Skillful vocal characterizations enhance this fantasy audiobook set in a magical Victorian Britain. Narrator Elizabeth Knowelden allows warm, gentle tones to soften the crisp accent of Elsie Camden, an English spellbreaker who uses her power to unravel magic to aid a Robin Hood-esque secret society. In alternating chapters, Joel Froomkin blends an upper-crust accent with gruff earthiness as Bacchus Kelsey, a talented British-Barbadian magic user whose ambition is thwarted by the xenophobic ruling class. When Elsie and Bacchus meet, they discover a slow-burning attraction and an intricate web of conspiracy that could ensnare them both. While the plot is complex, both narrators evoke the sympathetic protagonists so convincingly that listeners will feel invested, as well as excited for the sequel.
Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2020
Duration: 9 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781713502401
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Descriptive magical settings, multidimensional characters, and nuanced storytelling.
Listeners will be immediately drawn into the vivid, sweeping world of the Azalea Dynasty. Narrators Katharine Chin and Eric Yang create an immersive fantasy setting for this powerful story about legacy, hierarchy, power, and politics. Primary protagonist Wei Yin is desperate as she watches her family and her village succumb to starvation, and she is willing to do anything to survive. As allegiances are formed and war is imminent, Wei Yin's talent for poetry gives her a voice, and she learns the dangers and advantages of taking her power.
Descriptive magical settings, multidimensional characters, and nuanced storytelling.Pub Date: Jan. 20, 2026
Duration: 15 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250435576
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2026
Grannò’s melodic narration immerses listeners in 15th-century Italy.
Beatrice Grannò narrates this historical romantasy audiobook with careful pacing and a soft Italian accent. Ravenna enters a sculpting competition in a desperate bid to save her brother and accidentally reveals her forbidden magical talent. The immortal Luni family, interested in Ravenna’s abilities, forcibly takes her to Florence. Saturnino, the family’s heir, is a merciless taskmaster but Ravenna can’t help but be drawn to him. A pawn for many players including the Medici and even the Pope, Ravenna walks a fine line. Grannò narrates like she’s letting listeners in on a secret, and it’s a particularly delightful choice for an audiobook full of political intrigue and plenty of romance.
Grannò’s melodic narration immerses listeners in 15th-century Italy.Pub Date: Jan. 13, 2026
Duration: 18 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250433107
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 10, 2026
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