The River of Kings

By: Taylor Brown

Narrated by: Mark Bramhall

Length: 10 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

The Altamaha River, Georgia's "Little Amazon", is one of the last truly wild places in America. Crossed by roads only five times in its 137 miles, the blackwater river is home to 1,000-year-old virgin cypresses, direct descendants of 18th-century Highland warriors, and a staggering array of rare and endangered species. The Altamaha is even rumored to harbor its own river monster, as well as traces of the oldest European fort in North America.

Brothers Hunter and Lawton Loggins set off to kayak the river, bearing their father's ashes toward the sea. Hunter is a college student, Lawton a Navy SEAL on leave; they were raised by an angry, enigmatic shrimper who loved the river, and whose death remains a mystery that his sons are determined to solve. As the brothers proceed downriver, their story alternates with that of Jacques Le Moyne, the first European artist in North America, who accompanied a 1564 French expedition that began as a search for riches and ended in a bloody confrontation with Spanish conquistadors and native tribes.

Twining past and present in one compelling narrative, The River of Kings is Taylor Brown's second novel, a dramatic and rewarding adventure through history, myth, and the shadows of family.

©2017 Taylor Brown (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

so good.

loved it. you should read it. thats all there is about it. the end. done

Epic River Journey Past and Present

Lyrical and mythic story about a historic exploration of early America by the French alongside a contemporary river journey of two brothers whos goal is delivering their father's ashes back to the river / ocean. Intense and spellbinding story! Narration is incredible - highly talented story teller!

Not as enjoyable as previous listens.

This recording made me work a bit more trying to fit the pieces together while sometimes going to sleep. 3 different story lines ..history most interesting as I was not aware of French in Florida or GA.

Great American South story

Great story about the American South, mystery, nature, conservation, history and adventure sprinkled with family drama.

Beautiful prose

I just can’t seem to get enough of Taylor Brown’s masterful artistry and command of the written word. Another spectacular read from the author!

Descriptive writing

I enjoyed the writing style. Interesting if not action packed story. Actually there are 3 story lines which are easy to follow; one of which didn’t contribute as much as I would’ve liked. But, overall I really liked the book. Narrator was good, i kinda enjoyed his (almost humorous) overly-French & overly-Southern voices.

Fizzles out and bores

The use of language is great, evocative. Shows promise to start but the story slows, plods, falters and dies

Pay careful attention to the brothers' relationship

I was prepared to characterize the book as a writer's dream of a story told after midnight at the campfire if Cormac McCarthy, Ernest Hemingway, and Alexandre Von Humboldt went camping and ran into Faulkner out on a date with Rachel Carson. BUT there are some well-wrought shifts in the brothers' characterizations that make the novel rise above the wilderness adventure genre. I got a kick out of what was in my mind homage to Heart of Darkness. For the right reader, this is not to be missed. And you will know early on if that means you.

Had to read for bookclub - almost stopped then loved it!!!

The start of the three stories did not show promise to me, but I am so glad I stuck with it. This is a well written book that really Speaks to a locale with a believable, well developed cast of characters. The Altamaha is certainly on of his characters.