In this audio collection of seven stories, two characters act as the connecting fibers. Julian Rhind-Tutt strengthens those fibers with a stellar narration that exudes mystery and intrigue through meticulous pacing and selective emphasis. As each story takes the audience back further in time, Rhind-Tutt adjusts his dialect and tone to match the period, characters, and events. He simultaneously maintains consistency in the connecting narrative, which focuses on the return of the two souls, Merle and Eric, as well as recurring symbols like the hares, apples, and dragon flowers. The atmospheric music that signals each story shift adds suspense, but it’s the passion of Rhind-Tutt’s reading that makes this audiobook extraordinary—and one not to be missed by listeners of any age.
(Fantasy. 13 & up)Pub Date: April 22, 2014
Duration: 5 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780553397284
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Castano captures the message of this teen paranormal romance: Never let life pass you by.
Sylvie Castellano goes on an unexpected adventure with a vintage gold watch and Penn, the ghost who comes along with it. Barbara Castano’s narration expresses 18-year-old Sylvie’s loneliness. She’s recovering from a concussion, and while her family members' lives continue without her, Sylvie wishes for a more fulfilled life; she wants to have fun as well as take on new responsibilities. Alongside Penn, Sylvie embarks on a series of summer activities, which Castano describes beautifully. But Castano's optimistic tones turn grave as the story unfolds.
Castano captures the message of this teen paranormal romance: Never let life pass you by. (Speculative romance. 14-18)Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 16 mins
DD ISBN: 9781547619481
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: April 7, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
This young adult audiobook is full of secrets and lies.
When they were 4, identical twins Aria and Caliste’s mother, Grace, disappeared, and the sisters were separated. Years later, Grace’s body is discovered in a lake haunted by the Ghoul. The two young women travel to Minnesota and uncover family secrets—including each other’s existence. Narrators Rebecca Ho and Chantria Tram capture the twins’ emotions as they discover what has been kept hidden from them. Carolina Do exquisitely performs the point of view of the Ghoul. However, audible pick-ups make this production sound uneven and may distract from the listening experience.
This young adult audiobook is full of secrets and lies.Pub Date: Dec. 9, 2025
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217157983
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Feb. 10, 2026
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