Preview
  • A Crucible of Souls

  • The Sorcery Ascendant Sequence, Book 1
  • By: Mitchell Hogan
  • Narrated by: Oliver Wyman
  • Length: 18 hrs and 44 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (6,162 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

A Crucible of Souls

By: Mitchell Hogan
Narrated by: Oliver Wyman
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $34.94

Buy for $34.94

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

When Caldan’s parents are brutally slain, he is raised by monks and taught the arcane mysteries of sorcery. Vowing to discover for himself who his parents really were, and what led to their violent end, he is thrust into the unfamiliar chaos of city life. With nothing to his name but a pair of mysterious heirlooms and a handful of coins, he must prove his talent to earn an apprenticeship with a guild of sorcerers.

But he soon learns the world outside the monastery is a darker place than he ever imagined, and his treasured sorcery has disturbing depths.

As a shadowed evil manipulates the unwary and forbidden powers are unleashed, Caldan is plunged into an age-old conflict that brings the world to the edge of destruction.

This is an updated recording from the original 2014 edition, also performed by Oliver Wyman, which matches the current reissue of the print book.

©2013 Mitchell Hogan (P)2014 Audible Inc.
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

  • Winner of Best Fantasy Novel, 2013 Aurealis Awards
"For a debut novel this is more than a little impressive. Characters are vividly drawn, multi-layered, and in one or two cases, compelling. Hogan joins with the new wave of fantasy authors in his use of morally ambivalent characters, distinct and tight points of view, believable world building, an intelligible magic system, and some edgy, gritty content." (D.P. Prior, author of The Nameless Dwarf)

What listeners say about A Crucible of Souls

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3,093
  • 4 Stars
    2,187
  • 3 Stars
    615
  • 2 Stars
    172
  • 1 Stars
    95
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3,432
  • 4 Stars
    1,628
  • 3 Stars
    413
  • 2 Stars
    93
  • 1 Stars
    50
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,807
  • 4 Stars
    1,928
  • 3 Stars
    621
  • 2 Stars
    169
  • 1 Stars
    89

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Easy going story but very entertaining!

Kind of what I was expecting from the other reviews. No major plot twists, but a great story with very good character development and enough mystery surrounding them to keep you wondering. Good fight scenes and wonderful take on magic and sorcery. narrator is a bit over the top at times, but highly recommend this for a young adult to adult. Not too gruesome, not very graphic, or much language some find offensive.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Comfortably Familiar

It does bear some similarity to some familiar fantasy works, and I see the Kin Killer comparisons, but reminds me more of Goodkind/SoT... That being said, it's good fantasy, if a bit formulaic and derivitive... The story starts strongly, and while moving into the meat of things, paces well... Caldin is a nice hero, even if he alternates between clueless naive and perceptive beyond his years... You'll root for him regardless... Some wonderful secondary characters like the human lie detector, Lady Felice, and that creepily mystical serial killer come shopkeeper;). More light fantasy than visceral... Excellent narration that brings settings and characters alive... Better than a lotta the standard fantasy fare out there, if not good as some...

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Narrator makes fender characters sound annoying

The narrator's impressions of female characters are ridiculous and contrived.

The story is interesting and entertaining but not mind-blowinf.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good Start to a Series

This first book started quickly, and kept me engaged throughout the series. Character writing is good, and the story keep me attentive. Classic good vs. evil, love, innocent young character for the lead.

Oliver Wyman does a great job getting you into this story. Individual characters are handled well and not blurred. His voicing for each is distinct. He really brings this series alive.

If you aren't familiar with Mitchell Hogan, as I wasn't when I started this series, take a chance on these books. You won't be disappointed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing Book

I cant wait to listen to the next book. I highly recommend this book. Very exciting AND suspenseful.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good story with lots of promise for the series

Interesting story and characters. I really found the magic system interesting and I'm looking forward to how it'll develop in the next book. Narrator was good overall, but I found his female voices to often sound very childlike and a bit annoying which distracted from the listening experience.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

liked it

loved the story. a bit slow at parts romance need to be a bit less shy. maranda knows what's up.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC. WELL WRITTEN AND WELL NARRATED.

I love it. I am so glad I got this series in the recent "3 books for 2 credits" promotion. The pace of the story line was action all the way. Oliver Wyman is one if my favourite narrators. I will be continuing book two and I hope Mitchell Hogan will continue to write more books soon.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

New author for me and I really enjoyed it

Will definitely get the next book in the series. Excellent listen. The narrarator, Oliver Wyman, did a wonderful job.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Slow but interesting

It was pretty well written. It's a bit slow going, but still interesting and fun. I felt like his ability to craft animals that could move and do things really progressed fast. I'll probably get the second book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!