Father-and-son duo Timothy and Samuel West bring decades of classic British stage and film experience to voicing this collection. The tales and poems feature a pair of star-crossed lovers near and dear to J.R.R. Tolkien's heart--the mortal human, Beren, and the beautiful, immortal elf maiden, Lúthien. Tolkien spent years revising and revisiting these stories, based on Welsh folktales and his deep love for his late wife, Edith. Samuel West is especially adept at accentuating the heightened language and finding the intricate rhythms in the epic poems, such as "The Lay of Leithian," which sounds as spellbinding, mythic, and timeless as the ancient Nordic, Germanic, and Celtic chronicles that Tolkien studied and drew inspiration from his entire life.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2020
Duration: 7 hrs
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A theatrical approach and comedic timing make this a narration win.
Mark Sanderlin narrates this cozy gay romance about two bros on a quest. Juniper loves his life with his strictly platonic best friend, Mo; their cat; and his skincare routine. But when both men land in jail, volunteering to find a dragon is a promising alternative to imprisonment. Sanderlin’s narration perfectly suits the tongue-in-cheek humor. His delivery emphasizes Juniper’s melodramatic personality, while Mo has a deeper voice and a more leisurely pace, befitting a thoughtful character. When Juniper and Mo banter, Sanderlin seamlessly switches between the two. And as both bros warm toward each other, the romantic tension is amplified. Sanderlin’s voice for dragon child Bear is especially adorable.
A theatrical approach and comedic timing make this a narration win.Pub Date: May 26, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 48 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217338122
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: July 6, 2026
A classic murder mystery with a fantasy bent, enhanced by a perfectly entrancing narration.
The gods might be sleeping in this vibrant fantasy novel, but Joe Eyre keeps listeners wide awake with an electric performance. As a mortedant, Irody Hasp reads dead people’s thoughts. When a simple job turns deadly, however, Hasp gets accused of murder and must work quickly to avoid the gallows. As he hunts down the real killer alongside his spunky new apprentice and a giant warrior guard, he soon unveils a larger and more sinister plot. The poor of the lower levels of the tiered city are threatened, and Hasp and his newfound friends must thwart the bad guys before the gods awaken. Hasp’s world is equally odd and engaging, and Eyre explores every inch, providing various voices to round out an eclectic group of characters.
A classic murder mystery with a fantasy bent, enhanced by a perfectly entrancing narration.Pub Date: May 19, 2026
Duration: 16 hrs, 11 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250455390
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: June 9, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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