In the Labyrinth of Drakes: A Memoir by Lady Trent

Written by Marie Brennan

Narrated by Kate Reading

In the Labyrinth of Drakes, the thrilling new audiobook in the acclaimed fantasy series from Marie Brennan, the glamorous Lady Trent takes her adventurous explorations to the deserts of Akhia.

Even those who take no interest in the field of dragon naturalism have heard of Lady Trent's expedition to the inhospitable deserts of Akhia. Her discoveries there are the stuff of romantic legend, catapulting her from scholarly obscurity to worldwide fame. The details of her personal life during that time are hardly less private, having provided fodder for gossips in several countries.

As is so often the case in the career of this illustrious woman, the public story is far from complete. In this, the fourth volume of her memoirs, Lady Trent relates how she acquired her position with the Royal Scirling Army; how foreign saboteurs imperiled both her work and her well-being; and how her determined pursuit of knowledge took her into the deepest reaches of the Labyrinth of Drakes, where the chance action of a dragon set the stage for her greatest achievement yet.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Apr 5, 2016
• ISBN: 9781427271266

Marie Brennan

MARIE BRENNAN is a former anthropologist and folklorist who shamelessly pillages her academic fields for inspiration. She recently misapplied her professors' hard work to The Night Parade of 100 Demons and the short novel Driftwood. She is the author of the Hugo Award-nominated Victorian adventure series The Memoirs of Lady Trent along with several other series, over seventy short stories, and the New Worlds series of worldbuilding guides; as half of M.A. Carrick, she has written the epic Rook and Rose trilogy, beginning with The Mask of Mirrors. 

Reviews for In the Labyrinth of Drakes

[pardamustang · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

***This book was reviewed for the San Francisco Book Review****In the Labyrinth of Drakes is Brennan’s fourth novel in the Lady Trent series. This time she and Tom are headed to Akhia, to head up the Scirling Royal Army’s efforts to breed desert drakes in captivity. Arriving brings her many surprises.In Akhia, Isabella is reunited with Suhail, her archaeologist companion who had also travelled aboard the Basilisk. She learns he is the brother of the sheikh the Scirlings must deal with. This brother does not think highly of either Isabella, believing her a bad influence to Suhail, or of Suhail’s interest in the ancient Draconeans. With the help of the Aritat nomads, Isabella and Tom delve into desert drake behaviour and habitat, even going out into the desert itself to observe mating flights, clutch-laying, and hatchings. Amid all of this comes intrigue and sabotage that put Isabella and Tom in serious danger. Between poisonings, kidnapping, and assassination attempts, it is all they can do to stay safe as they carry out their task.Fighting to keep their project going, though the military considers it a failure, Isabella and Tom, along with Suhail, head into the deep desert, where they make several discoveries that will rock the scientific world on many levels. These discoveries win all three great acclaim, though not nearly so much as is truly warranted. Tom is knighted, when he should be raised to the peerage. Isabella is named Lady Trent, but still she is denied a place among the Colloquium.I absolutely loved this book, and devoured it in a day’s reading. It flowed much better than Voyage of the Basilisk did, and did not have an abrupt ending. It is left open for more adventures from our trio and I cannot wait for the next one!As with the previous books, if you like things anthropological, or things dealing with naturalism, if historical fantasy tickles your palate, if adventurous accounts akin to The Lost City of Z arrest your attention, then look no further! Marie Brennan's In the Labyrinth of Drakes can slake that thirst. Come, walk in a world where dragons dwell, and learn the secrets of the natural world.

[jennybeast · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An outstanding continuation of Lady Trent's memoirs -- more derring-do, more adventure, more thorough and careful science and the plot, as ever, thickens, as the race to breed dragons for bone harvesting picks up pace.

[fence_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I think this was my favourite of all Lady Trent's memoirs, at least that are published so far. The fifth, and final I believe, is due out next year. It has everything I loved about the previous ones, the natural history element, the vaguely Victorian setting, the almost Heyer-like drama of manners and social acceptance, plus dragons and an awareness of what it wrong with all this sexism and racism and classism.

But also, for some reason, this story just hooked me so much more than any of the others. Maybe because I have already gotten to know the characters and watched them grow and develop over the previous few books. Maybe because I read them all relatively close to one another so there was very little "where was I again" when I first opened this book. Maybe it was just better? I'm not sure. But I really loved it.

Of course now I have made the classic mistake of having read all the published books in an unfinished series and must wait for my next meeting with Lady Trent and her dragons. Ah well, at least it is expected in 2017 so I won't be waiting too long.

[drfuriosa · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A solidly entertaining story with intrigue and scientific experimentation, though very much lacking in dragons. Marie Brennan, more dragons for Book 5!!! Please and thank you.

[jjmcgaffey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A lot of coincidences here - but also a lot of very interesting dragon information, a tangle of politics (were they always a distraction, or was the initial attempt serious?), complicated cultural stuff, and some very happy events. Two, at least - major changes for Isabel and for the world (that part of the world that's interested in Draconeans, at least. "Wonderful things.").

[foggidawn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Dame Isabella travels to the deserts of Akhia, where she studies desert drakes, is reunited with an old friend, and makes her greatest discovery yet.This is the best book of the series so far, and that’s saying something. I just loved every minute of this audiobook. Highly recommended.

[krau0098 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the fourth book in the Lady Trent series and was a wonderful continuation of this series. This series just keeps getting better and better. I love the characters, the adventure, and the alternate history. I listened to this on audiobook and these audiobooks have been amazingly well done. I would highly recommend listening to these on audiobook if you enjoy audiobooks. This book sees Lady Trent and Tom employed by the Scirling Army in an effort to start a dragon breeding program. This time Lady Trent’s travels take her to Suhail’s homeland where the politics are just as complicated as in her previous adventures. I really loved some of the things they learned about the desert drakes and enjoyed all the adventures they went on. I also loved the interactions between Isabella and Suhail. I did miss Jake and wish he had been in the story some (he is off at boarding school for this book). Overall this was a delightful read and I loved it even more than previous books. I am excited to see where things end up in the final book in the series. I would recommend this series to those who enjoy historical fantasy with a lot of science (about dragons) and adventure.

[renbedell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is where the series really takes off. It expands much more on the world and the characters then past books. It seems to start or reveal a deeper plot the other books may have hinted at. Isabella also gets fleshed out more and seems to have more of a purpose then just studying dragons and finding herself in trouble. While the first 3 books were great books, this book is where the series really kicks off and the first 3 books are worth it.

[jdifelice-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

4.5/5 stars
My favourite in the series so far! I loved going to the desert and how the plot developed more in this novel. I really enjoyed the character development that happened and all the new things we've learned about Isabella, Tom, and Suhail! I loved the expansion of the world we got to see here and the new historical developments added in. We got to see more dragons and learn more about them, there was more scientific experiments and some really cool discoveries.

Super excited to read the final book!

[daumari · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely delightful. Marie Brennan's anthropology background shows in how well she's able to build the not-quite-our-Earth-but-pretty-much-fantasy-Egypt worldbuilding without feeling like someone's reciting out of an encyclopedia. Excellent mix of historical fiction and fantasy, and handling how sexism, racism, classism, and religious differences would probably be in a quasi-Victorian society with care- the friendship & alliance of Thomas & Isabella has organically grown over the series and it's warming to see them stick up for the presence of the other in scientific endeavors.

We also see the return of a friendly character from before , and also discover how she becomes Lady Trent!.

Anxiously looking forward to the next and final one, due out next month.

[quondame · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

More of the same quality and the charming romantic mystery man is not a sheik but his younger brother and is now married to our heroine. Dangers are overcome and discoveries made, biological, archeological, and linguistic.

[milliehennessy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

UGH, I love this series. If you're at all interested in the Victorian era and dragons and women trying to overcome conventions and prejudice and break into the field of science, this book is for you. Lady Trent is witty and endearing and determined and headstrong and totally terrible at keeping herself out of danger and I love her. She is relatable, despite the extreme differences in our lives. Go pick up A Natural History of Dragons so we can talk about it!Also, I know the fifth (and final! -sob-) book is out but I'm making myself wait to read it till I can buy the paperback. The wait is torture because this volume had so much going on that I need to know more about, but it also prolongs the end of what I feel is a fabulous series.

[chavala_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed the additional installation in this series. A winning combination: historical fantasy, lady scientist fighting gender expectations, studying dragons. I like the development of some of her relationships, finally learning how she got her title, and the big discovery. Can't wait for the next one!

[capnrandm · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.allthingsuf.comMarie Brennan has created a literary banquet in the Lady Trent series, with IN THE LABYRINTH OF DRAKES as the piece de resistance. A delicate blend of science, romance, and adventure, this is a book readers will sigh, smile, and clasp to their chests when they're done.A love song to scientific discovery, personal fortitude, and the romance of discovering an unknown world, IN THE LABYRINTH OF DRAKES brought back all of the excitement of our own world's "ancient history" with a dollop of magic to make things interesting. Alongside a familiar layer of pseudo-British history, culture, and prejudices is the very real mystery of draconic biology. Fans of the series will find long hoped for personal and professional milestones for Isabella, as well as the familiar physical graces that make these books a must have on the shelf (gorgeous illustrations and presentation).I finished book three in this series, THE VOYAGE OF THE BASILISK, thinking it was my favorite Lady Trent book to date, and now I find myself saying the same about IN THE LABYRINTH OF DRAKES. This is a series that just gets better and better, and hopefully with no end in sight. Sexual Content: None.