Tess of the Road Audiobook By Rachel Hartman cover art

Tess of the Road

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Tess of the Road

By: Rachel Hartman
Narrated by: Katharine Lee McEwan
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About this listen

Award-winning Rachel Hartman's newest YA is a tour de force and an exquisite fantasy for the #metoo movement.

"Tess of the Road is astonishing and perfect. It's the most compassionate book I've read since George Eliot's Middlemarch." (NPR)

In the medieval kingdom of Goredd, women are expected to be ladies, men are their protectors, and dragons can be whomever they choose. Tess is none of these things. Tess is...different. She speaks out of turn, has wild ideas, and can't seem to keep out of trouble. Then Tess goes too far. What she's done is so disgraceful, she can't even allow herself to think of it. Unfortunately, the past cannot be ignored. So Tess's family decide the only path for her is a nunnery.

But on the day she is to join the nuns, Tess chooses a different path for herself. She cuts her hair, pulls on her boots, and sets out on a journey. She's not running away, she's running towards something. What that something is, she doesn't know. Tess just knows that the open road is a map to somewhere else - a life where she might belong.

Returning to the spellbinding world of the Southlands she created in the award-winning, New York Times best-selling novel Seraphina, Rachel Hartman explores self-reliance and redemption in this wholly original fantasy.

Named one of the best books of the year by NPR, Boston Globe, The Chicago Public Library, Kirkus Reviews.

"The world building is gorgeous, the creatures are vivid and Hartman is a masterful storyteller. Pick up this novel, and savor every page." (Paste Magazine)

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2018 Rachel Hartman (P)2018 Listening Library
Classics Fantasy Fiction Heartfelt

Critic reviews

"This achingly real portrayal of a young woman whose self-loathing takes help to heal is a perceptive examination of rape culture rare in high fantasy. Not to be ignored, this is also a fascinating road trip adventure. Absolutely essential." (Booklist, starred review)

"Like Tess' journey, surprising, rewarding, and enlightening, both a fantasy adventure and a meta discourse on consent, shame, and female empowerment." (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

"[A] rousing adventure set in a richly drawn world.... Newcomers to Hartman’s work will be every bit as enthralled as her fans with this companion novel to Seraphina and Shadow Scale." (Bulletin, starred review)

Character Development • Emotional Journey • Excellent Voice Changes • Rich Worldbuilding • Female Protagonist
Highly rated for:
All stars
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Deep
Intuitive
Covered a wide breadth of emotion, thought, and senses.
Resonant
I am grateful

Fanstinkimgtastic

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this is an important book for ya's and their parents. the ways that this text introduce the mythology of becoming an adult is potent and pithy.

best ya fiction in a decade

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lots of clever observations on the adventures of an unlikely hero. Fun well fleshed out characters.

miscief and philosophy rolled into one

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Just read it. It’s so good. I expected a fantasy adventure story. And it was. But also so much more. Feminist in that difficult way that challenges systems. More than just a story about a girl with a sword. (though I really like stories about girls with swords)While also being about finding healing in a world that doesn’t think you deserve it.

So much more than I expected

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I love the narrator so much so I had to listen to this! I do think it's about 100 pages too long and some parts of the plot didn't seem necessary but I love how much emotion and growth in Tess's journey and also Pathka being one amazing creature! If you love more character stories and great writing you'll enjoy this :)

Tess of the Road

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With a painful start, this book takes us through Tess’ mistakes and triumphs. Even better than Seraphina, the depth of Rachel Hartman’s characters keep impressing me!

A Road Of Redemptions

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I adored Seraphina’s books, but I did not expect such an emotional journey with Tess. This book goes through some serious traumas and challenges many women have to face. It’s a fantastic adventure full of heartbreak and healing. Absolutely recommend!

Deep and wild

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I couldn't stop listening! She's such a captivating author! Tess is a delightful character with a deep and supremely endearing development. it's so easy to feel her growth and progress, and to rejoice in her maturation after wading through the dross of her life with her.

Wonderful character development

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This story moved me. Tess's journey is incredible and the issues of rape and society's standards on women are explored in a subtle, heart breaking way. Re-visiting some of the characters from Seraphina is a nice touch but the story is very much about Tess. The audio was great as well. I listened to it everywhere.

Amazing.

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Absolutely abounding with adventure at every turn, and heart-pangingly honest emotional introspection. I loved it!

Wonderful!

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