A satisfying aural experience featuring a futuristic love story with twisty suspense.
Set on Mars in 2067, this full-cast immersive audiobook delivers a fast-paced galactic teen romance. Cleo, a fugitive stowaway, and Hunter, heir to the corporation that colonized Mars, are left behind after an evacuation with only eight hours to devise an escape plan. As they fight to survive, they uncover a sinister plot unfolding around them. Strong performances by leads Max Meyers and Jessica Almasy enhance the opposites-attract dynamic. Sound effects of running water, original astral music, intercom noises, and more are effective in the intense, action-filled sequences. The mix can feel crowded, and the music may occasionally overshadow the dialogue, but overall, the sound production choices match the campy adventure, which is more about relationships and corporate greed than SF.
A satisfying aural experience featuring a futuristic love story with twisty suspense. (Science fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217171989
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: April 21, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 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
The satisfying, cozy resolution affirms the magic of romance, the power of loving a place, and the rewards of taking risks.
Soneela Nankani’s quiet narration carries a wish and a promise, setting the tone for high school junior Calisa’s escape from Brooklyn to her estranged great-aunt’s B&B in Vermont. Calisa, hurt from a breakup, receives a caustic welcome from her Auntie Zee and discovers an inn in disrepair. Nankani gives voice to the inn’s strange guests, who have puzzling manners, and gradually the odd occurrences Calisa notices begin to point in a distinctly enchanted direction. As Calisa travels through the inn’s portals to magical lands, Nankani’s narration helps listeners experience the richness Calisa finds. Tension builds as Auntie Zee goes missing, the inn’s future is threatened, and Calisa must decipher family secrets.
The satisfying, cozy resolution affirms the magic of romance, the power of loving a place, and the rewards of taking risks. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: March 31, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 2 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217171934
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: May 5, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 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.
