ENCHANTMENT

Sleeping Beauty? Yes, but she's a real princess in Eastern Europe in the ninth century. Growing up in the area, Ian first sees Katerina when he's 10 years old; later, as an adult, he comes back from America to visit relatives and sees her again--still sleeping in a chasm with a bear preventing her rescue. Rescue her he does, and when she takes him back to her time, he finds that the folk tales he has studied--and the magic in them--have a basis in fact. This compelling fantasy is made even richer by the evocative narration of Alyssa Bresnahan, who finds all the nuances in her vocal portraits of the characters. Her range, from deep and gravelly to light, and the various emotional shadings of the story are shown to their fullest advantage. A few abridgment glitches are minor annoyances. M.A.M. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC/JAN 01]