Angela Dawe delivers a flawless narration that will engage new listeners and series fans alike. Wolf-changeling Alexei rescues Memory from a psychotic kidnapper at a point in her life when Memory is developing her empathic abilities. Dawe’s cool, elegant reading perfectly frames the wintry setting that opens the audiobook, showing how two scarred, closed-off individuals evolve into a power couple that will have listeners cheering. Memory has a smooth, warm tone, and her empathic abilities help her to form friendships with many characters, all of whom receive distinct, appealing voices from Dawe. Alexei’s voice is remarkably lower, with a delightful growl that he uses with flirtatious appeal to help Memory through tough moments. Dawe’s pacing is dead-on, and her dialogue makes you feel like you’re in the room. This is audio at its best.
Pub Date: June 4, 2019
Duration: 13 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781977331137
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A heartwarming listening experience touched by magic.
Geneviève Cocke narrates this fantasy audiobook set in 1920s Montreal. Agnes is desperate to find a new home for her cat shelter and herself after a magical duel in front of her building left only three walls standing. For this and other reasons, Agnes is not a fan of magic, but the only person willing to rent to her and her feline rescues is Havelock, a notorious magician. Cocke endows Havelock with a Quebecois accent, although most other characters have no identifiable accent. Agnes prepares a checklist for most everything, and Cocke makes her organized but not officious. Cocke instills personality in the many secondary characters, including the cats.
A heartwarming listening experience touched by magic.Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217279272
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: March 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
Descriptive magical settings, multidimensional characters, and nuanced storytelling.
Listeners will be immediately drawn into the vivid, sweeping world of the Azalea Dynasty. Narrators Katharine Chin and Eric Yang create an immersive fantasy setting for this powerful story about legacy, hierarchy, power, and politics. Primary protagonist Wei Yin is desperate as she watches her family and her village succumb to starvation, and she is willing to do anything to survive. As allegiances are formed and war is imminent, Wei Yin's talent for poetry gives her a voice, and she learns the dangers and advantages of taking her power.
Descriptive magical settings, multidimensional characters, and nuanced storytelling.Pub Date: Jan. 20, 2026
Duration: 15 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250435576
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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