Sweep of the Blade by Ilona Andrews – That’s What I’m Talking About…

Audiobook review: Sweep of the Blade [Dramatized Adaptation] by Ilona Andrews

The Innkeeper Chronicles is probably my favorite book series. This is the fourth time I’ve read Sweep of the Blade. As with the re-reads of the earlier books, I continue to enjoy the series and books more and more with each reading. I also found that I enjoyed the dramatized adaptation more this second time because the performances have become so familiar to me.

Sweep of the Blade is the fourth story in Ilona Andrews’ wonderfully original Innkeeper Chronicles. This time around, the series moves away from the Inn, Earth, and Dina as the narrator and main character. Sweep of the Blade follows Dina’s sister Maud as she travels to the Krahr home world with her daughter Helen and her beloved, Arland.

While an exciting adventure in its own right, Sweep of the Blade is Maud’s journey to overcome the scars from her past and find herself again. Seeing Maud confront her fears of being abandoned again was fantastic. Arland is perfect for her. He has a soft interior, is patient, and gives her such love and dedication. Sweep of the Blade entwines the growing relationship of Maud and Arland around an impending attack on House Krahr. The story is a delightful mix of romance, intrigue, and action.

Narration: Overall, I enjoyed the full cast production of Sweep of the Blade. This time around, the book shifts focus to Dina’s sister Maud, who is the main character of the story. Rather than being shared via a first person POV, Sweep of the Blade is shared via a third person narrative and narrator. Karen Novack, who portrays Inn guest Caldenia Ka Ret Magren, assumes the narrator duties, while Megan Dominy returns as Maud. I enjoyed the duality of a separate narrator from the main character. Ms. Novack has an excellent, neutral narrator that is similar to Dominy’s Maud, but just different enough to be noticeable. The performances of both the primary narrator and returning supporting cast are familiar and pleasant. One standout is Samantha Turret, who returns as Helen. I adore her portrayal of the toughed vampire child. Her voice is young and questioning, with that slight British-sounding accent most vampires have.

Overall, the characters are well cast and performances full of energy and emotion. Most of the sound effects and music add value, but I could do without the kissing and intimate scene noises and sometimes the music overpowers the scene.

In the end, I completely love The Innkeeper Chronicles and the unique world created by the Andrews. The mix of magic and science fiction is sublime. The humor is sly and witty. It’s such a joy to go back and listen to the books again.

My Ratings
Story: A
Narration: A-

Jen

About the Book:

Maud Demille was a daughter of Innkeepers. She knew that a simple life wasn’t in the cards, but she never anticipated what Fate would throw at her.

Once a wife to a powerful vampire knight, Maud and her daughter, Helen, had been exiled for the sins of her husband to the desolate planet of Karhari. Karhari killed her husband, and Maud had spent a year and a half avenging his debts. But now all the debts are paid. Rescued by her sister Dina, Maud had swore off all things vampire. Except she met Arland, the Marshal of House Krahr. One thing led to another and he asked for her hand in marriage. She declined.

Try as she might, she can’t just walk away from Arland. It doesn’t help that being human is a lot harder for Maud than being a vampire.

To sort it all out, she accepts his invitation to visit his home planet. House Krahr is a powerful vampire House, and Maud knows that a woman who turned down the proposal from its most beloved son wouldn’t get a warm reception. But Maud Demille never shied from a fight and House Krahr may soon discover that there is more to this human woman than they ever thought possible.

Author: Ilona Andrews
Narrators: Christopher Walker, Julie-Ann Elliott, Peter Holdway, Peter Stray, Megan Dominy, Elena Anderson, Lucy Symons, Alex Hill-Knight, Andrew James Spooner, Alyssa Keegan, Samantha Turret
Series: Innkeeper Chronicles #4
Genre: Science Fiction, Paranormal Fiction, adventure
Audiobook Release Date: August 1, 2022
Publisher: GraphicAudio
Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins
Source: purchased
Audio Speed: 1.45x