Narrator Catherine Ho delivers a stellar performance of this layered urban fantasy set in contemporary Malaysia. Jess’s college degree and secret girlfriend are not enough to keep her in the U.S. when her parents return to their homeland. She soon discovers that the gods and spirits are very real there: Her grandmother’s ghost and the god Black Water Sister try to inhabit her body, each seeking revenge, no matter the cost to Jess. Ho’s seamless transitions between characters and accents keep listeners rooted in the story’s Southeast Asian setting. Her tempo and tone add excitement to the action and underscore the humor. The audiobook addresses a number of sociocultural topics, including sexual identity, religion, and family obligations.
Pub Date: May 11, 2021
Duration: 11 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781980036036
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Aysha Kala crafts a delicate performance surrounding a surprisingly complex story about a carousel. The carousel, originally built in 1900s Paris, is shrouded in a mystery and linked to a history of missing children. Kala narrates as Maisie, an immigrant just arriving in Chicago in 1920, uncovers the dark secret of said carousel alongside Det. Laurent. Kala's elegant narration style blends perfectly with the thrilling writing, clever descriptions of the magical settings, and a cunning mystery, delivering a catchy listen for a wide audience. The dialogue between the protagonists progresses the plot while also allowing for satisfying character development. Kala's narration is a mix of whimsical wonder and gritty determination.
Pub Date: Jan. 13, 2026
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781488237003
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Jensen Olaya and Joel de la Fuente share narration duties in this tale of a family haunted by the shadows of their past. Olaya primarily plays the part of Sophie, an outsider invited to the ancestral home of the Filipino Sepulveda family. Fuente takes over the role of Javiar, an exiled member of the family. While Sophie and Javiar have distinct points of view that might merit two narrators, both also assume the dialogue of the surrounding cast, which often leads to an inconsistent tone throughout the book. Olaya is typically monotone, offering no significant differences in the voice of any character. Fuente is a bit better at distinguishing characters than Olaya, but the mismatch of their narration styles detracts from the substance of the story. Overall, this recording may have been better served by a single narrator with a more diverse set of voices and tones.
Pub Date: Nov. 25, 2025
Duration: 11 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798890594716
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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