Jayne Entwistle narrates this dark feminist Cinderella retelling, which is beautifully eerie and tragic. Isabelle has been the mean, ugly stepsister her entire life--going so far as to cut off her own toes in an effort to change her fate and be with the Prince. When that plan fails and beautiful Ella marries the Prince, the story really begins. Isabelle is frustrated with a world that discounts her based on her looks. Entwistle narrates her intense emotions with indignance, which brings Isabelle alive in a way the written word alone can't do. There are few moments when the story's characters interact, but when they do, the voices are so similar that it's difficult to distinguish who is who. But this is a minor issue in an otherwise essential listen for young people.
(Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: May 14, 2019
Duration: 13 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781338357653
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
Winslow’s deep voice and emotional resonance suit an overwhelmed teenager with too much on her plate.
Andia Winslow narrates this witchy YA fantasy. The witches in 17-year-old Mikaela’s coven are having their magic stolen, and as the next Witch Queen, she’s expected to solve this mystery. She also helps out at her family’s occult shop, and when a beautiful new girl in town visits Mikaela for a tarot reading, she is struck by a vision of her own murder at the stranger’s hand. Winslow easily differentiates characters of different genders and ages and seamlessly shifts between African American Vernacular English and Standard American English. She elegantly adjusts her pacing for action scenes and political debates.
Winslow’s deep voice and emotional resonance suit an overwhelmed teenager with too much on her plate. (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: Aug. 11, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 38 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217342082
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Aug. 18, 2026
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