HE WHO DROWNED THE WORLD The Radiant Emperor Duology, Book 2

Natalie Naudus narrates the conclusion to The Radiant Emperor Duology. A fierce power struggle is underway to reign as emperor in this retelling of the Ming dynasty's rise to power and wresting of control from the Mongols. Naudus is an admirable guide through a complicated plot with multiple points of view. The characters include a collection of cruel and manipulative people, including a eunuch general, a number of nonbinary individuals, a son seeking vengeance, and a woman who is trying to seize the throne for her husband. Naudus makes them all distinct. She illuminates the few tender moments amid the overall violence and sets a quick, smooth pace that never lags. J.E.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2023]