Nikki Massoud gives an engaging performance of this fairy tale about what makes a monster. Soraya has spent most of her life in isolation, thanks to a curse she received as a baby that makes her skin deadly to anyone who touches her. When one of the divs who cursed her is imprisoned in the palace, it provides Soraya an unexpected opportunity to uncover the truth about her past. Massoud excels at voicing every character in this continually surprising story. She captures Soraya's youthful pining; the seductive danger of the throaty, low-voiced div; and the easy charm of the young man who offers Soraya the respect she's always craved. Massoud's range of unique accents, not traceable to a specific place, enhances the novel's superb world-building.
(Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: July 7, 2020
Duration: 10 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781250751737
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Myths come to life through Bahni Turpin and Robin Miles's stellar narration of this young adult fantasy. Marisol and her mother left their home in the Caribbean to live in Brooklyn. Marisol hopes to leave their island traditions and her family's magic behind. Genevieve grew up listening to her white father's mythical stories from her unknown mother's homeland. When the teens' lives collide, both discover secrets that change their views of their worlds. It's no surprise that both Turpin and Miles are Golden Voice narrators. Their skills bring Genevieve's and Marisol's stories to life as they capture the teens' personalities. Miles exquisitely delivers Marisol's Caribbean accent, while Turpin channels Genevieve's frustrations with her family and her own health. Simply magical.
(Verse fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 11, 2025
Duration: 6 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063395589
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This dark science-fiction story about three teens who participate in a doomed space mission is commendably narrated by Casey Holloway. Varied accents for the three teens—who are from France, Japan, and Norway—and strong pacing showcase Holloway’s talent as a narrator. As panic sets in among the astronauts and the teens find their adult companions to be unreliable, Holloway easily delivers the rising tension, and her quiet intensity draws listeners toward the story’s chilling conclusion. Harstad’s story will leave listeners contemplating the fate of humanity in the vast reaches of space.
(Science fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: April 17, 2012
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781611134094
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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