THE LADY ALCHEMIST

Narrator Hallie Ricardo shines in this debut YA fantasy about a land torn between magic and alchemy. This Rumplestiltskin retelling with a twist follows the story of Sephia, a gifted alchemist who is forced to make a dangerous deal with a magician. She has one year to alchemically create a body for the magician, or he will take her first- born child. Sephia's transformation throughout this fantasy is made even more believable by Ricardo's character differentiation and clear vocal tones. Her narration is well developed, and she shifts easily between the complex characters and the narrative. Listeners will enjoy Ricardo's ability to maintain an engaging and smooth vocal tone throughout this novel. M.L.S. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2020]