds, Greens, Blues and Blacks, it can be distilled into elixirs that bestow fearsome powers on the rare men and women known as the Blood-blessed.

But not many know the truth: that the lines of drakes are weakening. If they fail, war with the neighboring Corvantine Empire will follow swiftly. The Syndicate’s last hope resides in whispers of the existence of another breed of drake, far more powerful than the rest, and the few who have been chosen by fate to seek it.

Claydon Torcreek is a petty thief and an unregistered Blood-blessed who finds himself pressed into service by the Protectorate and sent to wild, uncharted lands in search of a creature he believes is little more than legend. Lizanne Lethridge is a formidable spy and assassin facing gravest danger on an espionage mission deep into the heart of enemy territory. And Corrick Hilemore is the second lieutenant of an Ironship cruiser whose pursuit of ruthless brigands leads him to a far greater threat at the edge of the world.

As lives and empires clash and intertwine, as the unknown and the known collide, all three must fight to turn the tide of a coming war, or drown in its wake.


*Library Journal

Critic reviews

Praise for The Waking Fire

"A marvelous piece of imagination with plenty of twists, a refreshingly different setting, and excellent world-building. A great read."—Mark Lawrence, international bestselling author of The Wheel of Osheim

"The Waking Fire is part Indiana Jones, part Pirates of the Caribbean, and part Mistborn. It's got wonderful, memorable characters and great action...I loved it."—Django Wexler, author of The Guns of Empire

"A fascinating world run mostly by corporations, where much of the power comes from dragon blood, provides a compelling backdrop for this sprawling epic fantasy...Breakneck pacing and sheer wonder keep the story compelling."—Locus

"Ryan handily juggles draconic fantasy, espionage, and steampunk naval fiction with realism and effortless skill."—Publishers Weekly

Praise for the Raven’s Shadow trilogy

“All fantasy readers should rejoice.”—Michael J. Sullivan, author of Age of Myth

“Ryan hits all the high notes of epic fantasy.”—Publishers Weekly

“A powerful epic.”—SFFWorld.com

“Heroic epic fantasy.”—Fantasy Book Critic

“A page-turner.”—Booklist

There are Narrators and there are reciters

Any additional comments?

Anthony Ryan is a brilliant and imaginative writer. His world-building is exquisite and his characters are unforgettable.

I plan on reading this book, SOMEDAY, as I can do a much better job of interpreting Ryan's words in my own head rather than listening the boring, monotone, word-slurring Steven BLAND.

I found myself rewinding constantly as I attempted to decipher names that Brand had mumbled. I still don't know what the names of the main characters. Not kidding.

I listen to audiobooks to stay awake on my hour-long commute every morning and afternoon. Steven Brand's voice was putting my life at risk.

Steampunk vocabulary is brilliant when read with zeal, word soup if it is simply recited.

I will be returning this audiobook and purchasing it for Kindle. Anthony Ryan deserves a second chance. Steven Brand will never get another from me.

To say I am disappointed is an understatement. I loved the Raven's Shadow series. This is an absolute shame.

Loved it!

Can't wait for book 2. I really enjoyed the face that it was not the usual sword and sorcery story. It has a new and fresh "magic" system and it's kind of a steam punk feel as well

Great Book!

Never a dull moment and is just as good as the Raven Shadow series. I would recommend this book to others

wonderful

great story, well read, good dialogue. i thoroughly enjoyed this book. I can't wait for the next one.

Bad voice actor

The story was on the stronger side, but the voice actor really took me out of it. Accent and diction was good, but one monotone voice the whole time with the same voice for all characters and no excitement even during battle scenes made it feel boring.