The Invention of Fire cover art

The Invention of Fire

Preview

£0.00 for first 30 days

Try for £0.00
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.

The Invention of Fire

By: Bruce Holsinger
Narrated by: Simon Vance
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

Confirm Purchase
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.
Cancel

About this listen

The richly atmospheric new historical thriller featuring John Gower, poet and trader of secrets. Set in the turbulent 14th Century, this is perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom.

London, 1386: young King Richard II faces the double threat of a French invasion and growing unrest amongst his barons – and now there's evil afoot in the City. Sixteen corpses have been discovered in a sewer, their wounds like none ever seen before. One thing is clear: whoever threw the bodies into the sewer knew they would be found – and was powerful enough not to care.

Enter John Gower, poet and intellectual whose 'peculiar vocation' is dealing in men's secrets. Against the backdrop of medieval London with its grand palaces and churches, dark alleys and mean backstreets, Gower pursues his dangerous quarry. Seeking insights from his friend Geoffrey Chaucer and using his network of contacts, Gower comes to the shocking belief that the men have been killed by a new and deadly weapon of war.

Known as 'the handgonne', it would put untold power into the hands of whoever perfected its design. But who has commissioned this weapon? A man who would stop at nothing to achieve his secret goal.

©2015 Bruce Holsinger (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Historical Fiction
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

An Honourable Thief cover art
The Tinner's Corpse cover art
The Unquiet Bones cover art
The Seeker cover art
Veil of Lies cover art
A Conspiracy of Violence cover art
Sacred Treason cover art

Critic reviews

‘Holsinger evokes the distant world of medieval London under King Richard II in all its gamey, gory, glory' Daily Mail

What listeners say about The Invention of Fire

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    26
  • 4 Stars
    22
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    22
  • 4 Stars
    18
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    19
  • 4 Stars
    19
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    2

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

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

Splendid medieval conspiracy romp.

Would you listen to The Invention of Fire again? Why?

Entertaining fusion of historical fact and fiction to tell a tale which is sufficiently intricate to warrant at least a second listen.

What did you like best about this story?

The author's helpful introduction gives the reader some interesting insights into life and times in the reign of Richard II. Though The Invention of Fire can be read on it's own, many of the characters and relationships were established in A Burnable Book (also very good). The friendship between Chaucer and Gower is a treat to read.

Which character – as performed by Simon Vance – was your favourite?

There is no stand out character because the narration throughout is excellent.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

No

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

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

Loved the mystery not sure about the plot

Would you listen to The Invention of Fire again? Why?

Yes. It's well read and a good story. It might shine a light on our current struggles with the Jungle in Calais, and how we might want to welcome those who need refuge.

If you’ve listened to books by Bruce Holsinger before, how does this one compare?

A Burnable Book is better. This story is still captivating but your empathy with Gower and his struggle with his history and his sight is less compelling. Less believable than a Burnable Book, but every bit as well researched.

I struggle with the thought that there were probably better, more reliable ways to destroy communities at the time...so why would you take the risk...

What about Simon Vance’s performance did you like?

Nothing - and you can't praise narration better than that you really didn't notice and you really enjoyed being read a story

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but it's a fixed number of miles between here and work!

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

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

Hated it from start to where I gave up ....!

What disappointed you about The Invention of Fire?

Confused story, unlikeable main character, average narration ....just very very boring

What was most disappointing about Bruce Holsinger’s story?

Lack of action, confusion in style of writing, tedium

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Simon Vance?

Jonathan Keeble, Anton Lesser

What character would you cut from The Invention of Fire?

difficult to choose just one. There were far too many who sounded the same

Any additional comments?

I was really looking forward to this book but unfortunately it was one of only 3 I have not been able to finish due to the tedium. When you consider I have listened to Shogun at 55 hours long and this is only 13 hours .....

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!