Retribution by TurtleMe

Retribution

Godhood’s a curse—when your followers won’t stop dying

Written byTurtleMe
Length23h07m
Release dateNovember 16, 2023
LanguageEnglish
★★★★☆ 4.8 (251 ratings)

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Quick Facts

AuthorTurtleMe
NarratorTravis Baldree, Elizabeth Evans
Runtime23h07m
PublishedNovember 16, 2023
Rating★★★★☆ 4.8 / 5 (251 ratings)
CategoriesScience Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Epic, Paranormal & Urban, Paranormal
FormatAudiobook (Digital)
PlatformAudible

About This Audiobook

*Retribution* isn’t just another power-fantasy ascent—it’s a brutal, darkly funny reckoning with what happens when the "chosen one" narrative collapses under the weight of its own body count. TurtleMe flips the script: here, the protagonist isn’t clawing toward divinity but *fleeing* it, stuck in a cycle where every act of salvation spawns fresh disasters. The worldbuilding is vicious in its efficiency—no meandering lore dumps, just a relentless escalation of cosmic bureaucracy, where gods and mortals alike are trapped in a system designed to chew them up.

The dual narration by Travis Baldree and Elizabeth Evans is a masterclass in tonal contrast: Baldree’s gravelly, world-weary delivery sells the protagonist’s exhaustion, while Evans’ crisp, cutting performance as the antagonist (or is she?) adds a layer of chilling detachment. The audiobook’s production leans into this push-pull, with sharp shifts in pacing—lingering on moments of black humor, then whiplashing into battles where the sound design makes every spellcast feel like a gut punch. This isn’t a story about winning; it’s about the cost of playing a game where the rules are rigged against everyone.

Tags: dark progression fantasy with biteanti-chosen one narrativedual narration done right (Baldree + Evans)cosmic horror-lite with bureaucratic godslong-form fantasy for cynics who still love magicaudiobook with immersive combat sound design

Why Listen to Retribution?

  • Expert narration by Travis Baldree, Elizabeth Evans brings every character and scene to life across 23h07m of immersive audio.
  • Highly rated at 4.8 stars by 251 listeners.
  • Free with your Audible trial — keep the audiobook forever even if you cancel.
  • Perfect for commutes, workouts, and relaxation. Listen anywhere, anytime.
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Editor's Review ★★★★☆

AudioBook Atlas

I’ll admit, I went into *Retribution* expecting another *Cradle*-adjacent power trip, but TurtleMe’s latest is far more interested in deconstructing the genre than celebrating it. The protagonist’s voice—equal parts sarcastic and shell-shocked—is a breath of fresh air in a sea of stoic cultivators, and Baldree’s narration *gets* it. His delivery in the early chapters, where the MC is basically screaming internally while maintaining a deadpan facade, had me laughing out loud. But the real standout is how the audiobook handles its villain (or anti-hero? The line blurs). Elizabeth Evans’ performance is *icy*—not in the cartoonish ‘evil monarch’ way, but with the calm precision of someone who’s already won and is just waiting for you to realize it. It’s a fantastic contrast that keeps the 23-hour runtime from dragging. That said, the middle act *does* sag a bit under the weight of its own mythology. There’s a stretch where the cosmic politics start to feel like a spreadsheet of factions, and even Baldree’s charm can’t fully sell the exposition-heavy dialogues. And while the action scenes are visceral (the sound design for the final battle is *chef’s kiss*), some of the side characters blend together in the audio format—it’s hard to track who’s who when you’re not seeing their names on a page. But the ending? Worth the slog. TurtleMe sticks the landing with a twist that’s both inevitable and gutting, the kind that makes you sit in your car for an extra five minutes just to process it. If you’re burned out on fantasy where the hero’s journey is a straight line upward, *Retribution* is the antidote—messy, cynical, and weirdly hopeful in all the right ways.

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Retribution by TurtleMe is an immersive listening experience. Performed by Travis Baldree, Elizabeth Evans with a runtime of 23h07m, you can start with a free trial that you can cancel at any time. The audiobook remains yours forever, even if you end the trial.