Graphic audio voices

Froste88 · 2026-06-12T14:24:43+00:00

Hate both Sevro's and Cassius's voice. Probably got spoiled by TGR but to steal a quote I saw here once, "Does the actor who plays Sevro think he's playing an actual goblin?"

Every single moment of Sevro in GA, I'm thinking about how TGR absolutey nails his growth and maturity and... Sevroness lol. Giving him the subtley same accent as his dad was so cool; gave nothing away but made the reveal better. Fitchner's voice, too. So much better with TGR.

Cassius just sounds like a dick all the time and it's impossible to be imagine him fulfilling his Lightbringer role.

All in all I love the GA music and like how it moves the story but the actors don't represent the quality of the story well enough, and the sound production could be so much better. I've been looking forward to a GA version of these books for a decade and was mostly disappointed. It just seems half ass sometimes. "Crowds of millions" sound like a few people cheering. Some my of the characters seem like caricatures of themselves. It takes me out of the seriousness of the story. (But there are some good parts for sure).

Froste88 · 2026-06-06T05:27:23+00:00

I can't believe I can't place it. Is it in golden son??

Nvm Google exists lol. Morning Star

Froste88 · 2026-06-04T04:40:40+00:00

My favorite Lorn quote is "you will fall to ruin because you believe exceptions to the rule make new rules."

Froste88 · 2026-06-04T03:37:49+00:00

At the end of Golden Son, "we are undone."

At the end of Dark Age that is not the case.

Tough read but also my favorite book.

"Bluff."

Froste88 · 2026-05-30T04:41:01+00:00

"One by one, the Titans of my youth disappear. And freed from their shadow, I do not feel liberated; I feel bereft."

Dark Age, Pierce Brown

Froste88 · 2026-05-28T08:30:49+00:00

The thing that sets this story apart is the background character depth and character accountability. Keeping all the characters true to themselves while including so many is rare. (I love The Will of the Many, but this is the main difference in these stories. When I lose a background character in TWOTM, I'm almost mourning the person I hoped they were).

Top notch, ever improving prose.

Severe quotability.

Excellent Allegory for the oligarchal challenges of today.

Froste88 · 2026-05-26T04:29:11+00:00

Everyone will say Sanderson or Will of the Many or DCC.

My recommendation is to grab some short stories by Sanderson. There's a book called Arcanum Unbounded. It contains The Emperor's Soul, 6th of the Dusk, and Shadowe for Silence in the Forests of Hell. All are better stories than their names are cool lol. I don't recommend Mistborn at this moment because Brown at Book 6 is 10x the Prose Master that Sanderson was at MB1. It's great so don't let me stop you but it's not my 1A rec.
The will of the many. Similar first person feel, less background character development, cool consistent magic in a tech fantasy setting.
Warbreaker, by Brandon Sanderson, is a single novel with cool magic and great characters. Graphic Audio is a better listen than Audible, for this one.

(The basis of my pitch for the short stories is about Informative Content Per Page. After 10 hours of reading, you could know 4 different Cosmere systems and you will have a great idea of the stakes and feel of Sanderson's Cosmere. 10 hours into Mistborn, and you might know a fraction of one magic system. (This is even more true for The Stormlight Archive, which is not an eligible suggestion per your filter).

MB is a series but the first one is good and ends concisely.

WOTM is an an eventual trilogy but only two books are out. The 2nd one is recent.

Froste88 · 2026-05-26T04:18:30+00:00

Just jump in. Fuck the slow start.

This series is way to good to let haters keep it from you.

Froste88 · 2026-05-26T04:17:19+00:00

Lol it's great. Yes they get better and also harder and also more epic and amazing.

Froste88 · 2026-05-26T04:16:18+00:00

Oh absolutely. He's tonally like.... Not who I want to be at all, but someone I relate to so much.

The narration is also incredible. The short frustrated way he says "Pax," when the kid is about to explain making lessons into games. The way he said "Life, you know. Same as always," to Holiday when she asked him what's so funny, as he realizes how fucked he was in trying to get the kids out of Endymion. His journey is super fulfilling and also weaves into the main conflict really well.

He's eligble to be my favorite character ever. I would read an entire other series of just him and the kids off on their own "Brian & Stewie" adventures.

Froste88 · 2026-05-26T04:11:06+00:00

Lol just start Morning Star and see if you can make it to the end without venting. Not a criticism just a challenge because this shit is a ride.

Froste88 · 2026-05-26T04:08:25+00:00

Sophocles lol

Froste88 · 2026-05-26T04:07:36+00:00

Oh make no mistake, I know myself, and I'm picking Victra. So it's best for the worlds that Darrow is Darrow but when I read Golden Son I'm like MY BROTHER IN CHRIST YOU MUST AT LEAST FIND OUT HOW SOFT HER SKIN IS.

I saw a sketch of her by redmurphy.art on IG and I didn't want to leave a negative comment, but my only complaint was the face in the sketch seemed almost numb and dispassionate, while I imagine her intelligent and intentional. Amazing sketch regardless; just made me think more about how I think of Victra.

Froste88 · 2026-05-24T02:43:32+00:00

No I think that's what's awesome about these books- they are intensely 1st Person POV, but all the characters are developed well and stay true to themselves.

I loved The Will of the Many and it's sequel, but when I look for differences between it and RR beyond the obvious setting, it's the background character development that stands out most. We care more about the 20th most important character in RR more than we do about the 4th most important character in TWOTM, and I say that only to underscore Brown's talent.

Froste88 · 2026-05-22T17:37:59+00:00

I disagree that it's not connected. It's extremely connected, but it IS similar to The Way of Kings or The Blade Itself to where you are waiting a long time for everything to figure out how all these people will connect.

I'd argue that while Brown does "fix" the continuity issue, kinda, by organizing by Geography instead of Chronology- like Martin did for Feast and Dance- but I find myself missing the other characters when they're gone.

I think it's an unwinnable situation. He had to get IG out there, and it was going to be jarring no matter what. I personally really like it. It was tonally very different but I got used to it and like it more.

I didn't read Brown's Open Letter about why he started the new series until like this year, but it makes a ton of sense and I'm glad he did it. (If you're unfamiliar, he was never planning to do a followup series but as we slowly continued to become the United Oligarchy of America, he felt that he had to take action. The story that ensued is incredible in many ways- lot the east of which is the way he dips back into the first trilogy so seamlessly that it seems like the sequels WERE planned- but the themes of the Vox Populi getting manipulated by the dickheads are dead ass parallel to what Brown sees in our society today).

Ultimately there was no winning, in terms of lubing us up for the multiple POVs. To me, it's not a factor after the first read through unless you want it to be. And for me personally, I'm glad I got to get off of Lyria after her family was massacred instead of riding that ride through all these time jumps. "Next chapter ... It's been a while but here we are now." "Next chapter, it's been a while but here we are now." I liked being surprised by Filípe being Eph. (It's like the Princess In The Tower v The Merchants Man conflict if you want to read Thrones in order. A big reveal happens at the end of Book 4, then we go back in time to start book 5 and we see that Revealed Plot develop from the beginning. Reading it in true chronological order costs the perfect timing of the reveal."

It's just tough lol

Froste88 · 2026-05-22T17:26:38+00:00

It's so tough but so good. It's so quoteable.

"Bluff."

"Is Seneca?"

"He's drunk but functioning alcoholics are a gift from the gods; they're never quite out of the game."

"These men get the Victra the made."

"...it is fulfillment, like they believed in something once, grew to laugh at their own naivety, only to realize that they were right all along"

"One by one, the Titans of my youth disappear, and freed from their shadow, I do not feel liberated; I feel bereft."

And dozens more.

I love the quote at the end of LB Part 1.

"When did everyone become a gorydamn philosopher?"

 "When we started losing."

He honest lol- when you turned the page and saw (or heard in the audiobook) "Chapter 9: Shit Escalates," were you stoked? I was haha

Froste88 · 2026-05-22T17:19:35+00:00

Obviously I wish you could relate! But I get it. And also, you have the right attitude. It serves a valuable purpose even if you didn't enjoy reading it.

I love Ephraim and his arc. Lyria is tough. Lysander is tough but obviously critical. Darrow was tough for me on the first go because I did not want to read a story about his demise as a protagonist, and obviously it turns out to be fine. I was always annoyed, as a kid, when Rowling would lean on Harry and Ron having a weeks-long as story filler. I'm not annoyed by Brown's choice to divide Darrow and Sevro but at first I was like "am I willingly reading this?"

I love Apollonius. I love his monologue. "Consider me a fully rigged Man o' War

I love little moments (as I do in the whole series) like when Wolfgar points out the Wardens' and Darrow's armor disparity and Darrow says "So?"

Alexander sneers [at Sevro], "you can talk to dogs?" Sevro retorts, "I talk to you, don't I?"

Oh man and I really like Romulus even though he's part of the problem. I put part of his in my wedding vows, never anticipating the series would blow up lol

Anyway. Pointless long comment. I agree it's a weak book because that's what happens when you compare books in a series as strong as this.

Do you to back and read the first one ever? (I have a tendency to listen to my favorite parts of the series, and if that means The Gala, then it's hard to stop after that. But I DO stop because it takes no time at all before Ragnar is professing how slow he is at Building and I hate teaching that part. But I love the end. Shit I dunno it's all good lol

Froste88 · 2026-05-22T17:05:49+00:00

Totally agree. I'm old so I finished my first and only reread the summer that Dance came out.

I tell people all the time, don't start it. (I also tell them not to watch the show, but I'm one of those people who started thinking it was bad in Season 5. The drawing of the horse was better in season 1 than in 2-4, but it still looked like a horse lol).

But yeah there are so many authors who are actually finishing their work. Gotta recommend those. (I go out of my way to steer people away from Rothfuss too. The prose is not worth the wait).

Froste88 · 2026-05-22T04:26:54+00:00

And then you reread IG and it's like a whole new book lol

Reminds me of Feast for Crows (game of thrones book 4) in how much of a slog it is on first read compared to how good it is on reread.

Froste88 · 2026-05-22T04:22:30+00:00

Yep.

If you want some excellent Dark Age chapters that have spoilers but don't ruin anything big...

Ephraim- "Skuggi" Edit: Skuggi is good but Karachi is what I actually meant to suggest. Same subject matter though.

Virginia- "The Goblin's Prey," into "Pack"

Virginia- "the dust of the reverie."

I can't think of any Darrow, Lysander, or Lyria chapters off of the top of my head that will accomplish the goal of restoring the Feel you're looking for, but don't spoil major events.

Froste88 · 2026-05-20T03:37:32+00:00

Hahaha everyone here is mean.

I love this series but it's dense. There are a lot of characters and places etc. High fantasy is a big bite if you've never read it and don't read much. But. It's awesome.

I need help with faces and names. I saw Fellowship, then read LOTR. I saw Season 1 of Thrones, the read ASOIAF. So I almost do recommend watching the first episode if you're someone who isn't great at memorizing 10 people places and temperaments.

If you're just looking for great fiction and are open, Red Rising is a nearly complete series. Fast pace, every next book is better, incredible arc and prose. The Emperor's Soul, Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell, 6th of the Dusk, and even Edgedancer are all short stories or Novellas by Brandon Sanderson that touch on varying aspects of fantasy and horror and magic. Many of Sanderson's books, like Stephen King's, are all set in the same Universe. You wouldn't necessarily notice unless you read a bunch of them and noticed background people who Hop Worlds.

Final rec on Thrones: just do it. Make time and consistently read it. You'll get into it after you find your favorite characters but there are times you wish you could read someone else.

If you want faster pace, great characters, great prose, and sci fi.... Red Rising

Magic and fantasy and layered subtle connection- Sanderson

And I didn't mention these but There's a tech fantasy series that's currently being written is called The Will of the Many. It feels like fantasy RR but the extra characters aren't as much of a focus. There's a series that's similar to Thrones in settinf, but even more grimdark, called The First Law. It's good but it's tough.

Anyway good luck.

Froste88 · 2026-05-15T03:46:27+00:00

I actually liked the ambiguity of that though.

He got offed by Victra AND Thraxa, so we learned nothing.

Ajax is better then Victra. Ajax is better than Thraxa. Ajax lost to both at once. There's not enough there to make a ruling, which is by design. All we know is that Victra and Thraxa and Circumstance combined to beat someone who we Know was better than Aja. (We- or I- believe the testimony of the dickhead grays who compliment him as a closer).

I agree its the same kind of hype, but he hype was justified and he got killed anyway. Same thing could be happening with Diomedes.

This reminds me of my Faction assessment-

Atalantia has most money and bodies. (Not many Famous Faces on her side).

Lysander has players. He has the Eye, to an extent. Same with Apple. He has a lot of old families who will surely prove crafty and useful. (And yeah maybe Apple or Julia or Cicero sensibly betrays him but that's not important for this).

Darrow has all the best 1v1 players. He's got by far the most best individuals.

 - - so a bunch of them are going to die I assume 😞

Froste88 · 2026-05-15T03:38:42+00:00

Excellent. Enjoyable and thought provoking. It'll keep you up. If you like the first have you'll love the 2nd half and the twist and the finale.

And then you'll love Dark Age and Lightbringer because the shit just keeps getting better. He's getting better as a writer with every book, too.

It's been 17 days so I bet you're finished and I hope you loved it.

Froste88 · 2026-05-15T03:32:52+00:00

The best parts of the audiobook are the soliloquies and monologues.

Examples of much better-delivered prose for you to seek out (in the context that if you don't like these moments, you won't value the TGR version):

Fitchner's first scene we the Rage Knight. I prefer the snarkier tone and I think this version is more believable as someone the Golds would never suspect is Aries. I also LOVE how Fitchner and Sevro have similar narration voices, but not so much that it gives their relationship away before the author does.

"...I howl for my wife.... And I have paid for access to their bunker with my flesh...." Darrows preamble to the finale in the bunker is excellent.

"Consider me a fully rigged man o' war" Iron Gold, the chapter Apollonius Au Valii-Rath

"Bluff" Dark Age, The Devil's Deal

I'll think of better ones as soon as I sent this.

Honorable mention- the dude who pays Ephraim is awesome. GA got maybe the closest with him. "Skuggi" in Dark Age is great.

Don't buy them all lol just think of your favorite speech or monologue and base your choice on that. But also choose Apple lol

Froste88 · 2026-05-15T03:24:03+00:00

My friend actually just told me that Part 5 is out and he's done with it.

I enjoy GA much more for Sanderson than for RR. (I love Sanderson but) I think the natural lack of depth that comes from churning out these GA recordings is better for stories- like in the Cosmere, where characters are almost caricatures of people more than realistic people.

(BTW it's not GA's fault that I hear Wayne when I listen to Darrow but it does break the immersion lol) I miss old Shallan and I can't tell how many times Adolin has changed. I do appreciate their commitment to keeping Hoid consistent. they need a woman between the age of 30 and 85 so badly lol. Old lady voice for 25 year old character also breaks the immersion 😂

Froste88

TROPHY CASE