Narrator Bahni Turpin portrays Jo Monarch, who lives in a dystopian future in a dreary place called the Ashes. For years, she's wanted to win the Lineup, a live game that chooses the brightest of its young female contestants to move to New Georgia. Pete Cross portrays Cove Wells, who already lives in New Georgia, where everything and everyone seems wonderful--but is not. Cove is beaten routinely by his stepmother, Eleanor, who insists he break the heart of every girl he dates. Jo falls for Cove, and, for the first time, he doesn't want to play his stepmother's sick game. The story is rich in details, the performances are captivating, and fans will want a sequel for the star-crossed lovers.
(Dystopian. 16-adult)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
Duration: 13 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781338877250
Publisher: Scholastic Audiobooks
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Boyle's emotional performance immerses listeners in this world of war and ever flowing water.
Rafe and Jule were destined to kill each other in battle, as their warring factions—the Rogues and the Crowns—have fought over a flooded London for centuries. However, fate has other plans for them. Zoe Boyle brings these characters—and the London of 2425—to life. Her enthusiastic narration perfectly depicts the circumstances that befall them. Boyle imitates the sound of whizzing arrows, the crack of a discharging rifle, the heaving breaths of a desperate swimmer, and more. Her voice cracks after heartbreaking deaths, and it soars when the characters experience love.
Boyle's emotional performance immerses listeners in this world of war and ever flowing water. (Dystopian. 13-18)Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 41 mins
DD ISBN: 9798225035815
Publisher: Scholastic Audio
Review Posted Online: April 28, 2026
A swashbuckling adventure with lots of heart.
Barnaby Edwards will have listeners hanging onto every word of this action-packed audiobook. This worthy sequel to Thunder City finds the crew of the Fire’s Astonishment helping the university city of Museion. Its inhabitants are willingly joining the city of London in order to preserve their knowledge and artifacts. But in order to do that, they’ll have to travel safely to the rendezvous point without being eaten by another traction city. With his panoply of accents, Edwards is just as skillful narrating close calls and violent skirmishes as he is with quieter moments between characters. Vespertine, the mechanical Revenant, and her relationships with Small Cat and Professor Stanislaus are particular standouts.
A swashbuckling adventure with lots of heart. (Science fiction. 12-16)Pub Date: Feb. 3, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798225035891
Publisher: Scholastic Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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