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Slathbog's Gold
- Adventurers Wanted, Book 1
- Narrated by: E. B. Stevens
- Length: 10 hrs and 49 mins
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Publisher's Summary
Do you have the courage, the wits, and the skill to claim a dragon's hoard? If so, apply within . . . The sign is small, tucked into the corner of Mr. Clutter's bookshop window: “Adventurers Wanted. Apply Within.” No one but fifteen-year-old Alex Taylor even seems to notice it is there. And for Alex, who has wished for a change in his life, it is an irresistible invitation.Upon entering Mr. Clutter's shop, Alex is swept away on an incredible adventure to a faraway land filled with heroic warriors, mysterious elves, and hard-working dwarves. Alex becomes the eighth man in a band of adventurers seeking the lair of Slathbog the Red - an evil dragon with a legendary treasure. Along the way, Alex and his new friends must battle dangerous trolls and bandits, face undead wraiths, and seek the wisdom of the Oracle in her White Tower. Alex's adventure takes him to distant and exotic lands where he learns about courage, integrity, honor, and, most importantly, friendship.
Critic Reviews
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What listeners say about Slathbog's Gold
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Roy
- 01-24-14
Great Story!
We picked this book up in a bookstore for my 11 year old son and after he read this one and the next in the series, I asked how he liked them...his faced lit up and he went on and on about magic and elves, swords and wizards. I love a good fantasy novel, so I decided to give it a try on Audible. Wow! Great story, great performance! EB Stevens did a fantastic job of mixing different accents, octaves, and tones to make each character their own. Well done and highly recommend it to anyone!
15 people found this helpful
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- C. Smith
- 03-01-19
Annoying!!
The main character is a lucky, insincere, wimp. The majority of this story readers travel with a group of interesting characters and meet elf, dwarf and other ostensible characters. Each of these characters tells Alex the MC, that he is special. And each time Alex basically responds, “Aw shucks, me?” Along the way he picks up a magical sword which takes over him and turns him into a killer that saves the day.
Alex never makes a difficult decision, is never put to the test, never takes responsibility- he’s just all about luck and annoying false humility.
The author and reader uses great voices for his characters, but his narration is annoying. Every narrated sentence includes over extended syllables. “Alex was suuuure to eat his hooot soup.” This is the first time I have ever counted down the minutes until the end of an audio book.
7 people found this helpful
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- Ryan
- 08-13-13
Great book for all ages. Hard to put down
Where does Adventurers Wanted, Book 1 rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
This is a book that is great for kids and adults. I really enjoyed it and it was very well put together. Already 3/4 down with book 2 and it is as good as the first one.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Alex Taylor is a must for the best characters. He has honor without measure.
Have you listened to any of E. B. Stevens’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
No first time I have listened to E.B. Steven's but will keep listening to him going forward.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes the way the world was built with the limits on magic and adventures was great.
5 people found this helpful
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- Renée
- 05-05-18
Pretty pretty good but
it's like they put the hobbit and Lord of the rings in fable haven into one trash compactor smashed it all up and pulled out the worst parts of each and put them into this book no original story and the main character is Way too powerful you don't give your main character everything this could've been a one person adventure all the other characters just said hi and let the horses and explained what was going on overall not bad but why write a book if you can't write an original story
4 people found this helpful
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- Eriedragon
- 05-27-15
Transparent story, but entertaining just the same.
What did you love best about Adventurers Wanted, Book 1?
Overall the series was entertaining and fun. It was well performed and easy to follow.
Any additional comments?
I did not realize when I bought the series that it was tagged for teens. I bought it under the Fantasy Genre and it was obvious fairly quickly that the book was not going to be thrilling and challenging. It was entertaining. But there were some very big mechanical problems with the Adventurer's Bags in particular. They were extremely overpowered and underutilized. Plus there would have been some great opportunities to use the bags that were never realized. Plus, Alex gained far too much power too quickly and then obvious magical solutions were overlooked in lieu of mundane plots.
I know that some of this is just trying to keep it simple for the teen market, but some was just bad planning and plotting on the Author's part.
Overall it was fun and upbeat and I don't regret giving it a listen, but it is no WoT or GoT.
9 people found this helpful
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- Russ Comstock
- 10-18-14
Thrilling and kept me looking forward to the next
Would you listen to Adventurers Wanted, Book 1 again? Why?
Yes, To look for anything I missed the first time.
Who was your favorite character and why?
The lead character Alex
Have you listened to any of E. B. Stevens’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
Yes, He has a lot of diversity
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
No, Just kept me engaged for hours.
3 people found this helpful
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- Daniel Kelly
- 08-07-14
This was one great book very fun and upbeat
Would you consider the audio edition of Adventurers Wanted, Book 1 to be better than the print version?
Yes the narrator did a spot on job he was great loved the audiobook was just wonderful
What was one of the most memorable moments of Adventurers Wanted, Book 1?
The whole book was good can't pick just one
What does E. B. Stevens bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Brings it to life
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes
3 people found this helpful
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- Scott Gartland
- 09-27-15
Awful
The narrator always spoke with an excited breathlessness that was not fun to listen to. He made all the characters chuckle as they spoke even when it was apparent from the writing that the character was a very serious one.
The story was also ridiculously convenient for the main character. No real conflict because he always somehow won out for no reason other than that he is the main character. I am sad that I wasted a credit.
8 people found this helpful
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- Wendy
- 05-25-15
A Great Adventure!
My teen kids and I really enjoy this genre, and this book didn't disappoint us! We can't wait to hear the next book in the series. Narration was very good, and the story line was well thought out and exciting. Plenty of foreshadowing to future events, I've already bought the next two books in the series!
2 people found this helpful
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- coryterrie
- 07-25-14
A Most Excellent Adventure
Where does Adventurers Wanted, Book 1 rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
This was an outstand start for M. L. Forman. I bought this book for my kids, 8-16, and when I saw their enthusiam for the story, decided to give it a try. I was very impressed with the pace of the book, a great blend of action, suspense, learning, and all the time character building. This is right up there with some of my favorite teenage fantasies. I liked it much better than the Wheel of Time series. Call me crazy.
Any additional comments?
If you are looking to start a series, this is a great choice. After just finishing book 4 I find myself hoping the adventure does not end with book 5. Great characters and plots. Full of magic. Now if I could just get one of those magic bags.
2 people found this helpful
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- Miss Tracy Booth
- 07-23-16
For any adventurer
This has been added to my favourite series of books ie one I have listened to again and will do so again, so this sits alongside other greats such has Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Sharpe, Hornblower and Artemis Fowl.
Has a good bit of myth, magic humour and suspense to keep any adventurer happy what ever taste, there's dwalfs, Elves, dragons and magic. It will keep you listening & yo
you will want to come back for the next story then the next.
Spoiler alert there's no unicorns or romance just a good old adventure story.
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- GT
- 08-04-13
"Questioned" is not a synonym for "asked"!
If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?
R2D2
What could M. L. Forman have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?
Not used the word "questioned" instead of "asked", or better yet, "said", at every possible opportunity!
Not been so gratuitously derivative of Tolkien that I daren't allow my kids to read it in case they think Tolkien copied Forman (assuming I’m prepared to run the risk of them catching the "questioned" disease, which I'm not).
Not used adjectives instead of adverbs, or better yet, dialogue - rather than writing "he said (questioned!) in an angry tone", write "he said angrily", or preferably have him say something that lets the reader know he's angry!
And finally, the totally flat characters - the protagonist who rapidly develops virtually godlike powers, to the apparent total lack of surprise or envy of any of the other characters, all of whom are wholly interchangeable.
Would you be willing to try another one of E. B. Stevens’s performances?
Yes, but it would be despite, and not because of, being a Stevens performance.
You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?
The book was mildly entertaining and there were a couple of original and imaginative ideas. I'd try one more in the hope that, having exhausted most of Tolkien's major themes, Forman might find his own voice.
Any additional comments?
The wooden delivery and entirely gratuitous French, Russian and German accents deserve a special mention - although it strikes me that the narrator was desperately looking for a way to differentiate the many featureless characters.
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- alan
- 11-14-13
Trouble getting to sleep? Listen to this
If you could sum up Adventurers Wanted, Book 1 in three words, what would they be?
Awful plots and irksome characters. The character's are made so unbelievable by the poor performance of the narrator. All the characters voices sounded so identical I had a hard time guessing who was who.
Who was your favorite character and why?
None... All the characters may well have had the same name, because they all sounded the alike. Maybe they were all related, who knows!
What does E. B. Stevens bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
An annoying attempt at an Irish accent, that sounds more like a Swedish Jamaican Scott.
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I did laugh and cry... Cried when I punched myself in the eye when I got past the first chapter; and laughed when I got my credit back.
Any additional comments?
As I used my iPad I was unable to listen to a sample of the audiobook, as Audible had taken this function away from their mobile site- something which they have reinstated now, so I thought I would give it a go, how surprised I was. The story is a particularly bad take on the hobbit. The characters were flat and lifeless and uninteresting, and the story is sluggish and moves slowly to its unexciting conclusion.
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The Horn of Moran
- Adventurers Wanted, Book 2
- By: M. L. Forman
- Narrated by: E. B. Stevens
- Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
The land of Alusia is on the brink of war as two men have each claimed the throne. Only the true king can sound the Horn of Moran and prove his nobility. But the Horn has been lost for years. If it is not found - and soon - it could mean the destruction of an entire nation. It wasn’t that long ago that young Alexander Taylor embarked on his first adventure, where he discovered he was a wizard and destroyed the fearsome dragon, Slathbog.
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Alex goes on a second successful adventure. He is becoming a fine wizard..
- By Fran on 11-19-17
By: M. L. Forman
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The Letter for the King
- By: Tonke Dragt, Laura Watkinson - translator
- Narrated by: Matt Addis
- Length: 15 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
It is the dead of night. Sixteen-year-old Tiuri must spend hours locked in a chapel in silent contemplation if he is to be knighted the next day. But, as he waits by the light of a flickering candle, he hears a knock at the door and a voice desperately asking for help. A secret letter must be delivered to King Unauwen across the Great Mountains - a letter upon which the fate of the entire kingdom depends. Tiuri has a vital role to play, one that might cost him his knighthood.
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Very different from the Netflix series.
- By Mary on 05-29-20
By: Tonke Dragt, and others
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The Dragon and the George
- By: Gordon R. Dickson
- Narrated by: Paul Boehmer
- Length: 10 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
Through no fault of his own, the once human Jim Eckert had become a dragon. Unfortunately, his beloved Angie had remained human. But in this magical land anything could happen. To make matter worse, Angie had been taken prisoner by an evil dragon and was held captive in the impenetrable Loathly Tower. So in this land where humans were edible and beasts were magical - where spells worked and logic didn't-- Jim Eckert had a big, strange problem.
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At long last!
- By mary on 09-25-14
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Wielder's Awakening
- Wielder Trilogy: Book One
- By: T. B. Christensen
- Narrated by: Malk Williams
- Length: 12 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
A king grappling with personal tragedy prepares his army to save his kingdom. A restless princess seeks love and adventure. In the middle of it all is Traven, a poor, ambitious peasant who dreams of being more than a simple woodcutter and unknowingly holds the key to saving the world.
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pointless
- By Andrew on 01-24-19
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The Phoenix Unchained
- Book One of The Enduring Flame
- By: Mercedes Lackey, James Mallory
- Narrated by: William Dufris
- Length: 13 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After 1,000 years of peace, much Magick has faded from the world. The Elves live far from humankind. There are no High Mages, and Wild Mages are seen only rarely. Bisochim, a powerful Wild Mage, is determined to reintroduce Darkness to the world, believing that it is out of Balance.
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Love lackey but can’t stand the narrator
- By lahlahlilly on 10-05-18
By: Mercedes Lackey, and others
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Servant of the Crown
- Heir to the Crown, Book 1
- By: Paul J Bennett
- Narrated by: Greg Patmore
- Length: 12 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
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Performance
-
Story
Tragedy tears Gerald's world apart, and only his unwavering loyalty to the Baron of Bodden saves him. After serving as a soldier for years, a single act of self-sacrifice thrusts his future into the world of politics. Cut off from all he knows, he becomes no more than a pawn to those in command. Banished with little more than the clothes on his back, he seeks a new purpose, for what is a warrior who has nothing left to fight for?
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Well written and interesting
- By Kevin Potter on 05-24-19
By: Paul J Bennett
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The Horn of Moran
- Adventurers Wanted, Book 2
- By: M. L. Forman
- Narrated by: E. B. Stevens
- Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The land of Alusia is on the brink of war as two men have each claimed the throne. Only the true king can sound the Horn of Moran and prove his nobility. But the Horn has been lost for years. If it is not found - and soon - it could mean the destruction of an entire nation. It wasn’t that long ago that young Alexander Taylor embarked on his first adventure, where he discovered he was a wizard and destroyed the fearsome dragon, Slathbog.
-
-
Alex goes on a second successful adventure. He is becoming a fine wizard..
- By Fran on 11-19-17
By: M. L. Forman
-
The Letter for the King
- By: Tonke Dragt, Laura Watkinson - translator
- Narrated by: Matt Addis
- Length: 15 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It is the dead of night. Sixteen-year-old Tiuri must spend hours locked in a chapel in silent contemplation if he is to be knighted the next day. But, as he waits by the light of a flickering candle, he hears a knock at the door and a voice desperately asking for help. A secret letter must be delivered to King Unauwen across the Great Mountains - a letter upon which the fate of the entire kingdom depends. Tiuri has a vital role to play, one that might cost him his knighthood.
-
-
Very different from the Netflix series.
- By Mary on 05-29-20
By: Tonke Dragt, and others
-
The Dragon and the George
- By: Gordon R. Dickson
- Narrated by: Paul Boehmer
- Length: 10 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Through no fault of his own, the once human Jim Eckert had become a dragon. Unfortunately, his beloved Angie had remained human. But in this magical land anything could happen. To make matter worse, Angie had been taken prisoner by an evil dragon and was held captive in the impenetrable Loathly Tower. So in this land where humans were edible and beasts were magical - where spells worked and logic didn't-- Jim Eckert had a big, strange problem.
-
-
At long last!
- By mary on 09-25-14
-
Wielder's Awakening
- Wielder Trilogy: Book One
- By: T. B. Christensen
- Narrated by: Malk Williams
- Length: 12 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A king grappling with personal tragedy prepares his army to save his kingdom. A restless princess seeks love and adventure. In the middle of it all is Traven, a poor, ambitious peasant who dreams of being more than a simple woodcutter and unknowingly holds the key to saving the world.
-
-
pointless
- By Andrew on 01-24-19
-
The Phoenix Unchained
- Book One of The Enduring Flame
- By: Mercedes Lackey, James Mallory
- Narrated by: William Dufris
- Length: 13 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After 1,000 years of peace, much Magick has faded from the world. The Elves live far from humankind. There are no High Mages, and Wild Mages are seen only rarely. Bisochim, a powerful Wild Mage, is determined to reintroduce Darkness to the world, believing that it is out of Balance.
-
-
Love lackey but can’t stand the narrator
- By lahlahlilly on 10-05-18
By: Mercedes Lackey, and others
-
Servant of the Crown
- Heir to the Crown, Book 1
- By: Paul J Bennett
- Narrated by: Greg Patmore
- Length: 12 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Tragedy tears Gerald's world apart, and only his unwavering loyalty to the Baron of Bodden saves him. After serving as a soldier for years, a single act of self-sacrifice thrusts his future into the world of politics. Cut off from all he knows, he becomes no more than a pawn to those in command. Banished with little more than the clothes on his back, he seeks a new purpose, for what is a warrior who has nothing left to fight for?
-
-
Well written and interesting
- By Kevin Potter on 05-24-19
By: Paul J Bennett
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A Bad Spell in Yurt
- The Royal Wizard of Yurt
- By: C. Dale Brittain
- Narrated by: Eric Vincent
- Length: 12 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
The tiny kingdom of Yurt is the perfect place - or so it seems - for someone who barely managed to graduate from the wizards' school, especially after all that embarrassment with the frogs. But Daimbert, newly hired Royal Wizard of Yurt, senses an evil spell at work. But who could be responsible? The beautiful young queen? Her flighty aunt? The dour chaplain? The old, retired Royal Wizard, who seems to know more than he's saying? Or someone from out of the castle's past?
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Eric Vincent did a great job
- By Connie on 10-22-13
By: C. Dale Brittain
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The Secrets of the Wild Wood
- By: Tonke Dragt
- Narrated by: Matt Addis
- Length: 17 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
One of the King's most trusted knights has vanished in the snow, so young Sir Tiuri and his best friend Piak must journey into the shadowy heart of the forest to find him. The Wild Wood is a place of mysteries, rumors, and whispered tales. A place of lost cities, ancient curses, robbers, princesses, and Men in Green. As the darkness surrounds him and reports grow of secret plots and ruthless enemies, Tiuri finds himself alone and fighting for survival - caught in a world where good and evil wear the same face.
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I loved this book!
- By