Narrator Daphne Kouma wows in this epic fantasy/murder mystery/political thriller. In a society built around eight powerful animal spirits, a new emperor is chosen every 24 years when those vying for the throne compete in a series of trials. When the Raven palace's contender is found dead, scholar Neema Kraa finds herself simultaneously taking her place in the trials and investigating her murder. Kouma expertly leads listeners through the lush world-building and the twisting, action-packed plot. Most impressively, she takes on the voices of many characters, including the Raven spirit, who not only tells the story, but also interjects with asides and the occasional call of "Kraa! Kraa!" It's a wonderfully immersive and satisfying performance of a richly imagined novel.
Pub Date: April 15, 2025
Duration: 24 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781668647806
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A heartfelt story about the importance of libraries in everyone's life.
Anyone who has ever had a beloved local library will love this fantastical story about saving one. When the Foxhollow Bay town council questions the library's relevance, head librarian Claire must find a way to prove its worth. She discovers a hidden door, behind which are books made up of patrons' memories. One contains the memories of an artist sketching various images of a bridge. Will this room help Claire save the library? Charithra Chandran’s performance adds emotion and depth. Villains sound squeaky or rough, while friends sound rich and rounded. Chandran brings extra texture to her narration with derisive snorts and incredulous chuckles.
A heartfelt story about the importance of libraries in everyone's life.Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 44 mins
DD ISBN: 9781464297250
Publisher: Sourcebooks Audio
Review Posted Online: Nov. 18, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2027
Intricate, textured weirdness rewards listeners throughout this sprawling, gloriously strange epic.
Colin Mace and Emma Spurgin Hussey narrate a generations-spanning tale of grief, conspiracy, and horror that takes its haunting premise deadly seriously. Hussey voices Maur, desolate after her son's mysterious death and desperate for answers, with a restrained intimacy, tracking her slide from mourning into obsession through shifts in pace and breath. Mace brings weathered gravel to Allerdyce, a veteran undeterred by the grim, often gross underbelly of those answers, letting long silences land before revelations. The author's interjections add an eerie texture. Both narrators keep the dense, allusive prose clear across a century of violence, building dread without tipping into melodrama.
Intricate, textured weirdness rewards listeners throughout this sprawling, gloriously strange epic.Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2026
Duration: 40 hrs, 43 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217020959
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Oct. 27, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 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.
