Being part angel (one quarter), Clara has a purpose for being on this earth. But what that might be has not yet been revealed. Soon enough, she begins to have visions that involve a certain boy, and it becomes clear that her family must move to Jackson Hole so she can locate him. It’s disappointing that Samantha Quan’s narration lacks energy. Most characters, including Clara, sound flat and monotonous. With the introduction of a romantic interest in the second half, Quan manages to enliven her performance. But the author’s trilogy opener unfolds slowly as it draws listeners into its mythology, and some listeners may not get to the second half.
Young AdultPub Date: Jan. 22, 2011
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780062075802
Publisher: Harper 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
Tyo’s energetic narration adds fuel to this romp of an SF retelling.
“Call me Ishara,” begins this interstellar Moby-Dick retelling, expertly performed by Shannon Tyo. After her previous spaceship is destroyed by a mega-ship called the Ballena, Ishara Ming finds herself the captain of a whaler with a crew of four. Despite the gaps in her memory and other people who doubt what little of the past she can remember, Ishara is determined to find and destroy the Ballena. When ship mech Augustus comes on board, Ishara’s memories start to resurface, and taking on the white whale becomes increasingly risky. Ishara must confront her past if she’s going to survive the future, and Tyo captures this tension fully. Listeners will surely relish Chan’s fast-paced space-opera take on a literary classic.
Tyo’s energetic narration adds fuel to this romp of an SF retelling. (Science fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: today
Duration: 10 hrs, 37 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217280797
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2026
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