THE PRIVILEGE OF THE SWORD

Neil Gaiman chose well to produce Ellen Kushner's high fantasy as an audiobook. An even smarter choice was casting Kushner to narrate most of it, specifically the chapters told from Catherine's point of view. In a world of political intrigue and devious nobles, the mad, debauched duke inexplicably persuades his niece to become his swordsman, not something Catherine's household training prepared her for. Kushner holds her own against the legendary Barbara Rosenblat, even if her ability to voice other characters doesn't compare to Rosenblat's skill. Oddly, the rest of the talented cast members are underused and inconsistent. Frequent use of sound effects, especially the jarring clash of swords during training scenes, is unnecessary. Yet the dual storytelling is just right for this adult fairy tale. M.M.O. 2013 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2012]