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Fragile Things: Stories Fictions and Wonders by Neil Gaiman
Read by: Neil Gaiman
Short Review: A solid book of short stories read beautifully by the author.
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Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer (Twilight Saga, Book 3)
Eclipse (Twilight Saga, Book 3)
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Reader: Ilyana Kadushin and Matt WaltersShort Review: Meyer gets better with each book. With this book, she has found a good rhythm. The quieter bits of this story have a stronger voice than those in the first 2 books of the saga. Book 3 digs deeply into Bella’s relationships and finally starts to ask the question of “Why?”. We still get good action scenes (because there is always action in a world that has vampires and werewolves) – but we also see Bella make conscious choices with an eye to the consequences in her future.
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Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn
Across the Nightingale Floor (Tales of the Otori, Book 1) Author: Lian Hearn Readers: Kevin Gray and Aiko Nakasone Short Review: Look Mom—I’m panning a well-loved book! A fantasy/faux history of feudal Japan read by two readers—one of whom can’t be bothered to pronounce the name of a main character correctly. The characters aren’t particularly […]
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New Moon by Stephenie Meyer (Twilight Saga, Book 2)
Reader: Ilyana Kadushin
Short Review: The good: a fresh and creative version of vampire and werewolf legends with characters you care about and great action scenes. The less good: lots and lots of Bella’s internal angst-ridden dialogue (not that there is anything wrong with that, if you have a taste for that sort of thing).
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A Hat Full of Sky: The Continuing Adventures of Tiffany Aching and The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett
Reader: Stephen Briggs
Short Review: If you loved Wee Free Men, you will love Hat Full of Sky. Same great reader – same fun mix of humor, youth, adventure and self-discovery. Tiffany Aching is now 11 and training with a mountain witch. She finds herself faced with a new opponent called a Hiver. It takes all her strength of will (plus the help of the Nac Mac Feegle and a number of other witches) to make it to the end of this entertaining story.
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The Wee Free Men: A Story of Discworld by Terry Pratchett
Reader: Stephen Briggs
Short Review: Fabulous and laugh-out-loud funny. Tiffany Aching, 9 year old witch-in-training, takes us on a wild ride to fairyland to rescue her baby brother and save the world from the evil queen. She has the help of the Nac Mac Feegle who happen to be 6 inch tall, fearless, phenomenally strong, kilt-wearing, blue-skinned, red-haired little men who speak with a strong Scottish brogue and are prone to thieving, drinking and fighting. Stephen Briggs reads this brilliantly. It is Terry Pratchett and Discworld at their best.
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Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1)
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Reader: Ilyana Kadushin
Short Review: One 17 year old girl who always felt different (and is a klutz to the extreme) crosses paths with a family of exquisite vampires. Romance and intrigue ensues. It grew on me, but it took a while.
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Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper (The Dark Is Rising Sequence)
The Dark Is Rising Sequence, Book One: Over Sea, Under Stone (The Dark Is Rising Sequence)
Author: Susan Cooper
Reader: Alex Jennings
Short Review: This timeless story will spirit you away to a summer in Cornwall to join Simon, Jane, and Barney on a great and noble quest. Alex Jennings creates distinct voices for all the characters (especially for the three children) – and knits together a magical world for your enjoyment.
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Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell: A Novel Author: Susanna Clarke Reader: Simon Prebble Short Review: A gorgeously read version of a Hugo Award winning modern epic I absolutely love. Clarke’s novel is part Harry Potter, part Tolkein, part comedy of manners, and part historical fiction of the Napoleonic Wars. It’s long, detailed, engaging, and by […]
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The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
Author: Shannon Hale
Reader: Full Cast Audio
Short Review: A magical fairy tale brought to life by an amazing cast of readers. This modern retelling of a Grimm’s tale follows Ani, Princess of Kildenree, as she finds her own inner strength and true path in life. It is officially listed for Grades 6-9, but I am here to tell you that it is a fine choice for any adult interested in getting swept along by a well told tale of magic and strength.
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The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
Short Review: The third and final book in a wonderful trilogy, well-read by the author and a full cast.
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The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Reader: Lloyd James
Short Review: Amazing storyteller + multiple fabulous characters + a rollicking fantasy adventure + the perfect voice to pull it all together = one darn good fantasy audio book experience.
