New Reviews: Fantasy

Tracie Frank pulls listeners into this dark academic romantasy, in which those with an enhanced power of persuasion reign supreme. Just when Lennon Carter feels like her life is over, she gets a mysterious acceptance to Drayton College, a school for an elite group of persuasionists. There, she meets Dante, her intriguing advisor, and fellow students who can change memories and... Read More

Golden Voice January LaVoy has a broad range of characters to give voice to in this Afrofuturist audiobook. Cinnamon Jones has long been a leader in her community. Since the Water Wars, which were triggered by conflicts over climate catastrophes, Cinnamon has been working to provide housing, healthcare and education to refugees. Characters include an 8-year-old girl, who is... Read More

Ron Butler narrates a fantasy novel set on a magical Caribbean island. Residents of Chynchin have lived undisturbed by the greedy Ymisen for two hundred years, but that is about to change. After a water pipe repair goes awry, Veycosi finds himself embroiled in endless drama. Butler's laidback narration style suits Veycosi's meandering travails: He has lost standing in his... Read More

Narrator Moira Quirk shines once again in this dark academic fantasy, which explores the ripple effects of colonization. As the first-ever female highmage, Sciona has dedicated her life to overcoming misogyny, pursuing her magical research relentlessly within the male-dominated High Magistry. But as she learns about the ugly machinations that underpin her people's magic, she's... Read More

An amazing group of narrators enlivens this collection of 13 stories. They range in subject matter from ancient Greece and Rome to modern times and beyond and share a common theme: finding and seizing destiny. Genres vary from fantasy to fairy tale, mystery, and science fiction, and they include dragon riders and pirates. There are plenty of surprises, but one thing is... Read More

The narrators deliver a genuinely captivating performance that enhances this thrilling tale. An invading king threatens Feyre's land. Melody Muze narrates with a perfect balance of vulnerability and fierce determination that makes her emotional journey all the more compelling. Anthony Palmini's portrayal of Rhysand brings strength and complexity, while the ensemble cast... Read More

Emily Woo Zeller narrates this audiobook, which imagines the life of the Evil Queen before Snow White's story begins. After her sister's death, Ayleth becomes heir to one of the powerful witches known as the Five Ancients. And even though she has no power of her own, she disguises herself and infiltrates the White City to bring her dead sister back. As Ayleth moves through... Read More

Saskia Maarleveld brings the haunting realm of this dark sapphic academic novel to life with an evocative performance. She captures the fierce intellect of Lorelai, a magical folklorist who is determined to get to the bottom of her mentor's mysterious death. As she investigates, romantic tension develops between her and her enemy turned reluctant ally, Sylvia von Wolff. The... Read More

Si Chen takes listeners to 1930s Shanghai in this historical fantasy. Cabaret dancer Jingwen has one foot in the world of lavish clubs and wealthy foreigners and the other in Shanghai's black market: Her grandmother is involved with money laundering. Chen's performance is smooth and steady, with little differentiation between characters. Delivering on Lin's vivid portrait of... Read More

Stina Nielsen narrates this alternate feminist history. Sylvie sets out to tell her life's story for her twins whom she gave up at birth because she was unmarried. In 1862 she moved from Kentucky to Nashville in search of her sister. She brought with her a lost play by Aristophanes, which is centered on a cult serving Artemis that seeks chaos to disrupt the patriarchal business... Read More

Lynnette R. Freeman narrates a fantasy featuring assassins and gods. Eveen is a member of the Dead Cat Tail Assassins Guild, and one of the best assassins in the city of Tal Abisi. When her newest commission puts her in an unforeseen quandary, she must use all her wits to survive. Freeman's narration highlights the shifts between drama and the humor in Eveen's story: an... Read More

Josie Charles narrates a not-quite-fairytale told from the perspective of an "evil" stepsister. After her stepsister Beatrice marries the prince and has her happily-ever-after, Lady Theodosia Balfour--Theo to her friends--is determined to secure a similar fate for herself. Sadly, it's a lot harder than it seems. Charles does not soften Theo's unlikable personality but does... Read More

In Violet Sorrengail's intense second year at Basgiath War College, she faces brutal training and a ruthless new vice commandant. She also uncovers dangerous secrets that could change everything. This audiobook is a true delight as it brings the story to life with a full cast and immersive sound effects that pull listeners into the world of dragon riders. Khaya Fraites's... Read More

Expertly narrated by Imani Jade Powers, this speculative fiction enters the mind and motives of Lady Macbeth. While she's reminiscent of Shakespeare's character, many of the events depart from the play's, allowing us to see things through her eyes. Seventeen-year-old Roscille, allegedly cursed by witches, drives men mad after one look into her eyes. Against her will, she's... Read More

In this locked-room fantasy, Moira Quirk's vocal confidence and captivating talent are on full display. Just two months after giving birth, the famous Hound Guildmember Kembral Thorne attends a New Year's Eve party. But what's supposed to be a gathering of various public officials and guilds quickly becomes a bloodbath. Violent creatures come out of nowhere to kill guests and... Read More

Tamika Katon-Donegal narrates this fantasy, the first in a series. From the moment Kai wakes up in the woods with amnesia and discovers her belongings have been looted, life becomes a struggle. With the help of a gorgeous man who, suspiciously, seems too skilled at swordplay to be stuck in such a remote town, Kai hopes to regain her memories. Narrating quickly, Katon-Donegal... Read More

Moira Quirk is a virtuoso in narrating all manner of fantasies. Here she delights in turning to the dark side. When a lonely, bookish adolescent is offered a magical deal to hop from a cancer ward to the realms of her favorite fantasy novels, she jumps at the opportunity--with one caveat. She wants to be one of the villains. As this wonderfully campy send-up of bodice-ripping,... Read More

A fantastic ensemble cast narrates Lucy Westenra's story where her original story in DRACULA leaves off. Billie Fulford-Brown voices Lucy in two separate timelines: through her journals in 1890 and her therapy transcripts in 2024. Her transformation from a naïve girl to a capable vampire is perfectly realized through Fulford-Brown's powerfully emotional performance. In the... Read More

Gabby Beans performs this suspenseful novel about a Black nonbinary protagonist who is haunted by the events that occurred at their childhood home. After years of living in the UK, Ezri finds themself on a plane back to the U.S. to visit their parents in their suburban home outside Dallas, Texas. There, Ezri finds their parents dead and begins trying to reconstruct their last... Read More

A full cast of creatures--including a shape-shifting coyote, werewolves, vampires, fae, the local witch, and humans--are depicted by a talented cast of voice actors. Most impressive is Khaya Fraites, who takes on the role of first-person narrator Mercy Thompson, a plucky 20-something mechanic and shape-shifter. Mercy and macho neighbor Adam Hauptman, an alpha werewolf voiced by... Read More

Marc Vietor narrates a dark fantasy epic about a family of merchant bankers and the prince who is poised to take over the kingdom. Davico di Regulai, armed with an ancient dragon eye and his own wits, steps up to control a vast banking empire. He soon learns that kindness is a weakness that will get him killed. A slow build follows Davico from childhood to adulthood. As Vietor... Read More

Joel Richards narrates the fourth Saint of Steel romance-tinged fantasy. When Marguerite Florian runs afoul of a previous employer, she hires a paladin named Shane to protect her. Unfortunately, Shane and Marguerite must battle their attraction for each other, as well as enemies who are out to kill them. Richards's wry and at times dry tone adroitly highlights the humorous... Read More

In an alternate universe at a time similar to the nineteenth century, revolution and war are the norm. Carlotta Brentan begins the narration of the Tides of Magic series. This sea adventure finds the Marquise Enid d'Tancreville running to the island nation of Albion. At home the Theocratic Revolution is routing out nobles and mages. Her ship is overtaken by a Theocratic warship... Read More

Nicola Coughlan narrates this short audiobook set before the events of HER MAJESTY'S ROYAL COVEN. In 1536, Lady Grace Fairfax is distraught after the death of her lover and coven leader, Anne Boleyn. She's convinced another witch betrayed the coven, but King Henry VIII engages his witchfinders, complicating Grace's quest for revenge. In flashbacks the story explores Grace's... Read More

Danice Cabanela and Dante Basco narrate the first in the Filipino inspired Stormbringer Saga. Lunurin, voiced by Cabanela, has the power to call forth storms capable of enormous destruction. Cabanela authentically depicts Lunurin's complicated emotions as she hides her powers from those colonizing her people and ignores her goddess's calls. Alon, voiced by Basco, has been in... Read More

Ciaran Saward gives an appealing narration of this fantasy, told from rakish Leovander Loveage's point of view. Leo, a scriver from a privileged gentry family, and Sebastian Grimm, a studious caster whose parents are farmers, are rivals in their fifth year at the Fount, a school of magic. Saward keeps all of the characters distinct, and he gives Grimm a Northern England accent... Read More

Natalie Naudus narrates this fantasy-romance. Pell has an affinity for machines. That comes in handy as she digs artifacts of the Ancients on the once inhabited planet of Tampere and restores them for use by the villagers. The keepers of the tower claim they're gods and ask her to restore a complex series of machines. As Pell tells her story, Naudus communicates her enthusiasm... Read More

Listeners who can suspend their disbelief will appreciate this historical fantasy, which takes place in plague-ridden Florence in 1348. The author, a gemologist, fashions her story around a kind witch named Ginevra who uses the healing power of gemstones to cure plague victims. Golden Voice narrator Soneela Nankani tells this tale of sorcery, superstition, and sophistry with... Read More

There's a teasing, mischievous lilt to Omari Douglas's performance that perfectly suits this delightful romance set in a fantasy world. Dutiful son Mattinesh Jay is entering into an arranged marriage to save his family's failing textile business. An encounter with con-man and duelist Luca Pierre leads Matti to hire him as his ceremonial best man at the wedding; Luca also... Read More

Narrator Cindy Piller is an ideal match for voicing Sherry Pinkwhistle, a Miss Marple-esque amateur sleuth who always solves the case--much to the chagrin of the local sheriff. This cozy mystery has everything listeners expect: a charming small-town setting, a cast of quirky characters, an endearing pet, and, of course, a murder or two . . . or sixteen. About three hours in,... Read More

When a precocious girl with a sense of entitlement graduates from the world's top university of magic and is assigned to be the protector of a tiny village on the edge of nowhere, she's not so thrilled. With easy humor and a homespun tone, narrator Lindsey Dorcus depicts the girl's transformation from an outsider who must continually battle the town goat to a champion of her... Read More

In this delightfully strange fantasy, Steve West delivers countless stand-out performances of whimsical characters ranging from owl-headed schoolmasters to animatronic hollow men and enormous eldritch rulers. After the Guardian of the West Passage dies, young Pell takes up the mantle of tower Mother, while Kew strives to become the new Guardian. When the mysterious beast begins... Read More

This audiobook plunges listeners into an enchanting fantasy world in which dragons transform into moons and political intrigue takes center stage. Raeve, a skilled and determined assassin, crosses paths with Kaan, a grieving revolutionary, setting off a tale of love, loss, and rebellion. Sarah Mollo-Christensen's narration is a master class in nuance--her portrayal of Raeve... Read More

This captivating audiobook proves to be an unlikely but winning blend of humor and terror. Thank author Henry Neff for creating such an exotic cast of bizarre characters. But it's up to narrator Ramiz Monsef to bring those characters to life. This Monsef accomplishes magnificently with characters who range from Laszlo, a snarky 800-year-old demon, to Maggie, an earnest young... Read More