Narrator Xanthe Elbrick delivers the first-person perspective of prickly Hava in the fifth installment of this complex and compelling fantasy series. Twenty-one-year-old Hava is young Queen Bitterblue's half sister and spy; she has the ability to disguise herself as objects and deflect people's attention, and she's a survivor of childhood trauma. Elbrick distinguishes between Hava's constant internal dialogue and the words that she chooses to speak aloud, and she keeps us close to Hava's wildly swinging emotions. As the queen's ship sails home through stormy winter waters, Hava discovers that she loves life onboard, but she also uncovers treachery. Vocally, the true stars of the audiobook are the telepathic blue foxes. Listeners will fall as much in love with them as Hava does.
(Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2022
Duration: 16 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593609972
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Myths come to life through Bahni Turpin and Robin Miles's stellar narration of this young adult fantasy. Marisol and her mother left their home in the Caribbean to live in Brooklyn. Marisol hopes to leave their island traditions and her family's magic behind. Genevieve grew up listening to her white father's mythical stories from her unknown mother's homeland. When the teens' lives collide, both discover secrets that change their views of their worlds. It's no surprise that both Turpin and Miles are Golden Voice narrators. Their skills bring Genevieve's and Marisol's stories to life as they capture the teens' personalities. Miles exquisitely delivers Marisol's Caribbean accent, while Turpin channels Genevieve's frustrations with her family and her own health. Simply magical.
(Verse fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 11, 2025
Duration: 6 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063395589
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This dark science-fiction story about three teens who participate in a doomed space mission is commendably narrated by Casey Holloway. Varied accents for the three teens—who are from France, Japan, and Norway—and strong pacing showcase Holloway’s talent as a narrator. As panic sets in among the astronauts and the teens find their adult companions to be unreliable, Holloway easily delivers the rising tension, and her quiet intensity draws listeners toward the story’s chilling conclusion. Harstad’s story will leave listeners contemplating the fate of humanity in the vast reaches of space.
(Science fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: April 17, 2012
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781611134094
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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