Amy Landon brings a measured intensity to her narration of this high-stakes adventure. She guides listeners through Joyeux Charmand's richly detailed world, in which civilization struggles to survive after the barrier to the mythical Otherworld was destroyed. Landon clearly conveys the fierce hunter Joyeux's fascination and unease with Apex City, where she has been called to defend some prominent citizens. Her growing determination to save her world from a twisted conspiracy brings her closer to the monsters she fears than she ever imagined. Landon ensures that each character, particularly Joyeaux's comrades, is distinct, and that the relationships she develops in the course of her mission are vividly portrayed. The result is a tense, engrossing tale that will keep listeners rapt.
(Science fiction/fantasy. 12 & up)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2015
Duration: 11 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781504632096
Publisher: Blackstone 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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