Carolly Erickson's highly fictionalized work, which she calls "historical entertainment," posits some far-fetched events to expand the story of the beleaguered Mary, Queen of Scots. Unlike classic historical fiction, there is little reality to be found in this tale. Rebekah Germain reads the “memoirs” with the regal voice you would expect from a queen who is expecting others to rescue her from imprisonment and make her royal claims a reality. Germain's delivery is detached, as a royal’s should be, but never inspires the listener to care about her—or any other character in this novel. The author's note at the end makes clear that this story has barely the slightest connection to history.
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2009
Duration: 9 hrs, 45 mins
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ayla, one of the "others," is adopted by a clan of Neanderthal cave people. She struggles to conform to their ways, but her advanced human traits overwhelm and threaten their primitive culture in this initial installment of an immensely popular series. Although the story might benefit from abridgment, Rowena Cooper easily carries out the formidable task of enlivening the mostly silent and stereotypical characters with consistent, diverse personalities and human dimension. Through skillful phrasing and inflection, she maintains the reader's interest and suspense, especially with Ayla and her plight, throughout this rambling and imaginative story.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This lyrical, sensual novel of woman's lot in Manchu, China, is as well researched as it is well written. Authentic in tone, it's nonetheless written for Westerners by a Western expert on China. Moreover, Susan Clark performs the demanding text superbly, with only occasional signs of fatigue. For the most part she not only sustains the quaint diction and Asian atmosphere, but also, creates whole worlds with her voice. She acts the book, rather than reads it, and, in so doing, turns a pretty trifle into a stupendous beauty.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audio Literature
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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