THE BOOKSHOP BELOW

This moody, bookish fantasy centers on Cassandra Fairfax, a disgraced bookseller who is pulled back into a dangerous magical world when she unexpectedly inherits a sentient bookshop after her mentor's mysterious death. As rival booksellers, secret societies, and lethal ink magic close in, Cassandra must confront her past while protecting the fragile magic that binds the bookshops together. Gabrielle Nellis-Pain's narration elevates the listening experience. Her performance brings clarity and momentum to prose-heavy passages, giving Cassandra's story emotional weight. Nellis-Pain differentiates characters well, heightens tension, and supports the lyrical atmosphere without overdramatizing it. While the book's pace occasionally slows, the narration keeps the story immersive. [Published: JANUARY 2026]