THE TANGLEROOT PALACE Stories

Catherine Ho narrates a collection of dark fairy tales featuring witches, warriors, princesses, and more. Most of the stories in this collection lean into the darker and creepier side of Liu's aesthetic, which Ho excels at. Standouts include "Sympathy for the Bones," in which Ho digs into the bitter desperation of a young woman who refuses to succumb to it; "The Last Dignity of Man," a disturbing twist on the Lex Luthor mythos that allows Ho to explore identity; and the title novella, which is a fairy tale about a runaway princess that allows Ho to voice both a menacing enchantress and a plucky heroine. As with any collection of shorter works, some are stronger than others, but Ho's performance remains outstanding throughout. K.M.P. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2021]