Through tone and pacing, narrator James Marsters gives a dark, atmospheric feel to the world of the Carnival of Souls. At the heart of The City, a place for daimons, is the Carnival of Souls, where a bloody tournament gives one daimon the opportunity to join the ruling class. All the competitors have reasons for wanting to win. Each will risk much and forge unlikely alliances to have the chance to rule. Marsters smoothly juggles his portrayals of the paranormals from from The City and the human world. There is depth and characterization in his voices, especially those of the four main characters. Marsters excels with dialogue, making a heated conversation among various parties as exciting and breathless as if the characters were hiding inside one’s speakers.
(Paranormal romance. 13 & up)Pub Date: Sept. 4, 2012
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780062201911
Publisher: Harper Audio
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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