In the long awaited sequel to THE PRINCESS ACADEMY, Miri travels from Mt. Eskel to the royal palace for the upcoming wedding of Britta and Prince Steffan. Instead of joyous preparations, she finds herself in the middle of a simmering conflict between the nobles and the common folk. The full cast enlivens Hale's story of revolution. Particularly noteworthy is the voice for Miri as she struggles with the mantle of leadership. However, some of the characters do not distinctly pronounce Miri's name, causing confusion. Cynthia Bishop's carefully enunciated narration is a strong point, but incongruous musical ditties opening each chapter detract from the narrative flow. Once the story gets going, it's enjoyable but, like a quarry on Mt. Eskel, this production is rocky and uneven.
(Fantasy. 10-14)Pub Date: Nov. 13, 2012
Duration: 8 hrs
Publisher: AudioGo
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Simply marvelous.
Samuel West gives a riveting performance of this thrilling, action-packed adventure. When scholar Irian Guinne is kidnapped, Christopher and Anya, along with Jacques the dragon and Ratwin the ratatoska, embark on an odyssey across the Glimouria Archipelago to collect various magical objects and ransom Irian’s release. Christopher is also trying to master his new ability to connect directly to the minds of magical creatures. West doesn’t have a youthful voice, but he’s still completely convincing as the young characters, and he deftly captures every moment of humor, fear, peril, and wonder. In his telling, a dangerous race becomes breathless and impossible to pause, and the themes of love, bravery, and kindness ring true.
Simply marvelous. (Fantasy. 10-14)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 4 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593830123
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: yesterday
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2026
The satisfying conclusion reveals Itzel finding belonging and home and transforming into a storyteller.
Frankie Corzo, who narrated the first two audiobooks in this SF trilogy, brings this finale to fans. Itzel is the granddaughter of Petra, who was introduced in The Last Cuentista (2021). Corzo expresses story-loving Itzel’s intelligence and curiosity as she grieves her mother’s death and worries about the limited resources on Sagan, her home planet. Corzo depicts Petra with an older-sounding voice, conveying her penchant for telling tales and tenderness toward her granddaughter. Corzo portrays their deepening feelings as both prepare to leave Sagan to return to Earth. Before this century-long journey, Itzel ingests a sleeping capsule imbued with her grandmother’s memories, further strengthening and deepening their bond.
The satisfying conclusion reveals Itzel finding belonging and home and transforming into a storyteller. (Science fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: June 9, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 21 mins
DD ISBN: 9798898851255
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: July 28, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: today
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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