DIAMOND FIRE Hidden Legacy, Book 3.5

Narrator Renee Raudman delivers this audiobook's 30-minute prologue, and Emily Rankin picks up the story thereafter. Prime magic users Nevada and Connor are planning their wedding; Nevada's sister, Catalina, will manage security for the event. Raudman's signature scratchy timbre and her unforgettable tone for Connor are audio nirvana. In contrast, Rankin provides a quieter, controlled portrayal of teenage Catalina. Rankin's voices for Catalina's young cousins and siblings are realistic, but her delivery of Spanish names and phrases could be more fluid. Most noticeable is the contrast between Rankin's plain voice for Connor and Raudman's larger-than-life characterization. Rankin delivers the rehearsal dinner revelations with appropriate drama and makes listeners sympathetic to Catalina's heartache, but listeners will wish Raudman had narrated all of the audiobook. C.A. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2021]