• Shadowdale

  • Forgotten Realms: The Avatar, Book 1
  • By: Scott Ciencin
  • Narrated by: Nicole Greevy
  • Length: 11 hrs and 38 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (455 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Shadowdale  By  cover art

Shadowdale

By: Scott Ciencin
Narrated by: Nicole Greevy
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $24.95

Buy for $24.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

An all-new audio version of one of the key titles in the entire Forgotten Realms novel line.

At the time of its original release, this series presented key events that impacted the entire Forgotten Realms world, and the effects of those events are still felt in current novels. This title was originally released under the author's pseudonym, Richard Awlinson.

When the gods are banished from the heavens, they must travel through Faern in the guise of mortals.

When four companions, last survivors of the Company of the Lynx, find themselves in possession of a mysterious amulet, they must escape death at the hand of Bane, god of murder.

When magic itself runs wild, no one can say that the most innocent of spells will not destroy the world.

©1989 TSR, Inc., 2003 Wizards of the Coast LLC (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Shadowdale

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    204
  • 4 Stars
    126
  • 3 Stars
    73
  • 2 Stars
    39
  • 1 Stars
    13
Performance
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    157
  • 4 Stars
    102
  • 3 Stars
    72
  • 2 Stars
    46
  • 1 Stars
    38
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    213
  • 4 Stars
    111
  • 3 Stars
    62
  • 2 Stars
    18
  • 1 Stars
    12

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

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

Do like listening to Siri?

It's unfortunate that the performer for this story sounds like a robot. No emotion and really does sound like Siri or Alexa.

The story is good but you would be better off picking up the actual book.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

11 people found this helpful

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

Middling storyline and uninspired delivery

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would recommend this for readers who want to expand their knowledge of the Forgotten Realms and provide a backdrop for other novels in the universe. I would not recommend it to someone looking to enjoy a standalone book. There is a fair amount of filler. After a somewhat jarring introduction, the plot lags for most of the book.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The latter quarter or so of the story is the most exciting, and I think the ending is well-written and rounds out the plot nicely. Of course, not all ends are tied up, as this is merely the first book in a series.

What three words best describe Nicole Greevy’s performance?

Monotone, bland, and unconvincing. The only characters who I felt Greevy portrayed well were Mystra and Midnight. When voicing male characters, Greevy often sounds as if she is making fun of them.

Do you think Shadowdale needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Yes, clearly. There is much more to this story arc.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

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

Great book, not so great audiobook

What did you like best about Shadowdale? What did you like least?

The story was good and I enjoyed hearing about the early days of Forgotten Realms gods. But I had a hard time listening to it. The book is written in 3rd person omniscient voice which makes everything very passive and not that engaging a listen. I would rather hear what the characters are doing rather than ABOUT what they are doing.

Would you be willing to try another one of Nicole Greevy’s performances?

I don't think so. While I'm sure she reads well, I found her a bit monotone and her acting was not very good at all. I think an audiobook reader needs some acting ability to make the characters come to life. Hearing her do Bane, the god of fear hatred and tyrrany, made him sound like a whiny teenager.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

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

One of the best FR stories! Worst FR narration!

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The narrator. seriously. how does she even get jobs?

What did you like best about this story?

Gods made flesh? Elminster of Shadowdale? Stairways to heaven? The fall of Mystra?!?! What more could you want?

How did the narrator detract from the book?

There are not words to describe the horrible job done by this lady.

Could you see Shadowdale being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Yes, and I have no idea.

Any additional comments?

My cat could narrate this book better.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

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

Amazing!

What made the experience of listening to Shadowdale the most enjoyable?

This is one of my all time favorite series in the Forgotten Realms setting.

What did you like best about this story?

This is the first book in the series. It's a great beginning to an epic adventure.

What does Nicole Greevy bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I'm not sure where Nicole Greevy came from, but she does an amazing job portraying the characters in the book. It was great to hear all of my favorite characters come to life! Great job on finding Nicole Greevy audible! I would listen to more books narrated by her any time!

Any additional comments?

I can't wait to hear the rest of the books in the series!

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

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

Keystone event in the realm.

it's a shame that the centerpiece reads like a soap opera. must grrr through these... must continue on. but it is painful.

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
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A trip back in time

What did you love best about Shadowdale?

The simple story with a great cast of characters that takes me back to the first time I read this story.

What other book might you compare Shadowdale to and why?

The other books in the series, Tantras and Waterdeep. It continues the story of the main characters with good development and plot.

Which scene was your favorite?

Cyric talking about his past to Midnight.

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

Not really, I wanted to spread it out and take my time to enjoy it more...

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

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

Good start to the series

What made the experience of listening to Shadowdale the most enjoyable?

Story built throughout with an explosive conclusion

What did you like best about this story?

How it fills into the rest of the written Forgotten Realms mythology

Did Nicole Greevy do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Yes, but I'll admit that I had difficulty with her rendition at first - I'm well used to it now.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The opening of character's backgrounds which begin to clue the reader into motivations

Any additional comments?

Because this is the first in the series the start is slow - so slow that I almost stopped the book. I'm glad I gutted through the slower parts.

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
    4 out of 5 stars

Narration Sounds Like Amazon Alexa

Love the Forgotten Realms books but couldn't handle listening to this because of the narration. No inflection and sounded like Alexa.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Worse than fan fiction

Really didn’t enjoy it. Ending was bad, story was all over the place. Could have been generic fantasy and you would barely know. Was my first DnD book but I doubt I’ll look into others.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!