Sallot Leon, a gender-fluid thief recently appointed to the Queen's team of assassins, is using their position to enact revenge on those that murdered their family and destroyed their homeland. Deryn Edwards, narrator of 2017's MASK OF SHADOWS, is back for this gory conclusion to the duology, and once again she skillfully sneaks vulnerability into Sal's otherwise tough-as-nails voice. In spite of Edwards's best efforts, however, listeners may feel lost without the context of the world building from the previous installment. The dialogue is at times hard to follow, even with Edwards's differentiated voices, since there are so many characters that are hardly developed. Fans may enjoy this sequel, but newcomers will find that it doesn't work as a stand-alone novel.
(Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2018
Duration: 11 hrs, 45 mins
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Listeners follow Merry, the longbow girl, one of the best archers in her town. When she finds a magical portal in the forest that takes her back to sixteenth-century Wales, she must use her skills to win an archery contest in order to help her ancestors keep their land. While narrator Emily Wilden brings protagonist Merry to life with a rich Welsh accent, her narration seems uneven at times. All the period characters have accents that reflect the setting of the story and transport listeners to Wales. Listeners who enjoy historical fiction and a bit of fantasy will be charmed by this tale of determination, hope, and family.
Young AdultPub Date: N/A
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781501916793
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In 1832 thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle is sailing from Liverpool to Rhode Island to rejoin her family. Shocked to discover that the families who were to have been both guardians and companions will not accompany her, Charlotte embarks on a journey filled with terror and swashbuckling adventure. The first-person narrative makes this Newbery Honor book a wonderful choice for recording. O'Karma's reading, with its hint of cross-gender differentiation, allows the listener to feel as if Charlotte Doyle herself were relating the tale. This story should be particularly alluring to adolescent girls although the fast-paced action and the nautical setting will also appeal to male listeners. Ages 12-adult.
Ages 12+Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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