Narrator Andrew Wincott delivers on all accounts as he performs this satire of contemporary America and the UK. Set in an alternative world some 50 years after a variety of mammals (and a couple of insects) underwent a "spontaneous anthropomorphizing event," this audiobook is a clever and astute look at racial prejudice, fear of immigrants, and the effects of a bullying national leadership. Wincott's spot-on characterizations are full of personality. Two contrasting examples are Peter Knox, a human who has risen from unquestioning civil servant to unlikely civil rights advocate, and the fear-mongering Senior Group Leader, Mr. Ffoxe, a sentient orange fox who looks for legal loopholes and demands loyalty. An absurd premise and an abundance of humor provide relief from darker truths.
Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2020
Duration: 12 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593340295
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The Nordic cadence of Yndis’ narration enhances the charm of this fairytale.
Nina Yndis offers a tender but spirited narration of this retelling of the Snow Queen. Gerta is a sweet young girl who is best friends with Kay. When Kay is captured by the Snow Queen, Gerta sets out to save him. The journey isn’t easy, but Gerta perseveres. Yndis creates a cozy atmosphere as the story begins in a small village with Gerta living side by side with Kay and their respective grandmothers, who have been friends for their whole lives. Yndis maintains Gerta’s sweet nature as she faces magical challenges. There are lots of small animals along Gerta’s path, and Yndis gives them voices that ooze personality, especially the Raven.
The Nordic cadence of Yndis’ narration enhances the charm of this fairytale.Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 51 mins
Publisher: Podium Audio
Review Posted Online: yesterday
Hembrough ratchets up the tension while leading listeners through this exploration of belief.
Oliver Hembrough voices an array of fascinating characters in this fantasy audiobook, the first in a planned trilogy. Sister Svangerd, a nun/assassin, and Brother Desiderius, an expert forger/atheist monk, are sent to the Ecumenical Council to assassinate a princess with troublesome views. What follows? The hunters become the hunted; the undead "walkers" formulate their own assassination plans; many deaths ensue. Hembrough’s performance is true to the characters he portrays, from steel-spined nuns and questioning clerics to rage-filled walkers; his narration is replete with dry humor, sarcasm, and a penchant for scoffs and growls in bringing these characters to life.
Hembrough ratchets up the tension while leading listeners through this exploration of belief.Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668642269
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: April 11, 2026
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