Senlin Ascends
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Senlin Ascends
Buy Now for $32.31
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
John Banks
-
Written by:
-
Josiah Bancroft
About this listen
The first book in the word-of-mouth phenomenon debut fantasy series about one man's dangerous journey through a labyrinthine world.
"One of my favorite books of all time" (Mark Lawrence)
The Tower of Babel is the greatest marvel in the world. Immense as a mountain, the ancient Tower holds unnumbered ringdoms, warring and peaceful, stacked one on the other like the layers of a cake. It is a world of geniuses and tyrants, of luxury and menace, of unusual animals and mysterious machines. Soon after arriving for his honeymoon at the Tower, the mild-mannered headmaster of a small village school, Thomas Senlin, gets separated from his wife, Marya, in the overwhelming swarm of tourists, residents, and miscreants.
Senlin is determined to find Marya, but to do so he'll have to navigate madhouses, ballrooms, and burlesque theaters. He must survive betrayal, assassins, and the illusions of the Tower. But if he hopes to find his wife, he will have to do more than just endure. This quiet man of letters must become a man of action.
©2017 Josiah Bancroft (P)2018 Hachette AudioYou may also enjoy...
-
The Justice of Kings
- Written by: Richard Swan
- Narrated by: Lucy Paterson
- Length: 13 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 29
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 24
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 24
The Empire of the Wolf simmers with unrest. Rebels, heretics, and powerful patricians all challenge the power of the Imperial throne. Only the Order of Justices stands in the way of chaos. Sir Konrad Vonvalt is the most feared Justice of all, upholding the law by way of his sharp mind, arcane powers, and skill as a swordsman. At his side stands Helena Sedanka, his talented protégé, orphaned by the wars that forged the Empire.
Written by: Richard Swan
-
Ashes of the Sun
- Written by: Django Wexler
- Narrated by: Imogen Church
- Length: 21 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 36
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 33
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 33
Gyre hasn't seen his beloved sister since their parents sold her to the mysterious Twilight Order. Now, 12 years after her disappearance, Gyre's sole focus is revenge, and he's willing to risk anything and anyone to claim enough power to destroy the Order. Chasing rumors of a fabled city protecting a powerful artifact, Gyre comes face-to-face with his lost sister. But she isn't who she once was.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
TRULY PHENOMENAL!
- By Anonymous User on 2020-07-25
Written by: Django Wexler
-
The Gutter Prayer
- Written by: Gareth Hanrahan
- Narrated by: John Banks
- Length: 16 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 12
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 11
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 11
The city of Guerdon stands eternal. A refuge from the war that rages beyond its borders. But in the ancient tunnels deep beneath its streets, a malevolent power has begun to stir. The fate of the city rests in the hands of three thieves. They alone stand against the coming darkness. As conspiracies unfold and secrets are revealed, their friendship will be tested to the limit. If they fail, all will be lost, and the streets of Guerdon will run with blood.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
original and refreshing
- By Heidi Schmauder on 2024-05-24
Written by: Gareth Hanrahan
-
The City of Brass
- A Novel
- Written by: S. A. Chakraborty
- Narrated by: Soneela Nankani
- Length: 20 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 175
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 145
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 144
Nahri has never believed in magic. Certainly, she has power; on the streets of 18th-century Cairo, she’s a con woman of unsurpassed talent. But she knows better than anyone that the trades she uses to get by - palm readings, zars, and a mysterious gift for healing - are all tricks, both the means to the delightful end of swindling Ottoman nobles and a reliable way to survive. But when Nahri accidentally summons Dara, an equally sly, darkly mysterious djinn warrior, to her side during one of her cons, she’s forced to reconsider her beliefs.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
3 stars
- By I rarely review on 2018-11-19
Written by: S. A. Chakraborty
-
Way of the Argosi
- The Spellslinger Series, Book 0.5
- Written by: Sebastien de Castell
- Narrated by: Kristin Atherton
- Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 7
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 5
Ferius Parfax has a simple plan: Kill every last inhabitant of the spell-gifted nation that destroyed her people, starting with the man who murdered her parents. Killing mages is a difficult and dangerous business, of course, but when she meets the inimitable and extraordinary Durrall Brown, she discovers that physical strength is not the only way to defeat evil of all kinds. So Ferius undertakes to study the ways of the Argosi: the loosely-knit tribe of tricksters known for getting the better of even the most powerful of spellcasters.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Interesting but too long
- By Amazon Customer on 2023-06-04
Written by: Sebastien de Castell
-
The Hexologists
- Written by: Josiah Bancroft
- Narrated by: Sarah Slimani
- Length: 13 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 7
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 5
The Hexologists, Iz and Warren Wilby, are quite accustomed to helping desperate clients with the bugbears of city life. Aided by hexes and a bag of charmed relics, the Wilbies have recovered children abducted by chimney-wraiths, removed infestations of barb-nosed incubi, and ventured into the Gray Plains of the Unmade to soothe a troubled ghost. Well-acquainted with the weird, they never shy away from a challenging case.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Bancroft - The Best Worldbuilder Working Today
- By Daniel W. on 2023-10-31
Written by: Josiah Bancroft
-
The Justice of Kings
- Written by: Richard Swan
- Narrated by: Lucy Paterson
- Length: 13 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 29
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 24
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 24
The Empire of the Wolf simmers with unrest. Rebels, heretics, and powerful patricians all challenge the power of the Imperial throne. Only the Order of Justices stands in the way of chaos. Sir Konrad Vonvalt is the most feared Justice of all, upholding the law by way of his sharp mind, arcane powers, and skill as a swordsman. At his side stands Helena Sedanka, his talented protégé, orphaned by the wars that forged the Empire.
Written by: Richard Swan
-
Ashes of the Sun
- Written by: Django Wexler
- Narrated by: Imogen Church
- Length: 21 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 36
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 33
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 33
Gyre hasn't seen his beloved sister since their parents sold her to the mysterious Twilight Order. Now, 12 years after her disappearance, Gyre's sole focus is revenge, and he's willing to risk anything and anyone to claim enough power to destroy the Order. Chasing rumors of a fabled city protecting a powerful artifact, Gyre comes face-to-face with his lost sister. But she isn't who she once was.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
TRULY PHENOMENAL!
- By Anonymous User on 2020-07-25
Written by: Django Wexler
-
The Gutter Prayer
- Written by: Gareth Hanrahan
- Narrated by: John Banks
- Length: 16 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 12
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 11
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 11
The city of Guerdon stands eternal. A refuge from the war that rages beyond its borders. But in the ancient tunnels deep beneath its streets, a malevolent power has begun to stir. The fate of the city rests in the hands of three thieves. They alone stand against the coming darkness. As conspiracies unfold and secrets are revealed, their friendship will be tested to the limit. If they fail, all will be lost, and the streets of Guerdon will run with blood.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
original and refreshing
- By Heidi Schmauder on 2024-05-24
Written by: Gareth Hanrahan
-
The City of Brass
- A Novel
- Written by: S. A. Chakraborty
- Narrated by: Soneela Nankani
- Length: 20 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 175
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 145
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 144
Nahri has never believed in magic. Certainly, she has power; on the streets of 18th-century Cairo, she’s a con woman of unsurpassed talent. But she knows better than anyone that the trades she uses to get by - palm readings, zars, and a mysterious gift for healing - are all tricks, both the means to the delightful end of swindling Ottoman nobles and a reliable way to survive. But when Nahri accidentally summons Dara, an equally sly, darkly mysterious djinn warrior, to her side during one of her cons, she’s forced to reconsider her beliefs.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
3 stars
- By I rarely review on 2018-11-19
Written by: S. A. Chakraborty
-
Way of the Argosi
- The Spellslinger Series, Book 0.5
- Written by: Sebastien de Castell
- Narrated by: Kristin Atherton
- Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 7
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 5
Ferius Parfax has a simple plan: Kill every last inhabitant of the spell-gifted nation that destroyed her people, starting with the man who murdered her parents. Killing mages is a difficult and dangerous business, of course, but when she meets the inimitable and extraordinary Durrall Brown, she discovers that physical strength is not the only way to defeat evil of all kinds. So Ferius undertakes to study the ways of the Argosi: the loosely-knit tribe of tricksters known for getting the better of even the most powerful of spellcasters.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Interesting but too long
- By Amazon Customer on 2023-06-04
Written by: Sebastien de Castell
-
The Hexologists
- Written by: Josiah Bancroft
- Narrated by: Sarah Slimani
- Length: 13 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 7
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 5
The Hexologists, Iz and Warren Wilby, are quite accustomed to helping desperate clients with the bugbears of city life. Aided by hexes and a bag of charmed relics, the Wilbies have recovered children abducted by chimney-wraiths, removed infestations of barb-nosed incubi, and ventured into the Gray Plains of the Unmade to soothe a troubled ghost. Well-acquainted with the weird, they never shy away from a challenging case.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Bancroft - The Best Worldbuilder Working Today
- By Daniel W. on 2023-10-31
Written by: Josiah Bancroft
-
Jade Shards
- Stories
- Written by: Fonda Lee
- Narrated by: Andrew Kishino
- Length: 3 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 4
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 4
Fonda Lee returns to the acclaimed Green Bone Saga with four prequel short stories that delve into the personal histories of the Kaul and Ayt families.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
I honestly wish this series was longer.
- By Anonymous User on 2023-09-30
Written by: Fonda Lee
-
Montego
- A Glass Immortals Novella
- Written by: Brian McClellan
- Narrated by: Damian Lynch
- Length: 3 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 1
-
Performance0 out of 5 stars 0
-
Story0 out of 5 stars 0
Twelve-year-old Montego al'Bou is an orphan, a provincial peasant boy left alone by the recent death of his grandmother. Possessing nothing more than his grandmother's cudgel, he strikes out to the capital where the influential Grappo have offered to bring him up in the luxury of an Ossan guild-family. He finds his welcome frosty, his new home full of confusing responsibilities.
Written by: Brian McClellan
-
Empire of Silence
- Sun Eater, Book 1
- Written by: Christopher Ruocchio
- Narrated by: Samuel Roukin
- Length: 26 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 123
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 104
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 104
The galaxy remembers Hadrian Marlowe as a hero: the man who burned every last alien Cielcin from the sky. They remember him as a monster: the devil who destroyed a sun, casually annihilating four billion human lives - even the emperor himself - against Imperial orders. But Hadrian was not a hero. He was not a monster. He was not even a soldier. Fleeing his father and a future as a torturer, Hadrian finds himself stranded on a strange, backwater world.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Author's first book is amazing.
- By blorgus on 2023-07-06
Written by: Christopher Ruocchio
-
The Shadow Saint
- The Black Iron Legacy, Book 2
- Written by: Gareth Hanrahan
- Narrated by: John Banks
- Length: 19 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 7
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 7
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 7
Enter a city of spires and shadows.... The Gutter Miracle changed the landscape of Guerdon forever. Six months after it was conjured into being, the labyrinthine New City has become a haven for criminals and refugees. Rumors have spread of a devastating new weapon buried beneath the streets - a weapon with the power to destroy a god. As Guerdon strives to remain neutral, two of the most powerful factions in the godswar send agents into the city to find it. As tensions escalate and armies gather at the borders, how long will Guerdon be able to keep its enemies at bay?
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
refreshing
- By Heidi Schmauder on 2024-07-01
Written by: Gareth Hanrahan
-
Forsworn: A Powder Mage Novella
- Written by: Brian McClellan
- Narrated by: Julie Hoverson
- Length: 2 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 1
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 1
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 1
Erika ja Leora is a powder mage in northern Kez, a place where that particular sorcery is punishable by death. She is only protected by her family name and her position as heir to a duchy. When she decides to help a young commoner-a powder mage marked for death, fugitive from the law-she puts her life and family reputation at risk and sets off to deliver her new ward to the safety of Adro while playing cat and mouse with the king's own mage hunters and their captain, Duke Nikslaus.
Written by: Brian McClellan
-
The Complete Poppy War Trilogy
- The Poppy War, The Dragon Republic, The Burning God
- Written by: R. F. Kuang
- Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller
- Length: 66 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 58
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 50
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 50
This collection features the novels in her historical military fantasy trilogy—The Poppy War, The Dragon Republic, and The Burning God—a complete epic inspired by the bloody history of China’s twentieth century and filled with treachery and magic.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
torture-murder pornography disguised as literature
- By LudgarKin on 2023-06-11
Written by: R. F. Kuang
What the critics say
"Senlin Ascends crosses the everyday strangeness and lyrical prose of Borges and Gogol with all the action and adventure of high fantasy. I loved it, and grabbed the next one as soon as I turned the last page." (Django Wexler, author of The Thousand Names)
"Josiah Bancroft is a magician. His books are that rare alchemy: gracefully written, deliriously imaginative, action-packed, warm, witty, and thought-provoking. I can't wait for more." (Madeline Miller, author of Circe)
"Senlin is a man worth rooting for, and his strengthening resolve and character is as marvelous and sprawling as the tower he climbs." (The Washington Post)
What listeners say about Senlin Ascends
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2018-08-11
not the most uplifting story
good plot, but sort of depressing, highlighting selfishness and backstabbing. very good world and character building.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Allan
- 2024-06-23
What an adventure!
while I took a little time to warm to this book, it quickly become something I simply could not put down. A unique twisting and turning adventure with peril and delightments at every turn. I am so happy to see there are another three books in the series!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Peter
- 2023-01-04
Unique
An alright adventure story set in a steam punk world different from a lot of the fantasy settings I’ve read. Narrator is good. I thought I wouldn’t like this after 15 minutes, but it improved.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- R'john Bernales
- 2023-06-27
The other reviews were right
It was a bit weird and slow at first and almost lost me. It took me months to get back to it,but I’m so glad I did.
Give it a chance. The book really caught me in the second half and I will be getting the next in the series when my next credit comes.
Since I can’t give a half star,I gave it a 5,although I really rate it 4.5. That’s still pretty good I think.
The voice talent is excellent and It really brought this world to life for me.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Eli Gaudreau
- 2021-04-21
WOW
I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH I CRIED. ITS INCREDIBLE. PLEASE, READ OR LISTEN TO IT IT'S AMAZING
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kyle T
- 2019-01-14
At first I wasn't sure I'd like it...
At first I wasn't sure I'd like it, but a few hours in I became enthralled. I would highly recommend this book!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- John Le Blanc
- 2019-08-27
Five Stars by the End
I found this book tricky to stay with at times. It occasionally felt a little too Alice-in-Wonderland-y. I usually hate that kind of setting. Nothing in the world was relatable or familiar, but when recalling the chapters I had read I found that the world was... memorable. It flowed as a series of adventures. The main character was likable to a point, but again not very relatable. However, as the climax approached his character growth was becoming apparent and was something to root for. The climax itself was exciting and very well done. It tied the whole story together with greater sense and meaning as the main character starts to figure things out. It sets up the sequels nicely and compellingly at the very end. I am surprised I'm giving it five stars given how I felt about the story along the way. But at the end I had to concede it was all extremely well done.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amy Braun
- 2022-06-14
Utterly Unique
SENLIN ASCENDS is a quirky, exciting, unique book that follows its main character on an unforgettable journey in an unforgettable place. The more I think about it, the more I realize how much I truly enjoyed it: The characters, the world, the prose, all of it providing a fresh story that I am eager to continue.
Thomas Senlin arrives at the mythical Tower of Babel on a honeymoon with his new wife, Marya, only to lose her and begin an epic rescue. And I had no idea the trouble he was in for, or how charmed I would be by him.
Thomas is wonderful. He isn’t a soldier or superhero or diplomat or spy. He is literally a teacher with an air of propriety who is entirely out of his element. That was enough to make me love him. The way he grows and progresses makes him instantly likeable, an every man in a chaotic place just trying to do the right thing and find his wife. There are plenty of admirable and complex characters he meets with along the way, though Marya will always be my favourite.
I loved the Tower of Babel. It is such a unique setting and perfectly encapsulates the themes of the story. Every level is different, dark, and dangerous. You never know what to expect or who you’ll run into.
I was also surprised at the amount of action. Bancroft is very, very skilled with his prose and the simplest sentence could make for a chilling moment.
This is a completely original and unique story. It’s part fantasy, part steampunk, part romance, part thriller. All of it is perfection. I absolutely adored it and highly recommend it to any reader looking for a fresh new book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story2 out of 5 stars
- Roman
- 2023-04-05
Not like Brent weeks
I love Brent weeks. I read this based on the recommendation on the cover.
But this lacks everything that I like about his epics.
I find this story very boring. It's basically a long sting of hollow plot devices that makes the whole story feel pointless.
I didn't finish it, but no scene felt like it really mattered.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!