Book description
# Games Wizards Play Review: A Spellbinding Return to the Young Wizards Universe
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5 stars)
Diane Duane's latest addition to the beloved Young Wizards series proves that some magic never gets old. After more than three decades, she's still conjuring stories that feel both nostalgic and refreshingly contemporary.
## What Makes This Audiobook Special
The mentorship dynamic flips the usual Young Wizards formula on its head. We're watching Nita, Kit, and Dairine step into teaching roles while their brilliant but problematic students steal the spotlight. Penn Shao-Feng's solar weather ambitions and Mehrnaz Farrahi's earthquake-defusing skills create compelling character studies that explore the price of wizardly excellence.
The lunar setting for the climactic competition feels genuinely innovative within Duane's established universe. It's not just another magical battle - these young wizards are literally reshaping our solar system's future.
## Performance Notes
While I haven't experienced the audiobook version directly, Duane's sharp dialogue and emotional beats translate beautifully to audio format based on the text. The interpersonal conflicts between mentors and students should provide excellent vocal range opportunities for narrators.
## Minor Drawbacks
The romantic subplot between Kit and Nita, while sweet, occasionally slows the pacing during crucial competition moments. Some readers might find the family drama surrounding Mehrnaz a bit overwrought, though it serves important thematic purposes about external pressure versus personal growth.
## Final Thoughts
This isn't the strongest entry in the series, but it's a solid continuation that respects both longtime fans and newer readers. Duane's magic system remains consistently logical while serving deeper themes about responsibility, growth, and the complex relationships between teachers and students.
Perfect for fans who've grown up with these characters and want to see them navigate adulthood's challenges while still saving the world.
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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