MONSTROUS AFFECTIONS An Anthology of Beastly Tales

Although there are a plethora of characters in the 15 short stories that make up this audiobook, narrators Amy Rubinate and Nick Podehl seem to thrive on the challenge of coming up with all new voices--monstrous and human--for each story. This collection contains the usual gruesome suspects like vampires and ghosts, plus esoteric monsters such as kraken and living landforms. Love, loneliness, and ethical behavior are all showcased in these tales. Rubinate's breathy, raspy narration conveys the sadness and otherworldliness of the monsters and the people they interact with. Podehl's boyish speaking voice belies his ability to create harsh old men, middle-class moms, and terrifying monsters. These two talented performers make these extraordinary tales alien, strange, and moving. G.D. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2014]