I am back with my first review for the 2018 year, and of course it's a Crew favorite! If you love history and audio adventures, then Wulf the Saxon from Heirloom Audio Productions is definitely for you!
If you have never had the pleasure of listening to an audio drama from Heirloom Audio Productions, let me tell you a little bit about what to expect. What they do is recreate the stories from the legendary story teller, G.A. Henty. Mr. Henty was a war correspondent, a big guy with an even bigger beard, and he lived for adventure. His passion comes through in every story he tells. He loved to share his stories with his friends and family, and throughout the years, he went on to write 122 books! This is where Heirloom Audio comes in. They take these beautifully told stories, and turn them into adventures that come alive as you listen to them. I am an avid reader, and I also listen to a lot of audio books. These audio dramas are completely in a league of their own. They are not your average audio book. These are brought to life with award winning actors, amazing sound effects, and the beautifully written sound track that goes along with it. As soon as you start listening, you enter the world of G.A. Henty, and his love for adventure is brought to life.
These wonderful adventures are perfect for listening on long car rides, or even short car rides if you break it up into parts. They are also great for a family listening night because it almost brings you back to the times of sitting in front of the radio and listening to different programs. For the review, we were given the two CD set, which again is perfect for the car, but they also offer an mp3 download so that you can listen on your phone or computer!
So lets talk a little bit about Wulf the Saxon. Our story starts off with Mr. George, the story teller, speaking to two young brothers. He's on his way to research more on the book he's writing. He tells the boys that the book is about the people of France and England. He goes on to explain about the different ranks of the people including the King, Dukes, Earls, and Thanes. The curious boys want to know more, so Mr. George offers up a story that sets them off on an adventure.
This takes place in the year 1065 when Edward the Confessor is King of England. Our main character is Wulf who is a Thane, or landowner. He gets in a bit of trouble and is sent back to where he came from to take on his duties as a thane. He is eager to prove that he is honest and noble just as his father was before him. He gets a pardon from the king, and is sent back to London to serve Earl Harold Godwinson. Harold takes him in and makes him a trusted part of his inner circle. Wulf and the rest of his people decide to go on a journey where they become shipwrecked on the shores of Normandy, and are soon kidnapped. This is where the adventures begin. There are many different themes in this story, and it includes battles and even a love story. It does not lack adventure or history!
Our thoughts? I hate even saying this because I am a TRUE fan of all of Heirloom Audio Productions audio dramas, but this one fell short for us. I have to say it is definitely not because it lacked anything on their part, I just think it wasn't our favorite story. I found myself having to rewind it and listen again, because we just couldn't stay focused on it. It just wasn't holding our attention. I still can't wait to listen to the next one, because just as with books themselves, sometimes you have one that creeps up and isn't your cup of tea. That is how Wulf the Saxon was for me and the kids.
Other than the story not being our favorite, the actors, the sound effects, and the beautiful soundtrack was on point as usual!
Last but not least, I do want to mention the Live the Adventure Club. This is a fantastic addition to all of your Heirloom Audio Production products. It includes all kinds of resources including, chapter read alongs, chapter quizzes, parent resources, and so much more. Make sure you check it out especially if you are a fan like we are, and listen to all of the adventures!
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