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    Soundless
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    Soundless
    Audiobook8 hours

    Soundless

    Written by Richelle Mead

    Narrated by Kim Mai Guest

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    From Richelle Mead, the #1 internationally bestselling author of Vampire Academy and Bloodlines, comes a breathtaking new fantasy perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Laini Taylor and Sabaa Tahir.

    For as long as Fei can remember, there has been no sound in her village, where rocky terrain and frequent avalanches prevent residents from self-sustaining. Fei and her people are at the mercy of a zipline that carries food up the treacherous cliffs from Beiguo, a mysterious faraway kingdom.

    When villagers begin to lose their sight, deliveries from the zipline shrink and many go hungry. Fei's home, the people she loves, and her entire existence is plunged into crisis, under threat of darkness and starvation.

    But soon Fei is awoken in the night by a searing noise, and sound becomes her weapon.

    Richelle Mead takes listeners on a triumphant journey from the peak of Fei's jagged mountain village to the valley of Beiguo, where a startling truth and an unlikely romance will change her life forever....

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateNov 10, 2015
    ISBN9781101925454
    Unavailable
    Soundless
    Author

    Richelle Mead

    Richelle Mead lives in Seattle and is the author of the Vampire Academy series. When not writing, she can be found watching bad movies, inventing recipes, and buying far too many dresses.

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    Reviews for Soundless

    3.5/5

    130 ratings26 reviews

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    • 3/5
      This book was interesting, but not as exciting as I was expecting it to be. The concept was really cool but I felt the story lacked some world building. This book easily could have been longer and I may have enjoyed it more. It just felt like something was missing for me. Overall the story was enjoyable, but the characters didn't really develop all the much and it was just okay.
    • 4/5
      Interesting

      I really liked this book. I was skeptical at first but the book grew on me as I kept reading.
    • 2/5
      I am not making a good start to the year with all these pitiful books I've been knocking out of my TBR pile.Fei is deaf and lives in a deaf village where silence is all they've known for several generations. She works as an artist because it's one of the highest paid occupations where they get more food rations than the laborers that are literally losing their sight working in the mines. Her current worries are which other artist is who she's going to marry, and how she's going to continue covering for her sister that is also going blind. First problem is a problem because she's the best girl it's only natural she marry the best guy who we learn is a moronic ass who doesn't care that the busboy stole some food because his family was dying, again because of the whole miners get less food than the people that sit around all day observing people then drawing them. Oh and that busboy gets beaten up by the jerk and his goons until Fei's ex-boyfriend Li Wei comes in and rescues him with his glorious biceps and abs...not literally obvs. One night Fei discovers a new sense that she's never experienced before and realizes she gained the ability to hear. Since that day that he rescued the boy, she's reconnected with Li Wei who tells her that he wants to venture out of their village to go look for the town that sends them food every week to implore them to give them more rations because it's just not enough for everyone. So she confides in him about her new sense and off they go so she could help him escape the avalanches and diplomatic ability that she's gained from being a town artist. I kept reading on and on hoping that the story would become exciting but it didn't. Yes it's obvious that there's a sinister reason that their village is deaf and obviously something is causing the blindness too but even that reveal wasn't all that interesting. Oh and also I read a blurb or something that said there was an unlikely romance but what part of childhood best friend, turned lover, turned former lover because she dumped him for an artist occupation, makes it an unlikely romance? It's more like a chance to reconnect with an old love."That's it?" - me as I reached the climax of the story."The summary made it seem like Fei was the one who wanted to leave and look for help...I feel lied to," - me after reading the summary that I purposefully didn't read before getting into the book because I've nitpicked every book where I let the summary give me too many expectations. At least I tried this time!
    • 4/5
      read this book for book club and will update my review after our meeting in March.While this book is thought provoking it is also an easy read for young adults. I have not read any other of Mead's work but I can understand her appeal, she writes simply and has a story that captures. While the story is slow moving I found myself captivated, I needed to know what would happen next. The character development was also slow, but realistic and relatable. The story itself was, like I said, thought provoking on many levels. For instance, how do you explain sound to someone who has never heard it? What words do you use when they do not understand what 'loud' or 'high-pitched' means? I also believe the abuse of disabled people is another thought provoking subject. Mead touches on so many thought provoking and deep subjects while tying the story together with Chinese mythology. A deeper insight to this mythology would have been helpful but I found myself doing my own research after I finished reading. Overall I think the book was well written, and had great discussion points. Great for a book club focused on young adult readers, or in our case, adult readers with varied interests.
    • 4/5
      Fei's village which sits atop a mountain, has been cut off from the rest of the world for generations. A massive avalanche blocked the pass used to connect with the rest of the world, as well as with the small sheltered valleys where they grew food. Ever since, they've depended upon supplies sent up a zipline from far below in return for the precious metal ore they mine. Theirs is a hard life, they're deaf, a condition that started affecting everyone not long after the avalanche. Now, a new affliction is spreading, blindness and it's causing considerable stress because without sight, villagers are less productive, or even unable to work at all. As it spreads, shipments from below shrink because of diminished output from the mine.Fei and her younger sister Zhang were orphaned a couple years ago, but are in the highest class, artists responsible for drawing the pictographic panels displayed in the center of their village every morning to supply news to everyone. When Zhang starts losing her sight, both sisters are frightened. If she can't draw, she'll be sent to work in the mines. One night Fei wakes up and realizes she can hear something. Over the next few days, she realizes that her hearing is fully functional, making her the first in generations to be able to do so.As conditions worsen and her sister's growing blindness is discovered, Fei realizes that someone must intercede with the person at the lower end of the zipline if the clan is to survive. She and Li Wei, the handsome miner she's liked ever since he rescued her at age seven, decide to descend the sheer cliffs, something nearly impossible until now because of frequently falling rocks. However, since Fei can hear, she hopes this newly regained sense will help them avoid getting killed or injured.What happens on the descent, what they discover at the other end of the zipline and how they deal with their discoveries make for a dandy read. I finished it in one sitting. The author has blended romance and mythological fantasy quite nicely.
    • 3/5
      Going into reading this book, I had heard that the book was bad. :-/But after reading it, I thought that the storyline was good but it is a different type of style that I'm used to reading. The roots of the story are steeped in Chinese mythology and there are not a lot of fantastical elements. The setting is a mountain village in China; the characters do not have superhuman abilities. So the premise was simpler than what I was used to. However, I thought that the heroine of the book, Fei, showed courage, honesty, and bravery in the story. She showed her loyalty to her family and Li Wei. The "forbidden love" aspect of the story seems a bit tripe but I think Mead tries to give an overall impression of what caste system marriage were like. I'm not sure about the execution of it, but I got the idea. I thought overall the book was okay, but I would be hesitant about recommending the book. A very particular type of reader would enjoy this; but if the person expected lots of action and fantastic elements, they would be sorely disappointed.
    • 5/5
      Richelle is a Mistress of Storytelling which draws me in from beginning to end and this book can be included. It's a fascinating mix of Chinese Folklore, family, adventure, love and believing in the impossible.
      I don't usually read a lot of books that take place in the Orient but after reading this one, I can see the lure and would like to read more.
      Fei and those in her village have been death since birth and this same affliction has been passed from several generations. She is a talented young woman who eventually realizes that she and those in her village have been deceived.
      When she mysteriously gains her hearing one morning after a series of dreams, she is overwhelmed by the sensation though soon adjusts. Her world becomes much more colorful though she worries about her sister who has started losing her sight. It's a sense that many of her people are staring to lose which means their already limited suply of food is soon to become even more limited. The only solution is to make the dangerous trek down the mountain to speak with the mysterious Lineman and plead for more assistance. Her childhood friend Li Wei joins her on the journey and old feelings come to the surface.
      When they make it to the bottom, they find a world of beauty and more food than they've ever seen in their lives. It appears to be a world that could more than provide for her people.
      Fei soon learns that after countless years of believing their ability to eat and have materials is up to one powerful man who insists on having the metals that miners in her village work to produce, it's all been a sham. Times are changing and lives are in danger under the regime of a new King.
      To save her people, she must make the journey back up the mountain, show them what's happening and believe in the impossible before they are enslaved from some of the people at the base of the mountain.

      I enjoyed getting to know Fei and Li Wei who eventually realize that they've loved each other for years and the importance of following your heart.
      Fei is a talented artist who loves her sister and just wants to keep her people from starving. She's very smart and understands the importance of working together as a community.

      I was very impressed with this book and I highly recommend it. I'm looking forward to seeing what Richelle has next up her sleeve.
    • 1/5
      It felt like the story took forever to get started, then once things finally got interesting the story stopped and flashed forward to a happily ever after epilogue. All the action I wanted to see happened off-screen.
    • 4/5
      I wasn't very sure about this book at first, but it soon grew on me. The storyline kept me guessing while still being believable, and I really enjoyed the fantastical elements.
    • 3/5
      I have enjoyed several of Richelle Mead's books. This wasnt such a time. This took so long to take off. Only at the very end did I begin to feel a closeness with Fei. With the majority of the book being based off the towns deftness, it needed stronger storytelling than was supplied. It was a hard task to take on, and I think this needed more work, to be honest, to get to where it needed to be.

      I was happy to see Asian main characters. So, seldom do we see anyone who in YA who isnt white/fair (FYI I'm white.) But I am still on the fence with the audiobook proudciton. THe actress sounds very timid and shy. Personaly, I feel like that's a common misconception of asian people-that their quiet and timid soubding. You could make the case that Fai is such a victium of her surroundings that she's become a shell of a person. But the book wasnt that deep.

      I have very mixed feelings about this book. 2.75stars
    • 4/5
      I loved it. It was very different, but also very intriguing.
    • 2/5
      I am a big fan of Richelle Mead at the moment.

      Slightly disappointed in this book. Maybe I'm too old for YA fiction.

      Idea is good, not enough background and build up. But being a stand alone novel would have a lot to do with it.

    • 3/5
      Interesting hook, likeable heroine. Very quick read, leaving me wishing for quite a bit more story, but for many YA readers, this will be a satisfying romantic adventure.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book. The world building was very interesting, though, admittedly there could have been more of it. I liked the characters, and loved the way the author reintroduces us to our sense of hearing through Fei, who has never heard anything before, and doesn't know anyone who can hear. The ending felt too fast, but other than that I thought that it was paced well. The audiobook reader is very good as well. I would not have pronounce pixiu correctly if I had not been reading via audiobook, though the irony that I was listening to an audiobook about a village where no one could hear was not lost on me. Because I thought that the world this book was set in was very interesting, but the author did not explore it very much, I would really like to see another book set in this same place, and maybe get a glimpse of how Fei, Li Wei and Zhang Jing are doing through a new character on a journey of their own.
    • 3/5
      I was first drawn to "Soundless" because of it's stunning front cover and it was an enjoyable read. I loved the use of Chinese mythology, which gave the book a touch of fantasy, and the fact that the whole village was deaf and had to rely on their other senses. It was an unique concept. I also liked the various characters, especially Fei. She had to make some tough choices along the way, and following her journey with sound when her hearing was restored was fascinating. The romance between her and Li Wei was sweet, but I was a bit disappointed with the ending. It finished just a bit too neatly for my liking, but still a satisfactory read.
    • 4/5
      I wanted to read Soundless because I am a fan-girl for Mead. She writes wonderful characters, hot romances, and plot lines that keep me turning the pages and not wanting to stop. Fei, the main character in this fantasy sounds like she will be no different. Fei automatically gets on my good list because of how protective she it's of her sister. She is covering for her Zheng,who is losing her sight. I love when a tight knit family whether its siblings in this one, since their parents passed. The whole village can't hear and that puts them at a disadvantage since their mountain town is blocked from the rest of the world. they're unable to grow their own food so they have to rely on the metals from the mines to produce something to trade with village below that sends up some food in exchange. This type of town sets up an interesting heirarchy, showing Mead's skill at world building. Fei and her sister are in the highest besides the elders, they are artists who work together to paint the news. But her sister losing more vision by the day or week, it is hard for her to keep up the quality of her work, and it gets to a point where Fei can't do her own work and fix her sister's. They used to have a crier but the art has become necessary since they can't hear. The next group it's the suppliers who work with food and the lowest besides the beggars who can't hear or see and depend on others generosity are the miners who deal in manual labor. Fei is friends with and even more is developing with Li Wei. He is a miner but quickly in we get to see his strength of character when he steps in for a boy caught stealing food, their highest crime, but he did it for his sister's family who was starving. Unfortunately, the one leading the beating (who also had no place to do so) is Sheng, the one destined to marry Fei. But she has been crazy for Li Wei since he helped her out of a collapsed building at age eight and he was covered in gold dust making him shimmer and even more appealing. They have had a chemistry and tight relationship until their jobs kept them from spending as much time together. Li Wei's father is also losing his vision, but he is a proud man and wants to keep providing even if he can't do the job the same way anymore. An incident with his father, and a separate one with Zheng leads Li Wei and Fei to follow up on the idea of going down the mountain to try to get a better deal from the town below, or figure out some new options for their family and their town. Fei begins to hear, and it is so interesting how Mead describes Fei hearing things for the first time, questioning if she is crazy, and figuring out how to put her new ears to use, and if it could be a clue to restoring not only hearing to the town, but an answer for them going blind. Li Wei and Fei's journey down the mountain and discovering the truth about the line keeper, finding an abandoned city like theirs on a platue and then seeing the riches at the city below. They discover a lot about the world outside their town, and while they find some answers about their deafness and blindess, they are left with more questions of why they weren't given more food, and much more. Towards the end we get answers about why Fei is the one to have her hearing restored, and we also get a breath taking ending when Fei tries to save her town and her sister. The forbidden romance gets swoony and I loved how much they connected and were into one another. I got all of my questions answered, and was left satisfied with the ending and where it left these characters, in a spot of hope and healing. Bottom Line: Good characters and romance, quick and enjoyable read.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed this new fantasy by Richelle Mead. It mines Chinese mythology for its bones and tells the story of a high mountain mining village where all of the residents are deaf and some are going blind too. The village has been isolated from the rest of the country and from any crop lands by a series of avalanches. Conditions are not good in the village. The people send the ore they mine down to the lowlands via a zipline and receive food in exchange. However, the lowlanders are shorting them and people are near starvation.The main character is Fei who is an apprentice artist whose role is to write the daily record of what she observes in the village. She wishes that she could paint the more colorful things like she sees in her dreams but doesn't have the supplies. One morning, after a particularly vivid dream, she awakes to find that her sense of hearing has been restored. At first, she doesn't know what to make of the strange sensations.At about the same time, the lowlanders decide to cut rations to the village ever more and Fei along with the young man she loves, Li Wei, decide to make the very perilous climb to the bottom of the mountain to plead with the linekeeper to restore their supplies. Li Wei is a miner which makes him of a lower social class than Fei who is supposed to marry another artist whom she dislikes. Fei convinces Li Wei to take her along because she can hear and should be able to protect them both from the avalanches that will be triggered by their climb.When Fei and Li Wei reach the bottom, they learn many things that have been kept from them all and both have to perform great acts of bravery before they can help their village. I liked that Fei was such a determined young woman who was trying to do good for her village. I liked the Li Wei supported her despite his desire to make a new life for himself in the lowlands. I liked the surprising fantasy element that appeared in the final portion of the book. I also liked that the book is a perfectly acceptable standalone novel but that there are opportunities to tell more stories about the characters and the world. Fantasy fans and Richelle Mead fans will enjoy this engaging story.
    • 5/5
      Soundless differs from Richelle Mead's other novels in many ways. It's a fantasy novel set in ancient China instead of Western Europe or the Celtic worlds. Her heroine, Fei, lives in an isolated village at the top of the mountain where everyone is deaf. She's gifted and wins a place in the caste of artists, rising above her family's station of miners. The academy recruits Fei and is willing to take her older sister as well.Not only is their village isolated but they're unable to grow any food. Instead, they send down the precious metals from the mines and accept whatever food is sent back up to them through the pulley "line system." Each villager's allocation of food is determined by the position that they hold and the function that they perform. The artists record the events of the day and are given high status as well as the best living conditions. The miners are among the lowest in caste and receive very little food to sustain them. Those that lose their sight are forced to beg and are on near starvation allotments.Li Wei is Fei's old friend and love interest but he's a miner. With her elevation to apprentice artist, they do not socialize and won't be allowed to marry. The village society has very strict customs and rituals - Li Wei and Fei are barely able to sign to each other a full conversation. But Fei comes across Li Wei just as an accident reveals that when Li Wei's father is in increasing danger with his deteriorating eyesight. As things get worse for the village and for those that Fei and Li Wei's families, the two decide to undertake the dangerous climb down the mountain. Their journey leads them to discover the degree to which their village has been exploited over the years and the looming danger that they face.Fei and Li Wei are compelling lead characters -- they don't have the brashness or assertiveness of the usual YA heroes and heroines, but Richelle Mead has crafted an adventure story that incorporates ancient Chinese mythology and Eastern culture. I loved Soundless and highly recommend it!
    • 3/5
      **There are spoilers in my review**

      I thought the book was alright. The first half I thought was well written, a good pace, really got you into the world, but the second half I just kind of lost my interest. I don't know what it was, really, but I found myself counting down the pages until I was done. I was glad the village got a happy ending and all and Fei and Li Wei could get married, but I don't know. The book just didn't do it for me. This was my first book I read by Richelle Mead and I'm wondering now if that was a mistake or not. Anyway, 3 out of 5 stars.
    • 3/5
      Fei lives in an isolated mountain-top village where everyone is deaf. Somewhere in their history, they simply lost that particular ability. Fei works in the most prestigious position: artist. These artists don't simply draw or paint what they want; they record the goings on of the day and display it for the village to read and see. Now, some of the villagers are also losing their sight, including Fei's sister Zhang. Along with her crush Li Wei, she decides to descend the mountain and confront the person who gives them every decreasing rations to survive. The journey will reveal secrets long kept and shatter their world.I've enjoyed Richelle Mead's writing in the past, especially the Vampire Academy series, so I was excited to start Soundless. The world is interesting. It takes place in Ancient China and Fei's whole village is deaf. I liked the way their silent communication was written. There is no spoken dialog because even though Fei can hear, she can't understand spoken words. The best part of the novel for me was when Fei regained her hearing and began learning how to describe and get used to sounds. I also liked the inclusion of the pixius, Chinese mythological creatures who are hybrid creatures and protectors. I also enjoyed the underlying message of the story. Overall, I was let down by the book. Fei wasn't horrible, but didn't wow me. She proved to be a little too perfect and less relatable. She has a typical romance with a typically attractive guy to save her isolated, oblivious world. The plot was too by the numbers for YA fiction. It just felt too similar to other stories like I'd read it before. The village seemed a little too simplistic since they seemed to only three classes: artist, miner, and servant. A village needs more than those types to function. The ending was way too deus ex machina for me, even though it was very obvious from early on. Soundless is a fast read, but didn't leave any lasting impression on me.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book. The world building was very interesting, though, admittedly there could have been more of it. I liked the characters, and loved the way the author reintroduces us to our sense of hearing through Fei, who has never heard anything before, and doesn't know anyone who can hear. The ending felt too fast, but other than that I thought that it was paced well. The audiobook reader is very good as well. I would not have pronounce pixiu correctly if I had not been reading via audiobook, though the irony that I was listening to an audiobook about a village where no one could hear was not lost on me. Because I thought that the world this book was set in was very interesting, but the author did not explore it very much, I would really like to see another book set in this same place, and maybe get a glimpse of how Fei, Li Wei and Zhang Jing are doing through a new character on a journey of their own.
    • 5/5
      This was my first book by this author. Omg I loved it! It didn't feel like a YA or teen novel at all! Small hint of romance and a lot of adventure, culture and fantasy. Beautifully written. Strong female characters, interesting plot, enjoyable characters, fast paced and believable. I especially loved how the author was able to describe deafness and use it as the main focus. Just a wonderful story!
    • 3/5
      I know this is touted as a stand-alone and it works wonderfully well as such. However, that isn't to say that I wouldn't very much enjoy spending more time with Fei and Li Wei and Zhang Jing and the other members of their village. It would be interesting to have a story set in this world maybe 15 or 20 years later and showing the long-term effects of the events of this book.

      I did feel that there were some plot points that could have been explored more, like the prophecy (What was it? Who knew about it? How did something so seemingly important not become a part of the village's folklore?) and there were some characters who had an inordinate amount of focus in the earlier chapters only to not play much of a role in the finale. And, you know, like most folk and fairy tales, the origin of and remedy for the village's afflictions got a little hand-wave-y. I really think the book needed another thirty pages or so to really ripen, but what was here was mostly really enjoyable.

      And, as I said, I'd gladly read more stories set in this world should Mead change her mind and decide she has some more to tell.
    • 3/5
      On the whole, I quite enjoyed the world building here, and the characters are ok. There's a level of repetitiveness in their emotional states that gets irksome, and it's a very odd scenario. Also, I ahve a hard time believing that the climb down/back up would have been physically possible for the heroine, in a semi-starved state with no experience or training. Also, if the only way to write yourself out of a scenario is to add magic, you lose a certain amount of believability. That said, I did enjoy the story and I am quite intrigued by the soundless society.
    • 3/5
      I so enjoyed The Glittering Court, that I decided to read another Richelle Mead novel. It’s very different.Fei and her sister, Zhang Jing, live in a world where no one can hear and many are going blind. To spread news of daily happenings, Fei and Zhang Jing are part of the artists. They receive special treatment and steady food because of their importance. Each artist is given an area to observe; they are not supposed to engage in the activities. These observations are made into paintings and displayed in the square. Fei tries to help her sister who is going blind; if she can’t paint accurately, she’ll be thrown out and have to work in the mines, a grueling and cruel workplace. Fei’s protection of her sister comes before her own needs, and her greatest fear comes true when it’s discovered that she’s almost blind.Fei makes a deal to get her sister as a servant, but Zhang Jing, is now invisible. As a servant she is considered beneath everyone else. Fei worries and runs into her former beau Li Wei. They discuss the strange life their community lives. They send the mined material down on a zip line and the people at the bottom of the mountain send food. The problem is the food is getting smaller and smaller, and they can’t mine any faster. Fei and Li Wei decide to climb down the mountain, which is almost guaranteed death. The only reason they can attempt this feat is that suddenly Fei can hear. This is amazing and unprecedented. They plan to descend and see if they can secure more food for the town. You won’t be terribly surprised at what happens below, but it’s an interesting story of adventure and love.
    • 2/5
      I was lucky enough to receive Soundless: A Sneak Peek by Richelle Mead. I have been looking forward to this book since it was announced. Fei and her sister Zhang Jing are apprentices in the art program. They get better lodging, food, and clothing. They take the news of the previous day and put it into pictures for the whole village to look at (they are stationed all around the village to observe only). The villagers all lost their hearing many years ago. Everyone speaks using sign language. Now some of the villagers are losing their eye sight. It is mostly the miners which means that less precious metals are coming out of the mines. What they mine is sent down the mountain (via zip line) to pay for their supplies (food). Their rations are being cut (because of less precious metals). Now Zhang’s sight is going (her observation post is in the mine) and Fei is afraid her sister will get thrown out of the program (which means she will be a beggar since their parents are deceased). Something needs to be done to help the people in the village (they live on a mountain that is impossible to climb up or down). Li Wei is a miner (and talented carver). He is in love with Fei (and Fei with Li) but they cannot be together (because Fei joined the artists). What is going to happen to the villagers? Is there a way to improve life for everyone? Why are people losing their sight (something in the mines)? Will Fei and Li ever be able to be together?I just received a sneak peek of the book, but it was enough to tell me that I was not going to enjoy this book. The romance portion seems to dominate the book. I cannot believe that this is the same writer who wrote those other wonderful books. I was just disappointed. I can only give Soundless 2.75 out of 5 stars. Maybe it gets better. I just did not enjoy what I read. The story seems very simple and it lacks depth. The story reminded me of fairytales I read when I was younger. I think younger readers (tweens) will enjoy this novel more than the adults.I received a complimentary copy of Soundless from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.