This steampunk novel melds history and a mystery-packed adventure. Polly Lee energetically narrates the story of George, the third Lord of Devonshire, who believes he has bad luck because he is an orphan. It seems like anyone he gets close to dies. When his priceless family heirloom, a map to the hidden gemstone called the Star of Victory, is stolen, he is joined by a young inventor named Ada Byron, a boy named Oscar, and his orangutan. The story follows the young explorers as they traverse multiple continents in search of the missing map. As Lee captures the suspense in her narration, young and older listeners alike will be intrigued by this high-action story.
(Fantasy/steampunk. 9-12)Pub Date: May 8, 2018
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781549168680
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A classic story of high adventure and conflict between good and evil placed in the mythical land of Prydain, The Book of Three is read grippingly and enchantingly by Chris King. Vocal switches are mostly smooth with a few minor pronunciation slips which are quickly corrected. King's voice is clear, easy to understand and memorable, giving the listener a sense of the characters as well as a pronunciation guide to those incredible Gaelic names Alexander uses. Both the characters and the story linger in the mind's eye because of the quality of narration. This is surely a reading that can be listened to again and again and will leave the listeners asking for the entire Prydain series on tape.
AGES 8+Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 5 hrs
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Posy Bates is back, this time with a dog left over from a pet show. Back also are baby Fred and her friend, Sam. But the star of the show is Posy herself, an energetic nine-year-old with a penchant for misadventure. Judy Bennett's rendering of each of the characters in this episodic family story is right on the mark. Her enunciation and impeccable timing clarify the idiomatic text so that its unusual words become another aspect of the book's pleasure. The irrepressible Posy is her greatest challenge, and Bennett gets high marks. She bubbles with enthusiasm, wails and squeals, and dies over and over again. "It's positively brilling!"
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 1 hr
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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