Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

  • River of Teeth

  • River of Teeth Series, Book 1
  • By: Sarah Gailey
  • Narrated by: Peter Berkrot
  • Length: 4 hrs and 1 min
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (20 ratings)
Offer ends May 1st, 2024 11:59PM GMT. Terms and conditions apply.
£7.99/month after 3 months. Renews automatically.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
River of Teeth cover art

River of Teeth

By: Sarah Gailey
Narrated by: Peter Berkrot
Get this deal Try for £0.00

Pay £99p/month. After 3 months pay £7.99/month. Renews automatically. See terms for eligibility.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

All Systems Red (Dramatized Adaptation) cover art
Sagebrush & Lace cover art
Magic for Liars cover art
Steal the Sky cover art
The Raptors of Paradise cover art
The Elephant Thief cover art
Happenstance Found cover art
The Whip: Inspired by the story of Charley Parkhurst cover art
Devils Unto Dust cover art
King of the Cracksmen cover art
The Brittle Star cover art
Nomad cover art
The Colour of Magic cover art
Forsworn: A Powder Mage Novella cover art
The Fragile Threads of Power cover art
Pilot X cover art

Summary

In the early 20th century, the United States government concocted a plan to import hippopotamuses into the marshlands of Louisiana to be bred and slaughtered as an alternative meat source. This is true.

Other true things about hippos: They are savage, they are fast, and their jaws can snap a man in two. This was a terrible plan.

Contained within this volume is an 1890s America that might have been: a bayou overrun by feral hippos and mercenary hippo wranglers from around the globe. It is the story of Winslow Houndstooth and his crew. It is the story of their fortunes. It is the story of his revenge.

©2017 Sarah Gailey (P)2017 Tantor

What listeners say about River of Teeth

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    9
  • 4 Stars
    5
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    12
  • 4 Stars
    4
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    9
  • 4 Stars
    5
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1

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

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

Unfortunately, I really didn't enjoy this.

I need to keep in mind that this was a debut novel, there are some interesting ideas, at least in the main worldbuilding conceit, and the bulk of the writing is competent.

Unfortunately, I really didn't enjoy this.

It's important to bear the above and following in mind, I'm not the biggest fan of the 'putting a crew together to do a thing' stories, though when they are done well they can be thoroughly entertaining, and I can be an impossible to please Goldilocks at times.

I don't have a lot of nice things to say about this, so I'm going to try and keep my criticisms to a minimum too.

For cowpokes and hippos, it could really have done with more cowdoy and death pigs. I couldn't help recalling the feeling of watching Cowboys and Aliens.

There is the potential for something greater here, but I think the fundamental issue is one of following the pattern of characters, tropes, arcs, moments, emotions, relationships, etc. without imbuing any of it with its own soul and originality. Nothing feels real or weighted or impactful or earned. Miracle after miracle happens as plot armour surrounds almost all characters. There are no stakes or motivations because all the stakes and motivations feel like dispassionate plot points, which also leads to everyone and everything just feeling rather mean and petty because they seem to just be acting on a script.

I feel awful for this last paragraph and I am sure this author truly cared about this story and was doing their best. I don't doing that and I am not trying to be mean. I am impressed by anyone who can finish a book, let alone get it published with an audiobook. This isn't about disrespect. It's simply pointing out that, in my personal opinion this author needed more practice and support from their editor. I'm also just fascinated by having all the ingredients, but leaving them uncooked. I would love to see a more cooked version of this book.

Peter Berkrot's narration for the audiobook is decent.

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

Enjoyable adventure

An enjoyable and well-performed narrative with a rollicking good adventure at its core. At times, it may seem corny as it seeks to parody the classic Western in some ways, but this is only a mark its success in parodying an already corny genre and does not detract from the tale. Worth trying.

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

Action packed, nuanced characters, fresh world

This was a writing group recommendation and I really loved it. It's an action-packed caper of an adventure (even though the main character would disagree), with a diverse cast of characters who live on a nineteenth century Mississippi River populated by hippos!

I got on very well with the writing style, which is accessible and tightly-paced, and extremely visual and sensory. It has a nice balance of action and dialogue.

It has the edges of steampunk to me too, and is a truly inventive take on alternate history. The plot is a gripping revenge tale full of intrigue and with nice twists and turns. The ending was satisfying, and makes we want to read the rest of the series.

Other things: Love the names of the characters. The voice actor also really captures their unique voices.

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
  • L
  • 02-05-18

Fantastic & Fun!

A great opening to this rip-roaring story, with adventure, betrayal and extremely compelling characters! Berkrot really brings them to life too, with his mix of accents and voices. The premise is top notch, and the story delivers.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!