Kevin R. Free's strong narrative voice draws listeners into this absorbing tale of magic and intrigue. Lewis Dixon, a struggling American painter, faces a life-changing crossroads in the aftermath of his mother's death. He's offered a deal by the British Museum: In exchange for locating and destroying his great-grandfather's malevolent paintings, the museum's team of curator-magicians will ensure his fame and financial security. Capable of destroying their viewers, the paintings' dark energy poses a threat to the fabric of existence if gathered together. As the team's demands take Lewis on a dangerous globe-trotting search, Free creates a range of accents, including British, French, and Japanese for the agents and mysterious figures he meets along the way. Solid characterizations and well-paced drama enhance this engaging production.
Pub Date: Sept. 9, 2025
Duration: 12 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063394506
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This highly satisfying quest brims with humor and friendship courtesy of Church.
During a magical adventure set in a traveling bookshop, narrator Imogen Church ensures that each conversation is a dramatic experience. Listeners meet failed book witch Louella Twig, whose strident tones mask her loneliness. She encounters former thief Everett Sharp who, intrigued, parries Louella's defenses with his deep, rolling voice. When Louella's former mentor, Feralorn, asks for her help finding pages from his grimoire, Louella accepts the quest. Church's voice for Feralorn is that of a creaky trumpet—highly distinctive, occasionally overwhelming. Church gives each character their own voice and mannerisms, including gnomes and a European wizard. Pacing, phrasing, and inflection are deployed skillfully to denote emotion, especially between Louella and Everett.
This highly satisfying quest brims with humor and friendship courtesy of Church.Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2026
Duration: 12 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798898856663
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2026
You’ll never think about fungus the same way again.
Andrew Fallaize’s committed performance makes this twisty, creepy fantasy-mystery hard to turn off. Imperial investigators Din and Ana have traveled to the agricultural center of the Khanum Empire to dig into a disturbing death. It lands them in the middle of a feud between two powerful families, and Fallaize puts listeners squarely in Din’s point of view as he uses his biological enhancements to perfectly commit every suspect and clue to memory while managing the eccentric Ana. Fallaize breaks out a wide variety of British accents to believably portray each character, and he expertly enhances every moment of suspense, danger, and horror in this satisfying third installment in the series.
You’ll never think about fungus the same way again.Pub Date: Aug. 4, 2026
Duration: 14 hrs, 7 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217279296
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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