Listeners are in for a treat as this audiobook recounts the exploits of the legendary Saint Valentine; his blind lover, Agatha; and a cast of characters voiced by 20 narrators. Standout performances from Ryan Haugen as Valentine and Wayne LeGette as Emperor Gallienus anchor the ensemble with clear character distinctions and expressive deliveries that guide listeners through the action and intimacy. This historical fiction reworks the story of the Roman soldier Valentine, who embraced the priesthood, secretly performing Christian marriages against Emperor Claudius' ruling, ultimately becoming the martyr who inspired Valentine's Day. Sound effects and dialogue create a cinematic audio production emphasizing love, faith, and resistance. Listeners will be immersed in a vivid ancient world they won't soon forget.
Pub Date: Oct. 7, 2025
Duration: 12 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798991362429
Publisher: N/A
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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