THE PEARL HUNTER

Sura Siu narrates this fantasy featuring gods and creatures from Japanese religions and folklore. Pearl-diving twins Kai and Kisha become separated when a ghost whale swallows Kisha. The Dragon King befriends Kai and starts her on a supernatural quest to save her sister. Siu creates a pensive Zen mood with a slow, soft speech pattern. She individualizes the characters with attitude rather than distinct voices. Through words and tone, the listener hears that Kai is impulsive, brave, and proud. When she meets up with the mysteriously reserved bandit Ren, the listener will be swept away by the magic and adventure of an ancient Japanese fantasy world rooted in traditional stories. A map, list of sources, and glossary are downloadable. L.T. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2023]