This
review is written with a GPL 3.0 license and the rights contained
therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to
copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions.
Crossposted at Bookstooge.booklikes.blogspot. wordpress.com &
Bookstooge's Reviews on the Road Facebook Group by Bookstooge's Exalted
Permission.
Title: The Silver Hand
Series: Song of Albion
Author/Narrator: Stephen Lawhead, Stuart Langton
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Minutes: 760
Format: Audible audio edition
Lewis, now known as Lhew, has been proclaimed King by Tegid. However,
poisoned by Simon, Meldrawn kills all the bards of Prydain, blinds
Tegid and cuts off Lhew's hand, thus making it impossible for him to be
king.
Lhew and Tegid make their way to Caladon where they find a small
hidden valley to rest and recover. Meanwhile, Meldrawn begins to conquer
all of Prydain, using bribes, fear and intimidation. Lhew begins to
create a safe haven and refugees from all over come to be safe from the
predations of Meldrawn.
Eventually, Meldrawn and his host, led by Simon, find Lhew. A battle
ensues and while things go bad for Lhew, roles are reversed in the end
and Meldrawn dies, Lhew is magically given a silver hand and Simon is
sent back to our world, supposedly with a mortal wound.
I had forgotten that the whole book happens before the Silver Hand
actually occurs. Also, the point of view is from Tegid instead of Lewis
this time around. Considering that he is blind, but magically given
inner sight, it all works out. There were times however, where the
inner sight, leaving or coming, felt like the contrivance it was.
I like this story. I like this book. But this whole audio thing is
just killing it for me. I'm currently listening to book 3 but after
that, I think I'll stick to books that I don't really care about and are
filler. The odd thing is, I grew up with my mother reading to me before
I could. I loved it. It was a huge part of me learning to love books
and the written word. But now, I don't know. Maybe it is because when I
read, I want to be in total control and a narrator takes a big part of
that away?
With that being said, I'm definitely not giving up on audio books. If
I can listen to an extra book a month to and from work, that is 12
extra books a year. Considering that my average rating is 3.1, and half
my reads are filler anyway, using filler books for audio doesn't seem
like a waste. It is an efficient way to utilize 20 minutes in the
morning and afternoon. And right now at my stage in life, consuming
books like pixie dust is my goal.