This dark twist on the vampire tale begins with Tana waking up in a bathtub in a house full of corpses. Christine Lakin's voice is chilling as she describes the scene. Tana’s shock is evident in Lakin’s dispassionate tone, which makes the character sound, appropriately, as if she were talking about someone else. Just before nightfall she escapes, along with her newly infected ex-boyfriend, Aidan, and a gorgeous vampire named Gavriel. They must get to the nearest "coldtown," a walled city where vampires and those infected must live. Lakin makes Gavriel’s voice ooze with predatory seductiveness. Foreboding music fading into silence signals the end of each cliff-hanger chapter. The many gory descriptions are made even more creepy in audio.
(Horror. 14 & up)Pub Date: Sept. 10, 2013
Duration: 12 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781478924708
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Castano captures the message of this teen paranormal romance: Never let life pass you by.
Sylvie Castellano goes on an unexpected adventure with a vintage gold watch and Penn, the ghost who comes along with it. Barbara Castano’s narration expresses 18-year-old Sylvie’s loneliness. She’s recovering from a concussion, and while her family members' lives continue without her without her, Sylvie wishes for a more fulfilled life; she wants to have fun as well as take on new responsibilities. Alongside Penn, Sylvie embarks on a series of summer activities, which Castano describes beautifully. But Castano's optimistic tones turn grave as the story unfolds.
Castano captures the message of this teen paranormal romance: Never let life pass you by. (Speculative romance. 14-18)Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 16 mins
DD ISBN: 9781547619481
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: April 7, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
This young adult audiobook is full of secrets and lies.
When they were 4, identical twins Aria and Caliste’s mother, Grace, disappeared, and the sisters were separated. Years later, Grace’s body is discovered in a lake haunted by the Ghoul. The two young women travel to Minnesota and uncover family secrets—including each other’s existence. Narrators Rebecca Ho and Chantria Tram capture the twins’ emotions as they discover what has been kept hidden from them. Carolina Do exquisitely performs the point of view of the Ghoul. However, audible pick-ups make this production sound uneven and may distract from the listening experience.
This young adult audiobook is full of secrets and lies.Pub Date: Dec. 9, 2025
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217157983
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Feb. 10, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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