Narrators Natalie Naudus and Kevin Shen deliver a magical performance of this intense fantasy. Naudus voices Ahn, a peasant girl who is just trying to survive and protect her grandmother but who is also wielding a dangerous power. Shen voices Altan, an exiled prince who is ready to reclaim his throne and exact his revenge. The audiobook alternates between their perspectives smoothly, and while Naudus excels at compelling and distinct voices, Shen's tend to be harder to identify. Additionally, the volume is more dynamic than usual, so while some listeners will find this immersive and realistic, others may be continually adjusting volume. Overall, both narrators captivate listeners through the scheming and romance of characters who are discovering how interconnected they are.
(Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Oct. 12, 2021
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780063056404
Publisher: Harper Audio
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: today
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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