The Pen and the Sword cover art

The Pen and the Sword

Destiny's Crucible, Book 2

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The Pen and the Sword

By: Olan Thorensen
Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
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About this listen

The Narthani, a militant realm who believe their manifest destiny is to rule the entire planet, Anyar, plan to absorb Caedellium into their empire and crush any resistance. Yozef Kolsko (a.k.a. Joe Colsco) works to find ways to increase the chances of resistance to the Narthani's planned conquest.

Complicating his life is attraction to a brilliant daughter of an island leader, and his uncertainty of his own mind, hers, or intricacies of Caedellium customs.

Despite his desire to devote himself to introducing new knowledge, Yozef is drawn more and more into developing weapons and giving tactical and strategic advice - things he knows he's unqualified to give. The enemy is coming. The odds seem overwhelming, and it will take all Yozef can do, the courage of his new people, and luck, to survive.

©2017 Olan Thorensen (P)2017 Podium Audio Fiction Science Fiction Space Opera Time Travel Destiny

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All stars
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I'm hooked on a completely new genre of books thanks to Audio...thanks ☺ and Narrator was EXCELLENT again

Great Book...I'm hooked

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Usually when you get a trilogy of books the middle one is the poorest one this one is better than the first I hope this continues in the third one which I am deafly going to listening to

Brilliant

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this is the first book that I actually stayed up all night to listen as I just couldn't put it down

this second book did not disappoint

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One can identify with Yozef Kolsko, the main character, and his dilemma of having advanced knowledge but being unable to apply it in a society thats 300years behind that which he was removed from.

Read the first and second books back to back, couldn't put them down. I cant wait for the third book, will the Natharni be finally pushed back off the island? What about windmills/water wheels as energy source. Will we see steam power and the beginnings of an industrial revolution emerge.

Bring on the third instalment.

A damn good read, I would highly recommend.

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The first book was al about innovation and the social aspect with the whole town, wich was good. This book was all about war and his wife. I was really missing the aspect of trying to share more knowledge.

Not about innovation

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The first book felt a bit random in comparison to its sequel. The Pen & The Swords story follows a much more logical trajectory now that Olan had spent book one creating his universe. Josef's life on Anyar has become much more driven and his character development has progress to make him a more likeable and relatable character. He isn't a typical hero, he doesn't want to fight, he wants to use his knowledge for the better of the people.

Now that the momentum has ramped up and the supporting characters have been fleshed out a bit, Destiny's Crucible has now started to get interesting. Now where is book three in my library...?

Much stronger than the first book

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Second book as good as first. One of my favourite books. The story sucks you right in.

Excellent again!

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Like book 1 but on a bigger stage! As before this second book is slow but somehow its works for me.

Hooked on the series. Love it!

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I downloaded this in error after having returned the first one through frustration. Why I don't know I decided to stick with it a bit of a mystery. Its OK and an interesting concept though Im sure it could be better if the padding were removed along with the repitition and the story speeded up bit through some good editing. I find the narrator to be a bit annoying and rather whiney and a long way behind the likes of Sean Barret or Carl Prekopp. Though in fairness that type of American accent does not work for me. RC Bray would have been preferable if it had to be an American.

Could be better

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Sigh. Not much more of the bigger story so you have to like old style battles. I liked it enough to keep going but it was hard work. The performance was not my style either, I got used to the voice, but it never really did the characters that well.

More of the same as book 1

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