Narrator A.J. Beckles is keenly attuned to the characters he portrays in this compelling adventure set in the world of Percy Jackson. A prophecy and disturbing dreams send demigod boyfriends Nico di Angelo and Will Solace on a quest into the Underworld. As the son of Hades, Nico finds the Underworld more familiar than frightening, but Will, the son of Apollo, suffers without sunlight. Beckles deftly shifts between danger-filled action and humorous moments, and he adds poignancy to the dreamlike interludes in which Nico and Will share the story of their unfolding romance with the nymph Gorgyra. Will and Nico can only survive if they fully accept each other for who they are, and many young listeners will appreciate that their relationship is so central to the story.
(Fantasy. 10-14)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2023
Duration: 13 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Henry's parents are kidnapped while they travel the world. Henry is confused and lost when he's sent to his aunt, uncle, and cousins in Kansas. His bewilderment increases when the plaster of his bedroom walls cracks to disclose 100 strange cupboards that are portals to odd places. Vivid descriptions of fascinating lands hold listeners' attention through the story's many unexplained facts as does the steady, solid narration by Russell Horton. Horton accurately modulates the characters' up-and-down emotions, adapting his pace quickly to the changes. Listeners are able to keep up with the rapidly introduced characters because of Horton's stand-out portrayals.
Ages 8+Pub Date: Dec. 26, 2007
Duration: 6 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780739362778
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A cast of narrators shares these stories, each told from the point of view of a supporting character from Riordan's Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series. We hear from Halfborn Gunderson, Samirah al-Abbas, Alex Fierro, and more. In "So's Your Face!" narrator Sile Bermingham gives fiery einherji Mallory Keen an Irish lilt, and in "I Play with Fire," Bahni Turpin gets to pull out the stops creating voices for a meeting of immortals in Muspellheim. Riordan's signature humor is here--Thor makes a guest appearance in each story, running through the nine worlds in his leather short shorts. The characterizations might not quite match what listeners heard in earlier installments, but diehard Magnus Chase fans can still enjoy this collection.
(Fantasy. 8-14)Pub Date: Oct. 2, 2018
Duration: 3 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780525641834
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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