★Clarke, August. Metal from Heaven. Recorded Books. Oct. 2024. 14:51 hrs. ISBN 9798892737548. $24.99. FANTASY

A YA author (author of The Scapegracers as H.A. Clarke) steps into adult literature with this bombastic, ambitious novel. Set in a fantasy empire that takes inspiration from the desperate work conditions of the early industrial revolution, the book follows Marney, an orphan cast into the world after the violent suppression of her working-class family. Marney must learn to survive by allying herself with a band of outlaws, all while mastering her “luster-touched” magic—a mysterious side effect from her labor in the factories; it is equal parts curse and gift. The action scenes burst off the page, and the romance will set every heart aflutter, thanks to Clarke’s excellent sense for evocative language. Vico Ortiz’s narration is outstanding. Listeners will be invested in Marney from the first sentence, thanks to Ortiz’s perfectly tailored voice, and each subsequent character is injected with life and depth of their own. From despondent and hollow-voiced depression to soaring passions of love and anger, Ortiz adds even more to Clarke’s richly described world. VERDICT A strong entry from Clarke with a superb narrator in Ortiz makes this a highly recommended choice for any audiobook collection, especially where high-octane fantasy tales are popular.—Collin Stephenson

★Clarke, Susanna. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell: 20th Anniversary Edition. Macmillan Audio. Oct. 2024. 36:14 hrs. ISBN 9781250384867. $49.99. FANTASY

When two men vie to be England’s greatest magician, there will be casualties—and footnotes. Fans of V.E. Schwab will love her whimsical introduction to this 20th-anniversary recording. She recounts her inescapable love of Clarke’s weighty tome before Richard Armitage takes over the narrating duties to reinterpret this beloved story. The actor is well known for his rich voice and has a talent for accents that he employs to great effect. More important, he instills Mr. Norrell’s voice with an undercurrent of shaky timidity and Jonathan Strange’s with a booming, indifferent self-assurance that highlights the caution-versus-pride conflict that tears the two apart. Armitage also noticeably changes his delivery when he reads the numerous footnotes, giving them a scholarly air. New listeners are in for a treat as they meet the deeply flawed protagonists who manage to be lovable despite how irritating they often are. Anyone with experience in academia will recognize the clash of opposing theories that somehow tends to neglect real-world ramifications. VERDICT Armitage’s ability to manifest Clarke’s (Piranesi) subtle ridicule of her characters makes this faux-scholarly fantasy a joyful and comforting listen.—Matthew Galloway

★Sanderson, Brandon. Wind and Truth. Macmillan Audio. (The Stormlight Archive, Bk. 5). Dec. 2024. 62:48 hrs. ISBN 9781250368287. $49.99. FANTASY

Sanderson further cements his place in the fantasy canon with this fifth installment in the “The Stormlight Archive” (after Rhythm of War). In tandem with frequent audio collaborators Michael Kramer and Kate Reading, Sanderson closes out the first of two arcs of the series with a bang. Kaladin and Szeth travel to the yet unseen Shinovar in a bid to aid the ailing Herald Ishar; Adolin, Jasnah, and Sigzil each depart for different kingdoms to protect the alliance’s strongholds; Shallan and Renarin seek to uncover the mystery of the lost god Ba-Ado-Mishram; and Dalinar and Navani work to determine how a man could defeat a god before the contest of champions arrives in 10 days. Kramer and Reading continue an excellent partnership as narrators, imbuing each character with distinct, complementary voices regardless of which reader is narrating. Though the plot sometimes bows under the weight of the audio’s prodigious 63-hour run time, the novel resolves many long-withheld mysteries, rewarding dedicated fans and enticing new fans to read the rest of Sanderson’s Cosmere books. VERDICT This book will find a listenership anywhere fantasy is popular and, of course, anywhere the rest of the series has connected with its audience.—Collin Stephenson

★Tchaikovsky, Adrian. Spiderlight. Macmillan Audio. Oct. 2024. 8:26 hrs. ISBN 9781250388384. $26.99. FANTASY

This new recording of Tchaikovsky’s 2016 novel proves that the author’s interest in spiders is not limited to his beloved “Children of Time” series. An adventuring party embarks on a quest to destroy Darvezian, the Dark Lord. After subduing a nest of giant spiders, the mother spider provides them with a spider guide called Nth. Perhaps not surprisingly, giant spiders are not considered paragons of virtue—even when the group’s mage transforms Nth into Enth, a vaguely human figure (minus his multiple eyes and fanged head). Tchaikovsky quickly blurs the lines as he explores ethics and morality throughout the novel’s generally straightforward questing plot. He narrates this audio edition himself, demonstrating a talent for a wide range of accents and emotions. Listeners quickly come to know each character, even if they may not love them all. Tchaikovsky nimbly takes the narration from horrific to humorous to epic and back again. It’s a treat to hear him pronounce the intricate fantasy names his readers might gloss over in print. VERDICT A nuanced fantasy exploration that is both thought-provoking and loads of fun.—Matthew Galloway