Raven’s Gift
Tobias D. Robison joins our list of fantasy authors, today starting the release of his book, Raven’s Gift:
When Raven comes to Redthwen to meet her mentor Orvannon, she encounters a vicious traveler, a hag with an extraordinary Voice of Command, and that hag’s charge, a mysterious little girl. By the time Orvannon arrives, Raven will have learned too much about these strangers, and she will have discovered a dragon with the ability to put people into a swoon.
Orvannon’s instructions start Raven off on an epic adventure. She will master the greatest bit of nose-magic in all of her native Ausland. She will face the dragon in combat. And she will have to deal with the hag while totally under control of that woman’s power. These adventures lead to more, as Raven discovers how the great city of Shelton is under attack. She must use all her persuasion to bring a powerful wizard to the city’s aid, and she will find that facing up to the attacking army is not enough.
Raven explores the magical caves created by three great wizards, eventually discovering the greatest evil of her time. Victory in the “big boss battle” is not enough. When the evil magic is destroyed, Raven and her friend must avoid starvation, and face the lightning bolts of yet another mage, to have a chance of staying alive in peace.
Raven’s Gift is set in a magical, pastoral medieval world. Raven has a strange ability that is as much a curse as a gift. Trouble follows her every step, and danger approaches at every turn. She begins her journey with only her wits and her nose, but though her past haunts her, she finds companions who help her make amends for a terrible mistake.
Raven’s Gift is a dramatic fantasy with an unusual heroine and intriguing magic. With Raven’s deep bond to nature and her pragmatic attitude toward the obstacles in her path, she manages to find her place as destiny’s unsung hero in her dangerous world.
One reader has said that Raven’s Gift is like South Park mets James Bond meets Dungeons and Dragons. Although there’s combat and even a military campaign in this novel, much of the action occurs in lively conversations. Even today, at the beginning of the 21st century, it is impossible to imagine making Raven’s Gift into a movie — for an unusual reason — but if such a movie could be made, some parts of it might earn an R rating for being a bit earthy.
July 19th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Ok, I just listened to the first chapter… I am not hooked, but again it is only the first chapter. The whistling is kinda strange, maybe it will be replaced with some pod-safe-music in the future?
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:51 pm
I just cannot listen to the narrator’s voice anymore. I have listened to three chapters, and it isn’t any better. The tendency to have dialogue sound like a person with a mental disability is annoying, to say the least. Sorry, but it cannot retain my attention.
July 29th, 2008 at 7:32 am
The story is pretty good. The whistling is annoying, and the narration can be annoying too, but I love the story. I am glad I started it when I had 4 episodes in my podcatcher. It took a couple to hook me. I can overlook the production quality for the story.
August 18th, 2008 at 6:57 am
The whistling just ruins the whole story. I can forgive the narration to a point because it’s a tough job to do and not everyone is born with a great narration skill. But still, seriously, the whistling!!! I can barely force myself to keep listening past it.
Mr. Robinson, if you need help to add some music to it please contact me, i’ll gladly help you attach whatever music you might want in place of the whistling. That’s probably the one thing that’s putting people off of this book the most! It’s a great story, but that alone makes people run away before the story’s even started. It would gain you more listeners to change that at least.
August 31st, 2008 at 7:47 pm
The story is fast-moving, unpredictable and fun! I’ve listened to the first 3 installments so far and looking forward to more.