32 episodes
Alderpod - The Aldersgate Cycle Podcast Natania Barron
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4.4 • 32 Ratings
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The Aldersgate is a steampunk western of epic scale, where the fate of the world rests on a final showdown between steam and sorcery.
Cora Grey is a seventeen year old Alderclass girl who loves stories of chivalry and romance. But it isn't easy being one of only five girls in Vell, the small Territories town where her father is the Alderman. Just as she finally musters up the courage to tell her best friend, the blacksmith's son Brick, how she truly feels about him, all the hells break loose.
The Order of the Oak, the Queen's messenger knights, sweep through Vell and abduct all Alderclass girls--including Cora's younger sister Denna. Cora narrowly escapes with the help of her maid Gem, and the town's eccentric inventor, a diminutive woman named Professor. They descend into darkness and Cora finds herself an unwelcome guest in a wondrous underground city called the Nithings, inhabited by the peculiar Sibs. Which would be welcome--except that the Sibs, and their home, aren't supposed to exist outside of fairy stories at all.
Cora's story, along with those of the bard Emry Roy, the knight Sir Sylvan DeLoire, Princess Ellinora, and the queen's high counselor Kaythra Bav, sets the stage for a coming war between technology and magic and draw them all toward the Aldersgate, where the final outcome will determine the fate of their world.
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Alderpod #32 – Epilogue and Excerpt
At (very) long and (truly) last, Alderpod #32 is live. There were a few reasons that it took so long, and most of them have to do with having a three-year-old, writing other stuff, working as a freelancer, and technical issues. I literally recorded this a total of five times, with tons of takes in […]
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Alderpod #31 – Chapters 28 and 29
Chapter 28 – As It Goes; Chapter 29 – Fire & Rain Well. There you go. The last two chapters in one long podcast. The reason? I was definitely in a groove recording this, and I wanted to keep that energy going throughout the recording. Since the two chapters are connected to one another, simply […]
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Alderpod #30 – Chapter 27: Precipice
Chapter 27: Precipice I’m just crankin’ these out, huh? Well, finally (finally!) the audio issue is resolved. The setup works, and works so much better than what I had before. I cannot tell you the frustration! I hope you’ll hear the difference in the podcast, as I didn’t have to mask the track with a […]
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Alderpod #29 – Chapter Twenty-Six: Preparation
Chapter 26: Preparation Once again, here we are. I’ve been having a little bit of frustration with my recording equipment, and hopefully by the end of this week I’ll have a totally new setup: phantom power here I come! I’m working on ways to keep background noise to a minimum, which has been an issue […]
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Alderpod #28 – Chapter Twenty-Five: Lost and Found
Alderpod #28 – Chapter Twenty-Five: Lost and Found Without further ado, here is Chapter 25. Once again we are back at Vezina Ranch with the Order of the Oak, and Cora and her friends. I’ve got a few notes at the end of the chapter as usual, so I’ll leave you to listen. Just a […]
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Alderpod #27 – Chapter 24: In the Belly of the Beast
Chapter 24: In the Belly of the Beast Yes, another chapter! I had meant to get this out on my birthday, the 14th, as a sort of hobbitish mathom gesture. But that didn’t quite work out. I’m in the process of editing #29, so look for that in a few days (or even earlier, depending […]
Customer Reviews
A touch of steampunk, a dash of fantasy, throw in a hint of romance, and you have a great podiobook
Everyone has their own unique take on what steampunk is. Natania's version is 5 parts brass, goggles and airships, 2 parts fantasy with a slight hint of Celtic fae, 2 parts western, and 1 part romance, audioably shaken, stirred, and mixed at 375 degrees for 32 episodes.
The result is a warm, yummy treat whose unique aromas and flavours cover up a few bland tastes.
In other hands, the odd mix of genres could Natania uses could come across as schizophrentic, but for the most part the author shows a talent for letting the story dictate when to use each, and not the other way around.
The ending was not as final as I would had hoped, but given it is the first book of a series that was its job; leave me content, but wanting the next nibble. It was successful in that.
There were a few audio tribbles to deal with, especially in the earlier episodes, but the author seemed to adapt and produce higher quality work as the series progressed.
This is a definte subscribe if you're looking for a good, entertaining story.
Not worth the investment
This premise has promise but poor execution. The writer is way too scattershot. Too many characters are introduced and too many story threads which are not tied up. Supposed to be a second book but she never seemed to write it.
Fantastic Listen!
Wow- well written, well read. A very engaging and enjoyable listen. Thank you for sharing your talents and efforts.