After skipping Book 4, Roy Dotrice has returned to perform this installment in Martin’s gripping series. The spellbinding fantasy continues to enchant as the Seven Kingdoms teeter on the edge of destruction, but, surprisingly, Dotrice's performance disappoints. Although his characters' dialogue is full of expression, clever accents, and humor, the mythic narrative falls flat. First of all, Dotrice’s pacing is uneven. And, while he performs elderly voices beautifully, as well as those of sovereigns with weighty power (and even talking ravens), his women’s and children’s voices are grating. This weakness diminishes his portrayal of young Queen Daenerys Targaryen, in particular. Still, vocal performance aside, Martin's dark tale of battles and political destiny engages with its grand scale.
Pub Date: July 12, 2011
Duration: 45 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780739375983
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
An intoxicating, genre-bending tale that asks artists and writers: What are the costs of greatness and fame?
An isolated family farm in rural Vermont anchors, then unmoors, an idyllic turned traumatic childhood. In a story revealed via flashbacks that flirt with horror, 30-something Guinevere Sharpe attempts to uncover the reason she and her beloved brother, Ennis, no longer speak. Rebecca Lowman’s narration remains distinct as the story moves back and forth in time. The slow, suspenseful pace delivers a thrilling answer to what really happened to the siblings’ celebrated mother, who wrote a bestselling fantasy series starring both of their likenesses. Lowman masterfully brings each of Guin’s singular family members to life in an absorbing performance that wholly transports the listener.
An intoxicating, genre-bending tale that asks artists and writers: What are the costs of greatness and fame?Pub Date: June 2, 2026
Duration: 14 hrs, 43 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063487406
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 9, 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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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