GILDED

Rebecca Soler brings this YA adaptation of Rumpelstiltskin to life. The world created is so vast and magical that only an exceptional narrator could handle its unique vocabulary and geographical jargon. In the wrong hands, this audiobook would feel exposition heavy, but with Soler at the wheel, it feels lived-in and real. Each new, strange event that unfolds slots right into the mythology of its world because Soler never comes across as scared or unnerved. Ghosts, demons, and ferocious devil dogs exist, and Soler says so with such authority that listeners believe her. Soler knows just when to accentuate certain words to pull on one's heartstrings. This audiobook demands to be binged, so listeners should block out some time once they hit play. A.R.F. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2021]