Jeannie Tirado flawlessly narrates this urban fantasy. The story features visits to Chicago's diverse neighborhoods and touristy Navy Pier, home of Windy City Magic. Amber Sands's mother is a witch who owns the magic shop where Amber works as a matchmaker. Tirado's Amber is a sweet but feisty teen. Tirado realistically portrays Amber's ever-changing emotions, especially in her school relationships--she's warm toward Imani and Charlie and icy toward Ivy, a siren who "forces" Amber to punch her. The action escalates when Charlie asks Amber to secretly find the missing woman who will soon be his stepmother. Listeners will marvel at Amber's convincing explanation of how magic and baking (one of her passions) are alike because the ingredients must be perfectly mixed for the desired outcome. The revelation of her first love is a fun surprise since--as a matchmaker--Amber had envisioned Charlie with someone else. Most rewarding is hearing Amber mature as she realizes there are multiple possibilities in life.
(Fantasy. 12-16)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2017
Duration: 8 hrs
Publisher: Audible, Inc.
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
The satisfying, cozy resolution affirms the magic of romance, the power of loving a place, and the rewards of taking risks.
Soneela Nankani’s quiet narration carries a wish and a promise, setting the tone for high school junior Calisa’s escape from Brooklyn to her estranged great-aunt’s B&B in Vermont. Calisa, hurt from a breakup, receives a caustic welcome from her Auntie Zee and discovers an inn in disrepair. Nankani gives voice to the inn’s strange guests, who have puzzling manners, and gradually the odd occurrences Calisa notices begin to point in a distinctly enchanted direction. As Calisa travels through the inn’s portals to magical lands, Nankani’s narration helps listeners experience the richness Calisa finds. Tension builds as Auntie Zee goes missing, the inn’s future is threatened, and Calisa must decipher family secrets.
The satisfying, cozy resolution affirms the magic of romance, the power of loving a place, and the rewards of taking risks. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: March 31, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 2 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217171934
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: May 5, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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