Following right on the heels of The Lost Gate, also by Orson Scott Card, I went straight into another OSC book, Pathfinder. I liked Pathfinder much more than The Lost Gate. I got this one, too via the local libraries digital checkout (via Overdrive).

Pathfinder has two interwoven storylines – one is a sci-fi storyline and one is a medieval storyline. For the first half of the book I had no idea what they had to do with each other and the sci-fi storyline actually started irking me because the other was so much more interesting. Eventually, it made sense once all was revealed. This is a book that can easily be spoiled by the wrong summary of it so I won’t go into any detail about the plot (and don’t go reading summaries elsewhere). Here’s a hint… time travel. Confusing time travel.

The narration was excellently done by numerous voices. Each chapter/story was done in a different voice then at times new chapters that focused on a different character had a new narrator. It was a bit odd at first since I got used to (and liked) the first narrator but I got over it.

I really enjoyed the characters and the storylines in this book and heartily recommend it to anyone who likes sci-fi/fantasy. OSC leaves the door wide open for the sequels and a good litmus test for me is would I read/listen to the next one in the series? For Pathfinder, I would.

I just finished listening to the audiobook The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card. I picked it up for free thanks to my local library and Overdrive.

The story is fantasy versus OSC’s usual sci-fi settings and is about the ancient gods like Odin, Thor, and Zeus who have been stranded on earth for centuries because their Great Gate has been taken. Danny is a young boy who has the gift of gate-magery and could recreate the Great Gate – if the Gate Thief doesn’t get to him first.

There are two parallel storylines in the story, one about Danny in present-day earth and one about Loki in a medieval land and each storyline is narrated by a different narrator – both of which are very good. I was much more interested in the story of Danny than Loki’s. Overall, the book wasn’t bad, but the fact that the Loki storyline wasn’t as interesting to me and the rather quick ending that totally led into sequels kinda turned me off. I’m not sure if I would read/listen to the next in the series, but I did finish it and it was entertaining, just not the best book I have heard.

• The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card