ENCHANTED GLASS

Steven Crossley’s narration makes Melstone House, with its enchanted glass, a place the listener wants to visit—and stay. Andrew Hope, a former university instructor who inherits the house from his grandfather, feels welcome, as does 16-year-old Aidan Cain, who is fleeing shadowy stalkers. Plot driven? No. Character rich? Yes, and Crossley nails each one in spite of village dwellers with only one surname and their fairy counterparts, both challenges in audio. Confusion reigns as the plot builds, but listeners are sure of the characters’ identities. Crossley uses pauses to navigate the magical geography and employs pacing judiciously as the author builds her complex world. M.C.T. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2011]