Narrator Maxwell Glick is as unflappable and nimble as Rump is in his quest to determine his true name and destiny. Listeners are treated to an expanded version of the well-loved folktale of Rumpelstiltskin, as told by the fellow himself. Listeners will find out who Rumpelstiltskin really is; meet his gran; hear the backstory of his parents, the greedy merchant/miller, and the gold-loving king; and experience a world of trolls, pixies, and witches. Glick’s Rump unfailingly projects his moods—curious, despondent, questioning, playful—as each juncture of the tale requires. His pacing is equally attuned to the story’s myriad twists. Glick’s narration moves along effortlessly, and supporting characters are full of personality.
(Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2014
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780804168045
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Henry's parents are kidnapped while they travel the world. Henry is confused and lost when he's sent to his aunt, uncle, and cousins in Kansas. His bewilderment increases when the plaster of his bedroom walls cracks to disclose 100 strange cupboards that are portals to odd places. Vivid descriptions of fascinating lands hold listeners' attention through the story's many unexplained facts as does the steady, solid narration by Russell Horton. Horton accurately modulates the characters' up-and-down emotions, adapting his pace quickly to the changes. Listeners are able to keep up with the rapidly introduced characters because of Horton's stand-out portrayals.
Ages 8+Pub Date: Dec. 26, 2007
Duration: 6 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780739362778
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A cast of narrators shares these stories, each told from the point of view of a supporting character from Riordan's Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series. We hear from Halfborn Gunderson, Samirah al-Abbas, Alex Fierro, and more. In "So's Your Face!" narrator Sile Bermingham gives fiery einherji Mallory Keen an Irish lilt, and in "I Play with Fire," Bahni Turpin gets to pull out the stops creating voices for a meeting of immortals in Muspellheim. Riordan's signature humor is here--Thor makes a guest appearance in each story, running through the nine worlds in his leather short shorts. The characterizations might not quite match what listeners heard in earlier installments, but diehard Magnus Chase fans can still enjoy this collection.
(Fantasy. 8-14)Pub Date: Oct. 2, 2018
Duration: 3 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780525641834
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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