The Brewer's Tale Audiobook By Karen Brooks cover art

The Brewer's Tale

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The Brewer's Tale

By: Karen Brooks
Narrated by: Hannah Norris
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1405. The daughter of a wealthy merchant, Anneke Sheldrake suddenly finds her family bankrupted when her father’s ship is swept away at sea. Forced to find a way to provide for herself and her siblings, Anneke rejects an offer of marriage from a despised cousin and instead turns to her late mother’s family business – brewing ale.

Armed with her mother’s recipes, she then makes a bold deal with her father’s aristocratic employer, putting her home and family at risk. Thanks to her fierce determination, Anneke’s brew wins a following and begins to turn a profit. But her rise threatens some in her community and those closest to her are left to pay the price.

As Anneke slowly pieces her life together again, she finds an unlikely ally in a London brothel owner. Determined not only to reclaim her livelihood and her family, Anneke vows not to let anyone stand in the way of her forging her own destiny.

©2014 Karen Brooks (P)2014 Bolinda Publishing Historical Fiction Fiction Inspiring Business

Critic reviews

'Richly atmospheric, romantic, and chock-full of period details, this fast-paced tale and its many plot twists and turns are likely to keep historical fiction fans riveted.' (Booklist)
'The daughter of a merchant flouts 15th-century English convention to start a brewery in Brooks’s illuminating epic (after The Chocolate Maker’s Wife). Brooks’s attention to historical detail instills the novel with authenticity by including many historical figures and events, while Anneke’s lively voice keeps a strong grip on the reader as she works to overcome societal prohibitions against women in business and find happiness and contentment. Brooks’s immersive page-turner does not disappoint.' (Publishers Weekly)
'Ms. Brooks delivers a wonderful tale of despair, triumph and personal growth here. I learned many things I never knew about ale and beer production, and will definitely be seeking out this author’s backlist.' (All About Romance)
Historical Accuracy • Interesting Brewing Details • Excellent Narration • Engaging Medieval Tale • Captivating Twists

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I love historical fiction and this is a great find. There are not many books told about a woman's life, and even fewer from the viewpoint of a non-noble woman. The story keeps you listening with its twists and turns.

Good story

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it is a great story and I love how long it is. the narrator was fine. it is an anxiety inducing story due to the precariousness and powerlessness of the lives of everyone but mostly of women and children. it really does show the oppressiveness and the vile lawlessness of the church. While this story distills their evil in one place it speaks to the treachery and greed, that the church continues to display to this day. while it is not all light entertainment I do feel there is value in revisiting how women have been oppressed over time to renew my vigorous opposition to such treatment.

Great tale but anxiety causing.

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This novel seems well researched & historically accurate but considering it is a work of fiction to captivate & entertain - and not an academic account - it’s too traumatic as the main character goes from one cataclysmic injustice/encounter or event to the next. It’s a 23+ hour listen - with 8 hours to go - I’ve turned it off and won’t finish it - unable to listen to this poor woman’s next traumatic drama. Female doing the male voices are a bit lame.

Too traumatic to be entertaining

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This tale, although long, kept my interest throughout. It deserved better narration as the intonation was clueless, and some of the pronunciation was hilarious.
However, the content was an interesting and knowledgeable portrayal of the times, and it was worth listening to.

Good story

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Good enough story but not the best reader. It took me many hours to get used to the rushed way that the reader reads. I wish she would have read just a bit slower.

Listenable

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