King of Duels

The Wandering Inn, Book 16

By: pirateaba

Narrated by: Erin Bennett

King of Duels marks the passing of the torch from our beloved Andrea Parsneau to a new narrator. Erin Bennett, a Golden Voice narrator, will continue to bring the magic of The Wandering Inn to life.

The world is full of adventures, big and small.

From exploring the [Garden of Sanctuary] to the depths of the sea, there are countless fascinating discoveries to be made. Not just in the places people go, but in the things they create... or recreate from Earth. Chocolate, lifting weights, and alcohol all flow through The Wandering Inn with unexpected consequences at times.

However, there's also war, [Assassins], and scams that ruin or destroy lives. For every monster, there is an adventurer. The Stitch Witch may creep forward, and the King of Destruction continues his rampage across nations, but there will always be a champion who steps forward.

Featuring a foreword from Andrea Parsneau.

©2024 pirateaba (P)2025 Podium Audio

Mixed feelings.

Really miss Andrea. Erin can do some of the voices but a lot of them are sounding the same. Can't really blame her because how many characters there is. I guess you just have to get used to it. Maybe it's because the first 15 books were done by Andrea and I'm just so used to it. I'm just happy bird sounds almost like bird.

Regarding the Change of Narrator

DONT PANIC!

Firstly, from what I understand Andrea Parsneau stepped away for personal reasons, there was no beef or money arguments, so don't be mad.

Second, Erin Bennett is quite good, and I think this is the first time I have ever seen a replacement narrator actually research the work their predecessor had built. She will never be exactly like Andrea, but damn if it isn't close!
I was sold when I heard her recreation of Birds Vocal cadence, she matched the spirit of each character as best as any one could ask.

So again DONT PANIC, we all hate to see Narrator swaps but Erin has truly put in the effort to carry the torch here.

I Miss the Voices That Felt Like Friends

I used to look forward to each new installment like returning to a cherished family vacation, familiar, comforting, and full of wonder. The narration was a gateway to a world that helped me unwind and escape, guiding me through the strange, the bizarre, and the terrible with voices that felt like old friends.

But something shifted. After hundreds of hours spent immersed in this universe, the change in narration was jarring. It’s not that the new narrator lacks talent, it’s simply that the rhythm, tone, and emotional texture I’d grown attached to are no longer there. I miss what it used to be. I didn’t realize how much it meant to me until it changed.

This series was special. I still appreciate the story, but the experience isn’t the same. I hope future releases consider the impact of continuity in narration, it’s more than just a voice; it’s part of the soul of the journey.

The end of an era

The writing, as always, is good, though I got the impression the author was switching between characters too quickly to do much to advance the story. Tying up loose ends maybe. i dunno. i will likely never find out

The singular problem is the new narrator. She's competent, though her range for accents and masculine voices is limited. it all boils down to the fact that the narrator is not Andrea Parsneau, who made all the previous books the life-changing experiences they are.

For all these books and hundreds of hours, Andrea has been making the characters and world real. I know them by their voices and I call them my friends. Except now I'm hearing different voices, I'm being told they're my friends, and I don't believe it. I can't. I'm trying to believe these are the same people, but it just feels so wrong that it makes me want to scream. i'm being shown cardboard cutouts of the people Andrea made real, and I know they'll never be real again.

This isn't the first series I've had to walk away from, it won't be the last, and it never gets any easier. It's a bit like being cheated on and then the cheater pretends that nothing has changed. yeah, I have a passion for literature, and I am not being melodramatic. the time, the energy, and the love are all wasted now. that's a lot to have lost.

I will be keeping this book because I'm going to listen to it a few times in hopes that I actually start to enjoy it one of these days. I'm going to keep up with the ghost singer series provided they maintain the same voice actress. it really doesn't matter to me why the narrators changed; I hope they're all happy and successful but it would mean a lot if someone involved would acknowledge that this change greatly diminishes the work.

My wife bought me this as a small birthday gift. And now I must act like I'm enjoying this so as not to hurt her feelings. This is a very sad day.

Still a great series!

It took me a little while to adjust to the new narrator, but after I did I thought they did an excellent job! I am excited for the story to continue!!