Narrator Grace Rolek draws listeners into a Japanese-inspired fantasy packed with spirits, adventure, and danger. Otori Miuko has never lived up to her father's expectations, or fit into the restrictive patriarchal society of Awara. Rolek captures Miuko's spirited voice and longing for more. But when adventure arrives in the form of a transformative curse by a demon, she's thrust down a new, dangerous path. She sets out with a mischievous magpie spirit, who has a goofy but charming voice, and meets many new human and inhuman characters along the way. Chee has invented a rich magical world with its own language and crafted an intricately woven story about power and oppression. Rolek enlivens each character, makes the language and world seem real, and keeps up with the fast-paced plot.
(Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: March 1, 2022
Duration: 11 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780358639565
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Listeners follow Merry, the longbow girl, one of the best archers in her town. When she finds a magical portal in the forest that takes her back to sixteenth-century Wales, she must use her skills to win an archery contest in order to help her ancestors keep their land. While narrator Emily Wilden brings protagonist Merry to life with a rich Welsh accent, her narration seems uneven at times. All the period characters have accents that reflect the setting of the story and transport listeners to Wales. Listeners who enjoy historical fiction and a bit of fantasy will be charmed by this tale of determination, hope, and family.
Young AdultPub Date: N/A
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781501916793
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Nassif gives an emotional voice to survivors of bullying.
Victoria Nassif narrates this story of magic, grief, and racism. Syrian American Jihad Dabbagh enters a private school in her senior year of high school, and she hopes to attend an art school for college. Her name and the hijab she wears make her the target of dangerous bullies. To cope, she draws in a magical sketchbook, telling the story of her deceased mother’s journey from Syria to the U.S. Nassif relates Jihad’s story beautifully, taking her from a shy, introverted teen to a strong Muslim woman willing to call out bullies for their behavior. Her Arabic pronunciations lend authenticity to this story, helping to bring Jihad’s world to life, and she’s equally adept with the pretentious accents of the privileged white students at the academy.
Nassif gives an emotional voice to survivors of bullying. (Fabulism. 14-18)Pub Date: June 2, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 46 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668657515
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2026
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