Narrator Emily Gibbons Bouchard demonstrates that queer love knows no bounds in this amped-up sci-fi romance. Called to a nearby planet by a mysterious beacon, scavenger Wylla goes on the hunt for what she hopes is a valuable find. What she discovers is something even greater: A mask imbued with the power of its last wearer, a hawk. Donning the mask, Wylla gains the hawk's memories and, avoiding other hunters on her tail, embarks on a quest to avenge the hawk's murder. Bouchard's narration captures both Wylla's pride in her transgender identity and her growing attachment to Sable, the hawk's former owner. Providing growing confidence to Wylla's voice and depth to Sable's, Bouchard makes this interstellar romance a gripping listen.
Pub Date: July 22, 2025
Duration: 5 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781250407528
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Multiple award winner Card is one of the greatest practitioners of science fiction; here he delivers a history fantasy of the Wabash Valley circa 1800, a world of hexes and folk magic. This is the first book about Alvin Maker, the seventh son of a seventh son, who has remarkable psychic powers. Card is a very good narrator, expressive and well paced. One can hear the excitement of an author as he brings his own well described characters to life. There is one momentary technical glitch, the only slip up in an exemplary presentation. Highly recommended for fiction collections everywhere.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 7 hrs
Publisher: The Literate Ear
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
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