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The Tangled Lands Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Paolo Bacigalupi (Author), Tobias S. Buckell (Author), Kate Reading (Narrator),
4.2 out of 5 stars 500 ratings

From award-winning and New York Times best-selling authors Paolo Bacigalupi and Tobias Buckell comes a fantasy novel told in four parts about a land crippled by the use of magic and a tyrant who is trying to rebuild an empire - unless the people find a way to resist.

Khaim, The Blue City, is the last remaining city in a crumbled empire that overly relied upon magic until it became toxic. It is run by a tyrant known as The Jolly Mayor and his devious right hand, the last archmage in the world. Together they try to collect all the magic for themselves so they can control the citizens of the city. But when their decadence reaches new heights and begins to destroy the environment, the people stage an uprising to stop them.

In four interrelated parts, The Tangled Lands is an evocative and epic story of resistance and heroic sacrifice in the twisted remains surrounding the last great city of Khaim. Paolo Bacigalupi and Tobias Buckell have created a fantasy for our times about a decadent and rotting empire facing environmental collapse from within - and yet hope emerges from unlikely places with women warriors and alchemical solutions.

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  1. Listening Length
    10 hours and 28 minutes
  2. Author
    Paolo Bacigalupi, see all
  3. Narrator
    Kate Reading, see all
  4. Audible release date
    February 27, 2018
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Audible Studios
  7. ASIN
    B079NC8GY4
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length 10 hours and 28 minutes
Author Paolo Bacigalupi, Tobias S. Buckell
Narrator Kate Reading, Tim Gerard Reynolds
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date February 27, 2018
Publisher Audible Studios
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B079NC8GY4
Best Sellers Rank

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
500 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book well-written and enjoyable to read. The art quality receives positive feedback, with one customer describing the cover art as awesome. The story quality receives mixed reactions from customers.

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ReadabilityArt qualityWriting qualityStory quality
11 customers mention "Readability"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable to read, with one describing it as masterful.

"...I don't read a lot of fantasy, but am delighted to have read this book!..." Read more

"...I really like his other books but this might be a good first book to read if you might be too squeamish to jump into shipbreaker or windup girl." Read more

"Thought wrong. Still well written and enjoyable but these are a collection of short stories that only make you hunger for more." Read more

"...Seemless. Flawless. Masterful. Worth sharing." Read more

3 customers mention "Art quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the art quality of the book, with one mentioning the awesome cover art and another noting the great imagery.

"...It could have been a lush and fast paced story told from four different points of view but it fell short of that mark...." Read more

"...Paolo's best work, but really interesting short stories with some great imagery and symbolism." Read more

"...Cover art is awesome though!" Read more

3 customers mention "Writing quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book.

"...When it arrived I saw that there was a co-author, but his writing did not disappoint!..." Read more

"Thought wrong. Still well written and enjoyable but these are a collection of short stories that only make you hunger for more." Read more

"Very well written and enjoyable. Great world building and a really good twist on the magic system...." Read more

8 customers mention "Story quality"5 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's stories, with some finding them excellent while others disagree.

"...It's actually four, short, interconnected tales of a place where magic was routinely used, which brought about just a wee bit of societal destruction..." Read more

"...will be donated to my local library to seek one. The premise is weak but in the hands of two such skilled craftsmen; it could have taken root..." Read more

"...I'm looking forward to read more of Tobias S. Buckell. His stories were excellent as well. Clever idea to organize the book that way and it worked!" Read more

"My only quibble with this excellent collection of stories, is that I've finished, and now I'll have to read something else. Outstanding!" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Robin Maker
    5.0 out of 5 stars fantastic book, throught provoing, wide open for more stories in this world
    Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2025
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Wow. Loved this.
    Helpful
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  • Jamie
    4.0 out of 5 stars I don't read a lot of fantasy, but am delighted to have read this book!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    The Tangled Lands (Hardcover) by Paolo Bacigalupi

    I don't read a lot of fantasy, but am delighted to have read this book! It's actually four, short, interconnected tales of a place where magic was routinely used, which brought about just a wee bit of societal destruction. These stories are sequentially in the aftermath of that. Each story is well told, and the characters are well developed. (Or as well developed as it can get in a short story).
    Given the premise of the landscape, the plots flow well, and the crisis are quite logical. (Oh my, did I just say that there was logic in a fantasy?!)
    I hope the authors return to this place again!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Retired line cook
    3.0 out of 5 stars Destined for a shelf near you
    Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2018
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    This could have been so much better given the caliber of the two writers involved! But every book has a home in someone's heart so my copy
    will be donated to my local library to seek one.
    The premise is weak but in the hands of two such skilled craftsmen; it could have taken root and borne fruit easily. It could have been a lush and
    fast paced story told from four different points of view but it fell short of that mark. Part of the problem seemed to be Mr. Bacigalupi's dialog which came off as wooden and forced because his previous books were never dialog heavy but more action and backstory centered. The lack of backstory here was felt because nothing came across as worth the investment as a reader. I had to drag myself through the book.
    This could have been a good work of YA fiction had it not been so dark as far as themes of death, abandonment and refugee life.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Mike_SF
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Two authors contributed to this book, each writing two short stories. The stories take place in the same land and reference each other on occasion. I've been a fan of by Paolo Bacigalupi since reading the Windup Girl. I'm looking forward to read more of Tobias S. Buckell. His stories were excellent as well. Clever idea to organize the book that way and it worked!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Christopher Rodesch
    4.0 out of 5 stars Really well put together with a few twists on the traditional
    Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2018
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    I was wondering how a series of short stories written by two authors would work and I was pleasantly surprised. The theme was familiar from earlier books, world run amok from excess and lack of personal responsibility. I really like his other books but this might be a good first book to read if you might be too squeamish to jump into shipbreaker or windup girl.
    Helpful
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  • Emily
    5.0 out of 5 stars but his writing did not disappoint! The world portrayed in The Tangled Lands has ...
    Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2018
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    I preordered this book back in October before knowing much about it. I'm a fan of anything Bacigalupi writes though, so I had no apprehension about the purchase. When it arrived I saw that there was a co-author, but his writing did not disappoint!

    The world portrayed in The Tangled Lands has the similar theme of environmental destruction of most of Bacigalupi's books, but this time with a fantasy twist. The book easily laid out the world and its rules in four short novellas focusing on different main characters with many of the same supporting characters. This book didn't have the same feel of the gritty realism of meanness of the world found in The Water Knife, which is what I was hoping for. For a fantasy book though, it did not leave me disappointed.

    This is going to sound petty, but–the only frustrating thing about this book was the font which I found distracting. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason why certain letters would connect.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Brian F.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good, if a bit uneven
    Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I enjoyed all four of these (it's not a novel, but four novellas in the same world). It would be nice if all the world building yielded a full novel, but it is what it is.
    Helpful
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  • C. F. Crowe
    5.0 out of 5 stars I was hooked on Paolo’s books since Wind up Girl
    Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    As a Sci Fi geek, I’m always looking for new wrinkles in the world of these stories of worlds requiring a slightly bent view of the current physical world. This series of stories are held together by the concept that magic spells are common, but their use causes the emergence of a vile poisonous vine that kills upon the touch and is almost impossible to kill.

    The constant struggle of the human inhabitants to survive in the face of this plant borne curse causes constant conflict between the upper class lords and lower class that are doomed to fight the evil plant demons.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Anita Flegg
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very original - recommended
    Reviewed in Canada on August 10, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Here are interlocking stories about a magical land, but no magical land you've ever read about before. In these stories, everyone can do magic, but the price the whole population pays for using magic is much too high for most people.
    These are not sweet stories about saving the world -- these are stories about ruined fortunes, broken lives, and living (and sometimes hiding) as a refugee.
    If that doesn't scare you off, I highly recommend this book -- it's worth the journey.
    Report
  • David Roffe
    5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 10, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Immersive, involving and convincing. Sharp characterisation, coupled with an engaging and, thankfully, not overly complex series of plots leads to a satisfying read. Really look forward to more from this (these?) authors.
    Report
  • Muskrat
    4.0 out of 5 stars Inventive
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 24, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Would have liked a proper ending - or another book? A bit like China Mieville, but not as good
    Report
  • e.p.jennings
    5.0 out of 5 stars excellent read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 30, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    enjoyed their other books
    Report