cover image The Thirteen Hallows

The Thirteen Hallows

Michael Scott and Colette Freedman, read by Kate Reading. Macmillan Audio, unabridged, nine CDs, 11 hrs., $39.99 ISBN 978-1-4272-1348-8

In Scott and Freedman’s fantastical thriller, when Londoner Sarah Miller helps a mugging victim, she finds herself face to face with one of the Keepers—guardians of powerful and deadly artifacts know as the 13 Hallows. The Keeper gives her Hallow (a broken sword) to Miller and persuades her to deliver it to the Keeper’s American nephew, Owen. But when Miller is accused of murder, she and Owen embark on a quest to find the other surviving Keepers, prevent the Hallows from falling into the wrong hands, and avoid the mysterious and malevolent Dark Man. Kate Reading’s narration of this audio edition is crisp, emphatic, and well paced. She creates distinctive voices and accents for the novel’s characters and keeps listeners engaged throughout. But Reading shines brightest when rendering moments of tension, modulating her tone and pace perfectly and leaving listeners on the edge of their seats. A Tor hardcover. (Dec.)