THE FOREVER SEA

Narrator Belinda Fenty performs the majority of this eco-fantasy, set in a world in which boats sail on the surface of a deep ocean made of a vast plain of prairie grasses. Leo Wringer narrates the frame story, which adds context to the main adventure. Fenty’s soft, careful delivery, with its poetic cadence, creates a dreamlike atmosphere for Kindred’s dual goals of keeping her captain’s boat sailing true and finding out why her grandmother committed suicide by jumping into the ocean’s grassy depths. Wringer creates distinct, dramatic voices for the sections focused on the elderly traveling storyteller who is making sure Kindred’s legend is not forgotten. But, overall, the combination of a loose plot, Fenty’s unvaried delivery, and Wringer’s sometimes over-the-top characterizations makes for a challenging listening experience. C.B.L. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2021]