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First in Fantasy

First in Fantasy

Written by: In Shambles Productions
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About this listen

 In the best fantasy audiobooks, the history, atmosphere, strange and wonderful lands, and characters immerse you in a world that leaves reality behind. But with so many new fantasy audiobooks released each month, how do you know which one to commit your time to?

That's where we come in.

The First in Fantasy podcast is your chance to discover your next favorite fantasy audiobook. In each episode we present a first chapter from a new or upcoming fantasy audiobook. If you love it, we'll provide links to the books and audiobooks. And if you don't like it? Well, there are plenty of other audiobooks available, and with our next episode, we'll happily be there to introduce you to a new world, new characters, and a new fantasy experience.

Hosted by George Turner, First in Fantasy is brought to you ad-free by In Shambles Productions.© 2024 In Shambles Productions, Incorporated Science Fiction
Episodes
  • Dark Woods, Deep Water by Jelena Dunato

    Dark Woods, Deep Water by Jelena Dunato
    Apr 25 2024
    In this episode we present the first chapter of Dark Woods, Deep Water, a dark fantasy tale inspired by Slavic folklore written by Jelena Dunato and narrated by Charlene Sanderson and Barnaby Edwards.
    Love this chapter? Buy the full audiobook here.
    Want to know more about the author? Check out their website here.

    In the depths of a remote forest, an enchanted castle preys on unwary travellers.

    The servants of the Goddess Morana sacrifice to their dark mistress every soul who crosses the castle’s threshold. One terrible night, three people who should never have met find themselves trapped there: a spoiled lady escaping an unwanted marriage, an aging warrior-prince on a deadly mission, and a resourceful rogue caught up in a botched heist. As their destinies entwine and the dawn approaches, the solution to the castle’s riddle becomes clear: if they want to escape, one of them must die.

    A dark fantasy tale inspired by Slavic folklore, Dark Woods, Deep Water is the debut novel by Croatian author Jelena Dunato. Set in an intricately imagined world that staggers the line between fairytale and brutality, this novel will appeal to fans of Katherine Arden and Naomi Novik, as well as lovers of classic Gothic fiction.

    Dark Woods, Deep Water by Jelena Dunato
    Narrated by Charlene Sanderson and Barnaby Edwards
    Published By Spotify
    Release date: March 19, 2024

    Hosted by George Turner, First in Fantasy is brought to you ad-free by In Shambles Productions.
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    25 mins
  • The Exiled Queen by Roxana Arama

    The Exiled Queen by Roxana Arama
    Apr 18 2024
    In this episode we present the first chapter of The Exiled Queen, a Roman era historical fantasy written by Roxana Arama and narrated by Calliope.
    Love this chapter? Buy the full audiobook here.
    Want to know more about the author? Check out their website here.

    Rome is marching. Cities and temples are falling. On the outskirts of the empire, Princess Andrada convinces her father to tutor her as his heir despite a taboo against women rulers. But her lifelong battle against entrenched customs shatters when she fails the King's Challenge and is sentenced to death.

    To save Andrada from execution, her father marries her off to a neighboring king who doesn't care much about governing. Devastated, the new queen resolves to watch over her country from exile, preparing for the inevitable Roman attack. Although the crystal bell she risked everything to claim during the challenge grants odd wishes, she's dangerously unarmed against an unloving husband who needs a son from her. Meanwhile, her worst enemy is plotting to kill her once and for all.

    Can this brave queen unite all the warring factions to stand strong before the mighty Roman Empire?

    The Exiled Queen is a gritty and grounded historical fantasy. Pulling together threads from the past of her native Eastern Europe, Roxana Arama reimagines a people on the brink of drastic change. If you like fierce female protagonists, speculative sagas, and dramatic twists, you'll love this sweeping adventure.

    The Exiled Queen by Roxana Arama
    Narrated by Calliope
    Published By Dhawosia Publishing
    Release date: March 1, 2024

    Hosted by George Turner, First in Fantasy is brought to you ad-free by In Shambles Productions.
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    24 mins
  • A Caged & Restless Magic by Emmie Christie

    A Caged & Restless Magic by Emmie Christie
    Apr 11 2024
    In this episode we present the first chapter of A Caged & Restless Magic, a fantasy adventure written and narrated by Emmie Christie.

    Love this chapter? Buy the full audiobook here.
    Want to know more about the author? Check out their website here.

    Saida is a fox-shifter who gardens magic in each of the five Sense-enhanced worlds, but the Vision world’s magic is fading fast. She must find and transplant magic from the other worlds to save it, and a human on Sound has the strongest voice magic she’s ever heard. Saida fears humans and the touch of their hands, but she might have to make an exception for Alesio.

    Alesio is an ex cage match fighter and aspiring singer. All he wants is to sing at the best concert hall in town, but his old gang haunts him, trying to make him return to fighting, and his partial deafness makes him doubt his dream. He never imagined meeting someone like Saida or traveling to different worlds.

    Meanwhile, by accident, Saida opens a portal to a different Plane than the Sense worlds altogether and releases a monster: a monster hungry for her magic. She needs to find enough transplants to save Vision while running from the monster; but what she fears the most is the trust and attraction blossoming between her and Alesio.

    A Caged & Restless Magic by Emmie Christie
    Narrated by Emmie Christie
    Release date: February 3, 2024

    Hosted by George Turner, First in Fantasy is brought to you ad-free by In Shambles Productions.
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    30 mins
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