When a letter comes from a friend who has recently died, Vivianne Rocher, first introduced in the novel CHOCOLAT, returns to the small village of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes in France, where she opened a chocolate shop opposite the village church eight years earlier. She finds the village divided by the cultural differences between the villagers and the new influx of Muslim immigrants. Rula Lenska and Gareth Armstrong both give powerful performances, Lenska excelling most at her portrayal of Vivianne and Armstrong of Father Francis. Each demonstrates vocal range with their portrayals of the other characters, who have French, Arab, or Romany accents. The story is rich in its delving into the human spirit and what divides us and brings us together. These are shaded with the magic of chocolate and peaches—good food—the international bridger of differences. A most enjoyable listen from two masters of the art.
Pub Date: Oct. 2, 2012
Duration: 13 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
James Marsters' weary delivery perfectly captures Harry Dresden's fractured psyche as he navigates a year of mandatory mourning and political maneuvering in Chicago. Marsters doesn't just read; he inhabits Harry's exhaustion, using deliberate pacing and a somber tonal palette that underscores the protagonist's post-traumatic stress. Marsters' gift for distinct vocal characterizations remains sharp, effortlessly pivoting from the ethereal, detached elegance of the Sidhe to the grounded warmth of Harry's remaining allies. By leaning into the book's quieter, more introspective moments, Marsters elevates this urban fantasy's emotional stakes, transforming a year of Dresden's life into a poignant study of grief. It's an immersive performance that makes the wizard's vulnerability feel hauntingly real. Marsters' soulful performance makes this a compelling entry in the Harry Dresden series.
Pub Date: Jan. 20, 2026
Duration: 17 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217176021
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Samuel Barnett delivers a fresh interpretation of the St. George and the Dragon legend. George, whom Barnett portrays in a snide, harried tone that makes him bitingly funny, becomes increasingly hysterical as his contemporary London life falls apart. After he inexplicably time travels to the medieval era, his neuroses are subsumed into the immediacy of survival and the sweetness of romance. But things change when he's saddled with a dangerous quest. Barnett's voice for George's first-person narration, while consistent, subtly transforms to reflect the character's growth. Well-rendered secondary characters range from a laddish 21st-century city worker to a spoiled medieval prince. Barnett expertly renders a story that is part sci-fi, part gay romance, and part historical fiction.
Pub Date: Jan. 20, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063424715
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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