Elmira Rahim narrates a story about the exceptional power of friendship, love, and faith, set during the turbulent period of the Spanish Inquisition. As the inevitable fall of Granada looms, Fatima and Hassan, a royal concubine and the palace mapmaker, flee in an attempt to save themselves from the clutches of the Inquisition. While there are some slight pacing issues, Rahim believably conveys how young, and in some ways naïve, Fatima is, while still highlighting her remarkable courage and strength of will. The less-well-defined Hassan comes across as bland yet charming. Of the other characters, representing a wide range of backgrounds and cultures, Rahim is especially adept at portraying the Breton monk Gwennec, who plays a crucial role in the story.
Pub Date: March 12, 2019
Duration: 14 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781978649200
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A heartwarming listening experience touched by magic.
Genevieve Cocke narrates this fantasy audiobook set in 1920s Montreal. Agnes is desperate to find a new home for her cat shelter and herself after a magical duel in front of her building left only three walls standing. For this and other reasons, Agnes is not a fan of magic, but the only person willing to rent to her and her feline rescues is Havelock, a notorious magician. Cocke endows Havelock with a Quebecois accent, although most other characters have no identifiable accent. Agnes prepares a checklist for most everything, and Cocke makes her organized but not officious. Cocke instills personality in the many secondary characters, including the cats.
A heartwarming listening experience touched by magic.Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217279272
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: March 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
In an audiobook with an atmosphere reminiscent of Twin Peaks, Myers renders the incredible as curiously commonplace.
Narrator Jay Myers makes quirky characters and the wonders of a word filled with fantastical beings sound pretty normal. It begins when Green has a near-death experience, discovers a giant crow looking down at him, and finds a mysterious acorn in his pocket. Not long thereafter, he heads for the hills to try to figure out what really happened to him. He meets Valentina, who dubs him a cryptonaturalist for his ability to see incredible creatures. She agrees to mentor him. Myers adopts a persona for Green that emphasizes his ordinariness, except for his ability to see the creatures. Myers’ voice for Valentina is appropriate for someone who is more than five centuries old.
In an audiobook with an atmosphere reminiscent of Twin Peaks, Myers renders the incredible as curiously commonplace.Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217176182
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2026
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