Book description
Andre Norton's Steel Magic kicks off with the kind of setup that makes you wonder if the woods near your own uncle's estate might not also be a portal to another dimension-preferably one with fewer sword-wielding wardens and more Wi-Fi. Our heroes, Sara, Greg, and Eric Lowry, stumble into the mystical land of Avalon during what was probably supposed to be a leisurely family hike, only to be immediately drafted into a supernatural security detail. Because apparently, saving the world from encroaching darkness is just what you do after lunch when you're related to the right uncle.
The trio quickly learns that Avalon is less a magical utopia and more a poorly guarded vault-three key artifacts have been swiped by the forces of doom, and now it's up to these kids to play retrieval squad. Excalibur, Merlin's ring, and a horn belonging to one Huon are not just shiny collectibles; they're the metaphysical bungee cords keeping evil at bay. Lose them? Well, Earth gets a one-way ticket to Darktown, population: doomed.
Norton writes like someone who's been filing reports for the Department of Intergalactic Affairs since the 1930s-which, come to think of it, isn't far off. Her storytelling is brisk, her world-building economical but vivid, and her characters just detailed enough that you can tell them apart without a program. The black-and-white illustrations peppered throughout feel like visual sighs of relief-brief respites from Norton's relentless plot momentum.
Sure, the dialogue sometimes sounds like it was translated from Ancient Briskness, and the children's sudden transformation into mystical saviors strains credulity more than a corseted Victorian ghost, but that's part of the charm. Norton doesn't waste time with navel-gazing or emo wizards. She delivers a quest, a few good scrapes, and just enough lore to make you believe it all.
If you're into audiobooks that move like a pegasus with caffeine issues and dialogue that sounds like it was recorded in a wind tunnel, Steel Magic is a solid pick. Just don't go wandering in the woods afterward-some of us still have paperwork to file.
Duchess
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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