The Wren in the Holly Library

Thirteen years ago, the monsters that only lived in imaginations emerged from the shadows. After a lengthy and deadly war, humans and monsters finally reached an uneasy peace. One of the rules of their treaty: Never go into the Holly library. Kierse, a gifted thief, is set to break the rule and the truce in one fell swoop. She unknowingly enters the home of a handsome monster named Graves. Instead of killing her, he hires her for a heist. Linde’s (“Wright” series) first installment in “The Oak and Holly Cycle” is set in an alternate New York City, where humans and monsters of all kinds maintain a fragile truce. The intricate story blends elements from fairy tales, romance, and fantasy, sweeping listeners up in Linde’s enchanting world and its well-developed characters. Stephanie Németh-Parker narrates, conveying the beauty and grit of this place with an array of skillfully crafted accents and dialects. Her narration contributes to the sumptuous atmosphere, captivating listeners with Kierse and Graves’s tense first meeting, their increasingly steamy relationship, and a cliffhanger ending.