LEGENDS OF THE SKY

Narrator Amy Shiels's light Irish brogue is spellbinding in a performance that captures the wonder of 12-year-old Milla, who goes from servant girl to dragon rider in this middle-grade fantasy. Orphaned Milla is elevated to the level of her wealthy friends when long-lost dragons return to the island of Arcosi and bond with her. Class and immigration struggles are close behind the dragons as the focus of the story, told accessibly enough for the target age but with plot and character arcs that seem beyond it. Shiels's even delivery is sometimes too calm for the action and emotion of the moment. Shortcomings aside, author and narrator serve up characters listeners will want to stick with. S.T.C. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2019]