In a breathy voice full of wonder, Elizabeth Knowelden narrates this supernatural tale of historical fiction. After Alyce’s mother is burned at the stake for practicing witchcraft, Alyce is left to seek out a man named John Dee. A chance encounter introduces her to Solomon, an actor whose own mother was accused of witchcraft. Actual historical figures and places, including Mary Queen of Scots, Bedlam asylum, and Elizabeth I, play significant roles in the story. Knowelden’s shifts in pitch engage the listener while mirroring the ups and downs of Alyce’s quest. A few genuinely surprising twists contribute to the climax. The final scenes are open ended and leave ample room for a sequel. S.P. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
You might think publishing would slow its roll for the end of the month, but instead, today is a crash landing of heaps of the year’s best and most nuanced fantasy and horror. What better way could there be to ring in the autumn than with deadly falcon masters, necromancers, and nightmares? Settle in for […]
Walk through a book that feels like a ballad, return to the word-drunk world of Weep, discover new tales set in beloved fantasy realms, and dive into retellings that feel completely new. These are the fantasy books we’ll be building cottages in the woods out of this late summer and beyond, to lure in readers […]