MASTER OF ONE

Rags is a thief who is conscripted by the queen's ruthless sorcerer to find a hidden treasure. What Rags discovers is more than he could have imagined, and thus begins a sprawling and violent fantasy adventure. Lisa Cordileone's narration is frustratingly inexpert, distracting from the story. Her character voices aren't always distinct, and her delivery lacks the nuance and believability that would help ground and engage listeners. As the cast of characters, including sentient fae relics, grows and grows and the world-building becomes more intricate, listeners may struggle to keep all of the players and story threads straight. A more skilled narration could have made the most of this intriguing fantasy on audio. J.M.D. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2021]