Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

The Voice, the Revolution and the Key by Jenny L. Cote is a Christian action and speculative fiction children's book and the fifth in Cote's The Epic Order of the Seven series. This review is of the audiobook as narrated by Denny Brownlee. The Order of Seven is a group of animals tasked with missions that defy time, space, and mortality, each one individual in their skillset and backstory. Liz is a sleek black cat with an incredible intellect and dripping with the sophistication one would expect from her native France, whereas the orange Irish cat who loves her, Al, has qualities not quite so visible to those who do not know him. Kate and Max are terriers from Scotland, and Nigel is a British mouse with highly polished deportment and is an academic to boot. Gillamon and Claire round out the group with spiritual guidance, presenting themselves how and when they are most needed.

The Voice, the Revolution and the Key is my first introduction to The Epic Order of Seven, and I feel like I've missed out on something by only discovering the work of Jenny L. Cote now. I am a British reader with the unique pleasure of having an American wife. We live in London and—I kid you not—within a mile of where Benjamin Franklin lived for 17 years. This book is really pleasant to listen to and creative to the extent where, as a grown man, I was able to quickly get on board with time-traveling animals who have seen it all, including their experiences during the time of Noah. Yes, that Noah. This is a Christian-themed series and the religious incantations are frequent and direct, as are conversations like the one Gillamon and Claire have as they reminisce over St. Andrew and his martyrdom as a true follower of Christ. These tie in with the foundation of American history as it is told through the experiences of The Order, and for me, meeting the Founding Fathers as children was an absolute treat! The assignments of each in The Order are critical in their roles of shaping them into the adults that will ultimately fulfill their destiny. Cote casts the net deep and wide here, and this is where the necessity of a novel that flirts with 800 pages has to be. The measured pacing of a book this size promises character development and equal billing to each protagonist, and Cote delivers.

As for the audio narrator Denny Brownlee, the projection of words and the clarity of speech are of a very high standard. There is an enthusiasm in his voice that is almost palpable. I have no doubt whatsoever that children listening will be as entertained by the reading as they are by the story itself. The voice of each character is projected as strong, distinct, and energetic, even if to the adult British ear the accents are more parody than precision. The benefit of audio is that it can be listened to while one is stuck in traffic or pretending to exercise on a treadmill, and I look forward to going back in time myself to “read” the first four books in the series.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

The Reflections of Queen Snow White by David Meredith is a look into the life of Snow White after her Happily Ever After. With Prince Charming dead, Snow White has lost the love of her life and she finds no solace in anything. Now ruling the kingdom as the Queen, even the wedding of her daughter isn’t enough to make her feel happy. Lost and depressed, Snow White comes across the mirror on the wall that was a sort of companion to her wretched stepmother. Is it possible that the mirror once at the center of her misery is capable of bringing her solace when she feels at her worst? However, the mirror proves to be exactly what she needs to feel like herself and remember what it is like to be the fairest of them all.

Narrator Robin Waters did a wonderful job of bringing Snow White to life, sharing her emotions, and making her human. The way Robin expresses and enunciates each word brings life to the story, makes the reader get lost in it, and become a part of it. Robin allows the reader to feel each part of the story as if it was a movie playing right in front of their eyes and that is amazing. The prose is wonderful and makes this story more interesting. The author weaves magic and somehow makes Snow White a relatable character. Snow White is deceptively human, much like an ordinary woman and not the little girl who got her Happily Ever After. She is now smarter, jaded, and in need of anyone to help her get a hold on life. The mirror on the wall and the “reflections” it gives Snow White make the story interesting and very intriguing, to be honest. It is genius and very creative. David Meredith nails it!

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Challenges of the Gods is a work of fiction in the fantasy and alternate universe sub-genres, penned by author Christian Hofsetz and narrated in its audiobook format by Alfred Tam. The central action of the novel is focused on Mike, who finds himself randomly chosen for a daunting task: to destroy an entire parallel version of Earth. Mike has plenty of his own personal issues going on after he is betrayed terribly by his fiancée, and waking up in another world does little to assuage his confusion. But if Mike finds that he is not up to or is resistant to the task, then the gods themselves will take matters into their own hands.

Author Christian Hofsetz has created a compelling interpersonal drama that works on the character level, then extends into a worldwide catastrophe adventure as it develops and builds to its excellent climax. Slow-burning at first, the plot is well crafted to reveal the fantasy elements alongside the grounded realism of the protagonist, making it all feel extremely real and high-stakes, which makes for a fantastic adventure throughout. In terms of audiobook quality, narrator Alfred Tam lends a lot of characterful touches to the work which really enhance the unique personalities not just of Mike, but of the people he meets along the way in his mission. Tam’s female voices were well achieved with plenty of inflection, and his males were all very distinct from the narrative itself. The editing quality was also crisp and clear for easy listening. Overall, I would certainly recommend Challenges of the Gods in its audio format for readers who want a slow-burning and engrossing parallel universe adventure. This is a tale not to be missed.

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Madness: The Man Who Changed Basketball by Mike DeLucia is a story that will have many people who listen to it as stunned as I was; it is the story of basketball legend and innovator, Hank Luisetti. This audiobook narrates the story of a man who brought about the revolution in basketball in the 1930s. Before then, the one-handed shot was non-existent in basketball until this legend made it popular. He is said to have been an incredible player with an incredible jump. This nonfiction book explores the life of this exceptional sportsman and the reason why he never became a celebrated name on the lips of sports fans. Paid $10,000 in 1938 to star in a movie about himself, he was suspended from joining the leagues at this time. But the real impediment that kept him in the shadows came when he joined his country to fight in WWII, where he contracted Spiral Meningitis and nearly died. When the NBA was formed, he refused to play professionally.

This book introduces readers to one of the basketball legends they will love. Readers will learn about his style of play, and the influence and changes that happened to the game because of his influence. I have known of many basketball legends, including Michael Jordan, Jerry West, Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Larry Bird, and others, but not Hank Luisetti. This is a well-researched book and I enjoyed how the author allows the culture and the political atmosphere of the time to come out in the narrative. Madness: The Man Who Changed Basketball offers great material for the big screen. This is a story for every fan of basketball and a great tribute to a great sportsman.

The audio is clear and professionally recorded. Readers will enjoy hearing about the life of the protagonist. The excellent narration by the author begins with the research, his dreams, and how he tackled the idea of writing about this pioneer player and the role he played in basketball history and evolution. It is an engaging story and filled with entertainment and information that readers will enjoy.

Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

The earth's first space launch goes awry, wreaking devastation upon the planet in the exhilarating alternate history novel, The Luna Missile Crisis, written by Rhett C. Bruno and Jaime Castle and narrated by Ray Porter. It's 1961. The Soviets are the first to send a man into space. Tragically, as their rocket exits the atmosphere, it crashes into an alien ship and explodes. Mistakenly believing the United States is responsible, the Soviet government dispatches its nuclear arsenal. The missiles malfunction and decimate a considerable portion of Eastern Europe, creating the Dead Curtain. Stationed within the Dead Curtain a month after the "misunderstanding," combat medic Sergeant Kyle McCoy makes contact with an extraterrestrial visitor, a Vulbathi. Three years later, he is working for the newly instated Department of Alien Relations. Kyle's identical twin Connor is a grifter selling counterfeit Vulbathi weapons. When a deal goes awry, Conner finds himself on a powerful mobster's hit list. Dodging the homicidal gangster, Connor steals Kyle's DAR identity. Posing as his twin, Connor is inadvertently sent to the moon, now known as Luna, to attend the World Summit...

The Luna Missle Crisis does not disappoint. The story is expertly narrated and performed by Ray Porter. I especially enjoyed his Christopher Walken impression of the mobster. I appreciated his acting style in general and was exceptionally impressed with his ability to delineate the characters. With accents and subtle vocal changes, his personification of the characters made them remarkably real. The Luna Missile Crisis by Rhett C. Bruno and Jaime Castle is a stellar science fiction tale. Set in an alternate parallel world, the plot is intense and complex. Plentiful in action and danger, the story moves along at a breathtaking pace, culminating in a dramatic ending. Caught up in their conflicts, I found Connor's and the alien's personas disarming. The story comes to an exciting, albeit an abrupt close, leaving me anxiously waiting for a sequel. This extraordinary novel will appeal to those who enjoy science fiction with extraterrestrial elements.

Reviewed by Bruce Arrington for Readers' Favorite

Alexander X, written by Edward Savio and narrated by Wil Wheaton, is a story that explores the possibility of genetic mutation. And by this, I don’t mean something that causes a disease or somehow weakens the human body. It is a gene that slows aging to a level where, instead of you becoming older a day at a time like everyone else, you don’t. In fact, it takes 100 Earth days to age only 1 day in your human body. No superpowers. No exceptional abilities, except for what is learned through life. Does that grab your attention? It should, and this story certainly grabbed mine. It’s a story about Alexander and two of his friends, who set out on a whirlwind adventure of just trying not to be caught. It’s not by the government or any other recognized authority. Instead, we learn there are others out there besides Alexander, and not all of them are good.

And of course, Wil Wheaton certainly makes the story come alive. His acting experience shines in Alexander X, making him the perfect narrator. His voice is clear, he’s funny, his emotion pours into his performance—from the very first word to the last sentence. You are left hanging, wanting to hear more. Alexander X by Edward Savio is about friendship, honor, family, and life in the here and now. But it also takes you into the past where you can experience a life lived through someone else’s eyes, and who is still around to talk about it. And yeah, he’s still only 15. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Bruce Arrington for Readers' Favorite

The Proto Project: A Sci-Fi Adventure of the Mind by Bryan R. Johnson is a fun action-adventure story. Jason’s mom works for a high-tech company, and one day his school takes a tour. From then on, it’s one action-packed scene after another. It’s a clean story, too, entirely appropriate for this age group—say from grade 4 on up. I reviewed the audiobook version over several days while riding my bike, and it was a great experience. The narrator, Michael Mola, is clever, quick, and excels in his voices, adding a lot of humor to the story. He brings the listener along in an entertaining way, keeping them engaged from the first chapter to the last.

The story itself runs along the common theme of the good guys get ripped off by the bad guys, who plan to conquer the world. It also throws in a bit of budding romance between two twelve-year-olds, and all the awkwardness and humor to go along with it. I appreciated the story having two parents, while the kids can still save the world. There is a hint of a sequel, so there may be more exploits in the future. This is certainly a great read (or listen) for the summer months while the kids are out of school. The Proto Project: A Sci-Fi Adventure of the Mind by Bryan R. Johnson brings a fun experience to young readers, who will certainly enjoy this story. Even adults can sit back, relax, and take in this humorous tale. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

Code 7: Cracking the Code for an Epic Life by Bryan R. Johnson is a book for young readers with powerful lessons. It features stories of seven students at Flint Elementary School and explores very relevant themes, including creativity, teamwork, friendship, bullying, adventure, and the importance of contributing to their society, of being valued, and the sense of belonging. We encounter a wide cast of characters that are elaborately developed: Jefferson, Sebastian, Genevieve, Talmage, Samantha, Alec, and Kaitlyn. The book starts with the story of Jefferson Johnson, a natural painter, who creates a beautiful mural to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the school, with a grand opening in the presence of the townsfolk, including the mayor. Each chapter has a story of each of the characters and the last chapter brings all of them together.

This is a book with great lessons for young readers and most grownups will feel strong resonances as they move from one story to the next and from one character to the next. The plot in each story is ingeniously done and each story has its climax and a satisfactory conclusion. Character handling is impeccable and the writing is tight and suitable for young readers. From the thematic development to the realism infused into the stories, Code 7: Cracking the Code for an Epic Life is a work that is exciting and that engages the reader right away.

The narrator did an awesome job and the audio doesn’t fail to capture the excitement of the story, the strong drama, and the humor that sets it apart. The male voice is strong and compelling, adjusting to the characters and the different situations. Bryan R. Johnson is one of my favorite children's authors and I loved how real the stories are as well as their educational benefit.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

The Ark, the Reed, and the Fire Cloud: The Amazing Tales of Max and Liz, Book One by Jenny L. Cote is the retelling of the biblical story of Noah’s Ark, but from the point of view of the animals. Max is a Scottish terrier who was just following his daily routine when he hears a voice telling him to follow the fire cloud. Curious, he follows the voice only to find that he was not the only who was being summoned. On his way, he meets with Liz, Kate, Al and many other animals who travel through countries to find themselves in front of the ark. Now they have to get on the ark, brave the oncoming flood and survive. But things are not easy, especially when you consider there are many different species inside one huge boat. There is also something very sinister happening that no one can explain. It is up to Max and his set of friends to find out what is happening and if they can stop it before time runs out.

Denny Brownlee did an excellent job at not only narrating a story that most adults have heard at least once in their lives but also making it exceptionally entertaining for young children. His voice conveys emotions so clearly that you don’t have to try hard to become invested in the story. From simply reading the narrative or giving life to the dialogues, he ensures that his reader is not going anywhere until he is done.

The story itself is very well-written. It is educational, very informative and a great way to teach biblical stories to young children. The author did a wonderful job of making the story adventurous and entertaining. The pace was wonderful, the characters very well-written and given ample time to develop. The author gives lessons of having faith in God yet working hard in a subtle yet very impressive manner. Max is a very good protagonist; he is firm, intelligent, ready to help others and always there to help his friends. His friendship with Liz and the way he treated other animals was a great experience. I enjoyed this book and I hope the author has another one like this to share with us soon.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Behind Barbed Eyes is a work of suspenseful crime fiction penned by author Davina Kotulski, and narrated in its audiobook format by Emily Kleimo. The story follows criminal Bonnie Maldonado and her relationship with prison psychologist Dr. Victoria Thomas through a fascinating unpicking of the human psyche as they try to get to the root and the darkest secrets of why Bonnie does what she does. Portraying the harrowing life of women incarcerated and punished for their crimes, both psychologist and prisoner explore their own perceptions of right and wrong, and the world in general, to reach a breakthrough together.

Author Davina Kotulski weaves an authentic and realistic narrative of the lives of two women connecting deeply with one another from opposite sides of the bars. The prison regime is realistically and atmospherically portrayed with great attention to detail, and Victoria is at first presented with all the clinical precision one would expect. Bonnie comes in the opposite package, impassioned and wild, and together they tease out new and hidden qualities in the other which make the story exciting and powerful.

In terms of audiobook narration, I found narrator Emily Kleimo to be clear and concise in her reading, though not fully transformative of her voice to distinguish the characters. That said, the pacing really helps to build suspense and excitement in the most pivotal scenes, and the more emotionally sensitive moments were read with great compassion. The editing was also very clean, making Behind Barbed Eyes an excellent listening experience overall.