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
Winslow’s deep voice and emotional resonance suit an overwhelmed teenager with too much on her plate.
Andia Winslow narrates this witchy YA fantasy. The witches in 17-year-old Mikaela’s coven are having their magic stolen, and as the next Witch Queen, she’s expected to solve this mystery. She also helps out at her family’s occult shop, and when a beautiful new girl in town visits Mikaela for a tarot reading, she is struck by a vision of her own murder at the stranger’s hand. Winslow easily differentiates characters of different genders and ages and seamlessly shifts between African American Vernacular English and Standard American English. She elegantly adjusts her pacing for action scenes and political debates.
Winslow’s deep voice and emotional resonance suit an overwhelmed teenager with too much on her plate. (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: Aug. 11, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 38 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217342082
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Aug. 18, 2026
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