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
Winslow’s deep voice and emotional resonance suit an overwhelmed teenager with too much on her plate.
Andia Winslow narrates this witchy YA fantasy. The witches in 17-year-old Mikaela’s coven are having their magic stolen, and as the next Witch Queen, she’s expected to solve this mystery. She also helps out at her family’s occult shop, and when a beautiful new girl in town visits Mikaela for a tarot reading, she is struck by a vision of her own murder at the stranger’s hand. Winslow easily differentiates characters of different genders and ages and seamlessly shifts between African American Vernacular English and Standard American English. She elegantly adjusts her pacing for action scenes and political debates.
Winslow’s deep voice and emotional resonance suit an overwhelmed teenager with too much on her plate. (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: Aug. 11, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 38 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217342082
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Aug. 18, 2026
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