Joan could change the future of her dystopian society with her special abilities, but a maniacal despot wants to capture and use her for a different purpose. Narrator Xe Sands jumps right into this novel at a quick pace. As the story progresses, there is, at times, a nonchalance in her tone that works well with the sarcastic first-person point of view. At other times, Sands shifts between a matter-of-fact delivery and notes of emotional urgency. This desperation more often appears when the love story of Leone and Joan is unfolding. Given the uncertainty of their existence in a culture at war, the emotional highs and lows in Sands's voice give the story added credibility.
Pub Date: April 18, 2017
Duration: 7 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780062659941
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The lovely and engaging voice of narrator Julia Atwood gives protagonist Mazzy Goodwyn satisfying emotion. Atwood's youthful tone fits the girl soldier, and her cadence subtly moves the suspenseful action of this story forward. Mazzy sounds appropriately surprised when she awakens one day with a set of wings. The confusing dystopian world she lives in is in the midst of civil war and planetary climate catastrophe. Despite these, and personal loss, Mazzy stays focused. Heathcock depicts an America in crisis--political, environmental, and religious. The arc of the audiobook owes something to both fantasy and science fiction. While the authoritarian fanatics come across as especially bloodless, the calming ending balances the carnage exacted earlier in the audiobook. Atwood delivers all of it compellingly.
Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798200926954
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In a dystopian Great Britain run by a corporate entity called The Company, fines are levied for all crimes, even those as serious as murder. The rich, who can pay these penalties, go free. Those who can't are sentenced to hard labor and become society's underclass. Narrator Peter Kenny, through his smooth, effective use of accents, reminds the listener that this future Britain remains a caste society. At the heart of the cautionary tale is Theo, a cog in the machine, who rises up after an old friend, Dani, is murdered for daring to ask questions. Thanks to Kenny's skill, listeners can vividly imagine the people Theo encounters from all strata of society as he seeks justice for Dani and hunts for the daughter he never knew he had. This is a dense production, but Kenny succeeds in helping the listener differentiate its many characters. The result is a stark but satisfying listen.
Pub Date: May 22, 2018
Duration: 13 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781478923152
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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