Lee reads Newcomb's first fantasy epic with authority, compassion, and endurance. He portrays Prince Tristan, the classic reluctant protagonist, as headstrong and brash, while his twin sister, Shailiha, is soft spoken and empathetic. Wigg, Tristan's immortal wizard adviser, is hardly infallible, and the deaths of main characters add to the realism of this imaginative fiction. Explicit sex and graphic violence are delivered in the same deliberate, nonjudgmental voice Lee uses for describing the kingdom of Eutracia, the Sea of Whispers, and Parthalon. Though the audio is long, fans of swords, omens, wizards, and sorceresses will be enthralled. S.C.A. 2003 Audie Award Finalist (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2002
Duration: 30 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
An immersive, emotionally precise listening experience.
Natalie Naudus narrates this gothic audiobook full of ghosts both past and present. Mercy lands on the shores of Hong Kong in 1942 with no memories. She can speak with ghosts, and she earns a living in the haunted slums of Kowloon Walled City. When a powerful new ghost appears and starts drowning residents, then claims to know Mercy, the mystery of her past slowly unfolds. Naudus’ narration will tug at listeners’ heartstrings as the main characters experience shocking, horrific betrayals and trauma. Her intensified pace reflects the fierce anger and high action, keeping listeners on edge. The whispery voice Naudus uses for ghosts easily differentiates them from the living. When the narrative shifts to a second-person point of view, Naudus adopts a compassionate tone.
An immersive, emotionally precise listening experience.Pub Date: May 5, 2026
Duration: 13 hrs, 2 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250395788
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: June 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2026
This highly emotional audiobook won’t leave listeners dry eyed.
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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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