Defender of Walls: Kingdom of Walls, Book 1 Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Tanya Bird (Author, Publisher), Timothy Campbell (Narrator)

393 ratings

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Keep her inside. Keep her alive.

Blake Suttone has a stomach full of grief and no food. A decade of famine has taken its toll on the splintered kingdom, but it is the merchants who suffer most. A wall stands between the hungry and the food, and the kingdom’s defenders stand guard atop it. Desperate times lead to desperate acts, and Blake will do whatever is necessary to ensure her family survives. But a growing attachment to a certain commander was never part of the plan. Now the man protecting the walls seems determined to guard her too.

Commander Harlan Wright was raised on a diet of training and discipline. His mind is calloused and his heart closed. These are not faults in a defender but assets. Harlan’s path is clear, until he meets a merchant girl who pulls him in a dangerous new direction. Blake might be a fighter, but she is fighting a losing battle. As the walls continue to go up, Harlan must choose between head and heart, duty, and love.

This is the first book in the medieval dystopian series Kingdom of Walls. If you enjoy high-emotion romance with plenty of action, then this dark star-crossed lovers tale is for you.

Listening Length

7 hours and 25 minutes
Author

Tanya Bird
Narrator

Timothy Campbell
Audible release date

August 16, 2021
Language

English
Publisher

Tanya Bird
ASIN

B09CLRNV43
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	7 hours and 25 minutes
Author	Tanya Bird
Narrator	Timothy Campbell
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	August 16, 2021
Publisher	Tanya Bird
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B09CLRNV43
Best Sellers Rank	#181,728 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #515 in Medieval Historical Romance (Audible Books & Originals) #902 in Dystopian Science Fiction (Audible Books & Originals) #5,124 in Medieval Historical Romance (Books)

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5

393 global ratings

5 star		69%
4 star		23%
3 star		6%
2 star		2%
1 star 0% (0%)		0%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Sandy Farmer

4 Stars

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 24, 2022

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For some reason I thought there would be a little more supernatural elements to this book. I guess the world is fantasy. The religion is unique to this story. Maybe that's fantasy enough. There's no magic in the first book anyway. The description labels it as medieval dystopian.

Harlan's family lives in the merchant borough of this fantasy kingdom. They run a dress shop, but from what I can tell they don't do much business. I suppose one doesn't need fancy clothes when they can't afford to buy food. From what I gathered it seems like it rains in this fantasy kingdom more often than not. I guess the constant rain is what's driving the famine. Anyway, food is scarce at the very beginning of this story and it only gets worse as the story progresses. Blake's father passed not that long ago from a heart attack (or it was said that his heart failed him). The book begins with her brother dying in a collapsed illegal tunnel. This is where Blake meets Harlan--the commander of the borough.

Harlan can see the grief pouring off of Blake at their first meeting. And well, Harlan isn't unaccustomed with grief since his mother committed suicide. He sees something in Blake that stirs his pity and compassion. And the more opportunities these two have bumping into each other the more feelings begin to develop. But a relationship between a Defender and a Merchant will not end well. These aren't just class lines being crossed. Defenders are used by the king to enforce the rules and punishments. And Blake has a family to think of. It seems the girls are hoping to marry well and by marry well that means perhaps marry a farmer, but I don't know how that would happen when the boroughs never mix or cross over to the other.

I really enjoyed the building of the relationship between Harlan and Blake. They did not have an easy path. As a matter of fact, there was one point where even I was beginning to lose hope for Blake and for their relationship. Tanya Bird did a good job building up the drama and the mountain that needed to be overcome for these two to come together. I did find a few aspects of the overall story to be shallow or not fleshed out completely. It's possible Tanya Bird would know the answer to all of my questions, but as the reader, I was left wondering about a few things I think should have been explained. At the same time, I feel like she ultimately did focus on the parts of the story that mattered the most.

Favorite quotes:
-"I just think any man who makes you see yourself as the rest of us do is a hero."

-"You don't have to stand tall and strong when I'm around. I've got you."

I wanted to keep reading Defender of Walls any time that I had to put it down. Sometimes this isn't the best thing for my family because I find myself getting crabby because all I want to do is read and I actually have wife, mother, etc. responsibilities to see to. Defender of Walls gets 4 Stars. I am looking forward to reading the next book. Have you read Defender of Walls? What did you think? Let me know!

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Sweetpea

FINDING A WAY TO FORGIVE

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 3, 2022

Verified Purchase

It's impossible to write a short review of this book, there's so much in it. It's full of meaningful social commentary hauntingly relevant to our times. It's a study in contrast and conflict—morality v. evil, determination v. hopelessness, selfishness v. self-sacrifice, disparity between classes. I still don't know why the merchant class in this story was so targeted for cruelty and hardship.

Both our H and h are leaders. Blake is the kind of heroine we all want to read about—fearless, protective, committed, and self-sacrificing for the greater good. Harlan has been groomed since childhood to be head of the defenders, indoctrinated nearly to the point of being a robot with no ability to think for himself. His compassion has been driven so far down into his psyche that he hasn't experienced it in decades. But when he comes face to face with Blake and sees her grief and suffering whatever compassion is left in him finds a spark. He's being pulled in two different directions and makes mistakes sometimes, but he's trying and walking a very thin line in an impossible situation

Despite the harshness in their lives they embark on a beautifully written slow burn romance, evolving from compassion to attraction to attachment to love. Blake and Harlan were from different classes that could never comfortably coexist, but they have a few scenes in which they briefly take the luxury of forgetting about those obstacles and spend time together, and those scenes are gorgeously written with just the right balance of intimacy, joy and playfulness.

The writing is sort of an archaic-contemporary mashup. I don't mind, it certainly enhances the humor and might even be a trend. Ms. Bird can fashion her fantasy world any way she chooses—no rules, that's what's so great about this genre. There are a few questions I have about the plot that still need answers but I suspect I'll get those answers in subsequent books, so I'm not complaining.

If you like medieval romantic fiction, you will most certainly like this dystopian story from the same era. I was completely absorbed in it. The plotting and characters and writing are top-notch.

Helpful

Jules

Couldn't put it down

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 19, 2022

Verified Purchase

This was my first Tanya Bird book, which led to me reading my way through all of her books in a few weeks! Tanya has such a way with words, world building, and creating characters you truly care about and sympathise with. I find a lot of books that fall into this genre can have really unlikable male and female main characters but happily that's not the case with Tanya's books-- It's action packed, romantic, moving, and I found Blake and Harlan to be such an interesting couple and pulled on my heart strings so strongly at every obstacle. I've reread it a few times since my first introduction to it and I must say it's still my favorite of her books! Highly recommend if you're looking for a book you're going to fly through, it's a great introduction to a fabulous trilogy.

Helpful

Nice

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 4, 2022

Verified Purchase

I enjoyed the leading characters. It was a compelling story. I appreciated that Blake was not made into some superwoman character. She had weaknesses and failures that caused her trouble and pain.

I do have two complaints. Sometimes the language felt out of place (too modern) for this type of story. Also, I don't understand how the mother could override the Crown Prince. The author didn't explain how ascendency works in this world, so it seemed odd that the mother could just ride in a save the day.

Helpful

Sue

loved it

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 1, 2022

Verified Purchase

I love this book and read it in one day. I admit I was a little obsessed. All of the characters have very distinct personalities that are very well written. Ms Bird has a definite knack for conveying detail and atmosphere. You can feel all of the characters emotions from joy to desperation and despondency. Excellent plot and writing

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Lindysue

the best

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 24, 2021

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I have just finished this book read it in one go could not put it down I laughed out loud I cryed read every page it is just such a great story.romance action and lauhter looking forward to next book in the series

One person found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Loved the new characters

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on March 20, 2021

Verified Purchase

I've read every book Tanya bird ha written after the companion series and the roman trilogy, these new characters are an absolute treat. Great story line, and the perfect romance. Can't wait for the next one!

One person found this helpful

Kindle Customer

Fab

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 11, 2021

Verified Purchase

I read this during lockdown. And it did not disappoint. I grieved and felt happy as the story unfolded. Needed this good read. Look forward to the next one.

One person found this helpful

Kindle Customer

Truly amazing

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 18, 2021

Verified Purchase

This book could not have fallen into my kindle at a better time. Fell in love with all the characters particularly garlic. Took me away from the miserable world and submerged myself into the story. Swallowed the book in one go.

One person found this helpful

Everdrift

Witty banter, sensible characters and fast moving plot

Reviewed in Australia 🇦🇺 on April 16, 2021

Verified Purchase

A love story between two individuals from opposing sides of their society. This book was the coming together of that love, as the protagonits sift through moral conflict and social challenges to realise what matters the most.

I enjoyed the wit in the dialogue, with amazing lines. I enjoyed the characters being relatable, there were no unnecessary misunderstandings driving the plot, or childish antics. Very rarely does a romance book actually explore issues of social justice tactfully.

Would recommend the series.
Level of steam: fade to black, mild kissing/touching
Audience: Older teens to adult
Setting: ?historical
Violence/Grit: Mild to moderate but not gratuitous

One person found this helpful

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Defender of Walls: Kingdom of Walls, Book 1 Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

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