The French Revolution provides the backdrop for this story of gypsies, demented aristocrats, intrigue, and murder. Yann, orphaned at a young age, has been raised by a kindly dwarf and works with a traveling troupe of magicians. The murder of the group's leader by the sinister Count Kalliovski provides the catalyst for Yann's further adventures. Though improbable coincidences and unlikely circumstances abound, Carrington MacDuffie’s performance draws in the listener. At first, MacDuffie is all over the map with various accents and characterizations, but she soon settles into a comfortably paced, enjoyable performance. Skillfully, she establishes several distinct characters and never leaves the listener guessing as to who is speaking. A little history, a lot of adventure—this boisterous story would be a good choice for a family road trip.
Young AdultPub Date: May 13, 2008
Duration: 9 hrs, 45 mins
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Both narrators express the story’s mounting tension, contributing to the gothic horror of this historical fantasy.
This audiobook opens from the perspective of Ygnacio, portrayed by narrator Omar Leyva. His attention is on 16-year-old Minerva, who has left a broken home. It’s only later that listeners learn Ygnacio’s distant voice belongs to a ghost seeking revenge. Leyva’s accent gives a strong sense of the novel’s Latin American setting. Minerva becomes a maid for wealthy Señora Encarnación in a crumbling, haunted home whilecivil war rages around them. Krysta Gonzales performs Minerva’s chapters with a mix of youthful exuberance and lack of confidence that reflect Minerva’s age and her tragic past. As Miranda’s courage and resolve strengthen, we hear it in Gonzales’ voice.
Both narrators express the story’s mounting tension, contributing to the gothic horror of this historical fantasy. (Paranormal. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 19 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217349845
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2026
Themes of inheritance, identity, sacrifice, and belonging resonate through three voices.
This multigenerational family story comes to life through an ensemble performance. After high schooler Dawn receives an assignment to interview her grandmother, she begins uncovering a family history that stretches from 19th-century China to Taiwan and then New York. Eunice Wong, Katharine Chin, and Kenneth Lee shift among generations with careful attention to rhythm, pitch, and emotional texture, making the transitions easy to follow. Their performances capture the family's guardedness over its old secretsas well as Dawn's curiosity as a young woman seeking answers. As the layers of the Chin family history emerge, the narrators maintain a strong sense of continuity across time.
Themes of inheritance, identity, sacrifice, and belonging resonate through three voices. (Fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: Sept. 22, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 42 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063238039
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 1, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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