New Reviews: Fantasy

Scott Fortney narrates an action-packed fantasy in which a young man is called to service by an erratic god. Krell is a paladin serving the tempestuous god ReckNor, but the god rarely calls upon those who serve him. However, Krell has captured ReckNor's attention--he even hears his god's voice inside his head. Fortney creates a unique voice for each character, and the clever... Read More

Laura C. Harris takes on the role of mortal Rowan--aka Mortana, the succubus--in this full-cast performance. Twenty-one-year-old Rowan hates demons even as she makes a blood oath with the powerful, sexy Lord of Chaos, Orion. With his help, Rowan poses as the seductive Mortana in order to find and destroy her mother's killer. But she must avoid the other demons who want her... Read More

Narrator Donald Chang faces a particular challenge with this audiobook: how to produce the sound of testosterone. In the world of this fantasy-adventure, warriors fight to determine the fate of nations. Chang skillfully animates the pair at the heart of this stirring work, former champion Grievar Murray Pearson and his latest protégé, the talented but callow Cego. In addition,... Read More

Gary Furlong and Shakira Shute narrate dual points of view in alternating chapters to great effect in this academic fantasy novel. Toni Frutin adds to the magic with eerily drawn-out readings of the "Song of the Drowned Gods." A college student who is studying lunar magic, Emory, portrayed by Shute, is left to figure out her new magical skills after a horrific night at the... Read More

Nneka Okoye's talent for differentiating accents and timbres shines in this Nigerian-inspired fantasy audiobook. The magic-wielding Oluso are ruthlessly ruled by the Aje, who are without magic. Years after her mother's brutal murder, Dèmi, an Oluso, jumps at the opportunity for vengeance. Along with her best friend, Colin, she kidnaps the Eingardian prince, Jonas, an Aje, in... Read More

Marisa Calin, Michael Kramer, and Kate Reading narrate a fantasy set in the Shades of Magic world. Seven years have passed since the battle that almost destroyed everything, and a new conflict has arisen that once again spans all four Londons: Red, Grey, White, and Black. Each narrator focuses on one primary plot thread: Calin on Tess, a young woman with an unusual and... Read More

Amy Bentley leisurely narrates this magical audiobook full of intriguing world-building and a slow-burn romance. Lark ran away from her abusive father years ago. Still desperate to find a home, she hopes for sanctuary in Cagmar, the city of trolls. There, she reluctantly reveals her power to thrust fear into others, and the trolls are intrigued. Lark's voice is higher pitched,... Read More

Natalie Naudus narrates the conclusion to The Radiant Emperor Duology. A fierce power struggle is underway to reign as emperor in this retelling of the Ming dynasty's rise to power and wresting of control from the Mongols. Naudus is an admirable guide through a complicated plot with multiple points of view. The characters include a collection of cruel and manipulative people,... Read More

Sarah Slimani uses crisp consonants and fluid vowels as she inhabits the characters in this paranormal mystery set in an alternative universe where magicians, sorcerers, and powerful creatures hide in the shadows. Isolde Wilby's role as wielder of hexes meshes with her husband Warren's unassuming ways as a protector and a superb chef. Hired to locate the king's missing signet... Read More

Raquel Beattie's enchanting narration elevates this fantastical misadventure featuring the Mandolinis--a family of magical artists. Chaos abounds after 11-year-old Rosa Mandolini accidentally unleashes a vengeful little monster that could destroy her family's legacy. Beattie's voice perfectly emulates Rosa's youthful spirit as she conspires with Payne, a talking crow, to... Read More

Rasha Zamamiri and Peter Ganim narrate this Egyptian-inspired fantasy audiobook. Since the murder of her family and the outlawing of Jasadi magic 10 years ago, Sylvia, the Jasad heir, has been in hiding. But now she has a chance encounter with the Nizahl heir, Arin, who is hunting for a group of Jasadi rebels, and that encounter puts her quiet life in jeopardy. Sylvia's... Read More

Nina Yndis narrates a bewitching short story about a girl named Judith, who longs for adventure and romance in her quiet life. Judith dreams of the world beyond her small village and resents having to work for her beautiful but cruel older sister. Listeners hear the thrill in Judith's voice when a handsome stranger comes to her village--and her devastation when he marries her... Read More

Steve West gives a lively performance of this fantasy/romance, voicing each mortal, immortal, and undead character with the requisite humor, sarcasm, and sinister whispers. Fox D'Mora, a bit of a rake, is posing as a medium, though as the godson of Death, he has an unusual advantage. When Viola Marek, vampire and real estate agent, calls on him with a poltergeist problem, Fox... Read More

Holly Adams portrays Peta in this fantasy tale of survival among elementals and familiars. Peta, a feline, purrs her house cat lines and roars when she's in leopard form, all the while protecting her thirteenth charge, Larkspur, aka Dirt Girl, from death and other dangers. Larkspur's strong personality and bold courage flow through Yasmin Tuazon's strong voice, especially when... Read More

A full cast accompanied by a score and sound effects brings this Hellboy adventure to life. Hellboy and his team journey to Brazil to assist on an archaeological dig. One of the men goes missing and is found dead with wasps pouring out of his body, which has been transformed into a horrific nest. Scott McCormick captures Hellboy's wry sarcasm in a booming voice and gravelly... Read More

Josh Dylan gives a stand-out performance in this stunning conclusion to The Last Binding trilogy. Jack Alston, Lord Hawthorn, lost his magic and his twin sister in a dramatic betrayal years ago. Now, Jack is drawn back into the world of magic by a group of unlikely allies who are battling a conspiracy of power-hungry magicians. He's surprised and intrigued when Alan Ross, a... Read More

Amanda Leigh Cobb has plenty of opportunity to show a range of emotions in this audiobook. Oraya, as a child, was adopted by a vampire king and was taught to fear everyone except her father. She enters a legendary tournament, which is designed to have one survivor. Forced to form an alliance; she chooses her fiercest competitor, Raihn, a ruthless vampire who is a threat to her... Read More

Dele Ogundiran's immersive performance of this Niger-set fantasy captures both the nostalgia of coming of age and the awe of otherworldly exploration. Ejii Ugabe is equally horrified and enthralled when the Red Queen Jaa beheads the village chief--who is Ejii's father--in front of her. Freed from the patriarchal confines of her father's dictatorship, Ejii embarks on a quest to... Read More

Wil Wheaton narrates a hilarious send-up of villainy in contemporary culture. After he unexpectedly inherits his Uncle Jake's super-secret supervillain business, Charlie Fitzer's life changes in surprising ways. Wheaton captures the dread Charlie experiences as a Millennial who is divorced, underemployed, in an unstable housing situation, and rapidly approaching 40. Wheaton... Read More

Listeners enter a battle of good vs evil as Wardens and Angels confront demons of every stripe. The characters are performed by a full cast. The heroine is the highly trained, self-assured, but often bratty 18-year-old Trinity, who is portrayed in a bright, sharp voice by narrator Tanja Milojevic. Trinity lives among and is protected by the Wardens, shape-shifting, winged... Read More

In the 1970s and early 1980s, journeyman reporter Terry Pratchett, not yet knighted, was slowly and slyly discovering his renowned satirical style, fantastic fantasy worlds, and love of wordplay under the pseudonym Patrick Kearns. In this collection of 20 humorous newspaper columns, celebrated voice talents, friends, and collaborators bring Pratchett's early work to life.... Read More

Sharmila Devar and Pranshu Mishra tap into the emotional turmoil of a marriage on the rocks in a Hindu-inspired eco-fictional world in which humans fight for their lives amid devastating storms. As an archaeologist, Ahilya knows the importance of studying the remaining vestiges of human civilization. As a senior architect with the ability to control plants, her husband, Iravan,... Read More

Chris Ciulla performs a hilarious fantasy-adventure about a group of legendary warriors who reunite after a disastrous split. The Starbreakers are called back to duty after a prison break releases very bad criminals into the world. Ciulla delivers multiple accents and monstrous voices with gleeful skill, complementing the hilarity of the story. The larger-than-life characters... Read More

With enunciation so sharp it could carve a glass slipper, Zura Johnson deftly navigates the twists and turns of this fractured fairy tale based loosely upon "Cinderella." The story is told from the point of view of Ash, whom Johnson embodies with a posh British accent and an unassuming tone that shifts smoothly to biting wit. Johnson delivers an impressive array of male and... Read More

A full cast of talented narrators offers a rollicking rendition of Felicia Day's audio-only fantasy. Laurel always knew she was the Chosen One, fated to destroy the evil lord Tybus and save the magical realm. However, her plan to vanquish him was an epic failure, and now she is a pariah blamed for Tybus's victory and tyrannical rule. Everything changes when Kate, a Normie,... Read More

This audiobook has all the ingredients of an addictive fantasy: mysterious backstories, families torn apart by war, and true friendships that have stood the test of time. Elizabeth Knowelden's narration immerses listeners in a world of shadowy enemies, gods, and gifted chefs who use magical ingredients in food and wine to influence people. When Ada goes on the run from... Read More

Emily Woo Zeller's fierce narration perfectly suits this sweeping fantasy retelling of the Chinese classic "Water Margin." Lin Chong is a highly respected arms instructor for the Emperor's soldiers despite her gender. She's unwilling to challenge the sexism and corruption around her, but when her entire life and career are suddenly ripped away, she is recruited by the Bandits... Read More

Listeners will revel in Cassandra Medcalf's narration of this first novel in the Midlife Olympians series. A fortune teller named Lydia is experiencing an otherworldly midlife crisis. Her husband, a criminal, has just left her, and she's also found out that she is a true Oracle, a seer to the Olympian gods. She must now make her way to the west coast to claim her place, with... Read More