The first book in a new fantasy series deals with sentient weather--and its good and evil manifestations. It's a compelling plot, but the author's choice not to use contractions in the dialogue makes the conversations seem stilted--a problem that is even more noticeable in audio, especially in the many heated emotional exchanges. Notwithstanding this, narrator Soneela Nankani ensures that the story's flow is hardly disturbed. Her perfect pacing and timing, in particular, help to enliven a one's listening. She makes wonderful use of delicate British accents in the female cast. Her males are mostly in the voice of the story's narrator but work well. And she's masterful in the pronunciation of real mouthfuls of original place names. Can't wait for Book 2.
(Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2017
Duration: 13 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781504738255
Publisher: Blackstone 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: N/A
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781501916793
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This duo delivers a fascinating web of deceit and magical thrills.
Two women are caught up in a thrilling magical duel in this YA audiobook. Tamsin, voiced by Jo Yuan, is pressured by her famous magician father to follow in his career. Yuan narrates with assertive bluster, emphasizing Tamsin’s desire to escape from beneath her father’s thumb no matter what it takes. Sam, voiced by Mirai, wants revenge on Tamsin’s father, even if it means sending her infamous champion into the dueling ring to destroy his only daughter. Mirai narrates with meticulous care, perfectly conveying Sam’s scheming nature. But Tamsin doesn’t know Sam’s true goals, and as the two connect, they can’t help finding comfort in each other.
This duo delivers a fascinating web of deceit and magical thrills. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217279890
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2026
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