After 40 years of peace between the kingdoms of Goredd and Dragonkind, there’s a threat from pro-war factions on each side. Sixteen-year-old musical prodigy Seraphina hides a dark, potentially deadly secret. She’s plagued by her mother’s visions, by strange creatures inhabiting her mental “garden,” and by her growing affection for a betrothed prince. Mandy Williams narrates Rachel Hartman’s original coming-of-age story with a girl’s ingenuous enthusiasm while Justine Eyre provides the maternal memories with the rueful tone of one who has ignored a taboo. Hartman’s tale is chock-full of unique landscapes, ancient saints, dragon lore, music, and politics. Williams creates a charming new heroine, and Hartman’s clever symbolism and artful allusions assure fantasy fans of something fresh and unusual.
(Fantasy. 12 & up)Pub Date: July 10, 2012
Duration: 13 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780307968937
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Saddle up with narrators Rachel Jacobs and Tristan Wright as they take listeners to the Texas panhandle for a heartfelt cowboy romance. Nineteen-year-old bull rider Case Michaels is trying to keep it together after the death of his best friend, Walker. Walker left Case a list of things to accomplish. One of those tasks is befriending Winnie Sutton, a sassy ranch hand who works for Case's family. Jacobs's expressive tone and fluid cadence capture Winnie's hardworking spirit, while Wright's warm Southern drawl conveys Case's vulnerability and charisma. Both Jacobs and Wright create the perfect amount of tension, longing, and love to keep listeners smiling.
(Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2024
Duration: 9 hrs
Publisher: Spotify Audiobooks
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Aida Reluzco and Andre Bellido do a beautiful job of narrating this story about the uncertainty of young love. Soleida flees her native Cuba and eventually finds herself alone in a Costa Rican refugee camp. Dariel is visiting from California. He comes from a wealthy family, and, at first, the pair do not seem to have much in common. But soon they develop intense feelings for each other. They are both concerned about climate change and committed to helping environmental causes. Reluzco and Bellido both switch from English to Cuban Spanish easily. They have a youthful quality in their voices that adds authenticity to the listening experience. Reluzco is good at conveying Soleida's precarious mental state by adding the right amount of hesitation to her delivery.
(Verse novel. 12-17)Pub Date: April 18, 2023
Duration: 1 hr, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781797156811
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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