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A Forest of Vanity and Valour
- The Levanthria Series, Book 1
- Narrated by: Aaron Smith
- Length: 5 hrs and 56 mins
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A Forest of Vanity and Valour
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Summary
An aggressive debt collector banished from the kingdom. Now his life depends on his ability to help the less fortunate....
Vireo Reinhold relishes collecting his monarch’s proper dues. Working hard to prolong and fund the king’s never-ending war, the self-centered official revels in the perks of luxury that come with his unorthodox role. But his world upends when he unearths an ancient spellbook that promises to unlock a shadowy, forgotten magic. Embroiled in a secret affair with a fellow noble’s wife, Vireo is mortified when he’s forced to commit an unthinkable act. Driven into exile, no longer able to coerce the vulnerable, and with the powerful tome in his enemy’s hands, the fallen agent’s only shot at survival hangs on his skills at saving others.
Can Vireo redeem himself as the people’s champion before they all fall to a sinister fate?
A Forest of Vanity and Valour is the dark first book in the Tales of Levanthria fantasy-retelling series. If you like fast-paced action, evil-to-good transformations, and classic stories with a twist, then you’ll love A.P Beswick’s ominous tale. Buy A Forest of Vanity and Valour to fight for what’s right today!
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What listeners say about A Forest of Vanity and Valour
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Stacey Dawkins
- 21-03-23
Loved It!
I loved the story from start to finish. A dark spin on the story of Robin Hood had me hooked from the start. The narrator was brilliant and brought the characters to life with his mastery of the various accents that are found in Britain.
My only criticism is a personal preference and that was the death of a character which felt more like a plot device to propel the story forward. Other than that I loved the story and the hints that something bigger and badder is coming. I'm sticking around for the rest of the series.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- marianne wilson
- 15-03-23
loved it!
really enjoyed this story. got the others ready anf cant wait for more!
i love the take and twist on this story compared to the original folklore and im looking forward to how the author going to develop and use other british lore into his tales!
cant wait
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 09-03-23
Top tier
Never have I had a story keep me so hooked, the detail is unreal. I purchased the 2nd book in the series before even finishing this one, can not wait to see where this series is going!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Peter Wilson
- 06-03-23
Phenomenal
So I’ve followed Beswick on instagram for quiet a while and loved the idea of all his books out thus far but being dyslexic as hell, I knew there was no point, wasn’t until a few weeks ago I decided to check it they were an audiobook.
My god am I glad I check. This twist on Robin Hood was phenomenal. I won’t lie I did get lost a bit in the first few chapters but regardless. By chapter 3 I was hooked. Vireo being a potentially one of my favourite fantasy characters sing Aragon, it didn’t take long for me to fall in love with Lec & Gillam ( apologies if I butchered the spelling ) I’ve just got the second part of the series about to start that one now.
Already recommended this to a few fellas at work and I am aware that 2 are currently listening to them now. If you’re a fantasy loving nerd who loves to trip, stumble and fall deep into a world away from our own. This book is for you. Amazing.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Adam Masters
- 02-03-23
Just needed to be longer
I love the dark take on Robin Hood and the world creation and the characters but would have loved a longer story, seemed like the last few chapters and the final battle were rushed which slightly disappointed I loved this story and can’t wait to listen to the next books
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Robert Meehan
- 07-02-23
Different, but I liked it.
Very well read, good story, only bad thing is that it wasn't long enough, would have loved for it to go on more details and expanded. But I really enjoyed it
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 15-01-23
Meh.
a bit disappointed how at some places the story looks like cut and stitched to the next part, over all the plot is alright, could do with a bit more depth to characters.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- L. Halton Davies
- 01-01-23
Definitely a grower
Took a while to get used to the writing style and the 1st person perspective. But after the first hour or so, I stopped critiquing and thinking that there were so many extra words that could have been edited out and the story gripped me from then on in. Well worth a listen.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Robert Giles
- 01-01-23
Great twist on a classic
A darker, more thought about storyline for a classic story that takes your imagination on a journey through mystic and gruesome times
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jamie Andrew Leadbetter
- 22-12-22
Great fun!
A really fun take on robin hood really glad that these arnt stand alone stories really started book 2 straight after
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 10-07-22
This book reads like polished Robin Hood fanfic.
The premise of this book is great. A modern retelling of Robin Hood is a great idea for modern fantasy readers. Aaron Smith does a fantastic job narrating and his performance as every character is convincing and enjoyable. However, this book as it is right now is in need of a serious rewrite and another pass through an editor. In short, the main protagonist, Vireo, is the source of nearly every single problem in this book, but the book itself is written in a way that tries to convince you he's the good guy. If you value books that aren't full of deus ex machina tropes, characters that are interesting, or stories that are just well written, pass on this book. If you want to know more of what I think, keep reading.
*Spoilers ahead*
The book bounces back and forth between two characters, Vireo and Jareb, the "protagonist" and "antagonist" (I'll get into why I put those words in quotations later). Jareb is the steward of a kingdom who is trying his best to care for his people of his kingdom while his brother, the king, is off fighting a war. Vireo and his two companions (I forget their names) are debt collectors sent out to take from those who haven't paid their dues to the kingdom and fund the king's war. However, Vireo is secretly having an affair with Jareb's wife, Alana. Vireo and Alana plan to run away and start a new life. but Jareb discovered their betrayal. Alana, in a desperate plea for mercy, tells Jareb she's pregnant with his child, but plot twist! Jareb's sterile and can't have children. That's Vireo's child, baby. Jareb is quite reasonably pissed off and forces Vireo to kill Alana. In short, Beswick fridges Alana because he needs the two main characters to hate each other.
Vireo and his companions then flee to an enchanted forest where four of the aforementioned deus ex machina tropes are pulled over and over, back to back three or four times where they're attacked and miraculous saved by fantasy wolves or by someone arriving at the last second with some elixir to save someone from imminent peril. Vireo basically sulks about "how his one and only love Alana was murdered by the terrible Jareb" and barely does anything to prove why in the hell he's worthy of being the protagonist at all. Meanwhile, Jareb (an interesting character at the beginning of the book) meets a dark sorceress named Morgana (Seriously? Morgana? Everyone else has a new, made up name and you named your evil sorceress Morgana? 🙄) and slowly turns from a monarch doing his best for the people to such a boring, one-note villain only interested in getting revenge on Vireo for sleeping with his wife.
In summary, Viero is a P.O.S and not worthy of being the main hero. Jareb is a far more interesting character (one I was rooting for throughout the book), but is transformed a mustache twirling villain from an 80's cartoon. The side characters have interesting beats here and there, but this book is so poorly written that it's not worth your time. If Alana was originally Vireo's partner and murdered by Jareb for some reason, then this would be an okay book. But as it is right now, Vireo is the main source of every single problem in this story and does absolutely nothing to redeem himself. He let's his friends and allies do that for him while he reaps the benefits. He never changes, though A.P. Beswick wants you so desperately to believe so.
Bad book. Don't read.
47 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Matt
- 30-08-22
robinhood fanfiction
take any robin hood book, like the literal robin hood story, line for line and add magic. giant loyal friend who is stronger than "robin hood" check, main character who can't miss with a bow check, king of fighting a war that nobody wants check, tperson who is in charge of the kingdom who desires the love interest check, main characters are former nobles who become outlaws of the kingdom and hide in a scary forest and commit banditry to give money back to the poor and fight against the bad scummy nobles,
like word for word line by line copy and paste a Robin Hood story and add just enough difference to avoid copyright issues
if you literally want to read Robin Hood alternative universe fanfiction that has some magic in it go for it but keep in mind that if you take out the magic and make the main character's name Robin of loxley it's literally Robin Hood
no shade at the narrator does a great job. probably the only saving grace for this book
22 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Jurgon66
- 15-07-22
It was one of the worst books I've ever read
It was terrible, poorly written and hastily slapped together. The author pulled way to much from Robin Hood and King Arthur without creating his own environment or world or really anything. He had a decent idea and sloppy execution. Overall I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who enjoys literature or stories in general.
12 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 27-05-22
Great telling of a classic tale
This is an amazing story and read even better. The author takes the story of Robin Hood and flips it on its head. You can see the forest of the Robin Hood sorry in the trees. But it is told in a completely different way. All the elements are there, but you will be surprised at the way the tale twist and turns. I’m so happy I found this story and can’t wait for the next two books.
7 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- josefina
- 17-08-22
Intriguing Take on this Folklore Story
This was a great storyline that will keep you interested from cover to cover. Action packed, it was well worth listening to. I am bummed out by the ending, as it left a few things open ended. Hopefully there is a book two for this story line!
4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Gartjack
- 29-06-22
Good listen!
Good book, interesting retelling of a classic tale. I will definitely listen to the next books in the series!
3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 19-08-22
Ummmm more please
LOVE this book. I’m starting the second book now. Awesome and fantastic take on a classic. Love it
2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- DYLAN JOHN
- 23-06-22
better than I could have hoped for
first audio book ever. found myself trapped in the story ignoring phone calls as they were interrupting. my new favorite story. best version on a robin hood/ Merlin ish wizard tale, since the originals! instant classic deserves a movie right away
2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Robert E.
- 19-06-22
amazing twist on tales of stories already told
was amazing from start to finish only issue was it was shorter than I liked... I was left wanting more
2 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Joel
- 09-10-22
Meh
By no means is it bad...it justbleaves you wanting more. Im not saying you want more like "I can't wait for the next book." I'm more saying you're looking for so much more character development, intrigue, personality, and it never comes.
1 person found this helpful