Narrators Alison McKenna and Alan Smyth give voice to the first installment of a new fantasy series. In hopes of finding a connection between the consumption of absinthe and seeing the fae, Ada Quicksilver travels to Ireland, where she meets Edward Donoghue, Earl of Meath. The two embark on a journey and find more than they ever imagined. McKenna and Smyth both provide an entertaining performance with their alternating narrations, giving the listener a feel for the protagonists' personalities. Some differences in their narrative styles may be attributed to one character's perception of the other, but they do give the listener pause, as may the infrequent inconsistencies in the accents. Overall, though McKenna's practiced, careful style is juxtaposed with Smyth's more energetic flair, making for an enjoyable listen.
Pub Date: Dec. 14, 2019
Duration: 12 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781982573003
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ayla, one of the "others," is adopted by a clan of Neanderthal cave people. She struggles to conform to their ways, but her advanced human traits overwhelm and threaten their primitive culture in this initial installment of an immensely popular series. Although the story might benefit from abridgment, Rowena Cooper easily carries out the formidable task of enlivening the mostly silent and stereotypical characters with consistent, diverse personalities and human dimension. Through skillful phrasing and inflection, she maintains the reader's interest and suspense, especially with Ayla and her plight, throughout this rambling and imaginative story.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This lyrical, sensual novel of woman's lot in Manchu, China, is as well researched as it is well written. Authentic in tone, it's nonetheless written for Westerners by a Western expert on China. Moreover, Susan Clark performs the demanding text superbly, with only occasional signs of fatigue. For the most part she not only sustains the quaint diction and Asian atmosphere, but also, creates whole worlds with her voice. She acts the book, rather than reads it, and, in so doing, turns a pretty trifle into a stupendous beauty.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audio Literature
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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