DARK WOODS, DEEP WATER

Charlie Sanderson and Barnaby Edwards narrate a debut fantasy steeped in Slavic folklore, weaving three stories into one tale. Elisya, a naïve noblewoman who is running from an undesirable marriage; Ida, a young woman doing what she must to survive; and Telani, an aged soldier on a mission, cross paths in a castle deep in the woods. The Goddess Morana rules the land, and the fates decide who may live and who will die. Sanderson, who voices Ida and Elisya, breathes life into the varied characters; the only fault is when her portrayal of Elisya veers into uneven pacing. Equally talented, Edwards, who performs the chapters from Telani's point of view, imbues his narration with the gruffness one would expect from a weary warrior. A.L.S.M. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2024]