THE WINTER DUKE

The frozen kingdom of Kylma Above and the dark watery realm of Kylma Below maintain a precarious alliance fueled by magic. Chloe Cannon provides an immersive performance of this fantasy. Ekata, middle child of the Grand Duke above, is thrust from her scientific studies onto her father's throne after her autocratic family's sudden, mysterious illness. Cannon varies tone and pacing to reveal the young woman's combination of keen intelligence, humor, and uncertainty as she adjusts to being the new ruler. Beset by ministry demands and her overbearing foster brother, King Sigis, who is portrayed with haughty inflections, Ekata develops an improbable union and irresistible chemistry with her new bride. As the tangle of political machinations unfolds between denizens above and below, a sense of urgency emerges from Ekata, compelling listeners to find out what happens. J.R.T. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2020]