AN ENCANTADORA'S GUIDE TO MONSTROS AND MAGIC

Accustomed to narrating Spanish-inflected audiobooks, narrator Frankie Corzo adds hints of Portuguese to this middle-grade fantasy. Rosa, 12, is a lowly trapper who hunts magical pests with her avó (grandmother), but she's secretly practicing to become a master of charmed locks like her vanished pai (father). When she poses as a keeper in order to audition with her best friend for an epic heist, both her skills and her friendship are tested. Sarah J. Mendonca's complicated worldbuilding threatens to overwhelm the story, but Corzo's characterizations keep listeners focused. Her evocation of Rosa is particularly nuanced, allowing listeners to understand the character's flaws while maintaining their sympathy. The cliffhanger ending will leave listeners wanting more. V.S. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2025]