It rests deep in the ground, they say, an ancient burial treasure of unimaginable wealth. Riches to humble even the most prosperous men, locked away from time itself. But the Council’s edict was clear – keep the tombs of the ancient dalan closed. Keep the past sealed. But where there is wealth, there is greed, and nothing stays buried forever.Thorben Paulson is an ordinary man, trying to raise … ordinary man, trying to raise his family the honest way. Unfortunately, the Council’s tax collectors demand more and more each thaw, taking in both coin and food. For a branded man like Thorben, his checkered past means the burden is always greater. With hungry mouths to feed and winter on the horizon, Thorben’s desperation grows. A visitor appears unexpectedly in town, a man from his past, carrying a map and a promise – enough coin to feed his family for the foreseeable future, in exchange for a single job. Not just any job, however. Thorben must delve once again, leave the sun behind and enter the underground crypts, the realm of the dead, and find priceless dalan relics. And yet, more lies in wait than things that sparkle and glimmer, and in Denoril, some things never truly die.
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I’m a picky audio-listener. Almost high maintenance-ly picky. I found this narrator to have quite a pleasant voice and excellent acting. He truly brought the story to life. I have a few favorite narrators that I’ll listen to despite the genre of the book they’re reading, and I plan to add Matthew Berry to that list.
The story was good. A little predictable but not in a “I feel cheated” way. The journey was thrilling, tinged with horror and peppered with suspense. I liked that the characters themselves didn’t have magic, but what they sought after ended up being magical. Interesting fantasy twist to it. Not something I’d normally pick up, but glad I did.
The story reminds me quite a bit of Six of Crows. The plot is different, but the feel is the same: a band of criminals, some with more to lose than the others, all in a fictional world with fun quests that never go as planned. It’s dark, but deliciously so. Matthew was able to truly bring out the creepy parts in the story, and I found myself with goosebumps a few times, and embarrassingly I admit, he startled me once, lol.
I’d recommend this for dark fantasy lovers, perhaps gothic fantasy lovers as well. If you like quests, this would be a good one. The main character is a middle-aged man so probably won’t be relatable to many teens.
When the second audio book comes out, I will be snatching it up. Matthew Berry has a new fan!
Fantastic world building. Fantastic journey with a band of misfits/criminals/outsiders. Characters that were so real. They could be people you know or want to know. The direction of the group of characters was open and engaging. There was an edge of darkness that fit the realness. What would you do for the future of your family? How far would you go to make sure their future was secure? The narrator brought it and gave distinction to the various characters. The was edge, turmoil, adventure, a bit of suspense, some horrible things, and even a touch with the emotions. I am very much emphatic and this got me. I was not expecting to feel emotional at all. A dark adventure fantasy that will have you wanting more.
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I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Matthew E. Berry. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
A fantastic tale. I can’t wait to see where it goes. I have one small complaint. There is a scene where it is foggy….which is repeated a tad too much for me, but other than that, fantastic writing. I love the characters and hope to see more of them!
It’s kind of like waking up on Christmas morning, and you can either sneak down stairs and savor the moment, or leap down the stairs and jump whole body into the presents under the tree. This sums up exactly how I feel about this magnificent book.
I took a day to try and get my words straight in my head for this review, easier said than done. *shrugs shoulders*
Bunce is an amazing writer who can weave words that brings you to this world where you can lose yourself for hours. Your imagination takes control, and takes you on this wild ride of The Delving. You’ll encounter some creepy creatures that will seriously creep you out since their description is so vivid that you have absolutely no problem imaging them, cold chill just now after writing that.
The characters are great, much love to Thorben Paulson, he makes decisions, some good, some bad. His wife is a no, non-sense type of woman that loves her husband, even if they do struggle. He’s got some great kids who love him for he who he is, not for what he can and can’t do for them.
You may shed a tear or two, I sure did. Some moments in this book are bitter sweet, and will tug at your heart strings, that is, if you have a heart. *smirks* or if you’re sensitive.
The Delving is a book that once you finish, will stick with you for a time. It’s just that good. If you don’t believe me, guess you’ll have to read it and find out.