This installment in the series that began with THE SWORD OF SHANNARA is full of pursuit and battles, magic and brute strength, intrigue and old secrets. Although it is an abridgment, the plot is full, the characters complete, and Charles Keating is a storyteller worthy of the tale. He narrates with an intensity that focuses attention on the core relationships between the central characters. Using adjustments in pace as an effective tool, he smoothly shifts mood as he moves between segments of the plot. His narration has the air of a historian taking care to stay true to the events he has witnessed. J.E.M.
(c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2002
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This highly emotional audiobook won’t leave listeners dry-eyed.
Kirt Graves tenderly narrates this audiobook about the end of the world. Don and Rodney, married for the last 40 years, have one month left to live as a black hole approaches Earth. They hit the road on a desperate trip across the country to fulfill one last promise. Graves easily distinguishes a variety of characters as they grapple with their impending deaths. He shows remarkable emotional versatility in his depictions of hope, desperation, apathy, and acceptance. Graves gives Rodney a low, gruff, and tough voice, while sentimental Don sounds gentler. Graves’ performance is leisurely paced, letting listeners linger in the stories of the people Don and Rodney meet along their journey.
This highly emotional audiobook won’t leave listeners dry-eyed.Pub Date: April 28, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 25 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250435606
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: May 5, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2026
Guite’s performance makes his poetry accessible.
Author Guite recites his epic ballad, the first of four installments in his retelling of the Arthurian legends. Starting in the 12th century, the Celtic tales of Arthur were recast with explicitly Christian interpretations. Continuing this tradition, Guite’s Galahad is portrayed as the most perfect knight, the embodiment of virginal purity facing potential downfall from the temptation posed by beautiful women. Only with God’s help will he succeed in his quest. Guite narrates at a leisurely pace, his gravelly voice rising and falling with the passion and intensity of the story. An informative author’s note details Guite’s reasons for undertaking this project.
Guite’s performance makes his poetry accessible.Pub Date: April 20, 2026
Duration: 7 hrs, 54 mins
DD ISBN: 9798895641408
Publisher: Oasis Audio
Review Posted Online: today
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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