In this reimagined fairy tale loosely following the story of "The Little Mermaid," Amy Shiels delivers a breathtaking narration, transporting every childhood Disney fan to an adult world of magical creatures. Shiels does an impeccable job of engaging listeners with her portrayal of good and evil characters, giving each one a unique tone and timbre. Listeners are whisked away to another world and fall in love with a strong and vibrant woman who must break boundaries to do what's right. Shiels's pace and flowing voice allow listeners to relax into the story without ever losing focus. She hits the tense moments with gusto and delivers softness and warmth to the tender moments. Listeners will want to save Shiels's rendition of this story to come back to again and again.
(Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: July 30, 2019
Duration: 7 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781338363388
Publisher: Scholastic Audiobooks
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
Tyo’s energetic narration adds fuel to this romp of an SF retelling.
“Call me Ishara,” begins this interstellar Moby-Dick retelling, expertly performed by Shannon Tyo. After her previous spaceship is destroyed by a mega-ship called the Ballena, Ishara Ming finds herself the captain of a whaler with a crew of four. Despite the gaps in her memory and other people who doubt what little of the past she can remember, Ishara is determined to find and destroy the Ballena. When ship mech Augustus comes on board, Ishara’s memories start to resurface, and taking on the white whale becomes increasingly risky. Ishara must confront her past if she’s going to survive the future, and Tyo captures this tension fully. Listeners will surely relish Chan’s fast-paced space-opera take on a literary classic.
Tyo’s energetic narration adds fuel to this romp of an SF retelling. (Science fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: yesterday
Duration: 10 hrs, 37 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217280797
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: today
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