This dark fantasy involving a werewolf and murderous pixies is more Stephen King than Stephenie Meyer. Sent to Maine after witnessing the death of her beloved stepfather, Zara is drawn into a local mystery: boys are disappearing in the woods. Narrator Julia Whelan ratchets up the tension as Zara begins to hear a voice calling her into the woods as well. Gifted narration gives depth to Zara's character. The listener feels her numbing depression over the death of the man she considered her best friend. With equal ease Whelan communicates her renewed energy and enthusiasm as she comes out of herself, meets a handsome new friend who may be more than he appears, and confronts evil, possibly finding justice in the process.
Young AdultPub Date: 2009
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN:
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
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:
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781501916793
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ell Potter narrates this YA novel, inspired by the legend of the Zikmund bell in Prague. The Strauss family has been tasked for generations with caring for their sentient city's bell towers in order to contain a great evil that lies sleeping within. When teenager Mina's bell rings 13 times on her patrol, it's up to her to prevent the ensuing destruction. Potter's sophisticated British accent gives a sense of importance to Mina and her legacy. However, more often than not, Potter's tone leans toward the melodramatic and woeful, sometimes even taking on a warble. This over-the-top delivery lends a sense of urgency to the narrative, and, while somewhat tiresome, matches the gothic fantasy atmosphere of the story.
(Fantasy. 13-17)Pub Date: 2025
Duration: 11 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250411891
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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