VOICES Annals of the Western Shore, Book Two

This sequel to GIFTS doesn't receive its due in this uneven audiobook. Listeners will empathize with Memer's desire to free her besieged city, Ansul, from the barbaric Alds. As the storyteller, Orrec, reminds the people of Ansul of its sovereignty, Memer discovers her future as her people's oracle. But these momentous events fall flat because narrator Melanie Martinez's undifferentiated characters make it impossible to tell who is speaking. In addition, listeners will strain to understand the intricate political plot as Martinez struggles through dense passages without changes in pitch or pacing. The book's excellent reputation can't redeem this uninspired audio version. C.A. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 07]