New Reviews: Fantasy

Narrator Helen Day leads a full cast in this immersive audiobook. Young Skera and her sister, Lena, live under the thumb of a cruel priest in their medieval Norwegian village. When something unspeakable occurs, Skera is forced to flee into the woods. She meets the witch Valdalla and demands to learn the Old Ways but soon discovers the lessons could lead to disaster. This... Read More

Kristin Atherton gives a masterful performance of this historical fantasy. Every first daughter in the Harding family is cursed to bring disaster, and in 1592 Cybil experiences this firsthand. Miriam is a creature of darkness who feeds her immortality with the souls of mortals, and Cybil's soul calls to her more than any other. In exchange for Cybil's soul, Miriam agrees to... Read More

Martin Cahill narrates his fantasy novel about a young acolyte and her desperate struggle to find a divine chaperone. Nesi is a child of godly blood, which means she must impress at least one of the 99 animal deities in her temple in order to achieve her potential. After an impulsive prayer to T'sidaan, the Fox of Tricks, Nesi finds herself catapulted 300 years into the past,... Read More

Travis Baldree successfully narrates Book 3 of this action-packed fantasy series. Fern, a bookseller, moves across the Territory to open a shop next to the Legends & Lattes coffee shop. Shortly after, she has a midlife crisis and runs away. Baldree depicts Fern's anxiety and uncertainty with equal parts charm and compassion. On a journey of self-discovery, Fern travels with... Read More

Anna Burnett narrates an unexpected reimagining of "Cinderella." After having been murdered at 16 by her stepmother, "Ella" now haunts her family home. Burnett deftly handles Ella's transition from a lonely girl to a lonely ghost. Burnett's portrayal of her longing and frustration is heartrending, especially as she confronts hard truths about herself and her family. Add a royal... Read More

This time-bending romantasy, set in a nation called Dominion, is told from the perspectives of Sir Una Everlasting and her admirer and biographer, Owen Mallory. Moira Quirk and Sid Sagar bring these two characters to life, weaving the story with finesse. As Owen travels back in time to discover the true nature of Sir Una, they both discover that legends, songs, and stories... Read More

The first installment of the The Chaos Constellation trilogy is the author's debut, narrated by Alexandra Boulton. As a child, Bataar killed a gryphon. Now an adult, he's conquering countries one by one, seeking to unite them. When he expands his empire to Nohra's homeland, she must decide whether to submit to his rule or lead the Harpy Knights in resistance. Meanwhile, all... Read More

Dion Graham's lilting West African accent for Boubacar, the down-on-his-luck, trouble-always-finds-him detective in this dark story of broken dreams and third-world intrigue, is nothing short of mesmerizing. Graham's noir-style tone invites the listener into the back alleys, political corruption, and heart-pounding violence of this audiobook's surreal postcolonial dystopia.... Read More

Sophie Amoss's narration elevates an uneven story into a more engaging experience. Struggling graduate student Dorothe Bartleby must pass her final exam in the Magic program, but when she's required to combine digital technology with spells, disaster results. Amoss's performance brings clarity and rhythm to the text, grounding its twee and meandering tone with precise pacing... Read More

Jonathan Sleep narrates this unsettling novel, which takes place in the nineteenth century. Gentle Montgomery is grieving the loss of his dear friend, Liam, and preparing to journey to his home to carry on his work as an alchemist. He brings his nephew, Kitt, along. Sleep balances Gentle's gruff personality and Kitt's youth with a thoughtful delivery. As the pair traverse the... Read More

This vibrant account of the mythical Medusa's short but powerful life expands on her origin story. Narrator Tyla Collier illuminates the young woman's vulnerability, warmth, and passion. The teenage Medusa craves life beyond her family's island home. As she strives to establish her place in the world as an acolyte and priestess of the goddess Athena, she is unwillingly... Read More

Shiromi Arserio narrates award-winning novelist Tasha Suri's newest audiobook. Fantasy and romance come together in a Sapphic delight as a witch and a knight navigate their love for each other while also serving their queen. Although Arserio doesn't create distinct voices for each character, only occasionally is it a challenge to recognize who's speaking. Simran, a witch of the... Read More

Natalie Naudus puts listeners under her spell as she delivers this romantasy. Certainty Bulrush longs to become a mage and make her family proud, but her six years as an apprentice haven't revealed any major magical talents--aside from talking to objects. Her unique skill becomes essential, however, when she's assigned to help transport an abundance of magical items to a... Read More

Moira Quirk's narration of this fantasy is outstanding. To avenge her brother's death 13 years ago, Lyssa has been hunting and killing as many fairies as she can find. But the beast that actually killed her brother has been elusive. Then she meets Alderic, who might have what she needs to track it down. Quirk captures Lyssa's persona--all rough edges and traces of... Read More

In the second installment of the Echo Archives series, Moira Quirk grounds listeners in the human side of a fantastical adventure. Kembral Thorne is navigating a new relationship with the sly thief Rika Nonesuch. Drawn to a mysterious island, they become embroiled in a locked-room mystery involving the reading of a will and cursed relics. To defeat the creatures responsible,... Read More

Saskia Maarleveld narrates this first installment of a new fantasy trilogy called Kingdom of Oak and Steel. Holt Hawley, an outcast soldier, is sent on a mission to find the last member of the Vigilant order, Enelda Drake. In addition, a boy has been kidnapped from a locked room, and if he's not recovered, a war will ensue. Hawley and Enelda confront corrupt soldiers and... Read More

Narrators Sena Bryer, Lisa Flanagan, and Marisa Calin enliven the characters of Jamie, a young witch, and her mother, Serena, along with the text in a mysterious 300-year-old book that weaves through this queer fantasy audiobook. In the present, Jamie, a New England graduate school student who is studying literature and is secretly a witch, has a lot on her plate. She's also... Read More

Immersive and imaginative storytelling is enlivened by narrators Lindsey Dorcus and Mara Wilson. After Charlie's sister dies, her ability to see the dead leads her into a Chicago way station for souls beneath Lake Michigan. There, she becomes caught up in a struggle for humanity between the station's ferryman; his daughter, Nera, a ferryman-in-training; and an imprisoned demon.... Read More

Eric Mok returns to narrate this sequel to WITCH KING, bringing back all of his wonderfully varied British accents for the large cast. The narrative jumps back and forth between two timelines: In the past, immortal demon Kaiisteron and Prince-heir Bishasha advance against the powerful, subjugating Heirarchs; years later in the present day, long after the war is over, Kai and... Read More

Mary Robinette Kowal's narration of the newest installment of the award-winning October Daye series shines with her characterizations and delightful timing. When Sir October "Toby" Daye, Knight errant and Hero of the Realm, is called upon to investigate the looting of the royal vaults, she answers the call despite being late in her pregnancy. Kowal's voices and accents bring... Read More

Narrator Elena Rey gives a solid performance of this story in which animal and plant spirits reign over an isolated desert town. Selena is still settling in, having just fled the city. It's a beautiful town, she thinks--except that she frequently feels she's being watched. Rey conveys the voices and emotions of all the characters, each easily distinguishable from the next. The... Read More

English actor Kristin Atherton's spectacular performance is perfect for this fantasy, a spin on the fairy tale "Sleeping Beauty." The long awaited heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Bavaugh, a princess, is born with both a blessing and a curse. Three women--the queen, her lady-in-waiting, and a master's apprentice--try their best to alter the curse but encounter difficulties.... Read More

Sara Amini returns to narrate the majority of the second book in the Charlatan Duology. Charlie's lover, the powerful shadow Vince, lost his memories of their time together after becoming tethered to her. Amini's narration captures Charlie's trademark cynicism, as well as her heartbreak and feelings of vulnerability as she struggles with having a shadow that doesn't care about... Read More

Jesse Vilinsky narrates an episodic urban fantasy with strong elements of a police procedural. Over the course of a year, Detective Beth Fahey interacts with both the humans of Penwych and the Arcane of Wyrd. In doing so, she also learns more about herself and her mysterious past. Central to the island of Wyrd is the maxim: "Words have power; intentions matter." Vilinsky... Read More

Krysta Gonzales' energy propels listeners through a vivid urban-fantasy world. As Joan Greenwood returns to New York City and becomes entangled in a supernatural power struggle, Gonzales' narration keeps the momentum strong and the characters engaging. Her delivery captures Joan's insecurity about her limited magic skills while allowing listeners to observe her determination... Read More

In this clear, conversational, and often humorous retelling of Greek myths, Elizabeth Klett delivers Hera's chapters and Christian Black delivers those of Heracles. Together, they accentuate the intrigue, backstabbing, and good old-fashioned sex and violence in the stories. Hera, wife of Zeus, was one of the most powerful and ill-tempered gods on Mount Olympus. With her... Read More

The third installment of Kingfisher's Sworn Soldier series is once again masterfully performed by Avi Roque. When Alex receives an urgent telegram from their friend, Dr. James Denton, begging them to come to America immediately, they jump on a ship bound for Boston. Denton's missing cousin, Oscar, was last seen in a West Virginia mine that is rumored to be haunted. Roque adds... Read More