ELLA, THE SLAYER Serenity House, Book 1

Here's a retelling of Cinderella--but set in a Downton-like abbey, with zombies! Narrator Gabrielle de Cuir's deep, smoky voice fits Ella's practicality, toughness, and good humor in the face of horror. And there is horror--for not only is Ella's father a shell-shocked veteran of WWI but also zombies (called "vermin") roam the British countryside. And Ella is adept at killing them. De Cuir portrays Ella's wicked stepmother as a velvety-smooth villain, while the stepsisters are daft twits with upper-class accents. Seth, the duke (think Prince Charming), sounds well bred and calm. De Cuir's excellent narration makes listening to this "fairy tale with a scary twist" a fun diversion. G.D. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2016]