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
An intoxicating, genre-bending tale that asks artists and writers: What are the costs of greatness and fame?
An isolated family farm in rural Vermont anchors, then unmoors, an idyllic turned traumatic childhood. In a story revealed via flashbacks that flirt with horror, 30-something Guinevere Sharpe attempts to uncover the reason she and her beloved brother, Ennis, no longer speak. Rebecca Lowman’s narration remains distinct as the story moves back and forth in time. The slow, suspenseful pace delivers a thrilling answer to what really happened to the siblings’ celebrated mother, who wrote a bestselling fantasy series starring both of their likenesses. Lowman masterfully brings each of Guin’s singular family members to life in an absorbing performance that wholly transports the listener.
An intoxicating, genre-bending tale that asks artists and writers: What are the costs of greatness and fame?Pub Date: June 2, 2026
Duration: 14 hrs, 43 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063487406
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 9, 2026
The story is delightfully gripping and chilling, and Rey and Corzo's warm voices deepen listeners' emotional investment.
In her debut novel, Gómez bewitches listeners with this gothic horror tale centered on two women. Narrators Elena Rey and Frankie Corzo enliven the story while conveying its emotional depth. Set in Oakland, California, in 1968, the story follows Natalia Fuentes, a caretaker who hopes to free heiress Violeta Miramontes from a spell that has left her incapacitated. Despite herself, Natalia begins to develop feelings for Violeta. As she grows increasingly desperate to break the spell, Natalia confronts her past and the powerful magical forces at a devastating cost. Rey and Corzo ground the narrative by skillfully using pacing and tone to capture the characters' emotions.
The story is delightfully gripping and chilling, and Rey and Corzo's warm voices deepen listeners' emotional investment.Pub Date: June 2, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs, 9 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217338108
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: July 21, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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