THE BEAST IS AN ANIMAL

Narrator Candace Thaxton's raspy timbre is perfect for Van Arsdale's spirited prose. With calm, measured pacing and a mix of brusqueness and warmth, Thaxton's delivery engages listeners with a complex and unnerving coming-of-age tale. Alys is a young woman with unusual powers. When all the adults in her home of Gwenith are killed, she makes her way to devout, fearful Defaid. Van Arsdale's compelling story examines superstition and magic, fear and hope, and the unlikely partnerships between strangers in frightening times. Thaxton's characterizations expertly reflect the resilience of Alys and her young friends, the casual malevolence of the devout villagers, and the humanity in beings that others regard only as monsters. Ideal for fans of suspense and folktales. K.S.B. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2017]