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  • The Hidden Tower

  • The Portal Wars Saga, Book 1
  • By: James E. Wisher
  • Narrated by: Joe Hempel
  • Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (152 ratings)
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The Hidden Tower cover art

The Hidden Tower

By: James E. Wisher
Narrated by: Joe Hempel
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Summary

Otto Shenk is the youngest son of a minor baron. He's also a wizard.

Abused by his family and considered less than human by his kingdom, Otto does his best to survive. But everything changes when Otto stumbles across a tower hidden deep in a dark part of the forest near his home.

A tower that was once the home of an Arcane Lord, the immortal wizards that long ago ruled the world. Otto’s life will be changed forever. And so will the world.

©2020 James E. Wisher (P)2020 James E. Wisher

What listeners say about The Hidden Tower

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Story
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Yea it’s a 5 star.

Sometimes I have issues with the narrator, especially if they are doing both male and female characters the narrator did this well.
The story is good and pulls you alone.

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2 people found this helpful

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

It’s ‘ok’.

The audiobook’s performance is done well and i have no complaints. The story, however, was a little drawn out. Before I continue, I would like to say that everyone prefers their own pace and story progression. I found the story somewhat lacking in the character development department. Not to mention some very annoying “relationships”. If you read this book, you will probably enjoy it at first like I did. But around 40-50% into the book, you will start to get confused with where the story is going. Then, at around 70-80% into the book you grasp what is happening and then power through the rest just to complete it. Although there are quite a few books in this series, I don’t think I’ll continue any longer. Also, after just listening to the audiobook, I can’t think of a simple ‘happy’ moment in this story.

The following can be considered a spoiler (although not a detailed one). The magic in this book is simply too powerful. Some readers will like an over powered protagonist (which is fine), but when it gets to the point where magic is this powerful, I just don’t understand how wizards are being suppressed. Sure the next books may explain this, but even so, the regular humans show no sign of being able to defend against magic at all throughout the book. If that’s the case, then the wizards should be the ones ruling.

Conclusion: I’m struggling to find books to get into. This one served me somewhat well, with a little disatisfaction. If you’re struggling to find a decent book, then keep looking. If you still can’t find a decent book after reading this, then I suggest you listen/read this book. I hope this helps.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • JC
  • 05-11-20

pretty good

really like the story and the characters, can't wait for the second book to be uploaded. My only critique is the author does not know how to deal with logistics. There's no map I can find, but I just can't imagine a normal person going from the northern frontier province to the capital in a single day and when the distance takes a single sentence to traverse I'm left reeling.

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4 people found this helpful

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

Enjoyable

I enjoyed this title but the narrator was a bit off with the voices he chose for each character. Some males sounded like females!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

my first audio book and I loved it

it such an interesting story never new a audio book could be this good gonna get the next book now

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1 person found this helpful

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

Unexpected

Fantastic story with unexpected twists and tone as it progresses. Definitely worth the attention of any fantasy lover.

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

Is he good or bad ??

The only question I have is, is he good or bad. Simple question but I am unable to decide. Here's hoping book 2 clarifies it a little but in some small corner of my mind I am quite happy with vacillating in my opinion of him.
Listen to the book to make your own determation.

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2 people found this helpful

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

Great surprise

This book starts slow but what a great build up into world building. Going to follow this series to the end. You will not regret picking this up.

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2 people found this helpful

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

Narration lacked engagement

Every character have a feel of lazy snark when they talk. A soldier being rebuked by high command or even a royal, should not respond in an aloof "whatever you say" tone.
A young man finding a hidden magic tower with, to him, unimaginable power and secrets inside, should be extremely excited. Not give off the feel that he found something mildly interesting.

nearly dropped the book several times before it finally became interesting. though I feel like it would have been interesting from the beginning, if the narration had been more captivating.

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5 people found this helpful

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

conspirecy, drama, shifting morals...

The mc is a bit hard to pin down... hard to explain, [possible SPOILER AHED] atleast at first. the mc comes out as a bit evil, vile and verry self serving, and not for the best reasons, he has some reason but not to this degree. you get a hint of resentment in the beginning, then he eases out for a bit, and he looks to be a better man, then sudden 180 and goes darkish and not mutch later viler..ish... like i said har to explain.

[spoiler FREE AHED] The story has politics, betrayl, love, hate, greed, magic and a good deal of background, at least for sutch a short first book. i am alittle on the fenc if i like this book becouse of the mc... he is not the kind i like. i will pick up the next book and see where this goes, but not quite yet. it has a little to mutch "drama" for my part, was hoping this would be a nice waiting book series til the next cradle, battlemage farmer or defience of the fall book, among others. i will check out the next book soon, but not rigth away.

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