Narrator Caitlin Kelly delivers a haunting performance of a story about two sisters who are desperate to understand their magical prison. Inara, who is trapped in her own mind except for brief moments of lucidity, is voiced with breathy, quavering grief as she learns about her magic in a world that despises it. Zuhra, who is desperate to help her sister, manages to stumble through a portal to the world of magical warrior Paladins and begins a search for their father, who is part of the reason that Paladins disappeared from the sisters' world 15 years ago. Kelly's narration is emotionally connected throughout, quickening listeners' hearts equally during moments of romance and intense fear. Character voices are distinct, and Kelly uses a British accent to differentiate between Paladins and humans.
(Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: Nov. 26, 2019
Duration: 14 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250243393
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Listeners follow Merry, the longbow girl, one of the best archers in her town. When she finds a magical portal in the forest that takes her back to sixteenth-century Wales, she must use her skills to win an archery contest in order to help her ancestors keep their land. While narrator Emily Wilden brings protagonist Merry to life with a rich Welsh accent, her narration seems uneven at times. All the period characters have accents that reflect the setting of the story and transport listeners to Wales. Listeners who enjoy historical fiction and a bit of fantasy will be charmed by this tale of determination, hope, and family.
Young AdultPub Date: N/A
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781501916793
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Winslow’s deep voice and emotional resonance suit an overwhelmed teenager with too much on her plate.
Andia Winslow narrates this witchy YA fantasy. The witches in 17-year-old Mikaela’s coven are having their magic stolen, and as the next Witch Queen, she’s expected to solve this mystery. She also helps out at her family’s occult shop, and when a beautiful new girl in town visits Mikaela for a tarot reading, she is struck by a vision of her own murder at the stranger’s hand. Winslow easily differentiates characters of different genders and ages and seamlessly shifts between African American Vernacular English and Standard American English. She elegantly adjusts her pacing for action scenes and political debates.
Winslow’s deep voice and emotional resonance suit an overwhelmed teenager with too much on her plate. (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: Aug. 11, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 38 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217342082
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Aug. 18, 2026
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