Narrators MacLeod Andrews and Arielle DeLisle both shine in this smart and funny coming-of-age story. High school students Lesh and Svetlana enjoy role-playing games. Metalhead Lesh lets peer pressure get the best of him. Creative Svetlana is a dreamer and happy in her own skin. The story doesn’t simply alternate between Lesh and Svetlana; it also shows the points of view of the characters they role-play. This is delightfully silly as listeners hear Andrews performing as both a huge ogre with a deep, gruff voice and an ethereal female elf with breathless enthusiasm. Brezenoff’s book captures the confusion about identity that many teens feel. DeLisle’s performance is charming and confident while Andrews’s is top-notch, breathing life into ogres, elves, boys, and girls alike.
(Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: May 27, 2014
Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780062324344
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This duo delivers a fascinating web of deceit and magical thrills.
Two women are caught up in a thrilling magical duel in this YA audiobook. Tamsin, voiced by Jo Yuan, is pressured by her famous magician father to follow in his career. Yuan narrates with assertive bluster, emphasizing Tamsin’s desire to escape from beneath her father’s thumb no matter what it takes. Sam, voiced by Mirai, wants revenge on Tamsin’s father, even if it means sending her infamous champion into the dueling ring to destroy his only daughter. Mirai narrates with meticulous care, perfectly conveying Sam’s scheming nature. But Tamsin doesn’t know Sam’s true goals, and as the two connect, they can’t help finding comfort in each other.
This duo delivers a fascinating web of deceit and magical thrills. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217279890
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2026
Listeners will experience laughter, hope, and worry alongside Emma as she forges her path.
While attending a Tanabata festival with her stern but loving grandfather, Seattle teen Emma, a gifted violinist, wishes for proof that long-lasting love is real. Soon, Emma starts receiving notes claiming to be from her future true love, voiced by Gary Tiedeman. Could the messages be from boy-next-door Theo, musician Ezra, or wealthy Colin? Sarah Skaer’s voice for Emma is high-pitched and rushed when Emma is feeling nervous or excited and soft in romantic moments. Although she’s passionate about music, Emma’s reluctance to apply to music school due to financial constraints puts her at odds with her mother.
Listeners will experience laughter, hope, and worry alongside Emma as she forges her path. (Romance. 12-18)Pub Date: Feb. 3, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668156599
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2026
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