by Nora Roberts ; read by Julia Whelan ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 22, 2019
Julia Whelan, who narrated earlier installments of the Chronicles of The One, lends her versatile vocal skills to the third and final installment of the trilogy. Fallon Swift may be The One, but she won't go into the final battle of good versus evil alone. Along with other community leaders--both with and without magick--Fallon embraces her destiny to save the world. Whelan's ability to portray a large cast of characters, giving each a unique voice, is laudable. Each character is discernible from the rest--no matter their gender, age, or regional accent. Her soothing tone and even pacing keep the lengthy story moving for the listener. Overall, Whelan deftly presents another production worth listening to.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2019
Duration: 14 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781531834609
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
by TJ Klune ; read by Kirt Graves ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 28, 2026
This highly emotional audiobook won’t leave listeners dry-eyed.
Awards & Accolades
Our Verdict
GET IT
Kirt Graves tenderly narrates this audiobook about the end of the world. Don and Rodney, married for the last 40 years, have one month left to live as a black hole approaches Earth. They hit the road on a desperate trip across the country to fulfill one last promise. Graves easily distinguishes a variety of characters as they grapple with their impending deaths. He shows remarkable emotional versatility in his depictions of hope, desperation, apathy, and acceptance. Graves gives Rodney a low, gruff, and tough voice, while sentimental Don sounds gentler. Graves’ performance is leisurely paced, letting listeners linger in the stories of the people Don and Rodney meet along their journey.
This highly emotional audiobook won’t leave listeners dry-eyed.Pub Date: April 28, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 25 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250435606
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: May 5, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2026
by Amal El-Mohtar ; read by Rachel Elizabeth Smith ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 24, 2026
Smith’s absorbing performance makes each story unforgettable.
Awards & Accolades
Our Verdict
GET IT
This thoughtfully curated collection of the author’s previously published work, smartly narrated by Rachel Elizabeth Smith, highlights the indelible power of language—written and spoken—to release, transform, heal, divide, and connect. Dream-crafters and dreamers, celestial acolytes, imprisoned beings, and the magically transformed are among those who inhabit these tales. A man’s transgressions are carved from his body in “John Hollowback and the Witch”; a woman marked for service to the sun follows a new path in “And Their Lips Rang with the Sun”; a wife is shaped into being against her will in “Florilegia; or, Some Lies About Flowers.” All provide wonderful examples of Smith’s deft pacing and quietly impactful characterizations. Between stories, Smith beautifully conveys poems in English and Arabic.
Smith’s absorbing performance makes each story unforgettable.Pub Date: March 24, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 58 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250436061
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: yesterday
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.