Like a modern-day Rapunzel, Norma's hair has magical properties. In this Finnish tale, Norma also gains special powers through her magic hair: She can read other people's emotions through her hair's reaction. Narrator Fiona Hardingham is an excellent choice for this complicated twist on a familiar story. She uses a steady, capable delivery to connect the listener to the winding storyline, which includes an international crime syndicate and long list of characters. Hardingham gives this feminist story a strong undertone through her crisp pronunciation and consistent cadence. Did Norma's mother kill herself? How many people know about her secret power? These are some of the questions that will keep listeners engaged until the dramatic ending.
Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2017
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780525500490
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A heartwarming listening experience touched by magic.
Genevieve Cocke narrates this fantasy audiobook set in 1920s Montreal. Agnes is desperate to find a new home for her cat shelter and herself after a magical duel in front of her building left only three walls standing. For this and other reasons, Agnes is not a fan of magic, but the only person willing to rent to her and her feline rescues is Havelock, a notorious magician. Cocke endows Havelock with a Quebecois accent, although most other characters have no identifiable accent. Agnes prepares a checklist for most everything, and Cocke makes her organized but not officious. Cocke instills personality in the many secondary characters, including the cats.
A heartwarming listening experience touched by magic.Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217279272
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: March 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
In an audiobook with an atmosphere reminiscent of Twin Peaks, Myers renders the incredible as curiously commonplace.
Narrator Jay Myers makes quirky characters and the wonders of a word filled with fantastical beings sound pretty normal. It begins when Green has a near-death experience, discovers a giant crow looking down at him, and finds a mysterious acorn in his pocket. Not long thereafter, he heads for the hills to try to figure out what really happened to him. He meets Valentina, who dubs him a cryptonaturalist for his ability to see incredible creatures. She agrees to mentor him. Myers adopts a persona for Green that emphasizes his ordinariness, except for his ability to see the creatures. Myers’ voice for Valentina is appropriate for someone who is more than five centuries old.
In an audiobook with an atmosphere reminiscent of Twin Peaks, Myers renders the incredible as curiously commonplace.Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217176182
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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