ILONA ANDREWS

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Audio/GA Audio Summer Listen Recommendation Thread and Confusion About Collector Edition

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Woo, that is a mouthful of a title. This actually should be two posts, but the newsletter service cannot handle two posts in one day, so we have to Frankenstein this together.

First, let me clear up some confusion around the Subterranean Innkeeper collector edition.

We are a business. I know, this is shocking, heh, but please bear with me. We are writers who make their living by selling books. This is actually a storefront. While we love the community all of us built together, in the end, this is our way to market our books to you.

That said, we don’t actually make the bulk of our money or even a lot of money on collector editions. The print runs are very small, the production costs are high, and we share profits with the publishers. We make our money on new releases.

The collector editions exist because members of BDH asked for them. They are very beautiful, illustrated hardcovers, which are numbered and signed. As you can see from the comment section, a lot of people are excited about it. Especially since Innkeeper is self-published, so these titles are not available in hardcover.

The collector edition has no new material because unlike some authors, we would not hold new stories hostage and expect you to pay a premium price for them. This is not one of those deals where you must pay a lot of money to get a bonus scene or an exclusive continuation of something. We considered finishing Gerard and Helen for it and decided against it, precisely because of these concerns. These books contain only previously available material specifically to target those readers who already own ebook or print and want to put a premium edition on their shelves.

(It’s me, heh. I am part of the people. I have the first Innkeeper volume on our shelves, and it is my little treasure. While I like convenience of ebooks, there is just something about a gorgeous print book, isn’t it?)

So I really need some of you to stop ruining other people’s fun by dramatically declaring “I shall not buy!” and then trying to belittle people who want to own one. These books were given to you free already. And they are still available in ebook and print at regular prices. There are no Balrogs in this mine.

As to the couple of commenters who tried to penalize us for putting out the collector edition instead of writing the new Innkeeper: free fiction is a gift. It is not owed to you. Calm down.

Now then onto more exciting things. It’s summer vacation time. This is your thread to recommend your favorite Audio/Graphic Audio Books.

Rules:

  • one comment per person, one book per comment
  • tell us why you love it
  • doesn’t have to be a new discovery, can be an old favorite
  • nothing too scary, too heavy, or too gut wrenching – we are aiming for a vacation listen
  • please check the comments before recommending, and +1 stuff you like, so we don’t have too many duplicate threads.

(Tink, now is your time to shine with Patty Briggs news.)

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Comments

  2. I can’t believe you had to swat noses about the Collector editions. “People.” she said, shaking her head in disbelief.
    That said, if anyone knows where I can get my hands on a collector’s copy of Innkeeper Vol. 1, referably for a reasonably non-usurous sum, I’d be grateful since I missed out on that and it is now OOP. I’m now awaiting the opportunity to purchase a copy of Vol2 when it goes up for general sale.

      • There’s one on eBay for a crazy price. Offer $200 or as much more as you can afford and see what happens. You are not likely to get one cheap, although it could happen.

        • Just to clarify the one currently on ebay is an ARC copy which is not licensed for sale and isn’t guaranteed by either publishing house or author 🙂

          • For lighthearted, I love the audio versions of Molly Harper’s Mystic Bayou series.

            (Does that count as “one book”? If I can only really pick one, if go for the first of that series “How to Date Your Dragon”.)

          • Thanks, Mod R, I didn’t know that. Also, Abebooks has some hardcover Small Magics.

      • It appears as an entry in the search, but if you actually click on the link and go to the individual pages you will see it says “Out of Print” next to each edition 🙂

          • I know!
            Like you, I missed buying the first volume.
            BUT — and this is a BIG but — if you create an account and add the Inkeepers Volume 1 to your “Wish List” perhaps they will print some more… if Ilona Andrews okays the reprint.

    • + 1 to all the things. (Really, people? Can we not play nice?)

      Do we know who has the Wayback Machine? I wasn’t in the BDH when the first volume came out, and I’d like to go back in time and grab that.

    • I am attached to a narrator, Stefan Rudnicki. He has the smoothest, most mellow voice, and really can do character changes. He has read for Orson Scott Card, Ben Bova and many others. Probably my favorite is David Weber’s Prince Roger series. 4 books total, and a great growth arc for the main character.

      • Yes! Prince Roger would make a great summer listen! The series starts with “March Upcounty”

      • I am the same way with Marin Ireland. I have listened to books outside my general interest because she was the narrator. She is fantastic. James Marsters is the same way but he really has only done Dresden Files but I see him as the gold standard for audiobooks. He is a one man play.

      • Oooh! Thanks for that reco! I liked David Weber’s Honor Harrington series but haven’t tracked him recently. And I love audio books!

      • It takes a bit for me to remember it is “Prince Roger” because I think of it as “The March *” series.

        His poor Mother.

    • +1 -NEED Vol 1! Any chance this would ever be printed again? Seems like many of the BDH want it…

      • You can contact Subterranean and let them know you would like another opportunity at volume 1 🙂. As of now, it’s not in the plans, but if they are aware there is a demand they may change that.

  3. My go-to audiobook or ebook reading is anything Ilona Andrews soooooo. My most recent non House Andrews Graphic Audio listen was Magical Midlife Madness (book 1) by K.F.Breene. There are some giggles to be had. Listening to it made my driving commute to work fun and since I read the ebooks already I was able to crochet without too many pauses to frog mistakes from not paying attention to my hands.

      • I really enjoyed the Fred The Vampire Accountant series via Graphic Audio. excellent cast, with a bonus of trying to figure out if any of the actors read for IA books.

        • Okay, I had to go look that up. Just placed a hold at my library to read it. They don’t have the audio book, bummer.

            • Hoopla has almost everything! 🙂 Last I checked Hoopla has over 1700 Graphic Audio titles. It’s great! No holds. No waiting (unless you run out of your monthly check outs). Plus, it’s free from your local public library.

        • Fred the Vampire is awesome. And it splits into shorter intervals like an old radio production season. Overall book arc, that you can play as 4-5 short stories while listening.

        • +1
          I was sceptical about the concept & storyline to start (the sample didn‘t convince me) but after giving it a try it has become one of my go to relaxation & laughter series.

    • Thank you for the recommendation. I just purchased the audio book version. If I like it, I’ll get the rest of the series, and the GA version as well.

      • To my mind it is the best of the new paranormal women’s fiction genre. A forty-something discovers she has magic, and humor and joy ensues. Highly recommended.

    • +1 and the rest of her books too- I’ve been listening to her Demon Days series and the Demigods series too, both excellent and laugh out loud at times (can get a little steamy though).

      • +1. especially the dry wit of Regan. Or wait Callie and Dizzie.. I actually prefer the GA version because they don’t spend as much time on the steamy also because the snark is.. more snarky (thank god I’m not a writer). I think reading it is fine but listening to steamy scenes on audio always feels weird to me.

    • not familiar with that book, will check it out. most of my audio books are old favorites that I can listen to while cooking, cleaning or crafting for the same reason.

      • Demon Days, Vampire Nights series is now a complete Graphic Audio set. I would listen to just to hear the narration style for Penny Bristol (my favorite narration style… ever) and Reagan Somerset. Penny is a hoot and Reagan is a one of a kind.
        How’s this for cursing: “Oh gobbledygook twatwallop. Butt crack solstice alert. Flubber fart bugger balls.”

    • I am 100% sure this was not the visual you were creating, but I have been giggling to myself for a minute imagining you driving + crocheting + reading an ebook vs audiobook, and the best image I had was of the Boilerman in Spirited Away with all of his uncounted hands doing a separate task!

  4. I think this wins the Title Length Award of all blog posts!

    I’m really looking forward to the GA Magic Rises release in August for…reasons hehe 😀

  6. 1) I own the SubPress and Arcane books and agree with you. They’re gorgeous and I love the physical manifestation of my favorite books on my shelf. It sparks joy. Maybe I don’t reread that copy every year (since I prefer audio), but I don’t need to actually use it to enjoy the collector’s edition. Can’t wait to see what interior illustrations are in the next volume.

    2) “We considered finishing Gerard and Helen for it and decided against it, precisely because of these concerns”

    Totally agree but… you considered it? 👀 I hope these considerations still exist for the future even though it didn’t make the collector’s edition. I speak for all of BDH to say that we would preorder in droves. 🙂

      • I will gladly wait forever for that to happen. 🩷 Whenever the inspiration strikes, of course.

        Thank you for being so attentive and responsive to your fans! I hope you have a great vacation.

        My audiobook rec is my favorite fantasy novel from the last year: Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries. The final book in the trilogy comes out next February. It’s about an academic in alt-1910s Scandinavia conducting research on faeries. Her annoying colleague joins her and things *ensue.* Emily is writing in her journal so it’s technically an epistolary novel and I think the first person is especially suited to audiobook. Her colleague may or may not be an exiled faerie prince with intense Howl (from Howl’s Moving Castle) energy. The book starts off slow, but I was totally hooked midway through and *devoured* the sequel.

        • +1
          Howl <3 <3 – love the movie BUT LOOOOOVVVVE the book…. I suggest anything by Diana Wynn Jones actually…

        • This must be a good one. I placed a hold for it at my library. 3 copies in use. 55 people waiting.

        • +1
          I listened to Emily‘s first book last month… i was first sceptic but now am thoroughly enthralled.
          Busy listening to Karen Rose now, but will get back to Emily soon. Until we get something from House Andrews (puppy eyes)

      • I remember when Charlaine Harris put a significant plot point in a story collection of various authors. That was not a good thing. Thanks for keeping things together.

  7. I have to say that The Rivers of London audio books are (dare I say it?) better than reading the books with your eyes. Kobna Holdbrook-Smith adds so much dimension to the stories.

  8. I just recently listened to “The Write Hook” by Robyn Peterman. This is the first book in the My So-Called Mystical Life Series. I found the book entertaining and I liked the narrator’s voice, which brought a lot of color to the story. This was something I can listen to while I work that didn’t require my full attention. I’m including a link to the author’s book series page below.

    https://robynpeterman.com/my-so-called-mystical-midlife-series/

  9. I recommend the Married to Magic series on GA. they’re retelling of fairytales, light and funny with a bit of spices

  10. I’d like to recommend the Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne in audio. There are 10 lovely books in the original series. Who doesn’t talking dogs and gods? It’s a lot of fun.

  11. My favorite audiobook series is the original trilogy of the Old Kingdom series (Sabriel, Lirael,& Abhorsen) by Garth Nix narrated by Tim Curry. His Mogget voice is fantastic.

  12. Absolutely can’t wait for Patricia Briggs Mercy series to come to GA. I also love the books by Devon Monk on GA Ordinary Magic. They are fabulous.😊

  14. The GraphicAudio version of books are so good, I don’t even have to know the author to enjoy a listen. I’ve been just grabbing whatever I have access to for listening. Quite hard to choose just one. Did recently make my way through the Demon Days, Vampire nights series by KF Breene that GraphicAudio put out and it was a fun vacation-y listen.

    • +1 for GA Demon Days, Vampire nights series by KF Breene. The snark had me in stitches as did the creative “curse words/phrases” and I found myself also wanting to punch Garrett in the nose a time or two.

    • +1
      That’s what I was going to recommend! Regan made me laugh out loud. It was actually funnier in GA than when I read the book.

    • Up until the Kate releases, I hadn’t enjoyed what I listen too for GA because I feel like a lot of them are overproduced. They try to do too much which I guess is kind of the point but I find a lot of distracting. I also don’t need to hear people chewing and slurping in my ear. I will never understand why that is necessary.

      But, the Kate Daniels productions have been just right. The focus is on the dialogue versus trying to add as much background noise as possible.

  15. Grey Gates series by Vanessa Nelson. Great world building. FMC is relatable and not a wimp.

  16. Since I have to add someone other than HA, J.D.Robb, the In Death Series. Love listening this this series especially on road trips or sitting by the pool/beach.

    Have a wonderful mini-vacation!

  17. okay this one is a bit gut wrenching but amazing:The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufmann and Jay Kristoff.

    • These are good. The audiobook is great with sound effects, etc. Do NOT get them in ebook, many of the pages couldn’t be reproduced.

  18. I discovered Drew Hayes at the end of last year. His Fred, the Vampire Accountant series is my favorite because Fred is a gem of a character. The books are told in short stories that linearly follow each other and highlight one Fred adventure after another.

    It’s available in regular audio and GA but as someone who has tried both, I would recommend the regular audio narrated by Kirby Heyborne because he is perfect as Fred. But if you are committed to finding GA books, they are all currently free through the Audible plus catalogue.

    Wishing HA a lovely and well earned vacation!!

    • +1 The BDH recommended this series on a previous thread, and Graphic Audio is the only format (print, e- or audio) my library offers. Fred #1 is a bit slow-paced, and some of the adventures follow common tropes a bit more than I liked, but later ones (I’m almost through #3) are significantly improved. The sprinkles of dry, humorous comments are a delightful surprise. Thanks, fellow Horders, for bringing it to my attention. I think that the Graphic Audio crew does a better job with this than Eileen Wilks’ World of the Lupi books, which is the only other GA full series I’ve listened to.

  19. The Charlie Davidson series by Darynda Jones.

    Because it is funny and irrelevant and because Reyes is hot and Charlie(Charlotte) has a great ass.

  20. If you haven’t read them, I highly recommend the others series by Anne Bishop. really unique story and I enjoyed them thoroughly!!

  21. “Hench” by Natalie Zina Walschots is a lot of fun for snark and dark humor, very like “The Boys” series. It’s currently stand-alone but I’ve listened multiple times and always love it.

  22. Ok, this is outside of this genre, but I just finished Meryl Streep’s reading of “Tom Lake” by Ann Pratchett. It was a perfect intro to summer.

  23. Just finished Third Eye by Felicia Day. It features Neil Gaiman and Sean Astin. Laugh out loud, got some funny looks whilst I was listening to it. 🤣

    • Because I believe this is not limited to just graphic audio, I cannot recommend highly enough the FREE Audible urban fantasy series starting with The Dispatcher by John Scalzi. It is narrated by Zachary Quinto, and he is *chef’s kiss.*. it is set in Chicago.

    • +1 I’m sometimes a maybe on radio play / GA style, but I really enjoyed Third Eye. I love Wil Wheaton as a narrator as well as in this story. I had the biggest crush on him when I was 40 years younger. 😉🤣

  24. I just listened to the audio of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson narrated by Barton Welch. It was incredibly entertaining. Bet you can’t guess whodunnit!

  25. A comfort read is “The Nothing Girl” by Jodi Taylor. No idea what genre it would be as it’s quirky (as are all her books). It’s kind of a romance, kind of a mystery, kind of a coming of age story, and has a strong fantasy element. The author writes several other SF series, but this is not that. If you read it and like the female lead Jenny Dove there are a couple of more books that follow up on it. And oh yeah, parts of it are laugh out loud funny too!

  26. Well, most of the fantasy I listen to in audiobook form was written by House Andrews… I mostly listen to non-fiction. A lot of the time, when I describe what I’m listening to, I get a lot of looks that heavily imply that I am a hopeless nerd, which is not wrong.

    An Immense World by Ed Yong is a good one.

    It’s about senses and how other animals see/smell/taste/hear etc. It does a really good job, in my opinion, of making senses and sensory experiences that humans don’t have and can’t directly experience, make sense to the reader. It breaks down some pretty in-depth concepts to very accessible terms. I, a person with a biology education that reaches into post-graduate work, felt engaged and learned new things, but I have also used explanations from this book to explain echolocation to a curious 6-year-old who was dissatisfied with his teacher’s explanation.

  27. For the record, I don’t really understand why there is any conflict over the collector editions of the books. I won’t buy them myself, because of the expense and I can’t justify to myself having two copies of a book. But if I had more income, hell yes, I would buy them all. And for those who get them – may you enjoy them immensely!

    • Part of the problem is sustainability. There is a controversy about variants which is the same kind of thing with albums, comics and basically all physical media. Taylor Swift, for example, has been releasing multiple versions of her vinyl with different colors, artwork, etc. Some comic releases have a dozen different variants and so people are doubling up or more of the same pieces of work which is just more stuff but also the environmental cost of producing these physical products because books take a lot of paper and energy to create. Creating vinyl records uses a lot of energy and biproducts bad for the enivronment.

      I have abandoned physical media for the most part for this reason except for my favorite things and when I do buy them, I almost always buy used.

  28. This year I really enjoyed the Audio of Martha Wells’ Murderbot Diaries. I listened to Kevin Free and it was amazing. The books are short, I think there are 2 full length novels out of the bunch.
    The Sec-Unit hacked his system and now is technically free to do as he pleases, but knows he will be destroyed if discovered. So he does his job and watches or listens to media. All he really wants to do is watch his favorite soaps, but he has to go stop humans from committing unintentional suicide << paraphrasing.
    It fun and slightly emotional but not to heavy. All of the characters are really well fleshed out!

    Have fun on your vacation.

      • I own both – GA is so much fun but the Audible version narrated with Kevin Free is unabridged. (Kinda like Inkeeper – I love GA, but they cut out some of my favorite lines and I have to go to the Audible version and listen for them.)

        • I just re listened to the Innkeeper series GA version and had to go back and listen to original Sweep of the Heart.
          Both are fabulous but I did miss a few things GA left out. I wish GA would do Hidden Legacy 🙏

      • +1 Murderbot all seven on graphic audio has got me through driving 10hrs round trip to a bunch of specialist appointments this month ❤️

    • +1
      Re-listening to this right now! Really enjoy Kevin’s delivery on all the books in this series.

    • +1. I love Murderbot. Both the audio and graphic audio are amazing!!

      I also loved her Witch King! I started the audio reread before I’d even finished the book!

    • +1
      I really enjoy the original narration, although I haven’t tried Murderbot on graphic audio

    • +1!

      The Murderbot series got me through a difficult health year, some of which was spent lying in bed, without the energy to hold a book.

      It’s funny (the narrator, Kevin R. Free, has impeccable timing) and thought-provoking, fast-paced and vividly imagined. I re-listen so often that they just live permanently on my phone. Highly recommend.

    • +1. I’m a big fan of Martha Wells and have read her other series that are more fantasy based. The murderbot diaries are newer and I’m thrilled that they are now on graphic audio.

    • Murderbot is amazing. I haven’t listened to the GA versions because I’m really attached to Kevin’s narration.

    • +1 on Murderbot. I adore that series. I did *not* like Kevin Free’s narration at first–one of the voices is deliberately nasal and not at all what I heard in my head when reading–but I got used to it & definitely don’t want a narrator shift

    • I love Murderbot, love, love the stories -but NOT on GA. It is too fast and the character voice choices are odd. I wa really disappointed and there are no returns.

  29. I discovered GA by reading Kate Daniels and I hadn’t branched out BUT they just announced the release of the first Mercyverse novel from Patricia Briggs so that’s my recommendation.

  30. Ok hear me out. I’m recommending the Enchanted Forest series by Patricia C. Wrede. It’s not new. I read them when I was a kid many, many moons ago. And it’s…YA? Middle grade? Middle grade wasn’t a thing when I was a kid so I have no idea. BUT I firmly believe everyone should read/listen to these books because they are amazing and fun and cheeky. The audiobooks are great! I’m not sure what to call it, but its’ a full-cast like GA, but without the sound effects.

    The first book, Dealing with Dragons, is about a princess who doesn’t want to do the boring things that princesses do, so she runs away and asks a dragon if she can be her princess. She practices magic and uses a sword and bakes cherries jubilee in dragon proportions while chasing away knights and princes who want to rescue her. And there are evil, sneaky wizards and a sensible witch.

    My kids listen to these books on repeat and have for months, so they could just be forever burned into my brain. Haha.

    • + 1 for Dealing with Dragons and other books by Patricia C Wrede.

      Amusing and entertaining.

      Also, it made a deep impression on me as a kid for two points:
      – need to ask the right questions; and
      – importance of being polite to everyone, both because it is basic good manners, and because you don’t know who they are.

      On a related note, I always laugh (and nod approvingly)
      when these ideas appear in IA’s work.

      Recently, I was highly amused when I re-read Magic Shifts, and read the line about the foolish journeyman who told Kate that she was not welcome in that business because:
      “… you don’t look like you have any money.”

      • It’s ahead of its time in a lot of ways! I love that dragons gets to choose their genders when they’re old enough to decide and they’re just non-gendered until then. And king of the dragons is a job! Not a gender-defined position!

      • +1 for enchanted forest chronicles and Patricia c wrede—the audiobooks are adorable. I recommended the books to a colleague who wanted dragon books but disliked the writing of a recent very popular fantasy series with dragons. Crazy that back in the 90s Patricia Wrede had dragons choosing genders—so awesome

  31. My second favorite Graphic Audio productions are K. F. Breene’s ‘Born in Fire’ series. The casting is excellent and there are many more books to eventually be turned into an ersatz radio play. I only listen in the car on the long drives so each one lasts me a good while.

  32. You’ve probably already listened to them, but just want to suggest the Night Huntress series by (your friend) Jeaniene Frost. GA does such an amazing job!

    • GA does a good job, but the original Bones and Vlad voices for the audiobooks can’t be beat! Shiver inducing!

  33. Investigation,Mediation,Vindication. By Chris Tullbane. First 2 books currently in the Plus Catalog of Audible. Waiting for book 5 to be released. Set in my hometown of San Diego with accurate descriptions of local locations. Main character is John Smith P.I. He gets yanked into a world of Vampires and other non human beings by advertising himself as a mediator in the Yellow Pages.

  34. This is oldish, so no doubt well known already, but if anyone out there hasn’t heard, Neil Gaiman’s ‘Anansi Boys’, read by Lenny Henry is a masterpiece. One of rare books truly better in audio (in my humble opinion).

    I listen to it whenever I need something to boost my spirits and soothe my brain 🙂

    Any of Neil Gaiman’s books (including those he reads himself-he has a fantastic voice and a very classic storyteller style) work well in audio, really, though Anansi Boys is my absolute favorite.

  35. Thanks for clearing this up. I had no idea what Subterranean was selling. I have every book Ilona Andrew’s has written and most of them in both print or ebook and in audio. I am relieved nothing important has changed.

  36. I’ve really been enjoying listening to the GA version of Devon Monk’s Ordinary Magic series. I’ve never read the books so this was a leap of faith based on the description but I’ve listened to the first 2 so far and have gotten sucked in. 😄

    Enjoy your much deserved time off reading, napping and gazing at the water! I had that kind of a vacation recently and it was so good for my heart and soul.

  37. I just got through listening to The invisible life of Addie LaRue by V. E.Schwab. It’s quite long, which makes it great for a road trip. In 1714 Addie makes a deal with an ancient god For immortality. There is one catch, no one can remember who she is. The book covers the next 300 years where she matches wits with man and god to make a life for herself. I checked my copy out from the library and I don’t remember who narrates it, but it was well done.

  38. TA White Firebird series is great listening. Book 1 Rules of Redemption sucked me in. Natasha Soudek is the narrator and has a perfect voice for the main character, Kira.

  39. If I am not reading Ilona Andrews, I’m reading Jennifer L. Armentrout, or Amelia Hutchins. I would recommend the Lux Series By Jennifer L. Armemtrout. Great series.

  40. I really enjoy the audio book versions of “Beware of Chicken”. When you see the author is “Casualfarmer” you might raise an eyebrow – is this a serious author? – but the three books (with a 4th on the way in November) are good summer fun. It’s isekai, so avoid if you don’t like that concept, but thoughtful and humorous while subverting many cliches of the genre.

    Travis Baldree narrates the first three. I’m not sure who will do the fourth.

  41. So what gets muchos ear time from me besides IA works? There are several old favorites but one in particular gets shuffled in regularly.

    Mr. Impossible by Loretta Chase. It’s a seriously fun light historical romance. The hero and heroine are not typical and neither are the situations they encounter. It’s set post Napoleonic War in Egypt. The heroine is the brain, the hero is the brawn and I love their interactions. Plus Loretta Chase is noted for her historical homework. Funny, heart warming and fascinating by turns.

    Do have loads of fun and relaxation!

    (PS. The idea of finishing Gerard and Helen made me want to shout! )

    • 1+ to Mr. Impossible. or really anything Loretta Chase. Lord of Scoundrals is also fabulous.

    • Heh, as it happens I just did a reread of a few of Loretta Chase’s books – on paper, not audio, as that is my personal preference. Agree with you on this being one of the funnest!

  42. Hi, I wish you a great vacation. It’s not very warm but I really like the Rockton series of Kelley Armstrong. I live in Corsica and when it’s too hot in summer, I love to imagine walking in the wilderness of Canada. The personnages are endearing and no cliffanger.

    • + 1
      Seconding Rockton!! Thérèse Plummer does such a good job with the narration.

  43. I’ve been having fun reading and listening to Jennifer Cruise and Bob Mayer’s Liz Danger Series. It’s so delightful that Jennifer is publishing again. Her back list is also great reading.

    • Yes! Have their next new book pre-ordered! Dropping next month, I think. I’ll have to look for the audio versions.

    • +1 to anything Jennifer Crusie. I have been enjoying the new work as well and I go back to her classics all the time for comfort and inspiration. Usually Faking it, but then, I am a sucker for an artist protagonist and it’s so funny!

      • Faking It and Welcome to Temptation are ones I re-listen to regularly! I love a good art heist story…

    • I don’t have the audio books, but I had to say that I love, love, love the Liz Danger series!!!!!! They’re laugh out loud hilarious but also have great plots! And since I am a Jersey Girl through and through, I take personal delight in the depictions of the NY/NJ characters (accents, mannerisms, etc) Can I call them stereotypical even if I knew those characters while growing up? 😂

  44. If you enjoy Historical Mystery, then I highly recommended the Wrexford and Sloane series by Andrea Penrose. This is narrated by James Cameron Stewart. The characters are great and plots complex. And I love his voice so much, I would listen to him reading a phone book.😁

  45. I recommend Sinister Magic by Lindsay Buroker. This is a really fun Urban Fantasy novel. Competent heroine, fun world and great side characters.

    This series have 9 volumes AND 2 spin-off series. 22 books in total!

    As for criticism of special editions. It is a popular thing now. The collector editions with sprayed edges, collector boxes etc. I don’t understand why someone has issue with it. With popularity of ebooks it is understandable.

  46. How to Be a Normal Person by TJ Klune and read by Derrick McClain is one of my favorite non Ilona Andrews audiobooks. It is so sweet and funny.

  47. I really enjoyed the GA edition of Charlaine Harris’ Gunny Rose series. Great world building and wonderful characters

  49. I just mainlined Jana DeLeon’s “Miss Fortune” series on audio. It’s delightful. The narrator is great, and the main characters are absolute treasures. The lead character, Fortune Redding, is a badass CIA assassin who can handle herself, and she’s helped by two older badasses named Ida Belle and Gertie. First book is a touch slow, as first books seem to be, but the series as a whole is incredibly fun and laugh-out-loud hilarious in places.

    • +1. While waiting for GA Magic Rises – also mainlining “Miss Fortune” for the laughs and the Arcane Casebook series by Dan Willis for the Mystery and Magic fix.

    • +1

      They have a surprising amount of emotional depth for such fluffy books. I mean, the situations are crazy and funny, but the responses read true and Fortune, especially, does a lot of growing through the series. Also, I admire DeLeon for continuing the series after the initial problem is over–and continuing it well.

  50. I was pretty sure Balrogs weren’t involved, but it’s always good to know!

    Who knows, maybe Maggie adopts a Balrog orphan in the sekrit project!

  51. just listened to a BBC radio play on audible. Just one dammed thing after another by Jodie Taylor. first book in the St Mary’s chronicles, and i thought really well done. Very British though. 🙂

    • All of the Chronicles of St. Mary’s books by Jodi Taylor (and the Time Police spinoffs) narrated by Zara Ramm are very good! Frequently laugh out loud funny and yes, very british. I especially like that the series is packed full of interesting history and most of the characters are very quirky.

      • +1 here too, I love the Chronicles of St Mary’s world, the characters are very quirky and the stories are a lot of fun!

  52. Just finished reading “I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons” by Peter S. Beagle.
    instead of rats and mice, maybe you have dragons in your walls. Fun fantasy book. Will be looking for more by Peter S. Beagle.

    • +1 for Peter S Beagle. I haven’t read the new one yet, but have the audiobook on hold from the library.

      In Calabria was lovely and magical. And I read Tamsin over and over when I was younger.

      The Last Unicorn is his famous one, and it’s gorgeous, but sad. the sequel to it just came out, now that he got the rights to his own work back, so I am looking forward to it as well.

  53. The audio book version of Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is very good. The book is good as well (of course), but the audio version is very fun. They added some nice effects to it. Sorta science heavy, but in a good way.

  54. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree. He narrates too, and he’s terrific. A female orc (we knew they existed, right) retires from the mercenary business to build and run a coffee shop in a city that never heard of the stuff. Wonderful comfort listen!

    • +1!
      Travis is a great narrator. He also narrates a series by Forthright – the first of which is Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox. Slow romance and exploration of different cultures – Japanese, magic users, and shape shifters of various types.

      • +1 on Forthright’s series although I’ve only read the ebooks. I’ve been eyeing up the audiobooks for a while though as I’m about ready for a reread!

      • I’ve been reading Forthright’s Amaranthine stories since Ilona recommended Tsumiko on here years ago. The last one in the main series came out two weeks ago and I’m somehow holding out until after school is done, so I can read guilt free – so close!

        The Cradle series by Will Wight is another one I owe a huge thanks to Ilona for recommending 🙂

      • +1 for Forthright. These books are so gentle and loving. Major comfort revisiting material for me and the narrator does a great job.

  55. Picking just 1 is so hard! I went with the Graphic Audio version of Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorn and Roses. I chose them for a few reasons: part of a finished series if you want more than just 1, it’s got great world building, when you listen you don’t have to figure out the names, the voice actors are amazing, it involves humans and Fae (but not in the more frequent way that Fae are in stories), and I think it could really take your mind away while listening to it.

    Enjoy your vacation! You both deserve it! 🤗

  56. One of my favorite light, fun, audiobooks to listen to is “Spotless” by Camilla Monk. It makes me laugh every time. And it has it all. So much fun. I have converted many a friend to listen. The narration is the best, and the characters are wonderful. Little bits of nerdy, romance, travel, mystery, action, quirky, fun!

  57. I’ve been enjoying the Bruno, Chief of Police (also the title of the first book) series by Martin Walker. It’s set in a small French town (no magic, unfortunately) and reminds me, just a little, of Murder, she wrote. It is a little slow paced, butI attribute that to the sleepy, small town setting.

    Bruno is an avid cook, so there are several cooking/eating scenes in each book. I also like getting glimpses into European history and politics.

    I think it’s available to Prime members on Audible (the British narrator is has a nice voice) and Libby, the e-library, has them, though my library only had two of the audio books.

  58. I just listened to – and adored – Judi Dench/Brendan O’Hea’s “Shakespeare, the Man who Pays the Rent.” Barbara Flynn reads for Dame Judi and does a smashing job. So good! If you are a fan of Judi Dench, Shakespeare, acting, and/or the history of theatre, this one’s for you!

  59. The graphic audio versions of innkeeper is my favorite. I listen to them all the time!

  60. My go to is J.D Robb’s “In Death series , the first book is Naked in Death narrator Susan Erickson, very addictive.

  61. Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells, audio books are excellent! I enjoyed this narrator as much as Kobna from Rivers of London

    • +1 to anything Murderbot. Funny, in a dry humor sarcasm way, with deeper themes handled really well.

      bonus for me when recommending these is that the first several are short, novella length I think? Anyway, I think that makes starting a new series so much less intimidating.

  62. Innkeeper GA series – if you haven’t tried them, worth it! does feel like a movie.

  63. Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series. Freaking hilarious. The first one (titled The Thursday Murder Club) is a hoot, and they only get better from there. Lesley Manville narrates the first two, and Fiona Shaw the second two. It’s worth noting that I usually can’t read present tense without irritation, but these are an absolutely fabulous exception. Chapters alternate between omniscient narrator and first-person narration by one of the characters (arguably the most relatable one). If you seriously need to take a break from seriousness, these are just what the doctor ordered.

    • * I should perhaps specify that there are occasional emotionally wrenching, genuinely moving moments. Some characters have sad backstories, and the series is set in a retirement community, so there are reminders of mortality. The overall tone is joyous however.

  64. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman with Natalie Dormer as Door and James McAvoy as Richard Mayhew. It’s a Radio 4 adaptation of a book, but has been getting released as an audio book recently. I think I saw it released in the US as an Audible original? The play aired in 2013 and also stars David Harewood, Sophie Okonedo, Benedict Cumberbatch, Anthony Head, David Schofield, Bernard Cribbins, Christopher Lee, and Ramola Garai.

    Sometimes when traveling I put it on and go to sleep to it.

    • +1. I listened to this just recently. It has quite a different vibe to a graphic audio but was enjoyable nonetheless. I am definitely embracing the ‘graphic audio/live audio play’ style. It really brings the stories to life.

  65. I love all the comments! I have Innkeeper series on GA but now I have so many more to enjoy. Mostly I’d rather read than listen.

  66. I always recommend Wen Spencer’s Elfhome series, love the reader and the 4th book in the series (Wood Sprites) is in my top 5 books of any genre.

  67. I love the Ravenwood mysteries by Sabrina Flynn. I think there are 8 books total, and the audiobook versions are excellent too. These are mysteries set mostly in San Francisco in the late 1800s, with a brave and super smart heroine, a gentleman gunslinger hero (it works), and lot of great side characters that each deserve their own series. I highly, highly recommend them. The audiobooks are definitely on Spotify and Audible…not sure where else.

  69. I, personally, would have no problem with an “exclusive” short story or extension in a collector ‘s edition IF it was released as normal (free?) somewhere between thirty and ninety-two days later. Kind of a “Yay, I got it early” prize.

    These days, I have to wait until your books show up at a used book store, anyway. Then I have to find room to store it.

    Painful but totally worth it.

  72. Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries by Mia P.Manansala audio books are super enjoyable. Small town mystery with interesting characters. The narrator sucks me right in.

  73. Vampire Accountant series by Drew Hayes! It’s hilarious! It’s about an account who gets turned into a vampire and just wants to keep being an accountant! Love his writing and sense of humor. Great world building!

  74. Lucas by DB Reynolds – both physical and audio. I listen to it like other people eat popcorn. Obsessively and when in pajamas. Ok, I’m horribly biased – I started on Reynold’s books when ebooks weren’t a thing yet and when all she’d published was Raphael. But I count the Vampires in America series my favorite vampire series. (Yeah I know, Anne Rice) but maybe I’m plebeian. If you don’t know who Reynolds is – check her out. Really.

  75. I am currently enjoying the Charlie Thorne series by Stuart Gibbs. Emily Woo Zeller is great at the different voices. I particularly like how the 12 year old genius main character is portrayed by speaking faster, higher pitched, and more snarky.

    The series is somewhere in that middle grade/YA range. Main character is a genius with a chip on her shoulder, who tries to solve the mystery left behind by a famous historical figure.
    It’s in the spy genre, so there are also bad guys out to unravel the mystery and kill everyone who gets in their way. CW – the bad guy in book 1 is a neonazi. The author makes it really easy to hate that guy.

  76. Outside of anything from HA, I enjoy Seana Kelly’s books. Try her new series starting with Sea Wicche. Likeable protagonist, fun dialogue, nice plot.

  77. Unfortunately I don’t listen well, I’m more than half deaf in the human range. I have tried, I had to get my ebook edition so I could understand the words.
    Besides the HA books I think I would enjoy listening to the Penric and Desdemona series. Especially the latest one Demon Daughter where Pen and Des are in a snit with each other.

  78. Did you met David R. Slayton at Coastal Magic? I enjoyed one of his panels so I bought his book, White Trash Warlock, The Adam Binder Novels, Book 1. Southern Gothic-Urban Fantasy. Well-written and engaging. I enjoyed it very much.
    I ended up with all 3 books in the series in audiobook.

  79. I just want to give a shout out for Hoopla, the streaming service library app that has a HUGE collection of Graphic Audio titles…all for free thanks to the access provided by public libraries! I have purchased a few titles but they’re an investment so knowing that I can also listen to them through my library?! It’s awesome!

  80. This is going to be unconventional but I love the audio of:
    Vincent and Theo:
    The Van Gogh Brothers
    By Deborah Heiligman

    It is a YA non-fiction that is made up of the letters Vincent VanGogh and his brother Theo wrote to one another. I loved it because their sibling relationship was so relatable and it gave so much more depth to this famous artist and what his art meant to him. Even knowing how their stories end I cried but it was more like remembering good times with friends after they’ve been gone a long time. And smiling at the memories.

    I hope you guys enjoy your trip. Sending you good vibes from the west coast.

  81. Old find

    I have recently discovered the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch.

    No idea what the genre is.
    Paranormal police procedural?
    Not romance.

    It’s funny. Not as funny as IA, but still.
    I’m only halfway the 1st book, but it prompted me to buy books 2-5 in advance.
    6 and further will have to wait until my bank stops laughing each time I check my account.

  82. My favorite GA listen, except HA of course, is Devon Monks Ordinary Magic series. Gods on vacation in Oregon is truly hilarious.

    And I really want the Innkeeper special edition. The first one is one of my favorites on my bookshelves.

  83. FWIW, I really love the collector’s editions! Both Subterranean Press and Arcane. Thank you for doing them. I can appreciate the lovely books you’ve written in such a tangible way. And they’re so pretty. ❤️ The early notice you’ve given at the start of the year really helped me save up for them knowing they’re coming.

  84. Favorite audio book. hmmm. well, I always seem to default to Crown of Vengeance by Lackey/Mallory when I want high fantasy and a long book. First in a trilogy (being completed in 2025, thank goodness), it’s also a prequel to the Shadow Mountain books. Feudal, warring elves, a hidden royal, magic, looming evil, politics and sarcastic unicorns. This is one of my favorite worlds to revisit. And the guy who voices the looming evil in the interlude chapters? *chefs kiss*

  85. Wow! I can not believe some people took that approach! Seriously, the sense of entitlement… If one doesn’t want something they do not have to buy.

    Unfortunately I can not buy limited editions, maybe some day I will, I’d definitely love to have them ;-). For now, considering I live in Poland and operate on a limited budget, I prefer to buy more books in ebook format then pay 250 PLN for transport of 1 book (circa 62 $). I will brave the transport fee for mugs and t-shirts though if or when the store opens again 😀 (there is a much wider product selection in US store that EU one).

    Having that said I think it’s incredibly considerate of you to make them available and you’re so generous with all the freebies, online serials etc. I love reading the short stories and look forward to every single one of your posts! Thank you for all the love and creativity you share.

  86. Other than Ilona Andrews books (I love, love, love Steve West’s narration of Iron & Magic. And Renee Raudman is pretty awesome too), I love Abby Jimenez books. Her most recent one, Just For The Summer, narrated by Zachary Webber & Christine Larkin, might be my fave (although it’s too hard to choose).

  87. Favourite non-House Andrews audio? Definitely Lindsay Buroker’s Death Before Dragons series, with a very snarky 40-year-old half-elven assassin heroine, a dragon shifter hero, lots of humour, action, fantastic & funny side kicks … there are two follow-on series from this one. It’s urban fantasy set in Seattle.

    If I include House Andrews? No doubt about it, I LOVE the Graphic Audio Innkeeper Series! I am so glad I bought the whole thing – I’ve listened to it many times!

    • I had meant to include in my message, Luisa Preissler has done illustrations of the Death Before Dragon series as well – you can see the heroine (Val) with her white tiger alongside Kate Daniels and other kick*** women!

  88. I am going to recommend a series and author that is not new. Lois McMaster Bujold the book The Warrior’s Apprentice. It is almost 50 years old but is a gateway drug to one of the best writers around. Grover Gardner is an excellent narrator and your guide to some great world building. I have listened to this Science Fiction coming of age story 30+ times. Excellent writing and narration. Listen once then you have my envy…you can only meet your favorite characters for the first time once.

      • A lot of very different people locked in one apartment at a viewing, held hostage by a bank robber wannabe that does not want to hurt anyone. A lot of great therapy there 😅

  89. Anything by Mariana Zapata. Great books that are all long, slow burn reads. My fav is All Rhodes Lead Here but I really love all of her books. The audio version has dual narration and is awesome.

  91. I love the Kate Daniels Graphic Audios. I listen on repeat.

    That being said, one of the first audiobooks I listened was Anxious People by Fredrik Backman. It’s not fantasy, but it is funny, deep, emotional and beautifully narrated.

    Usually I find it difficult to listen to books if I have not read them first, but I did not have this issue with Anxious people.
    Have fun! I would love to know what you choose!

    • I love his stories! Haven’t read this one, will have to look it up. Funny enough, I usually pick them up on vacation in airports.

  92. I am just finishing my umpteenth re-listen to The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison. It’s a long book and the names are a little daunting but the narrator does an excellent job and it is an excellent comfort read for me.

    A blend of fantasy and steampunk with lots of court politics and maneuvering, less physical action. The main character is a very good person thrown into a situation beyond his control, wherein he strives to be steadfast and kind.

  93. I found some relatively new audio books of Andre Norton on Audible (free downloads!) and they have been so much fun. I remember reading her stories years ago and they are still very timely. And the audio versions are even better!

  94. This is a family friendly recommendation: Interview with the Robot by Lee Bacon.

    It is not GA, but it does have several narrators. It is the story of a robot and how she comes to be. It is a interesting and mysterious enough to hold an adult’s attention even though the target audience is 10+. It is a great 3.5 hour listen as you road trip to the beach ⛱️

      • Sorry, by the time I got to the end of the comments, I forgot the rules. You can delete the 2nd recommendation. 🙃

  95. Jeffrey Archer. There’s a collection of short stories, I think called 12 Red Herrings, that my family used to listen to on long vacation drives across the South.

  96. My hearing isn’t good enough for audio Books so no relevant comments.

    Query though, what Patty Briggs news?

  97. I didn’t realise the BDH could get so snotty on occasion. Sheesh. I won’t be buying it, but the reason is an entirely personal opposition to omnibuses, not some conspiracy theory about how House Andrews is out for profit only.

    Seriously, BDH? You’re saying this trash about the people who do not have the fan store open all the time because of how much they care about our experience with the products we get there? Sheesh.

    Anyhow. Recommendations. If you haven’t read them already, I’m a fan of the Murderbot Diaries for chill listening. The Unabridged version is better than the Graphic Audio apparently but I’ve only listened and read the unabridged, so your mileage may vary.

  98. On graphic audio— Fred the vampire accountant—a series by Drew Hayes, or the Murderbot series by Martha Wells—comfort reads and listens!

  99. Audio Recommendation:
    I love the Royal States series by Susan Copperfield (R.J. Blain). She has an unusual the on a division of the US based on a magical explosion around the world and is very funny also.

  100. I highly recommend The Finder Chronicles by Suzanne Palmer – space opera. The first is Finder GA has released the first three books.

  101. Currently working my way through the Titan Series by Seth Ring

    If you are or have ever been a MMRPG player you will love the play on the gaming world, but even if you don’t it’s a great mix of life in a gaming AI and fantasy series.

    Audible has combo listen of books 1 &2 under the name “Nova Terra: Titan & Greymane”

    Doesn’t hurt that the main character’s voice is a love deep rumble in your ear. 😉

  102. If you can get a copy you should try Bridge of Birds by Barry Hugart. So amazing. Chinese myths brought to life.

  103. The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton had me *howling* with laughter on a long car trip when I was moving states a few years ago. So sassy. So posh. So entirely correct in every way. The lady who reads them just does it perfectly, right down to the regency accent! Definitely recommend.

    Oh! It’s about a young lady of good fortune who is, of course, a proper scoundrel and her flying house. And aunts. And a heist. And a rasher dashing young pirate (because of COURSE there is).

  104. Columbus day by Craig Alanson narrated by R.C. Bray. It’s got funny, action, and banter with a bit of intrigue thrown in and when you get to the beer can you know you just started the ride.

    R.C. Bray is in my opinion the greatest narrator. His voices for the characters are all unique and distinct and you wonder as the series goes on how he keeps them all in his head.

    shout out to sweep of the blade as it is my favorite book!

  105. Honestly thank you for anything you provide to us, free or otherwise. I am always beyond grateful.

  106. I finally got the Gunnie Rose series on GA and it was great. and if course over the moon with Moon Called by Patricia Briggs coming out in August. But I’d have never been into GA if not for the Ilona Andrews books. I have them all so far. Andrews and Briggs are two of my favorite authors by far. So excited!!!!!

  107. HaHa, they are all my favorites! I particularly like Wheel of the Infinite by Martha Wells… This week.

  108. Oh, yes; there is just something about a gorgeous print book and I’m buying my copy. I’ll be going to their page tomorrow to sign up for the potentially reserved copy, and happy for the chance to do it.
    Thank you, ‘Ilona Andrews’, and Subterranean Press.
    To the nay-sayers: Bleh!

  109. The Veronica Speedwell series is a set of historical mysteries set in Victorian England. They have some of the snappiest, smartest dialog I’ve seen in a long time and the banter between the main characters is just so so good. They’re not GA, but the audiobook narrator is absolutely perfect in my mind. In one of the more recent books, the author even credits her in the forward for something like, “for giving Veronica her voice.”

    • +1 … I just love Veronica Speedwell and her dialogue with Stoker generally makes me chuckle. And the voice actress is good

  110. Lady Hardcastle Mysteries by T E Kinsley – first is A Quiet Life in the Country

    Turn of the 20th century lady & her ladies maid solving crimes & being very very witty. Not even a little bit historically accurate so embrace your talking/dancing candlesticks being entering.

    I adore these characters and find them so very entertaining. They are mysterious so there is a little drama & a touch of tension at the end but they’re mostly the main characters being witty at each other as they move through the lovely world.

    • +1 LOVE these books! The Elizabeth Knoweldon is the narrator and really is wonderful. The banter between Lady H and Flo is hilarious at times and is icing on the mystery cake!

  111. The Harmony series by Jayne Castle. Romantic suspense paranormal.
    Harmony is a colonized world that’s cutoff from Earth. The citizens develop paranormal abilities to resonate with amber. Jayne Ann Krenze also writes as Amanda Quick and related storylines can be found by both those names as well.

  112. Outside of the Kate Daniels Graphic Audio Books which I adore? (For graphic audio – there’s the “Slayers: A Buffy the Vampire Slayer Story” Audible Exclusive – with the original Buffy cast members playing the roles and it’s written by Amber Benson and Christopher Golden. James Marsters, Juliet Landau, Amber Benson, Charisma Carpenter, Anthony Stewart Head, Emma Caulfield all reprise their roles and read.) Also, Marsters is an excellent narrator – start with Dresden Files for Marsters.

  113. Hello,
    Fellow bookworm here. I’m terrible with remembering authors and titles. I need the horde’s help
    I feel like a few years ago Ilona recommended a rookie author that wrote a sci fi trilogy about sisters (each book about each one), who were going through a coup, had to befriend a con man and assassins etc to take back their throne (?), they traversed planets and political intrigue, covert plans and fantastical adventure. A lovely series from a new author.

    Do you know the author/titles?

  114. Wow, that was a lot of comments to read through to make sure my recommendation wasn’t already mentioned. My husband and I really enjoyed The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman read with a full cast. Totally an original story and left us feeling good as we started our vacation.

    • This is me. I love the Graveyard Book. I have not heard the full cast, only the one that Neil Gaiman narrated. His voice is so soothing too.

  115. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs, finally getting the Graphic Audio treatment. I can’t wait to hear it!

  116. Besides anything Ilona Andrews, Penny Reid, or Patricia Briggs? I “Call Me Maybe” by Cara Bastone. It was my first encounter with Immersive Audio. It is sweet rom-com, incredibly engaging, and just a completely light-hearted listen. I’ve listened to it more than once, so that should tell you something 😛

  117. For GA specifically I really enjoyed C.J. Cherryh’s Downbelow Station and the two sequels, Merchanter’s Luck, and Rimrunners. I wish all her books were done in GA.

  118. Recommend – Only a Monster by Vanessa Len!

    Not sure if this was posted, already…is there a way to search the comments? This was a random Libby pick audiobook and it is an absolute JEM. Its YA paranormal romance, but the premise is so fresh and different and the world building is legit. The reader is FANTASTIC across all the characters. The sequel is also great, I am very much looking forward to book three!

    • Thanks for the poster who said how to search. I realized this recommendation hadn’t been posted yet. Wahoo! I hope more people engage with this series!

  119. P.S. I love these comment threads. Whenever I am in need of a new book or series, I always come to these posts and comb through recommendations. HDB know their stuff. Its also the only time I comment LOL! Can’t eat at the potluck if you don’t bring something yourself right!

    • Yes indeed! And many thanks, as I’ve already started 3 new series and have several waiting in the wings 😁. So many authors I’ve not heard of as well as old favorites!

  120. I love the Innkeeper series. It is exciting and so different from other books written. The story line and characters are excellent. I have a hard time waiting for the next book and always reread the series before the new one comes out. Let me know how and where to by collector books

  121. 1) I absolutely don’t understand people who feel the need to destroy other peoples innocent happiness – especially over a book.

    2) (one) of my favorite comfort Audio Books is from Marie Brennan A natural history of Dragons. -The entire series of course XD

  122. Fun, light summer listen? You want a mashup of vampires, werewolves and fun comedy of manners and steampunk with fun accents, try Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate series, starting with Soulless. Silly, funny, and fun.

  124. I’m currently listening to the GA adaptations of John Zakour’s The Nuclear Bombshell series. They are a hoot! It’s an action series featuring Zachary Nixon Johnson, the Last Free-Lance Private Detective on Earth. A *lot* of action. Highly entertaining.

  125. I generally dislike most audio versions, but in an effort to spend more time on my treadmill (not a time for heavy, complicated books) I offer up Rebecca Zanetti’s Anna Albertini series. She has other paranormal and/or dystopian series that are good as well, but this is light reading about people you’ll like and a community you’ll want to move to. Stella Bloom is a perfect narrator. There is always at least one laugh-out-loud moment in each book. Perfect for summer reading or when you just want to get away for a while.

  126. The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennet! My favorite book of the year so far. Murder mystery with awesome biology/alchemical world building, leviathans, and a Sherlock Holmes-y character who is a riot and I aspire to be when I grow up.

  127. For one of my very very favorite books is Linda Howard’s Mr. Perfect her 2011 romantic suspense. I started with the Hardcover, and then the PB, Ebook & finally audio. I can’t rmrmber how many times I have re-read/listened this book. It’s perfect.It’s available on Audiobooks (amazon) or Chirp or try local library
    Happy listening.

    • Just finished a re-read of this, still loved it! I’ll have to find the audio version. Thanks.

  128. I haven’t scrolled through all the comments so far, so I don’t know if this has been mentioned, but the “Beware of Chicken” series, both in ebook and audiobook format, is just marvelous. The books are long, but you still wish there was more when you get to the end. The narrator is Travis Baldree. Need I say more? I am going through the series again right now, since I am thinking the next novel will be out in the fall (or thereabouts).

  129. Audio book recommendation: the entire “Holmes on the Range” series by Steve Hockensmith. It’s what got me hooked on audiobooks. They are great mysteries, it’s a series, so you’ll get your fix book after book, and they’re hilarious. A+ in my book.

  130. Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison, i have the book, the ebook and the audio book, besides absolutely loving it i’ve listened to it at least 8 times, on my drive to work and back. It’s nice to get the correct pronunciations for the names and terms, (you have to wonder sometimes where authors get these names from) because they flow beautifully…

  131. “A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking” by T Kingfisher had me laughing out loud at times. I’m currently going through a bunch of her other books because of that. (Except the horror ones. I don’t like horror books)

  132. Oldie but goodie: the audiobook of World War Z by Max Brooks
    Stellar voice cast (Nathan Fillion!), the interview format (1st pov) is perfect for this medium

  133. Heretical Fishing by Haylock Jobson would be a nice cozy beach listen. it’s narrated by Heath Miller

  134. I hadn’t read KF Breene before, but as rec’d from my Hoopla after finishing a Kate Daniels GA, I decided to try it. I love the series and have spent so many times laughing my butt off while crafting. I particularly love Reagan and her dynamics with Penny. Fun, romance, magic, big bads and everything you could want!

  135. “Stray Cat Strut: A Young Lady’s Guide to Becomming a Pop-Up Samurai”
    It’s technically in the LitRPG category, but it’s sure good. Main character is a cocky, 17-year-old orphan girl with a sweet girlfriend and an overdeveloped sense of responsibility for other people. The beginning takes a minute to get through, but then the action starts and never stops. Light, adventersome, exciting, and so much fun 🙂

  136. Fledgling by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. Unfortunately not available by Graphic Audio but narrator on Audible does okay job. It’s a coming of age story and does a really good job of combining exciting plot with character descriptions that stuck with me. It’s part of a big series and is not the ‘beginning’ but I think it is a strong stand alone. Great listen when I’m feeling different than my peers.

    • can recommend the entire Liaden series though I’ve not listened to any of them except a couple of the first ones. I think Fledgling is about a third of the way thru? there are several in which Theo is the central character.

  137. Loving all the recommendations!

    One that hasn’t been mentioned is the Pirate’s Cove cozy mystery series by Josh Lanyon. Narrated by Matt Haynes, I think? The stories are enjoyable—funny and light, comfort re-listens for me—but what sticks out in my mind is how funny the narrator’s interpretation of a small-dog “arf” is. I guess it’s the little things. YMMV. (Also enjoyed the same narrator reading The Shabti recently.)

    • +1

      I’m a huge fan of anything Josh writes.
      There’s usually something psychic going on.
      Her MC’s are always funny and observant.
      It’s never their fault they end up in a mess, it’s just, well er,,,, an unlucky chain of events? 😉

  138. I love anything by Molly Harper on audio, she’s so funny! my current re-listen is Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs.

    • I love this series. Amanda Ronconi is marvelous narrator. Her timing is spot on for comedic delivery.

  139. People are weird, even members of BDH. Sorry they got their undies in a twist.

    I love Ordinary Magic by Devon Monk. This series — nine books or so, I think — is a delightful romp about the Oregon beachfront town of Ordinary, where gods put down their powers to go on vacation. There are vampires, werewolves and demons, too. The protagonists are three sisters who are the local cops and they solve the occasional god murder.

    There’s also a demon queen undercover as a unicorn/pony.

    The Graphics Audio production is delightfully quirky. I’ve listened to it multiple times; if you’re stressed, you’ll be snickering in no time.

    Five stars.

  140. I’m going to curve ball for the dedicated comment sifters 😀

    I am currently listening to “The Light Eaters” by Zoë Schlanger, narrated by the author.

    It is journalistic scientific nonfiction. it is imaginative and people-focused and expansive and narrative. and I come here because BDH and I overlap on lots of things, so mayhap they might like too.

    You join the author, a lover of nature and climate journalist, who realizes she is disconnecting with the natural world around her as she reports climate disaster after disaster. she turns to plant research on her lunch breaks as a way to connect with the world she grew up loving, and she finds herself enthralled with the reemerging reseaech around questions of plant consciousness. how do we detect or determine agency in the alien beings we share the planet with? and as humans, how do we close or open our ranks on the people asking these questions? she explores the plants, but also the timing, going back to debunked studies that haunt the field and getting into the culture of plant research.

    it really is world building and a different type of magic. 😀

  141. WARFORMED: Stormweaver series
    by Bryce O’Connor

    Two books so far, the first – IRON PRINCE and the second – FIRE AND SONG both narrated by Luke Daniels.

    It’s a progression fantasy set in a world that is at war with alien technology and has combat tournament entertainment circuits – where a young boy abandoned by his parents for being born weak and sicky perseveres to be granted a CAD (combat assistance device) which allows him to overcome his physical obstacles and gain entrance to one of the top military academies in the collective.

    I luv it because you can’t help but cheer for our boy Reidon and wonder at what he will be able to achieve with the unlimited potential of his CAD. The world is unique and fascinating. He enters school with his best friend Viviana and together they make interesting and powerful friends and face various challenges together. Great narration, never a dull moment, you don’t want to stop listening.

  142. I love the Joe Pickett series by CJ Box. Yes, it’s not fantasy, but I read/listen to a bunch of different genres; it’s a great series and David Chandler does a great job on the audio.

    I’m an avid reader/listener and since I devour books at an alarming rate, I get most of mine from the library (sorry Ilona). Also, we flooded in the Great Flood of 2016 and after literally shoveling out the house and all the books we had, we have greatly reduced the amount of paper present in our home. Considering I actually blew out a lumbar disc when that happened, well…….

    Last and least, play nice, and do unto others as you’d have done unto you. Karma is a Bi!!!

  144. I love anthologies. Bite sized escapes. Plus it lets me discover new (to me, at least) authors. I first read IA in an anthology, and promptly found the website to get a list (and reading order!) for all the goodness.

    A great new anthology (3rd in a set with similar themes) is Down These Mean Streets, edited by Larry Correia and Kacey Ezell (both with their own stories included, naturally). The theme is SF/F with a noir twist. The stories are excellent and spectacularly tightly edited, just like the first two collections which I won’t mention in order to comply with the One Book Rule. (; I read the ebook, but it’s in audio, too. I can’t do audio for a couple reasons, but I’ve seen good reviews of it.

  145. Tess of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson would be a great vacation listen. A classic fairy tale/old school fantasy setup with enough good worldbuilding to keep things interesting.

  146. Devon Monk’s ‘Ordinary Magic’ series is one of my go to easy listening GA offerings.

  147. There were just too many comments to read them all, so I hope it hasn’t been mentioned already. I love Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. The narrator is just amazing and gets the humor of the book just right. I love that Andy Weir makes science look so “easy” and interesting . I love the plot twist and especially the end, because we see such a transformation of the main character. I just love this audio book and listen to it at least once a year.

    • I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Weir!

      A good way to see if a previous commenter has mentioned something is to use the “find in page” feature in your browser. I also use it to check back and see if anyone (like Gordon or Ilona, lol) replies to one of my comments. Hope that helps!

  148. I’ve been listening to the Anne Of Green Gables series this spring. I wanted something gentle but funny and this really fit the bill. The narrator does an amazing job conveying the spirit of the work.

    • Ok, I’ll check it out. I re-read the series every couple of years and loved the tv adaptations too.

  149. I know someone recommended Garth Nix Sabriel series, but his The Left-Handed Booksellers of London books are fantastic.

    • I forgot to say why I loved them 😩
      The books are about magical fighting booksellers. Really great female protagonist and great premise.

  150. I am not usually a hard copy book person these days, which is blasphemy when you’re a librarian, heh. I’m thinking about jumping on the train for Innkeeper 2 though. It’s so pretty.

    Thank you for shiny things! I want’s it!

  151. “If Mommy gets flowers, can I have a kitty?” Arland looked abashed. “We don’t really have kitties. Would you settle for a rassa puppy or a goren puppy?”

    Favorite book – the possibilities for the future are endless.

  152. MURDERBOT SERIES!!!! I can’t believe I’m the first one to list them. All Systems Red is the first one. LOVE THEM. GA or the traditional – the snark is *chefs kiss*

  153. Great summer listen as well as read…. Fairy Tale by Stephen King.

    I was so excited when I found out that Stephen King actually read the character Mr. Bowditch.

    I don’t know if he is someone you would read. Great book

  154. I know that the Patricia Briggs news that the Mercyverse will be done by GA is a big deal, but the audiobooks that I listen to over and over are her Alpha and Omega books read by Holter Graham. He had such a great mellow but gravelly voice and is great with characterization too.

  155. I, personally, thank you for not including new material in Collector Editions. I love owning books, but neither my wallet nor my shelf space can afford it. Having to pay top dollar for some little blurb that will probably eventually define some pivotal moment in the series would be so frustrating! Especially since it’s a limited edition!!! Why would people even be upset about that?

  156. I like that your ethics about collector editions of books. I also think that offering these editions is great. I am unable to purchase any at this time due to tight budget constraints. However, when things loosen up I will buy “ALL THE EDITIONS”. I love my kindle but it can’t compare with having a much read book on my shelf. Thank you for providing the editions. Yes, it is a business but, you all put you hearts into it.

  157. I really enjoyed Check & Mate and by Ali Hazelwood. It’s YA fiction about two teenagers playing competitive chess who may or may not fall in love. It’s a bit angsty, but very fun (there are some bummer parts, but they don’t overwhelm the book).

  158. Starter Villain by John Scalzi!! I laughed so much and it reminds us that cats rule the world! Also, Wil Wheaton as the narrator – the best!!

  159. I enjoyed the audible of A Discovery of Witches, by Deborah Harkness. I like her historical background…

    • +1 all the way!! The TV adaptation is a comfort watch/background show for me now. I’m excited for her new book “The Blackbird Oracle” to drop this summer!

  160. The audiobooks for Charlaine Harris’s Midnight series. The reader Susan Bennett is fabulous. I have resisted listening to the GA version ( so far) because I love them so much.

  161. Been à GA client since before I heard oh Ilona Andrews. The Nuclear Bombshell series was my first and still a regular listen. But Elizabeth Moon’s Serrano Legacy is something else….

  162. Something from the Nightside by Simon R Green narrated by Dan Calley is great. Alternative London, detective noir. Calley’s voice is great for it.
    If you like it, there are 11 more in the series.

  163. Wow! I had to scroll the whole list because I would have used up my +1 on SO many of the Graphic Audio recommendations!
    Michael J Sullivan has a set of continuing Graphic Audio series set in the same magical universe covering 3 thousand years. That’s days of listening enjoyment from the RIYRIA REVELATIONS on. Start there for humor, drama, intrigue, sins and redemption. I dove in for weeks of immersion in his addictive tales.

  166. “Space Team” is my favourite Graphic Audio books and thanks to those hilarious adaptations, I searched for others and discovered Kate Daniels (and then the Innkeeper series).

  167. I would recommend Meadowsweet by C.J. Milbrandt (1 of 3 books), narrated by Travis Baldree. Very cosy found family, relaxing slice of life in a fun fantasy setting and Travis is one of my very favorite narrators. Just a note there are a few minimally “bad things” that happen in Book 3 but everyone gets a non romantic HEA.

  168. I might be a little late, but Janitors of the Post-Apocalypse by Jim C. Hines. Very much a vacation listen!

  169. Jana Deleon: Louisiana Longshot, book 1 of the Miss Fortune series. Why I love it: it is a quick escapist read, a CIA agent has to hide in a small town as grade school library, and of course hijinks ensue. I enjoy Cassandra Campbell as the narrator. It’s sort of a cozy mystery, but the characters change and grow as the series goes on.

  170. So many good recs above, thanks for this!

    I have +1 on several recs but I want to add Hailey Edwards The Beginner’s Guide To Necromancy, book 1 is How To Save An Undead Life. On Audible, I keep looking and hoping for GA but its not there (yet?!). Its not a light hearted story but still light hearted listening and very funny. There is some serious stuff, the main character goes through a lot but grows and learns who she is and what she wants, romance but not hardcore (very sweet actually), a lot of mystery, magic, vampires, shape shifter wargs AND a sentient house!! I think 9 books (due to epilogues) and a spin off series, so a lot to enjoy, though I haven’t listened (only read) to the spin off so don’t know about the quality there.

  171. I love the audiobooks for the Amelia Peabody series (I.e. Crocodile on the Sandbank, etc.) by Elizabeth Peters with Susan O’Malley as narrator. Her narration is so on point with the main character. Fun summer read!

    • can totally recommend the series though I listened to the Barbara Rosenblat (?) ones. haven’t tried the new ones… will have to try one, see how they compare.

  172. The Wizard’s Butler, by Nathan Lowell, narrated by Tom Taylorson. He has a beautiful baritone voice, reads / acts fluently, and manages to make you believe even the female characters. It’s a relaxed, fascinating listen.

  173. Audio recommendation:
    Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, read by Jeff Hays.

    Oh my freaking gosh. This is the funniest thing you’ll listen to all year. And Jeff Hays’ talent is godlike. He does all of the voices himself, and you would swear it’s a full cast production. (There IS a separate multi-performer production but it’s more for hardcore fans.) Available at Audible and Soundbooth Theater, and probably everywhere else too since it’s not exclusive to Audible.

    Blurb (written by me b/c I’m too lazy to go find it):
    When aliens come to collect on the contract our ancestors signed thousands of years ago, humans get thrown into a deadly galactic reality game show.
    Wearing only his bomber jacket and his boxer shorts, a gruff anti-hero tries desperately to keep himself and his ex-girlfriend’s cat alive while mythical monsters, ruthless aliens, a foot-obsessed AI Game Master, and the other surviving remnants of humanity try their best to kill him.

    I swear to Chernobog that if you just give it two hours, you’ll be absolutely hooked and it’ll be the most fun you’ve had with your ears in years.

  174. I recently really enjoyed Kitty Cat Kill Sat by Argus. Each section is like a mini story with such growth in the character. There’s a little angst and a lot of mystery but it was so good!

  176. idk if you’re *only* doing fiction, but Patrick Stewart reads his own memoir and it’s quite nice.

    🙂

  177. Lots of recommendations! I don’t do many audiobooks, just ones I’ve listened to before as I get wrapped up in the story and don’t pay enough attention to my driving. My favorites are any of Tamora Pierce’s series. Whatever you choose, enjoy your mini vacation!

  178. I’ve been waiting for someone to recommend Danielle L. Jensen’s Bridge Kingdom series. The world building is superb, a lot of political intrigue, and lovable, fallible characters. The series was published by Audible with very good production values, and it’s available through the Audible Plus catalogue.

  179. Remarkably Bright Creatures, by Shelby van Pelt. The story is written from 2 perspectives and the audiobook version is fun.

  180. Michelle Sagara’s Chronicles of Elantra. Great world building, a snarky lead character, many races (Human, Aerian, Dragon, Barani, Leontine, etc). Each of the races ruled by a Caste Court and all subject to the Dragon Emperor who’s ‘hoard’ is the city of Elantra. Khristine Hvam does a great job as the narrator for all of the Elantra books.

  181. Since K.F. Breene’s books on GA have already been mentioned, I’m going to pimp my favorite author of all time: Sarah Lyons Fleming.

    SLF books are wonderful. Her writing is beautiful, her characters complex, and her relationships well-developed. She writes in the zombie apocalypse genre, but her books are not “zombie books”. They are books about relationships, about found family, about how people react under challenging circumstances. They are enjoyed by people who are not zombie/apoc fans — but do enjoy a good romance or complex family drama.

    They are also brilliant on audio. And she’s gotten lucky with her narrators. Her first two series were narrated by people who’ve become much more famous over the intervening years, and her third series has equally amazing narrators.

    I recommend people start with her second series, The City series. It has two great narrators, narrating two different points of views/stories. There are very minor spoilers to the first series (“Until the End of the World”) but I think it’s a better introduction to her work. Her settings are meticulously researched, too. This one is set in NYC. Her third series (the Cascadia series) currently has three books with a fourth coming this summer.

    Also, the City and Cascadia series are *long* and give you *plenty* of material for your money. The City series (only available on Audible) has over 60 hours, and Cascadia is up to 75 hours with another book coming.

    OK, enough gushing. I know that a zompoc book might be outside other BDH fans’ wheelhouse, but I seriously recommend them to everyone I know.

  182. Any of the titles in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series. My favorites feature Granny Weatherwax or Sam Vimes.

  183. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

    Once upon a time I hated audiobooks. I am a fast reader and I hate listening to slower readers read out loud. Now I can speed up a reader to a level I can relate to so I don’t mind the speed anymore.

    However, back when I still hated audiobooks, I was riding in a car with someone who had the dramatized version of Narnia playing in her stereo, and I _loved_ it. It was Graphic Audio, nothing like that, it was just different actors reading different characters. I never listened to the whole thing, but it was definitely the only reason I was willing to give Graphic Audio a shot when the Innkeeper series got done.
    So yeah, I’ll put that as my summer listening rec, definitely an oldie but goodie!

  184. My favourite audio book is The Worst Guy by Kate Canterbary! The GRUMP of Sebastian is just *chef’s kiss*

  185. Smoke and Shadows by Tonya Huff, narrated by Brian Sutherland (it’s the first of a trilogy, all just as fabulous). It’s urban fantasy with TH’s trademark sardonic humor, and is not only very well-written but is also brought PERFECTLY to life by the narrator. His voice acting is superb and I listen to these probably once every couple of years, if not more.

  186. I love the Subterranean books. They are lovely. Unfortunately, I read mostly e-books now as my vision isn’t as good as it used to be. The special volumes are really beautiful treasures.

  187. They’re not new and straight romance but the 2 book series by Linda Howard of “To Die For” and “Drop Dead Gorgeous” are great listens or reads.

  188. SO MANY BOOKS: and only choosing 1. So Hard.

    That being said, I haven’t seen any one post books by S.L. Viehl, with the first book being StarDoc. Brilliant Earth surgeon makes the decision to go a different planet and practice multispecies medicine, where humans are pretty much despised. Evil Father. Space Diplomacy and Deception. Interesting non humanoid aliens. Really good series. It’s a bit old, Jan 2000, but not as old as some of my “Precious” books.

    Love everyone’s recommendations, I have some new treasures to read!

  189. The first book in the suspense mystery series with a search and rescue Jack Russell as main dog and his handler solving various crimes:
    Breaking Creed by Alex Kava and I just listen to basic Audible…don’t know if GA has it. Good reads and it gets better with every new release.

  190. Most of the Georgette Heyer audiobooks from Brilliance Audio have a great narrator. Very funny! Highly recommended. The Susan O’Malley readings of Elizabeth Peters’ series of historical mysteries (the Amelia Peabody series) are also great.

    • Love the Amelia Peabody books! But much prefer Barbara Rosenblat as the narrator. She is so good at creating voices for the characters

  191. First, I’m looking forward to “Winter Lost” by Patricia Briggs. Its my budgeted item for this months Audible credit. Second: Collection. Looks beautiful. Wish I could afford it. And yes, it is wonderful to have favorite books in hard cover, or even nice paper cover. No grumbles or arguments from me on this heading! Freebies: Love them, thank you for them, when they come out, they make my day. I also buy them in e-book or audio when they come out in complete format. After all, its only fair, right? I know from previous posts that you are having a bumpy year. Your health and your family come first. Always looking forward to whatever you write.

  192. Recommendation: Keturah and Lord Death.

    I don’t really listed to Audiobooks much BUT about 15 years ago I stumbled upon this book that I really wanted to read but could not find a printed copy or ebook anywhere for it. It was during an intense Hades and Persephone fascination period which this book is loosely based on. It was lovely to listen to and I find myself returning to it every now and then because it just makes me feel so cozy and a bit sad but in a good way if that makes sense. It’s a very light read, in the vein of classical fairytales.

  193. A very popular book so many people have probably already read/listened to it but I am thoroughly enjoying Graphic Audio’s performance of 4th Wing by Rebecca Yarros.
    Great voice actors and the music/background sounds add context and excitement without overwhelming the story. I bought some of the ‘Julie yarn’ (City Lights Reflected on Wet Pavement) Ilona mentioned from Eat.Sleep.Knit and I’m knitting a sweater for my youngest while listening. It’s putting me in the perfect summer headspace.

  194. I really enjoyed Love Bites ( Tails from the Alpha Art Gallery #1) by Cynthia St. Aubin and the rest of the series. Just starting the Dr. Matilda Schmidt, Paranormal Psychologist spinoff series!
    Enjoy your vacation!

  195. I spent winter reading the “Beaufort Scales Mystery” series by Kim M Watt, and now I’ll spend summer listening to the audio books. It’s a English mystery series, narrated by Patricia Gallimore and it is set in a small village in the north of England, where a bunch of ladies solve mysteries together with dragons. Hence the scales in the title. There is an e-book with recipies as well on the author’s website. Recommend that one as well.

  197. One of my favorite traveling and beach audio books (sorry Trilogy)…Nora Robert’s Bay of Sighs Trilogy !!!

    Totally non related merch wish ***

    I’m totally hoping for an …I’m emotionally compromised anything from the merch store …:)

  198. Best audio book I’ve ever heard was Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. I can’t say why without spoiling it though. This is also one of my favorite books in general.

  199. The codex Alera series by Jim Butcher. it is read by Kate Redding.

    It is a very good hero’s journey story.

    I heard a author say that he combined the lost Roman legion with Pokemon.

  200. A favorite of mine is “An Accidental Goddess” by Linnea Sinclair.

    A fun and lively romantic science fiction novel; just one book long, narrator is smooth; the heroine experiences a temporal displacement and wakes up 300 years in the future – and finds that she was ordained as a goddess.

  201. This series is a little older: White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland. The first is My Life as a White Trash Zombie.

    The title hooked me first and then I really enjoyed the story. Got hooked and listened to the whole series.

    The main character is Angel Crawford, a delinquent teenager living in Louisiana. She will endear herself to you as she makes her way through life (death?).

  202. For a relaxing funny listen, I recommend the Vinyl Cafe by Stuart McLean. It was a Canadian radio show/touring show. Stuart’s delivery of his stories is flawless. The stories are about Dave who runs a record store and his family. The stories are both hilarious and make you laugh out loud. While Stuart passed of cancer several years ago, his stories and voice live on as these a podcast called “Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe” (so not an audio-book, but I thought the vibe you are looking for). We love them for long car rides and sometimes we turn off the TV and relax listening to them at home. Give them a try you will be glad that you did.

    • They are fantastic! Thank you for bringing up a wonderful memory for me, I loved the story of the truffles. And the neighbour’s fig tree. I used to listen to them every Christmas while I made truffles for my patients.

  203. I recommend Weakest Lynx by Fiona Quinn.

    The main character is psychic, but she mainly gets by with her analytical skills. Has elements of a thriller, but more character focused than some, with a slow burn romance. Available on Audible and KU. You can read the first three books in a bundle on KU for convenience. It’s something different and highly recommended.

  204. I’m going outside the genre- I will recommend to everyone forever-Noah Trevor, Born a Crime – read by him.

    Fascinating topic, fun narrator.

  206. Estuve checando los comentarios para no repetir recomendaciones, pero son demasiados. Si ya esta recomendado lamento la repetición:
    Every Heart a Doorway, Seanan McGuire.
    Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children
    No Solicitations
    No Visitors
    No Quests
    Super recomendable.

  208. I really enjoy the stand alone Emperor’s Soul byBrandon Danderson. It is more introspective than action, and a bit different than his other work imho, but I find it to be a very satysfying GA production

  209. I enjoy Molly Harper’s Jane Jameson/Half-Moon Hollow series, both physical and audio. She is one of three authors I listened to during a prolonged illness. It is a paranormal romance/urban fantasy series. She is southern and witty, Amanda Ronconi does a delightful job of narration.

  210. I really like the Charlaine Harris Gunny Rose series on GA. I’ve read all the books previously, and loved them, and GA, as usual, has done a fantastic job bringing the books to life.

  211. Favorite Audio Book: Anne Bishop “Written In Red”.

    Why: This is the first book in the series and Bishop’s world building is incredibly believable. It’s comfortable, like cozying up to a warm fire, snuggly blanket, and listening to someone tell you a tale. It’s just that good…about an alternate history/future of the world where humans and the terra indigene try to get along. But the terra indigene have all the power, and the humans are figuring that out. It is both sweet…and vicious.

  213. Daredevil: Man Without Fear

    Origin, Marvel Graphic Audio. Excellent production values, acting. Can stand alone. From Frank Miller’s run.

    This is the best one of the graphic audios I’ve encountered and it evokes its comic book origin.

  215. David Weber‘s Fury book. There are different versions released, as a book 1+2, and as a combined version.
    (can‘t understand alls the Devon Monks Ordinary… recommendations, to me the MC is at best incompetent,…. also IMHO the story is in general rather illogical)

  216. My favorites have already been recommended so instead I shall recommend what I am currently enjoying right now.

    Hell For Hire by Rachel Aaron. A witch hires a band of demon mercenaries to body guard him while he grows his own grove to protect him. A warlock cabal is after him because he refused to join them like he was supposed to. (He loves being a witch and despises the idea of enslaving demons, which is what warlocks do in this world)

    I’m enjoying it a lot so far and it has an interesting lore twist on the deadly sins.

  217. I recommend for summer listening from GA, the Ordinary Magic series by Devon Monk. I’m sure someone has already recommended it, but I enjoyed them and have actively been watching(not nagging) for another in the series. Her other books didn’t hit me in my happy reader place, but I like this series.

    🙂 When I read your sentence about having the first Innkeeper on your shelf, I got a vision of Ilona holding it close and whispering ‘my precious…’

  218. Okay, one more little comment here… more of a personal rant than anything, but I feel it’s necessary for my peace of mind.

    I am tired of vampires — burned out, exasperated, fatigued, bored with, sick of, disinterested in, flat out despising and disparaging of dead and deadly blood suckers. (Sorry, Kate, but I’m with Curran on this… vamps suck!)

    Then… Voila! Innkeeper Chronicles introduced a space-faring, super-strong predatory species known as Vampires. Not dead, but certainly entertaining.

    “Indeed.” Caldenia called it. [to Arland of House Krar] “Do get better. You’re much more entertaining when you roar…”

    My faith is renewed!

    Thank you, House Andrews.

  219. I didn’t see it anywhere, but I want to recommend The Redwall books by Brian Jacques. The books that are read by him and sometimes with a full cast are fantastic!

    I don’t care if they are considered a “kid’s” book, they are so wonderfully done it doesn’t matter.

    These adaptations helped my kids pass English class as this was the only way (at that time) that they would “read” a book for a book report.

  220. Maria V Snyder is my tie-for-favorite author. All of her work is fantastic and reminds me a lot of Andrews. For a sci-fi twist I suggest Navigating the Stars. For fantasy, I suggest Poison Study or Touch of Power. All three of these titles are the first book in a completed trilogies with great story lines and audiobooks.

  221. A new book that really made an impression this year was Citadel by C.M Alongi . It is a sci-fi written from the perspective of a nonverbal autistic woman in society trying to survive on a hostile planet. I’m always interested in when someone writes something in a new way and this one was really well done. The author worked caring for autistic people before writing and collaborated with them to do her best to correctly portray what it is like living this way.

  222. Old favorite:
    Sunshine by Robin McKinley. Full dive first-person w/ MC Rae, but I find her grumpiness endearing and honest. There is a compelling vampire and a very interesting partnership formed that I have not found in any other book. I would not call this book spicy (if that is what you are looking for). It is a frequent reread and I am always happy to pick up and flip to any page.

  223. I really, really enjoyed Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, the GRAPHIC AUDIO version. Oh my goodness, the characters and story were so vivid and intense.

  224. I loved Graphic audios edition of The Murderbot diaries All systems red. Murderbot is a very confused mix of man and machine who hacked his safety governor module, and saves the people he is protecting even knowing should his secrete be discovered he will be scrapped.

  225. I had two I couldn’t choose between but luckily one has already been mentioned which leaves my vote free for Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir; read brilliantly by Moira Quirk.
    This is a love/hate relationship book between two teenage girls at opposite ends of the social spectrum. So funny, so compelling and so well read!
    (I treat this book as a stand-alone because the rest of the series really baffles me)

  226. I was tempted to +1 on many of the recs here, but instead I’m going to suggest The Rook, by Daniel O’Malley. There are currently two sequels out as well, and they’re all brilliant— engaging and funny. O’Malley has a delightful sense of the absurd. It’s urban fantasy (I suppose?), but instead of the people casting spells variety of magic, it involves a top secret bureaucratic organization that handles supernatural affairs and employs people who are born with unusual abilities. It’s set in the UK and book one came out around 2012.

    Quick summary of book one: a woman finds herself standing in a park in the rain, surrounded by corpses wearing gloves, with no memory of who she is or how she got there. A search of her pockets reveals that her name is Myfanwy Thomas, and she’s in danger. Her memory has been erased by someone she trusted and she must choose whether to go on the run, or slip back into the life of the woman who used to occupy her body. If she chooses door number two, she’ll have to hide her memory loss as she tries to solve the mystery of who betrayed her and why. Luckily, the woman who used to occupy her body (Myfanwy thinks of her predecessor as “Thomas”) was a professional bureaucrat, who knew a thing or two about planning ahead.

    The readers are wonderful (Susan Vance for book one, Moira Quirk for book two— told from different POVs so using a different narrator is intentional, not a lack of continuity).

    Also I don’t know if anyone has mentioned but audible is doing one of their members only sitewide sales for the next five days or so, so if you’re a member, before you spend one of your credits on a book, you might want to check to see whether it’s on sale for less than the price of a credit. Some books mentioned above are free for members (like Fred the Vampire), others are available for just a few dollars (like Ordinary Magic book one, non-GA version). Hope mentioning the sale books isn’t a rule violation; I haven’t actually read either of those but I did snag them both in the sale after seeing recs here.

  227. The Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman.

    Geriatric retirement home club that amuses themselves with solving murders. Fantastic listen.
    The books are set in the UK an combine a dry sense of humor with the realities of getting older physically while mentally not having aged past 30 with the heart wrenching realities that aging has on relationships and abilities. Really what else would an 80 year old retired spy do with her time?!

    The narrator is amazing and really elevates the material. Each book builds on the last and the character arcs and world building are *chefs kiss*

    Perfect roadtrip/ beach listen.
    5stars

  228. I have recently found a series called Building The Circle by Maggie M Lilly and it is wonderful!! It is also part of the Audible Plus catalog

  229. for a lighthearted and fu romance with quippy dialog, Act Like It by Lucy Parker is great, and the narrator captures emotion really well

  231. One of my favorite audio books is the Harry Dresden series, which begins with Storm Front, by Jim Butcher. It’s read by James Marsters of Spike a la Buffy fame. He is fantastic and really comes to be Harry Dresden as he continues to narrate the rest of the series.

  232. A late addition to this post, but I just finished listening to #CrimeTime by Jeneva Rose and Drew Pyne – the first collaboration by the couple. It’s short, with an audio performance similar to Graphic Audio. I couldn’t stop laughing.

  233. For Graphic Audio suggestions – the Devon Monk Ordinary Magic series. GA does the BEST JOB on them & I adore Henry Kramer’s voice.

    (Loving seeing all the love for Kobna’s Rivers of London narration. He’s amazing & makes the books work.)

  234. I really enjoyed Vanessa Nelson’s Grey Gates series and anything by Hailey Edwards! As to the book buying bashers, my only comment is 🙄

  235. I think one of the best audio book that wasn’t fiction I have ever listened to was Trevor Noah, Born a Crime. It’s a fascinating book to listen to as he can do all the African dialects.

  236. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. Narrated by Khristine Hvam.

    Such beautiful worldbuilding and devestating heartbreak. Khristine Hvam does an amazing job on all the accents/characters. The whole series is like reading poetry.

  238. Kelly Armstrong the Rockton series and now the Haven Rock sequel. Great narration by Therese Plummer. Fun series and fast paced with great stories.

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