As the Colors of Madeleine trilogy draws to a close in this dramatic and inventive installment, listeners can confirm that using multiple narrators for the series was perfect and that these narrators are magical. Fiona Hardingham and Andrew Eiden are the heart and soul, with performances that are charming and genuine. Hardingham is the whimsical Madeleine, who longs for the Kingdom of Cello while worrying about her mother’s health. Eiden’s Elliott is heroic and honest while being held captive by the Hostiles. Kate Reinders deftly captures the marvelous spiky Keira, who shows no fear and expresses disdain for normalcy. Peter McGowan’s role is larger this time as he uses his rich voice to portray Isaac Newton, who attempts alchemy. This is a satisfying conclusion for an enchanted world that is colorful in a wholly original way.
(Fantasy. 12 & up)Pub Date: Jan. 5, 2016
Duration: 14 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780545833516
Publisher: Scholastic Audiobooks
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
The satisfying, cozy resolution affirms the magic of romance, the power of loving a place, and the rewards of taking risks.
Soneela Nankani’s quiet narration carries a wish and a promise, setting the tone for high school junior Calisa’s escape from Brooklyn to her estranged great-aunt’s B&B in Vermont. Calisa, hurt from a breakup, receives a caustic welcome from her Auntie Zee and discovers an inn in disrepair. Nankani gives voice to the inn’s strange guests, who have puzzling manners, and gradually the odd occurrences Calisa notices begin to point in a distinctly enchanted direction. As Calisa travels through the inn’s portals to magical lands, Nankani’s narration helps listeners experience the richness Calisa finds. Tension builds as Auntie Zee goes missing, the inn’s future is threatened, and Calisa must decipher family secrets.
The satisfying, cozy resolution affirms the magic of romance, the power of loving a place, and the rewards of taking risks. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: March 31, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 2 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217171934
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: May 5, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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