Although there are a plethora of characters in the 15 short stories that make up this audiobook, narrators Amy Rubinate and Nick Podehl seem to thrive on the challenge of coming up with all new voices--monstrous and human--for each story. This collection contains the usual gruesome suspects like vampires and ghosts, plus esoteric monsters such as kraken and living landforms. Love, loneliness, and ethical behavior are all showcased in these tales. Rubinate's breathy, raspy narration conveys the sadness and otherworldliness of the monsters and the people they interact with. Podehl's boyish speaking voice belies his ability to create harsh old men, middle-class moms, and terrifying monsters. These two talented performers make these extraordinary tales alien, strange, and moving.
(Anthology/horror/fantasy. 13 & up)Pub Date: Sept. 9, 2014
Duration: 13 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781491502860
Publisher: Brilliance Audio/ Candlewick
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
In 1832 thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle is sailing from Liverpool to Rhode Island to rejoin her family. Shocked to discover that the families who were to have been both guardians and companions will not accompany her, Charlotte embarks on a journey filled with terror and swashbuckling adventure. The first-person narrative makes this Newbery Honor book a wonderful choice for recording. O'Karma's reading, with its hint of cross-gender differentiation, allows the listener to feel as if Charlotte Doyle herself were relating the tale. This story should be particularly alluring to adolescent girls although the fast-paced action and the nautical setting will also appeal to male listeners. Ages 12-adult.
Ages 12+Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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