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The Outstretched Shadow
- The Obsidian Trilogy, Book 1
- Narrated by: Susan Ericksen
- Length: 30 hrs and 38 mins
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Publisher's Summary
Kellen Tavadon, son of the Arch-Mage Lycaelon, thought he knew the way the world worked. His father, leading the wise and benevolent Council of Mages, protected and guided the citizens of the Golden City of the Bells. Young Mages in training---all men, for women were unfit to practice magic---memorized the intricate details of High Magic and aspired to seats on the council.
Then Kellen found the forbidden Books of Wild Magic---or did they find him? Their Magic felt like a living thing, guided by the hearts and minds of those who practiced it and benefited from it. Questioning everything he has known, Kellen discovers too many of the City's dark secrets. Banished, with the Outlaw Hunt on his heels, Kellen invokes Wild Magic---and finds himself running for his life with a unicorn at his side.
Rescued by a unicorn, healed by a female Wild Mage who knows more about Kellen than anyone outside the City should, meeting Elven royalty and Elven warriors, and plunged into a world full of magical beings, Kellen both revels in and fears his new freedom. The one thing all the Mages of the City agreed on was that practicing Wild Magic corrupted a Mage---turned him into a Demon. Would that be Kellen's fate?
Deep in Obsidian Mountain, the Demons are waiting. Since their defeat in the last great War, they've been biding their time, sowing the seeds of distrust and discontent between their human and Elven enemies. Very soon now, when the Demons rise to make war, there will be no alliance between High and Wild Magic to stand against them. And then all the world will belong to the Endarkened.
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What listeners say about The Outstretched Shadow
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
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Performance
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- AvidReader91
- 07-13-15
Long, but enjoyable
I have read this book (and the rest of the series) several times since buying them in paperback a few years ago. The audio version highlighted a few flaws, such as the overly-long descriptions (especially of the various antagonists) and the very slow first half of the book. Susan Ericksen, however, is a fantastic narrator, and I thoroughly enjoyed listening. Kellen is presented as a youth who is dissatisfied with his life. Although he could easily have grown up as a spoiled brat, he thinks about the people around him and is indignant on their behalf as he learns about various ways in which the high mages take advantage of them.
One reviewer claims that Kellen acts like a 10-13 year old. I have two teenage boys, and I can only wish they showed the kind of concern for others I see in this character. Yes, he has doubts, but I don't see any evidence of the whining some others complain of. In fact, being handed one shock after another, being uprooted and having to make major adjustments in his life, he deals with it quite well for the most part.
The biggest problem with this book is the amount of repetition. Especially when Kellen is musing over a problem, injustice, or puzzle, the same questions and observations are repeated way too many times. It's almost like the authors are concerned the reader will forget something important, which is unfortunate.
I fully intend to get the next two books on audio. To avoid spoilers, I will only say that some of the story arcs resolve very interesting and surprising ways, and there are enough plot twists to keep the reader (or listener) guessing. Even with the occasionally too-wordy descriptions, the trilogy is carefully woven together, rich in detail, with characters that have motivations most of us can relate to.
28 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Helen Foster-Turner
- 01-27-11
Yes and no.
On the whole an enjoyable enough read but one thing bugged me no end, the never ending self doubt of the lead character. I get it, I do, but the teenage angst thing went on and on and got annoyingly repetitive. I felt it interfered with the pace of the book. The narrator is good but she has a slow delivery which fails to pick up speed and energy when the action gets going.
It is classic genre material and good enough in its class.
9 people found this helpful
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- QCLady
- 04-18-20
Good Story but gory / violent at Times
Love Mercedes Lackey, but when she teams up with Mallory, there is more emphasis on torture and graphic violence. The scenes become bloody, even horrific. So don’t mistake this for fiction appropriate for young adults. Yet the story line IS young adult. The main characters are teenagers at the start of the novels, the world building is very fantastical. It’s kids fighting great evil.
The writing is good, you get pulled into the story, and interesting enough to pull you along to the next book. Just wish the horror were toned down.
6 people found this helpful
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- Crystal
- 02-11-18
Great book, terrible narration
Any additional comments?
The narrator added so much extra inflection on every single word of every single sentence that it was highly distracting from the book. I persisted only because I have this as a paperback and have read it multiple times, and love the book. But even after listening to the entire book, the narration remains grating, irritating, and distracting. I just never got used to it.
4 people found this helpful
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- Travis Wulff
- 04-21-16
Great Series But Not The Best
What made the experience of listening to The Outstretched Shadow the most enjoyable?
The narrator has great inflections when she speaks. I really enjoy the sound of her voice and the attention to detail she gives each sentence.
What did you like best about this story?
The story had a nice plot but my favorite part of the book was the descriptions of how magic worked in the world
Have you listened to any of Susan Ericksen’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
I have not
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
No
Any additional comments?
The book is great, though sometimes it feels as though the authors tried a little hard to make the lexicon larger. Overall this book was great. Nevertheless the prose isn't top tier if that is important to you.
4 people found this helpful
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- Wesley
- 02-07-12
An interesting book on sword and sorcery.
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes. The authors have put together a well thought out world and many of the characters are above par.
Would you be willing to try another book from Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory ? Why or why not?
Yes. I was a little worried at the start and getting into the middle of this 1st book but it did pick up a little. The Narrator was noticeably too slow but thank the heavens that the Audible App on my Android phone has a setting to play it at 1.25x speed. This is one thing I wish my Kindle did and I'd have to warn someone who had a Kindle.
Would you listen to another book narrated by Susan Ericksen?
I am listening to the 2nd book in this series by her.
Any additional comments?
To casual fantasy readers you might not like the 1st book much. Kellen does a lot of, well....whining regarding his self doubt, inability to do this or that, and almost anything he can doubt himself about. Its mostly inner-monologue but that doesn't make it any better or any easier to listen to. His self-confidence is horrible.
The World in general that the authors have created has awesome potential. Already in the 2nd half of this book you start to see it and it gets better in the 2nd book. I hope the authors keep on this tangent but I've only listened to this 1st book in the series and now am in the middle of the 2nd.
4 people found this helpful
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- Holly
- 10-23-10
Absorbing drama
I thoroughly enjoyed this book...the reader is excellent...the plot is intriguing. It was so excellent I bought the second one (hint: even better). This is a very clever storyline, with well articulated characters that you care about. Warmly recommended series.
4 people found this helpful
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- Jarred
- 06-02-10
Fascinating World
This book dragged me in to its strange and wonderful world. I enjoyed the contrast of the two lifes Kellen lived and really the two worlds that existed in the book, that of Amathalia and the one outside it's gates. I like how the authors keep you guessing about Lycelons intentions, if he's innately evil and selfish. Or if his concerns actually have merit. I cant wait to listen to the next book in the series, so please Audible put out the last two books in this series.
8 people found this helpful
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- Ariel
- 05-25-10
Enjoyable
I greatly enjoyed this book. I was a little iffy about the narrator, as I'd gotten used to the one in the Enduring Flame series, but despite some of the different pronunciations, I liked her as well for the narrator. The story line was intriguing, and I'm more than ready for the next book. I want to hear more about Idalia and Jermayan, and more about Kellen and his newly found powers.
8 people found this helpful
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- Kindle Customer
- 04-25-15
can't wait for the rest of the books!
This first book has a dense and satisfying story. Well written so you know that the stories are relevant, each has its own people, tempo and purpose. And as you reach the last "act" all the stories become interwoven as you understand that without the beginnings the end would not have been possible.
I'm starting the next book now!
3 people found this helpful
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Overall

- G. English
- 07-08-10
Good book, slow reading
This is an enjoyable fantasy novel. It has some fairly traditional characters, but there are some new twists placed on fantasy regulars. In addition the investigations of the corrupting possibilities of power and choice make for some deeper thinking.
However do be sure to listen to the sample first. I found this so slow that I had to play it at fast speed on my ipod (and some words ran together), but that may just be my taste: try before you buy. If the narration had suited me better this would be 4 stars.
4 people found this helpful
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Overall

- Benny
- 04-07-13
The Obsidian Trilogy (3 Books)
I am including all 3 books in my review. The Outstretched Shadow, To Light a Candle, and When Darkness Falls. I cannot imagine anybody just reading one without absoliutely having to read the others.
The characters are so well drawn that they become live, and the plot is so intriguing, it is difficult to switch off.
This is one of those epics that you cannot leave alone until you have read it all, and yet you never want it to come to an end.
Val S.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall

- Ooshga
- 05-21-10
Thourghly enjoyable
I found this book to be a very intriguing first installment, it has all the usual character introductions and progresses nicely, there are some stereotypical characters that dont seem very original but is totaly forgivable considering the story just absorbs you in and makes you want to listen.
I found the narration more then acceptable, though the constant 'questioning' tone of voice did get a little frustrating sometimes. Overall though i did enjoy it, and i would certainly recommend it to any fans of this genre.
Give it a go!
2 people found this helpful
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Overall

- JEN
- 11-14-12
Very slow reading and missing pace in many places
I held high hopes for this book however found myself (as another reviewer mentioned) putting my iPod on top speed. The narrator, whilst clear is ponderous which coupled with long, detailed reflection by the main character drove to days of switching off and looking for other books to enjoy. I have finally finished the book and would only recommend if you enjoy a very slow pace. I have no inclination to find out what happened next.
1 person found this helpful
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- Fordy136
- 09-19-19
I just couldn't handle to rambling
I read the summary before buying and thought that the plot sounded good. I listened to it originally about 2 years ago and couldn't finish it. Making ot about half way through. This time I couldn't even complete an hour. I prefer faster pace stories. Where you slowly discover the new world for yourself. Not have it narrated continuously for an hour.
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- CeNedra Red
- 12-11-16
Idiot Main Character!
Would you try another book written by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory or narrated by Susan Ericksen?
I am in the middle of another of Mercedes Lackey's books, (a different series) so the answer is, Yes to that question. Not having read anything, (that I can remember) written by James Mallory, I don't know. As for listening to another book narrated by Susan Ericksen, most definitely. She was the best part of the experience, as far as I'm concerned.
Has The Outstretched Shadow put you off other books in this genre?
NO! I have read hundreds of books in this genre, and have come across many that were much worse than this one. I love this genre too much to be put off by the occasional pebble among the diamonds.
Which scene did you most enjoy?
Most of the scenes with Shalkan.
Do you think The Outstretched Shadow needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?
I know this is the first book in a trilogy, so I can honestly answer Yes. As to why/why not? I have to hope the main character, Kellen grows up and stops being such an idiot. That would make the books which follow this one much more enjoyable.
Any additional comments?
Because I like character based stories, I get very irritated when the main character is an idiot. Kellen spends way too much time second guessing himself, and agonizing over things he can't change and blaming himself for things over which he had no control. This constant angst constantly stalled the story, which would have been good otherwise. Even with evidence to the contrary, he continued in his silly belief in the words of people who had repeatedly proved themselves manipulative liars. Some of the other characters made up for the silly main character, but not enough to make this more than bearable to listen to. Susan Ericksen did a very commendable job of narrating what was, in my opinion a less than satisfactory book. I'll certainly be looking out for other books read by Ms Ericksen.
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- Kim
- 03-28-15
Well read
gripping in some parts. overall a very enjoyable experience. can be a bit repetitive but in some ways it added to the description of the characters feeling
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- Paul
- 01-21-15
a bit repetitive
The story is ok, a bit obvious though. The main gripe is the repetition, it's like listening to a politician making the same point over and over, but in different sentences. I found myself saying, "oh just get on with it!" I know the main character is young, but I did want to slap him at times and make him man up.
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- Amazon Customer
- 11-07-14
Why wont it let me download part 4
Would you try another book written by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory or narrated by Susan Ericksen?
not if audible only lets me have 3 parts out of 4
What could Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?
make audible release the full book
If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Outstretched Shadow?
the ending of part 3 where it tells me to download the next part
Any additional comments?
i'll get something else and hope its the whole book
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- Shotgunchewy
- 06-18-14
Nice
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
A nice easy to follow story
Who was your favorite character and why?
The Unicorn, he had a depth to him that I enjoyed.
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- Katy
- 06-27-17
different magics
good and bad mages, high magic, wild magic and truly evil magic demons and of course unicorns. loving it! no swearing blasphemy or sex. Plenty of fantasy. the only criticism is that sometimes its repetitive and slow moving. but 30 hours of words might explain that.
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- Shae
- 12-30-16
The narration is ok but the story drags
I didn't mind the narration though I don't think it's Susan Erickson's best work. But the plot is under developed and the book drags on massively. I'm a big fan of Mercedes Lackey but I couldn't stick with this. I was thoroughly bored.