The Dread Descendant

The Dread Series, Book 1

By: Lauren Cate Leake

Narrated by: Sasha Higgins, Will M. Watt

"Maeve crossed the hall between them with confidence. In three short steps, she stood before his throne. A decaying skull broach appeared on his own breast pocket. The final piece of his Dread Mark. She and Abraxas were the mouth and the sword. He was Death incarnate."

Dark Magic comes at a cost, but Maeve Sinclair is willing to sacrifice more than just her Magic in exchange for freedom. She is the only witch with the ability to jump through minds. She and her magical world live in hiding on Earth, desperately waiting for the rise of the prophesied Dread Descendant. While praying for this Prince of Darkness to return them to their ancient home realm, the humans wage wars that threaten magic's very existence on Earth. When an unlikely friendship with Malachite Peur blossoms at the most prestigious magical academy in the world, the pair discovers that together they could be unstoppable.

©2023 Lauren Cate Leake (P)2025 Podium Audio

Need book 2 and 3 ASAP!

I have already read this book but thought it would be nice to listen back during car rides and BOY was I right! Listening had me notice things I hadn’t before when simply reading the book. Also, I do not say this lightly, hearing the Mal POV chapters in Will Watt’s voice changed my life for the better!

My first fantasy book to read

You definitely have a new fan in the fantasy series of books. Lauren Cate Leake is an exceptionally gifted writer, that brought the characters and the setting to life with vivid details and magical expressions. I was hesitant to read a book like this, but I’m so glad that I did and look forward to the next book in her series. So thankful that Lauren Cate’s book was brought to life on Audible, which is my choice method of reading and enjoying books. She is definitely an author that I will follow for years to come.

Third-Person Objective POV

I finally finished this dreaded book...

I really wanted to like this book, I really did... I saw this on Instagram and followed the author immediately! I also don't want to be mean but I will be truthful for my review. This just might not be my cup of tea but I am not a fan of the POV this book is told from.

This book is told from a Third-Person Objective POV which does not allow us to know most thoughts and feelings of the characters. It seems very childish at times with describing EXACTLY what is happening but no meaning... I suppose I am to put meaning to those actions, which I can understand-- to a degree.

There are many conversations that take place that the characters will bring up something that the characters KNOW what it means but we as the reader certainly don't. I lost track because by the end I didn't care to note each one... it almost feels like the characters are psychic with how often they just bring something random up and the other goes "of course."

I also can't get into the world, there seem to be so many plot points that honestly get forgotten... there's school, they graduate- kinda, there's war, there's this whole prince thing, there's another man possibly, there's perhaps more to the main character than what it seems but we will never go back to it-- there's lots of time jumps/cuts that don't help with the psychic characters...

So this is not my cup of tea... I wish it was though...