Book description
A Dark and Hollow Star Review
Ashley Shuttleworth delivers a refreshing urban fantasy that breathes new life into the faerie genre. Set against the backdrop of Toronto's magical underworld, this audiobook follows four distinct narrators whose voices blend seamlessly in the audio format.
The story's strength lies in its character-driven approach. Each protagonist brings unique perspective and motivation to the investigation of ritualistic murders threatening to expose faerie existence to humans. Shuttleworth's background in English Literature and classical history enriches the world-building, creating a mythology that feels both familiar and innovative.
What sets this debut apart is its unapologetic queerness and the authentic way each character's identity integrates naturally into the plot rather than serving as mere tokenism. The audio format particularly benefits from the distinct vocal performances that help differentiate between the multiple POVs.
The pacing maintains tension throughout, balancing mystery elements with political intrigue between the Eight Courts of Folk and the brewing war between mortal and immortal realms. While the premise initially echoes works like The Cruel Prince and City of Bones, Shuttleworth's voice emerges distinctly through sharp dialogue and morally complex characters who operate in compelling gray areas.
The audiobook's production quality supports the narrative well, with sound design that enhances rather than overwhelms the listening experience. This is urban fantasy that respects its audience's intelligence while delivering the escapism fans of the genre crave.
A promising start to what appears will be an engaging series.
Black Fantastic
Audiobooks made accessible – this app's ease of use is a true blessing. ListenBook is the ultimate audiobook player. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history feature—it’s so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app! I love how ListenBook makes it easy to organize my audiobook library. The app supports all formats, and the import process is a breeze. The playback controls are responsive, and the sound quality is excellent. Highly recommend! This was a competent audiobook production with no major flaws. The narrator's voice was pleasant enough and the audio quality was acceptable, though not exceptional. While the performance didn't particularly stand out, it served its purpose adequately for my daily commute.
Valley Guardian
Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro is a fun and unique feature I can't get enough of. Audiobooks made simple – this app's functionality is a breath of fresh air. Say goodbye to monotony – this app's diverse format support and intuitive controls have turned my daily activities into thrilling audiobook adventures. 📱🔊 ListenBook's sharing options make it a breeze to connect with fellow audiobook enthusiasts and share recommendations.
IdeaAlchemy
I can't believe how much I've learned and enjoyed through this app's audiobooks. 📱 An app that truly understands audiobook enthusiasts – it's all about functionality, and this app nails it! 📚💡
CloudFrenzy
This app is a blessing for those with busy schedules – it's like time travel through stories. ListenBook has become my go-to workout companion. It keeps me motivated and entertained. The app is so well-designed. It’s clear the developers put a lot of thought into it.
RealmRanger
I've become so much more productive while cleaning or exercising – thanks to this app! I can't get enough of this app's intuitive controls – it's the perfect way to indulge in audiobooks. Effortlessly switching between stories – this app's ease of use is impressive. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a thoughtful and enjoyable way to share my favorite stories with friends and introduce them to new worlds of literature. ListenBook has completely changed how I enjoy audiobooks. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate. Five stars!
Little Cobra
Every moment is an adventure with this app by my side. Its intuitive features and diverse format support ensure that my audiobook journey is seamless and exciting. 🌌🎧 ListenBook's interface is not just aesthetically pleasing; it's also highly functional. Navigating through chapters and controls is a breeze. I’ve been using ListenBook for months, and it’s been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesn’t drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend!
Polar Bee
Kudos to the developers for crafting an app that understands readers' needs. The smooth playback and sleek design are pure perfection. 📚👏 ListenBook's noise reduction feature in the Pro version is a testament to the app's commitment to audio quality. Adjusting the tone of the voice is an innovative feature that sets this app apart. The statistics tracking feature is very useful. ListenBook helps me keep track of my listening time.
Mr. 44
This app has rekindled my passion for storytelling in the most convenient way. With this app, reading is no longer a task – it's a delightful habit. 🚶♀️🎧 Walking has never been this productive – exploring new worlds while I exercise! 🏞️💫 Book groups are a thoughtful addition. I can group related titles for easy access. The interface is sleek and modern. It’s a joy to use.
Loot
ListenBook has revolutionized my audio experience, making it both personalized and engaging. This app's playback controls and features make it a breeze to customize my listening experience. This app's convenience has turned my daily chores into moments of literary escape. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a wonderful way to share stories and connect with friends. The interface is beautiful and functional. ListenBook is my go-to app for audiobooks.
Frenzy
CUE playlist support is a fantastic addition. It helps me organize my audiobooks effortlessly. CUE playlist support is a thoughtful feature that keeps my audiobook listening organized and enjoyable.
Pecan Oblivion
Listening to audiobooks while gardening has made my outdoor time even more relaxing. Adjusting the narrator's voice tone is a creative feature that adds a personal touch to the experience.
Pixy Mox
Navigating audiobooks with ease – this app's design is user-centric. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a wonderful way to spread the joy of storytelling. The ability to adjust playback speed and volume is a game-changer for me. Adjusting the tone of the voice is an innovative feature that allows for a personalized listening experience.
Sky Dahlia
ListenBook's library organization and book groups have made managing my audiobooks a breeze. I can't imagine my daily routine without ListenBook's intuitive layout and easy-to-access controls. 🚗📚 Turn traffic into a literary escape – this app's functionality keeps me engaged while I'm on the move. 🚗🎧 I love how I can adjust the skip intervals. It’s perfect for my listening style.
Freaky Ratbuster
I'm addicted to this app's curated playlists and recommendations – they're spot on. 🎧 Finally, an app that understands my need for convenience and ease of use! Audiobooks have never been this accessible. 📚📱
Shady Lady
Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro is a fun way to customize my listening experience. ListenBook is a game-changer for audiobook lovers. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history feature—it’s so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app!
Nutmeg
With this app, audiobook listening has become an integral part of my daily routines – it's pure bliss. ListenBook has become my workout companion. It keeps me engaged and entertained during exercise.
WanderWord
AirDrop sharing makes it easy to share audiobooks. Great feature! The statistics tracking feature is very useful. ListenBook helps me keep track of my listening time. Great for multitasking! I listened while cooking, driving, and even working out, and it kept me entertained the whole time. The narrator’s voice was pleasant, and the story flowed smoothly. Very enjoyable! The narrator's voice was so pleasant and easy to listen to. They had perfect pacing and made even the slower parts engaging. I found myself looking forward to my commute just to listen more!
Jigsaw
With ListenBook, I can listen to my favorite audiobooks and speeches with the utmost comfort and convenience. An average audiobook experience. Nothing was wrong with it—the narration was fine, and the story was okay—but nothing particularly stood out. It served its purpose as entertainment during my commute.
Yellow Menace
The narrator's voices are so soothing – a perfect way to unwind after a stressful day. I'm blown away by ListenBook's ability to maintain audio quality even for formats like FLAC and AWB. This app has made waiting in lines and queues an opportunity for exploration and enjoyment.
Manly Reno
I can't get enough of this app – it's a true game-changer for book lovers. With this app, I'm rediscovering the joy of reading in the most convenient way. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has made a significant difference in the clarity of recordings. The app’s design is sleek and modern. ListenBook is my favorite audiobook player. I love the ability to share my progress with friends. It’s a fun feature.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience