Sleeping Beauty? Yes, but she's a real princess in Eastern Europe in the ninth century. Growing up in the area, Ian first sees Katerina when he's 10 years old; later, as an adult, he comes back from America to visit relatives and sees her again--still sleeping in a chasm with a bear preventing her rescue. Rescue her he does, and when she takes him back to her time, he finds that the folk tales he has studied--and the magic in them--have a basis in fact. This compelling fantasy is made even richer by the evocative narration of Alyssa Bresnahan, who finds all the nuances in her vocal portraits of the characters. Her range, from deep and gravelly to light, and the various emotional shadings of the story are shown to their fullest advantage. A few abridgment glitches are minor annoyances.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1999
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Dove/ NewStar Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 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
James Marsters' weary delivery perfectly captures Harry Dresden's fractured psyche as he navigates a year of mandatory mourning and political maneuvering in Chicago. Marsters doesn't just read; he inhabits Harry's exhaustion, using deliberate pacing and a somber tonal palette that underscores the protagonist's post-traumatic stress. Marsters' gift for distinct vocal characterizations remains sharp, effortlessly pivoting from the ethereal, detached elegance of the Sidhe to the grounded warmth of Harry's remaining allies. By leaning into the book's quieter, more introspective moments, Marsters elevates this urban fantasy's emotional stakes, transforming a year of Dresden's life into a poignant study of grief. It's an immersive performance that makes the wizard's vulnerability feel hauntingly real. Marsters' soulful performance makes this a compelling entry in the Harry Dresden series.
Pub Date: Jan. 20, 2026
Duration: 17 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217176021
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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