Astray

About This Audiobook

In *Astray*, Jenny Schwartz crafts a razor-sharp sci-fi adventure where the past isn’t just prologue—it’s a ticking time bomb. Nora Devi, a disgraced xeno-archaeologist with a bounty on her head, stumbles onto a discovery that could reignite the embers of a war most thought was over. Schwartz’s world-building crackles with tension, blending the grit of noir with the wonder of first-contact sci-fi. The alien ruins she uncovers aren’t just relics; they’re a Pandora’s box of political scheming, personal vendettas, and a mystery that refuses to stay buried. If you crave stories where every discovery comes with a price, this is your next obsession.

The audiobook shines thanks to Emily Woo Zeller’s narration, which balances Nora’s weary cynicism with bursts of desperate resolve. Zeller’s performance isn’t just a reading—it’s a masterclass in vocal texture, shifting seamlessly from the hushed intimacy of Nora’s internal monologues to the explosive confrontations that define her journey. The pacing is relentless, but Schwartz ensures the stakes never feel arbitrary, weaving Nora’s personal quest into the broader conflict with surgical precision.