The author, a descendant of the Puritan minister Cotton Mather, reads her fictional first-person narrative based on her family history. Mather makes clear the unfriendly reception that 15-year-old Sam receives when she moves to Salem with her stepmother. For unknown reasons, she is the target of the "ancestors," girls who are descended from the Salem witches. As narrator, Mather makes Sam's discomfort palpable as she fears the girls' hostility, worries about her father's illness, and recoils from anything spooky. These troubles add to the painful history of unexplained accidents that have always plagued those she cares about. Mather moves easily between reality and the supernatural, excelling in her portrayal of a centuries-old ghost and scary villains. The audiobook includes an illuminating author's note.
. (Paranormal romance. 12-16)Pub Date: July 26, 2016
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780147521088
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A brilliant, empathetic narration worthy of its complex characters.
Will Watt’s narration shines in this queer Frankenstein retelling. Brilliant scientist Victor is certain that he can find the answer to human reanimation. Desperate to prove himself, he kidnaps innocent Elias, destroys his body, stitches it back together, and revives him using a mix of alchemy and electricity—with horrifying results. Victor then journeys across Europe to reverse his mistake with vengeful Elias on his trail. Watt depicts the alchemists Victor seeks advice from in a variety of languages and accents. He embodies suffering, betrayal, regret, and even budding love with an emotional intensity that will leave listeners in tears. Clarifying footnotes with historical context are interwoven with the prose.
A brilliant, empathetic narration worthy of its complex characters. (Horror. 14-18)Pub Date: today
Duration: 9 hrs, 14 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063449053
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: today
Watson’s conversational style will delight listeners of all ages.
Marli Watson narrates this first installment of a YA mystery series. Ellen is a prep-school scholarship student who knows how to follow the rules. But her life takes a turn when she moves into her aunt’s Edgar Allan Poe-themed B&B and starts having nightmares about a family who died—including Gus, a new student at school. When Ellen finds a journal that she believes was written by Poe, she meets the ghost of her long-dead relative, who calls himself Eddie. Watson makes the characters believable from the start. She portrays Ellen as feisty, and Gus as a vulnerable charmer. Aunt Marie is sweet, but not too sweet.
Watson’s conversational style will delight listeners of all ages. (Paranormal mystery. 12-18)Pub Date: April 7, 2026
Duration: 7 hrs, 19 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668654774
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: June 23, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
