The Dragon and the Raven Audio CD Review #TosReviewCrew

Heirloom Audio Productions has done it again! We loved GA Henty's Under Drake's Flag! Here is another exceptional audio drama! The Dragon and The Raven is an awesome production. The all-star cast of amazing voice actors bring this audio book alive in a way history is seldom depicted. This is the classic G.A. Henty story of Britan's Alfred the Great and the Vikings.

We love audio books. They are an easy way for me to enjoy books with our family and still get things done. We also enjoy traveling with audio books. It's a great way to learn on the road and encourage edifying family discussion.

This epic tale is set during the war between the Vikings and the Saxons in the middle ages. The Dragon and The Raven are both ships. The Dragon is a Saxon ship and The Raven is a Viking ship. The battles are intense, the characters are very real, and the story is sprinkled with bits of humor to lighten things up. The children and I were on the edge of our seats. Our 13 year old son's favorite part was the sinking of The Raven. The 16 year old liked the king burning cakes and how upset the pig herder's wife handled it. I loved how the Christian Saxons showed and shared their faith, eventually bringing some of the Vikings to the Lord. The sounds, music, and familiar voices brought this awesome historical telling to life in a way I know our children will remember. (In our opionion, John Ryhs-Davies voice makes everything more awesome! He is definitely one of our favorite actors, both voice and on screen.)

G. A. Henty was a 19th century war correspondent. He wrote 122 works of Historical Fiction. His adventure stories are known classics in the Homeschool circles. The books are full of exceptional role models, old fashioned values, and basic Christian worldview. 

I had the boys get their legos out to play with while we listened. They didn't get a thing built though because they were so enthralled in the story.

This audio comes in a nice two cd set with a beautiful cover. When you order, there are several great options with neat bonus materials:

• eStudy Guide & Discussion Starer
• Printable Scripture Poster
• Soundtrack Mp3 Download
• Live the Adventure eNewsletter
• Behind the scenes documentary

The study guide is pretty awesome with illustrations, an antique look, and great discussion questions for each chapter. Some of the questions are for comprehension; "Listening Well." Some are more in depth; "Thinking Further." Then there is a vocabulary list; "Defining Words." I especially like the questions that tie in the scriptures used in a way the children really consider. There are even some writing prompts that the older children could use for journaling or even writing their own story. A real bonus is a Alfred Cake recipe! (Look for it first so you can eat cake while you listen!) At the end is a list of references for further study (which is always nice for inquisitive boys who want to know more gory details), 3 Bible studies, a brief history of England, & a note on the importance of literacy through the ages. Overall this is a comprehensive, yet short & simple study guide. My only problem is I'd personally rather have it in paperback so I could highlight, take notes & keep it with the CDs. I'll forget I have the digital copy later when we want to listen again...
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Visit Heirloom Audio Productions website to view the video trailer for The Dragon and the Raven and make sure to follow them on Instagram, Google Plus, Facebook, & Twitter...