Narrator Ari Fliakos has complete control over this tale of magical realism as he underplays the drama and makes the outlandish seem plausible. The story jumps in time between narratives--one set in the present day, in which first-person narrator Simon finds his life falling apart, and the other set amid the eighteenth-century traveling "menagerie" of Simon's ancestors. Fliakos delivers the present-day sections with a tone of resignation. Simon is an exhausted man, strained almost to the breaking point, and his sighs are frequent. The people of the menagerie are big and bold and brassy. Fliakos's performance enhances a terrific book. Listeners will enjoy letting him guide them through the surreal elements of Swyler's story.
Pub Date: June 23, 2015
Duration: 11 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781427261441
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
An immersive, emotionally precise listening experience.
Natalie Naudus narrates this gothic audiobook full of ghosts both past and present. Mercy lands on the shores of Hong Kong in 1942 with no memories. She can speak with ghosts, and she earns a living in the haunted slums of Kowloon Walled City. When a powerful new ghost appears and starts drowning residents, then claims to know Mercy, the mystery of her past slowly unfolds. Naudus’ narration will tug at listeners’ heartstrings as the main characters experience shocking, horrific betrayals and trauma. Her intensified pace reflects the fierce anger and high action, keeping listeners on edge. The whispery voice Naudus uses for ghosts easily differentiates them from the living. When the narrative shifts to a second-person point of view, Naudus adopts a compassionate tone.
An immersive, emotionally precise listening experience.Pub Date: May 5, 2026
Duration: 13 hrs, 2 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250395788
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: today
This highly emotional audiobook won’t leave listeners dry-eyed.
Kirt Graves tenderly narrates this audiobook about the end of the world. Don and Rodney, married for the last 40 years, have one month left to live as a black hole approaches Earth. They hit the road on a desperate trip across the country to fulfill one last promise. Graves easily distinguishes a variety of characters as they grapple with their impending deaths. He shows remarkable emotional versatility in his depictions of hope, desperation, apathy, and acceptance. Graves gives Rodney a low, gruff, and tough voice, while sentimental Don sounds gentler. Graves’ performance is leisurely paced, letting listeners linger in the stories of the people Don and Rodney meet along their journey.
This highly emotional audiobook won’t leave listeners dry-eyed.Pub Date: April 28, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 25 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250435606
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: May 5, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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