Suzy Jackson's vibrant narration brings out the youthful emotions in this second-generation take on Shakespeare's ROMEO AND JULIET. Rosaline Montague, the eldest daughter of Romeo and Juliet--who are NOT dead--finds herself a spinster at the age of 20. After several unsuccessful matchmaking attempts, her parents agree to a courtship by Duke Stephano, a man with a history of losing wives under suspicious circumstances. However, at their betrothal ball, it's Duke Stephano who is found murdered, and Rosie is the prime suspect. Jackson skillfully expresses emotions through her inflections and lively pacing, but the higher pitch of her voice and the pace of the novel itself may give the impression of a story more suited to a YA audience.
Pub Date: June 25, 2024
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798892737623
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
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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