Whether they’re in mortal terror or mere horseplay, narrator Ray Panthaki makes the dialogue between the two heroes of this audiobook sound honest and warm. Christopher is apprenticed to kindly apothecary Benedict Blackthorn. Despite Christopher’s lowly upbringing, he receives training in Latin, astronomy, ciphers, potions, and other skills he needs when a murderous cult targets London’s apothecaries. Christopher’s best friend is Tom. Like Harry Potter and Ron, they’re a memorable pair. Panthaki clearly defines the varying social standing of the many characters through his diction. The only drag on the pace of the adventure is the occasional recitation of lengthy ciphers. Readers may try decoding them, but for listeners they're a distraction.
(Historical mystery. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2015
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781442388543
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A classic story of high adventure and conflict between good and evil placed in the mythical land of Prydain, The Book of Three is read grippingly and enchantingly by Chris King. Vocal switches are mostly smooth with a few minor pronunciation slips which are quickly corrected. King's voice is clear, easy to understand and memorable, giving the listener a sense of the characters as well as a pronunciation guide to those incredible Gaelic names Alexander uses. Both the characters and the story linger in the mind's eye because of the quality of narration. This is surely a reading that can be listened to again and again and will leave the listeners asking for the entire Prydain series on tape.
AGES 8+Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 5 hrs
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Posy Bates is back, this time with a dog left over from a pet show. Back also are baby Fred and her friend, Sam. But the star of the show is Posy herself, an energetic nine-year-old with a penchant for misadventure. Judy Bennett's rendering of each of the characters in this episodic family story is right on the mark. Her enunciation and impeccable timing clarify the idiomatic text so that its unusual words become another aspect of the book's pleasure. The irrepressible Posy is her greatest challenge, and Bennett gets high marks. She bubbles with enthusiasm, wails and squeals, and dies over and over again. "It's positively brilling!"
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 1 hr
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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