OF FIRE AND STARS

Fans of romantic fantasy will enjoy the story but not necessarily the listening experience of this audiobook. Sadly, the sound editing of the narrators who use drastically different styles is not well done. Moira Quirk portrays Denna, a princess who is slated to marry Prince Thandilimon out of political obligation, in spite of her romantic feelings for his sister, Mare. As Denna, Quirk speaks loudly, with a cadence that fits her noble character. Saskia Maarleveld's portrayal of Mare's chapters also fits the character well; she gives Mare a quiet, raspy vocal quality that hints at how she feels like an outcast in her family. Maarleveld's narration is significantly quieter and faster than Quirk's. Listeners may be jarred by the sudden shifts in volume and speed from chapter to chapter. S.P. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2018]