The Librarian Gladiator
Series: The Tallindran Trilogy
Author: Dustin Bilyk
Narrated By: Kevin E. Green
Length: 13 hrs 52 mins
Hamelin, a village separated from the rest of the world, has a deadly problem.
Fierce, flying beasts ravage and cull the sparse human population, forcing Hamelin’s citizens to live within the safety of her boundaries. With no help in sight, the village leaders look to their god, the Provider, for salvation, and they unearth a chilling answer to their problem.
The Tournament of the Kindred—a much-celebrated, barbaric event that pits four gladiators against each other in deadly combat. Winning the Tournament brings rich rewards, fame, and glory to one’s bloodline. Losing, however, results in a lethal trip to the Sacrificial Altar for you and all those who share your blood: man, woman, and child. The sacrifice is said to be a blood offering to the Provider for reprieve—a necessary evil for the greater good of all.
Neven Oakfall, adolescent town historian and librarian, is chosen by random draw to fight for the survival of his bloodline. After a life behind a desk, Neven must find the courage deep within himself to defeat his stronger opponents, for he discovers that much more than the lives of those he loves hangs in the balance.
An evil lurks, waiting for its moment to deliver the death blow to the village, and Neven is all that stands in its way, whether he likes it or not.
Reviews for The Librarian Gladiator:
"This book is almost too good. You know how you feel when there's a nun nearby? Like you might blurt out the wrong thing? I want to say the right things here, because this should be your new favorite fantasy." - Zippergirl
"An immersive YA and adult fantasy in which the most striking feature is the rampaging power of the imagination of the author." - David Ross
"This book was intense! But very awesome. It starts by making you think it is another Hunger Games offshoot, but then it rapidly veers off in a whole new direction to uncover secrets that nothing is what it appears. I loved the world-building here and the many unique characters that fill the classic sound and evil roles well." - Brittany McCann