The Thirteen Hallows

February 27, 2012
In Scott and Freedman’s fantastical thriller, when Londoner Sarah Miller helps a mugging victim, she finds herself face to face with one of the Keepers—guardians of powerful and deadly artifacts know as the 13 Hallows. The Keeper gives her Hallow (a broken sword) to Miller and persuades her to deliver it to the Keeper’s American nephew, Owen. But when Miller is accused of murder, she and Owen embark on a quest to find the other surviving Keepers, prevent the Hallows from falling into the wrong hands, and avoid the mysterious and malevolent Dark Man. Kate Reading’s narration of this audio edition is crisp, emphatic, and well paced. She creates distinctive voices and accents for the novel’s characters and keeps listeners engaged throughout. But Reading shines brightest when rendering moments of tension, modulating her tone and pace perfectly and leaving listeners on the edge of their seats. A Tor hardcover.

October 3, 2011
Scott (The Alchemyst) and Freedman blend magic, folklore, mystery, and history in this zippy fantastical thriller. Sarah Miller is a discontented 22-year-old Londoner in a dead-end job who lives with and supports her widowed mother. When she comes to the aid of an elderly woman getting mugged, she becomes hopelessly entangled in a murderous conspiracy. A criminal mastermind known as the Dark Man is gathering together the 13 Hallows, sacred ancient objects of immense power, and ritualistically killing those who protect them. The woman Miller saved was one of the last Hallowed Keepers. Armed only with a broken sword, Miller must stay alive long enough to somehow stop the Dark Man from completing his apocalyptic plan. Relentless pacing and a richly detailed story line replete with historical references and bombshell revelations give this fantasy tremendous mainstream crossover potential.