Listeners follow matchmaker's apprentice, Sage Fowler, as she spends her days shepherding young ladies, and collecting information from their military escorts. As the kingdom falls into turmoil, Sage is recruited as a spy by a handsome soldier--but can she trust him to keep her, and her secrets, safe? Though this story is uneven in its focus at times, narrator Kathleen McInerney keeps the plot moving and the tension high, balancing the personal and political elements with energy and subtle characterizations. Her skill is especially apparent in her depiction of Sage, whose fierce determination and insecurities both shine through. All the relationships, particularly Sage's budding romance, are infused with emotional depth and urgency, making them as visceral as the action and intrigue.
(Adventure. 14-adult)Pub Date: 2017
Duration: 11 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781524782689
Publisher: Listening Library
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
In 1832 thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle is sailing from Liverpool to Rhode Island to rejoin her family. Shocked to discover that the families who were to have been both guardians and companions will not accompany her, Charlotte embarks on a journey filled with terror and swashbuckling adventure. The first-person narrative makes this Newbery Honor book a wonderful choice for recording. O'Karma's reading, with its hint of cross-gender differentiation, allows the listener to feel as if Charlotte Doyle herself were relating the tale. This story should be particularly alluring to adolescent girls although the fast-paced action and the nautical setting will also appeal to male listeners. Ages 12-adult.
Ages 12+Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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