RAVEN'S GATE

Narrator Simon Prebble gives a serviceable reading of this first volume in a planned series. When orphaned teenager Matt finds himself in trouble, he's placed in a foster care program designed to get delinquents away from London's bad influences. Prebble uses subtle shifts to build both the listener's empathy for Matt and distrust of his new guardian, the elderly Mrs. Deverill, as Matt becomes aware of alarming events around him. Prebble helps maintain the story's credibility as the situations Matt finds himself in go from bad to worse, until Matt learns that the fate of the world rests in his hands. While this isn't top-shelf material, it will find a ready audience among fantasy enthusiasts. A.F. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 06]