STRANGE GRACE

Narrator Amy McFadden's throaty voice takes listeners to a town whose bargain with the local forest devil ensures health and prosperity. But every seven years, a young man must be sacrificed, sent into the devil's forest in order to uphold this bargain. Mairwen, a young witch; Rhun, the presumed next saint; and Arthur, a thorny outcast, are distinctly portrayed by McFadden. As the three attempt to understand their love for one another and the true nature of the devil's bargain, the timeline flashes back and forth in a style that builds suspense but is confusing on audio because it lacks clear transitions. McFadden is an expert at capturing vivid emotions--sharp anger, vicious scorn, breathy longing, trembling fear, and bubbling laughter all serve to bring the characters to life. H.C. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2019]