Soneela Nankani, who narrated the first in this series, continues Amani's first-person story. Bold, snarky Amani lives in a land that melds the Old West and the world of the Arabian nights. Amani is even more central to this plot, and Nankani deepens her personality accordingly. At the story's opening, Amani is imprisoned, and Nankani stresses equally her sarcasm and compassion. Soon Nankani reveals courage and wit as Amani escapes and joins rebels who oppose the sultan. Amani's resilience and resourcefulness shine when she's captured by the sultan. Nankani's perfect pacing balances plot details and twists, the many characters, and Amani's shifting sentiments. This second audiobook will be best appreciated by listeners who have heard the first. The ending of the second will excite fans about the final book in this trilogy.
(Fantasy. 12 & up)Pub Date: 2017
Duration: 15 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781490691145
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Listeners follow Merry, the longbow girl, one of the best archers in her town. When she finds a magical portal in the forest that takes her back to sixteenth-century Wales, she must use her skills to win an archery contest in order to help her ancestors keep their land. While narrator Emily Wilden brings protagonist Merry to life with a rich Welsh accent, her narration seems uneven at times. All the period characters have accents that reflect the setting of the story and transport listeners to Wales. Listeners who enjoy historical fiction and a bit of fantasy will be charmed by this tale of determination, hope, and family.
Young AdultPub Date: N/A
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781501916793
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In 1832 thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle is sailing from Liverpool to Rhode Island to rejoin her family. Shocked to discover that the families who were to have been both guardians and companions will not accompany her, Charlotte embarks on a journey filled with terror and swashbuckling adventure. The first-person narrative makes this Newbery Honor book a wonderful choice for recording. O'Karma's reading, with its hint of cross-gender differentiation, allows the listener to feel as if Charlotte Doyle herself were relating the tale. This story should be particularly alluring to adolescent girls although the fast-paced action and the nautical setting will also appeal to male listeners. Ages 12-adult.
Ages 12+Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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