This dragon fantasy rife with political intrigue has three narrators. Christian Coulson portrays Leo, the last living member of the ousted ruling class, who is hiding in plain sight as Lee, a dragon rider who is competing for the coveted Firstrider position. Candice Moll voices Annie, another contender for Firstrider, whose family was murdered by Lee's father. Steve West's voice is stately and resonant as he delivers the flashback sequences that show Lee and Annie's shared childhood in an orphanage. Coulson's Lee and Moll's Annie are both very likable, and the narrators do an exceptional job expressing the characters' complex emotions as they begin to question the new meritocracy's harsh caste system. Moll also demonstrates her skill in the rich Scottish accents she gives characters from the Highlands.
(Fantasy.14-17)Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2019
Duration: 13 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593106013
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Original songs paired with a kaleidoscopic narrator make this satirical audiobook a winner.
This timely dystopian audiobook, narrated in an English accent by Hannah Berchtold, features original songs performed by four vocalists who lift the lyrics off the page. Starmaker, a popular reality TV competition, seeks talented singers and dancers to form their next all-girl idol group. But there’s a catch—each week, the contestant with the lowest rank faces public execution. Taryn sees the competition as the only opportunity to help her sick brother. Berchtold cycles through several world accents to portray the large and diverse cast of characters, as well as delivering show promos, social media posts, and gossipy articles about the contestants.
Original songs paired with a kaleidoscopic narrator make this satirical audiobook a winner. (Dystopian. 14-18)Pub Date: Aug. 4, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 48 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668186794
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 29, 2026
Boyle's emotional performance immerses listeners in this world of war and ever flowing water.
Rafe and Jule were destined to kill each other in battle, as their warring factions—the Rogues and the Crowns—have fought over a flooded London for centuries. However, fate has other plans for them. Zoe Boyle brings these characters—and the London of 2425—to life. Her enthusiastic narration perfectly depicts the circumstances that befall them. Boyle imitates the sound of whizzing arrows, the crack of a discharging rifle, the heaving breaths of a desperate swimmer, and more. Her voice cracks after heartbreaking deaths, and it soars when the characters experience love.
Boyle's emotional performance immerses listeners in this world of war and ever flowing water. (Dystopian. 13-18)Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 41 mins
DD ISBN: 9798225035815
Publisher: Scholastic Audio
Review Posted Online: April 28, 2026
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