January LaVoy and Jesse Vilinsky narrate an absorbing fantasy about an annual hunt sponsored by a tyrannical government. Anyone the Allied Force considers an outsider is forced into a seven-day hunt, after which the family members of any participant killed are executed. Coa, who hopes to survive, holds a secret magical ability, rare among the dwindling population. She finds an ally in Ife, a princess from another nation who married into the Allied Force. LaVoy and Vilinsky bring Ife and Coa to life. Each imbues her character with a poignancy that commands the ear. Deep world-building and a story that touches on genocide, power abuse, and the importance of community are complemented beautifully by LaVoy and Vilinsky's skillful narrations.
(Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Aug. 6, 2024
Duration: 14 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798200977710
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Myths come to life through Bahni Turpin and Robin Miles's stellar narration of this young adult fantasy. Marisol and her mother left their home in the Caribbean to live in Brooklyn. Marisol hopes to leave their island traditions and her family's magic behind. Genevieve grew up listening to her white father's mythical stories from her unknown mother's homeland. When the teens' lives collide, both discover secrets that change their views of their worlds. It's no surprise that both Turpin and Miles are Golden Voice narrators. Their skills bring Genevieve's and Marisol's stories to life as they capture the teens' personalities. Miles exquisitely delivers Marisol's Caribbean accent, while Turpin channels Genevieve's frustrations with her family and her own health. Simply magical.
(Verse fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 11, 2025
Duration: 6 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063395589
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This dark science-fiction story about three teens who participate in a doomed space mission is commendably narrated by Casey Holloway. Varied accents for the three teens—who are from France, Japan, and Norway—and strong pacing showcase Holloway’s talent as a narrator. As panic sets in among the astronauts and the teens find their adult companions to be unreliable, Holloway easily delivers the rising tension, and her quiet intensity draws listeners toward the story’s chilling conclusion. Harstad’s story will leave listeners contemplating the fate of humanity in the vast reaches of space.
(Science fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: April 17, 2012
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781611134094
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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