Saskia Maarleveld captures a specific kind of magical realism in her performance, which is perfect for this audiobook. It's the 1800s, and Aubrey is on the move. A sickness manifests within her, triggered by a mysterious puzzle ball. To stay alive, she must keep moving, literally traveling the globe. Throughout her journey she encounters mysterious doors, opening to an otherworldly library. The dreamlike production has a nonlinear narration that moves from one fascinating location to another, including Paris, the Trans-Siberian Railway, and the Congo. Maarleveld's voice achieves a kind of ethereal quality that fits this story of the compelling characters Aubrey encounters along her journey. Her performance casts a spell.
Pub Date: April 2, 2024
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781797172026
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
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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