THE FOREST OF STARS

With a prolific catalog of audiobooks to her name, it is no surprise that narrator Fiona Hardingham's performance of this middle-grade fantasy is a delight to one's ears. After finding a ticket to the Carnival Beneath the Stars, recently orphaned Louisa, who harbors a magical secret, goes there in hopes of finding her father. A mystery ensues as the performers suspiciously begin to lose their powers. Hardingham pulls the listener into the carnival's fantastical world. Using textual cues, she provides the characters with unique voices that reflect their personalities. By infusing the story's wide range of emotions into her performance, Hardingham ensures the creation of a magical production well worth the listen. A.L.S.M. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2020]