Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Preview
  • Master of Shadows

  • By: Neil Oliver
  • Narrated by: Neil Oliver
  • Length: 13 hrs and 55 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (65 ratings)

£0.00 for first 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Master of Shadows

By: Neil Oliver
Narrated by: Neil Oliver
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Summary

From the rough highlands of Scotland to the crumbling majesty of Constantinople, a gripping historical novel written and read by TV historian and broadcaster Neil Oliver.

In 15th-century Constantinople, young Prince Constantine, heir to the Byzantine throne, is left permanently crippled when he saves the beautiful Princess Yaminah from falling to her death in the Hagia Sofia. Meanwhile in Scotland, John Grant, a young man with unusual abilities, is rescued from certain death by a formidable Moorish warrior whose own life was once saved by John's father.

Unbeknown to them, John Grant and Prince Constantine share a unique connection - a connection that lies at the very centre of their beings.

When fate orchestrates that their paths should cross, the repercussions will be felt across the continents.

©2015 Neil Oliver (P)2015 Orion Publishing Group
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

Wisdom of the Ancients cover art
The Story of the British Isles in 100 Places cover art
Buried cover art
Ancestors cover art
Ask a Historian cover art
Culloden cover art
The Makers of Scotland cover art

Critic reviews

"Impeccably researched - of course! - and deeply enjoyable. Goes down in a big, delicious gulp of action and mystery, with a taste of romance." (Diana Gabaldon)

What listeners say about Master of Shadows

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    39
  • 4 Stars
    15
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    36
  • 4 Stars
    12
  • 3 Stars
    9
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    34
  • 4 Stars
    15
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    1

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

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

Highly recommended.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Great, easy to listen to , narration from Neil Oliver himself. The writing was so descriptive I was drawn into the story - wonderful.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

A stunning, sweeping epic

I absolutely loved this book. It's a sweeping epic of a story spanning a continent and several lives. It is woven together by a beautifully crafted narrative and made all the more appealing by Neil Oliver's performance.

This is the best book I've listened to in a long time.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

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

A captivating story.

A well written story beautifully told, a fascinating glimpse of a moment in history. My only grumble is that the very end seemed a little rushed, it took me by surprise.

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

Loved it thank you!! Great narrating Neil. Perfect

The beginning was beautifully crafted.
I had a great time listening to it shame it ended.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

genius

I really like Neil's work anyway..to find this is a very happy surprise..terrific!
Great. thanks

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Not all authors of good stories are narrators....

This was an hugely enjoyable book which I found having been introduced to the character of John Grant (John Le Grant) by the glorious Dorothy Dunnett in her magnificent House of Niccolo series. It is a satisfying story, well paced, fleshed out and, subsequently much recommended. However, much like Stuart MacBride when he narrated two of his Logan Macrae books, Mr Oliver should have been taken aside by his publisher and either trained by a speech therapist with influence from euch as RNIB or guided to allow someone with the talent and experience to narrate. This book would have shone so much more brightly with narration by David Rintoul for example - listen to King Hereafter and compare.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Fantastic Story and Wonderful Narration

This story is chock full of fascinating historical insights and intriguing characters. The plot flows smoothly, rich in details but never excessively drawn out.
The narration is excellent, Neil Oliver’s smooth talking manner and clear Scottish accent allow one to really sink into the story without the distraction of character voices or faked emotions.
Very highly recommended for anyone who enjoys historical fiction and unexpected plot twists.

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

fantastic tale.

I enjoyed this story immensely. Well written and with a good few surprises along the way.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Enthralling

I loved this novel which reminded me a little of Dorothy Dunnett's wonderful books. However I did struggle with it in audio form and feel, with its jumping in time, it would be easier to follow in book form. I enjoyed Neil Oliver's use of language and really liked his voice but there was no pause between chapters and slight pauses, especially when a new chapter takes you to a different time or place in the story, do help when listening rather than reading what is a fairly complex narrative. Personally I love the blend of history and the supernatural and the author's version of Jeanne d'Arc's life. His writing let me "see" all the action (though some of the bloodiest scenes made my stomach clench!) and I think this would make a great film. I would certainly be keen to listen to another book by Mr Oliver.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

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

A tremendous book

Beautifully written. Full of exquisite historical detail as you would expect from Neil Oliver. I read it wanting to know more about the Byzantine age but came away with so much more.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful