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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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