Ahoy there mateys! This whole series continues to be such comfort reads for me and I love the audiobooks.  I tend to listen to them via library copies but will certainly be buying them all so that I have them forever.  I usually reread the Thara Celehar books but wanted to go back and listen to the first book.  I love Maia and feel such compassion for him having to unexpectedly become the Emperor and all the trouble that entails.  He is easy to root for.  One of the weirdest things about Kyle McCarley's narration of this first book is his voice for Celehar.  It sounds old, crotchety, and grumpy.  This is likely because Celehar's voice is described as "gravelly."  It doesn't fit my idea of Celehar based on the later books.  But otherwise his narration is lovely.  I did learn that Celehar's third book is scheduled for March 11, 2025.  Hooray!  There are two short stories that I also need to track down and keep forgetting about.  If readers are new to these series, I recommend starting with the written books and then switching to audiobooks after that.  Arrrr!

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Apparently me original musings on this novel have been washed away by the tide.  All I can say is that it be even better than I remembered.  It is a feel good novel of hope that still contains harsh moments of truth.  Maia is the last surviving son of the Emperor who was never expected to take the throne.  He is thrown in over his head and ye follow his journey routing for him the entire time.  I love the world building, the characters, the politics, and well everything.  I am so excited that there be another book set in this world coming out on 06/22/2021.  Arrrr!