Imagine landing in a role-playing game in which one must go through ridiculously stressful situations in order to come out the hero and escape. Except instead of being a buff, young knight, you're an average guy in your mid-thirties with three kids whose idea of "working out" is roaming around the woods before a dinner meeting. Narrator Christopher Lane keeps to crisp enunciation and a tongue-in-cheek tone throughout this weird adventure, which is by turns heartwarming, bone chilling, and utterly absurd. Exclamations of pure terror abound as poor Ben battles through the unknown to find his way back to normalcy. With the help of a crab whom Lane imbues with gruff inflections and miserly words, this fairy tale for adults is compelling in its unpredictability.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2016
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781511391962
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The story is delightfully gripping and chilling, and Rey and Corzo's warm voices deepen listeners' emotional investment.
In her debut novel, Gómez bewitches listeners with this gothic horror tale centered on two women. Narrators Elena Rey and Frankie Corzo enliven the story while conveying its emotional depth. Set in Oakland, California, in 1968, the story follows Natalia Fuentes, a caretaker who hopes to free heiress Violeta Miramontes from a spell that has left her incapacitated. Despite herself, Natalia begins to develop feelings for Violeta. As she grows increasingly desperate to break the spell, Natalia confronts her past and the powerful magical forces at a devastating cost. Rey and Corzo ground the narrative by skillfully using pacing and tone to capture the characters' emotions.
The story is delightfully gripping and chilling, and Rey and Corzo's warm voices deepen listeners' emotional investment.Pub Date: June 2, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs, 9 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217338108
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: July 21, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2026
A theatrical approach and comedic timing make this a narration win.
Mark Sanderlin narrates this cozy gay romance about two bros on a quest. Juniper loves his life with his strictly platonic best friend, Mo; their cat; and his skincare routine. But when both men land in jail, volunteering to find a dragon is a promising alternative to imprisonment. Sanderlin’s narration perfectly suits the tongue-in-cheek humor. His delivery emphasizes Juniper’s melodramatic personality, while Mo has a deeper voice and a more leisurely pace, befitting a thoughtful character. When Juniper and Mo banter, Sanderlin seamlessly switches between the two. And as both bros warm toward each other, the romantic tension is amplified. Sanderlin’s voice for dragon child Bear is especially adorable.
A theatrical approach and comedic timing make this a narration win.Pub Date: May 26, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 48 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217338122
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: July 6, 2026
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