The Adorned

4.5I came to this through my usual Audible window shopping i.e. listening to samples, adding to my wish list, and coming back to them later. This was a super pleasant surprise on a couple of fronts.[a:John Tristan 2738973 John Tristan https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1540990054p2/2738973.jpg] is a NTM author and I loved his elegant and smooth writing. In many aspects his fantasy/AU world brought to mind GoT with the fanciful spelling of names, the old & new Gods, and a ruling class that's a little more than human. It's a super slow burn, but utterly fulfilling romance between Etan, a kind of babe in the woods young man who after losing everything, comes to the big city to make his way, and Roberd Tallisk, a tattoo Master who makes Etan his Adorned. The world they inhabit is meticulously, lovingly brought to life by the author, and feels lived in, authentic. The biggest shocker was that this was narrated by [a:Shannon Gunn 6996772 Shannon Gunn https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]! When the credits rolled at the end my jaw almost dropped. I only know SG from the Ella Frank Temptation series in which he kind of grew on me and [b:His Roommate's Pleasure 17913360 His Roommate's Pleasure Lana McGregor https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1369921283l/17913360.SY75.jpg 25102455], where I loved the book but hated the narration. Here he comes and wows me with a beautifully nuanced performance, and distinct characterizations. Bravo Mr. Gunn.