Justis Bolding narrates an irreverent and sparkly send-up of video games and the real world. Isobel Bailie, "Queen of the Sparkle Dungeon," is about to embark on a new and unexpected adventure when her job and her hobby collide. Bolding perfectly captures Isobel's quirky personality and snarky tone while also managing frenetic plot twists. Although Isobel's character may not be like that of other pixie girls, Bolding keeps her grounded and believable. Where Bolding is somewhat less successful is in her portrayals of the secondary characters, but that's understandable since the author doesn't give them much attention. Happily, Bolding captures all the manic fun of Isobel herself.
Pub Date: Jan. 11, 2022
Duration: 17 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781705047248
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Asimov's sweeping tale of the disintegration and fall of the Galactic Empire has never been more relevant or poignant. In the third book of the original trilogy, Dan Lazar handles the material adequately. He uses his limited range of voices nicely, if sometimes amusingly--he sometimes sounds like a foreigner attempting to mimic American accents. Varying pitch and pacing make for a lively narration, and his reading of a precocious young woman, who is ultimately an important figure, is delightful. Technical and editorial problems plague the title. Hearing Lazar repeatedly mispronounce a word that the text itself explains how to pronounce is very frustrating. Intermittent fade-outs on one channel; inconsistencies when switching sides; and low, rumbling background noise mar the sound quality.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 8 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Asimov's sweeping tale of the disintegration and fall of the Galactic Empire has never been more relevant or poignant. McKeever reads rapidly, but he also manages to identify individuals, if minimally, and the main characters are voiced consistently. His voice for the aging professor, in fact, is quite charming. Narrative passages are read competently with appropriate emotional expression. Technical and editorial problems plague the title. Intermittent fade-outs on one channel; inconsistencies when switching sides; and low, rumbling background noise mar the sound quality.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 13 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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