The first in the Sea of Ink and Gold series introduces listeners to the lushly portrayed violent world in which Sefia struggles for survival. Kim Mai Guest's light, young-sounding tone reflects Sefia's youth and graceful athleticism as she fights soldier agents of the rulers who have already left her orphaned. Fully voiced speaking roles for Sefia, the boy she rescues from captivity, her elderly aunt, and the roughneck soldiers and sailors with whom she engages in physical skirmishes and battles of wit are each so evocative that the tale unwinds with almost visual clarity. At the heart of this dystopian story is Sefia's illegal possession of a book, an artifact almost unknown in her culture, and her successful effort to teach herself the means to access its contents. The cliff-hanger ending leaves listeners eager for the next episode.
(Fantasy. 14 & up)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016
Duration: 12 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780147525727
Publisher: Listening Library
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
In 1832 thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle is sailing from Liverpool to Rhode Island to rejoin her family. Shocked to discover that the families who were to have been both guardians and companions will not accompany her, Charlotte embarks on a journey filled with terror and swashbuckling adventure. The first-person narrative makes this Newbery Honor book a wonderful choice for recording. O'Karma's reading, with its hint of cross-gender differentiation, allows the listener to feel as if Charlotte Doyle herself were relating the tale. This story should be particularly alluring to adolescent girls although the fast-paced action and the nautical setting will also appeal to male listeners. Ages 12-adult.
Ages 12+Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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